Entries by Wendy Schumer

Blues Hall of Fame Member John Mayall Returns To Portland

john-mayall-photo-by-arnie-goodmanThere are few performers today who can be labeled truthfully as legendary, but when attached to John Mayall the title is indeed fitting. A keystone in the development of the early ‘60s British blues scene that immigrated across the Atlantic and around the world, he is still at the top of his game more than fifty years later. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist, Mayall, along with his band The Bluesbreakers, has introduced the world to many premier rock and blues musicians who have gone on to solo success, such as Bluesbreakers alumni Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, and Jack Bruce. Tirelessly …

Acoustic Blues with Mary Flower and Thad Beckman

thad-beckman-and-mary-flower-press-photoMary Flower and Thad Beckman are two diverse yet overlapping talents, and they’ll team up for a double bill at The Lake Theater & Cafe, 106 N State St in Lake Oswego, on November 7. Each will perform individual sets and then will close the night playing together for a few songs that will surely create some magic in the theater.

Multiple Blues Music Award nominee, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mary Flower is that rare breed of American roots artist. With a devotion to the art form that is both lovingly and historically accurate while steeped in a creativity that …

You Got to Have Friends – An Evening with the Bette Midler Songbook

Four local singers known for their work in the blues, soul, and more will combine for an intimate night offering the music of Bette Midler. Rae Gordon, Julie Amici, LaRhonda Steele and Melissa Buchanan, plus a band of talented musicians, will bring Midler’s material to life at the unique setting of a quaint movie theater on the shores of beautiful Lake Oswego.

Award winning and multi-talented Bette Midler has won over countless hearts for years as both a singer and as an actress. A force to be reckoned, she is one of the hardest working woman in show business, who …

Ramblings On My Mind – November 2016

ramblings201306BNGreg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President

The Cascade Blues Association, like many non-profit organizations its size, is made up of members and especially volunteers. We are only as strong as those volunteers who help us throughout the year, either at events or serving on our Board of Directors. Each year, the membership is invited to elect the new Board Officers in December. As of the past few years we have held a very small Board, currently we only have seven people, which means that these individuals are putting in a very significant amount of time and energy bringing everybody the …

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2017 CBA Officer Election Coming In December

voteEvery December, the Cascade Blues Association asks its members to attend the monthly membership meeting to cast their votes for the people who they would like to run the organization for the coming year. All five officer positions (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Membership Secretary) are open for anyone who would like to seek the positions. We do request, however, that for the Membership Secretary position that you have knowledge of spreadsheets and mailing, and for Treasurer you have a firm grasp of accounting and filing taxes.

If you would like to place your name on the ballot for …

2016 Musician’s Toy Run Benefit To Be Held November 5

Now in its fifteenth year, the Musician’s Toy Run Benefit, hosted by Francine West, will once again hold a day-long show aimed at bringing holiday joy to children. The event returns to the Trails End Saloon, 1320 Main Street, Oregon City, on Saturday, November 5 from 3:00 until midnight. Admission is only $5.00 or the donation of new unwrapped toys. Last year brought in $4,420.29 and five boxes of toys for the ABATE/Shriners Toy Run and they’re hoping to bring in more this year.

Francine West and her band The High Speed Wobblers will host a day filled with some …

Band Stand – November 2016

Harvey Brindell & The Tablerockers

Booking Your Band Part 1 “The Following”

Booking a band is an area that I have considerable experience and expertise in. I often get questions from other musicians about the best way to get a band booked. One of the biggest frustrations I hear is what to tell club owners when they ask “how big is your following.” As we all know, that’s unpredictable. You can consistently pull in a great crowd in one place and go to another place and have few people show up. And you certainly don’t want to lie to club …

John Nemeth And The Blue Dreamers

Feelin’ Freaky
Self Produced

John Nemeth And The Blue Dreamers - Feelin’ FreakyYou won’t find John Nemeth’s new album on the shelves at your local record store or available through CDBaby, on Amazon or anywhere else on line for that matter. If you want it, you’re going to have to purchase it directly through him, most likely at one of his performances. Disenchanted with the sales and download accessibility of his previous releases on the internet, including his acclaimed recording Memphis Grease that should have flown off the shelves (well, as much as a blues disc might nowadays), he decided to sell his latest release Feelin’ Freaky…

Mitch Kashmar

West Coast Toast
Delta Groove Music

Mitch Kashmar - West Coast ToastMitch Kashmar delves deeply into the sound of West Coast blues with his latest release West Coast Toast — and it’s something that he should be quite familiar with as he has been a longtime mainstay on that scene from his early days with The Pontiax to his current position atop the blues community in Portland, Oregon. For this disc, however, he returns to Southern California and is joined by an all-star cast of familiar names and lays down some of the most dynamic harmonica to be heard from anyone, anywhere.

Kashmar went into …

New Music To Note – November 2016

Here’s a list of new music received at the CBA office or purchased personally this past month that should be noted:

Blueass – Things Left Behind (Self Produced)
Bobby Rush – Porcupine Meat (Rounder)
Cee Cee James – Stripped Down & Surrendered (FWG Records)
Charlie Wheeler Band – Blues Karma And The Kitchen Sink (Graphite Sound)
Dave Keller – Right Back Atcha (Tastee Tone)
David Brewer – Drivin’ Wheel (Crossed Arrows Music)
David Pinsky & Phil Newton – Under The Sun (Self Produced)
Deb Ryder – Grit Grease & Tears (Bejeb Music)
Dennis Gruenling – Ready Or Not (VizzTone)
Doug …