Entries by Wendy Schumer

Bandstand Dec 2013

Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes

Hi everybody!  Just wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Cascade Blues Association and its members for the Muddy Awards this year.  We are grateful, humbled, and deeply honored to be recognized amongst the world class talent here in Portland, and the NW.   Your support means the world to us, and we are so proud to be part of this community, and proud to be ambassadors of the CBA wherever we travel.

Speaking of traveling, last month was a fun one as we had the opportunity to play the blues at some legendary clubs …

Kivett Bednar; Dec. 7th

I have a new record out in December called Land Of The Living that will be available for online purchase or from me directly starting December 15th. That way I can mail them off as Christmas presents. I have a Kickstarter program set up with a goal of $5000.00 to cover production expenses and the record may be purchased as a pre-sale.

Land Of The Living is also the name of my duo project with Anthony Pausic, the drummer on the record. I’m from Austin originally and he’s from Long Beach.  We recorded at Ocotillo Studios in Los …

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What’s on Tap for December’s General Membership Meeting . . .

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, December 4th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Shae Lee & Jon Edmondson
Second Electric Set – Garry Meziere

After last month’s annual extravaganza, The Muddy Awards, that surely left a lot of fantastic memories, it is time to get back to normal business again. But normal business for the Cascade Blues Association just means having our monthly meetings downstairs at The Melody Ballroom with two fun sets of music and our regular free ticket drawings in between.

Shae Lee and Jon Edmondson - press photoWell, it’s not really a typical …

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Ramblings On My Mind

ramblings201306BNGreg Johnson / CBA President

Well it is December, which means it is time to select your elected officers for the year 2014. It also means that I need to get back on my soapbox and appeal to our members the need for help. The Cascade Blues Association is recognized as one of the largest blues societies in the country, yet the people behind the scenes handling the day-to-day business is quite a small number (actually it amounts to far less than 1% of all members). This means that the same people are doing all the work to make sure …

CBA Board – Intent to Run 2014

It has certainly been an honor to serve as your Cascade Blues Association President for nearly 12 years and I am asking if you would consider me back for a 13th year. My main drive with the Cascade Blues Association has never wandered, it has always been about how we can garner more attention for our local artists locally, regionally and nationally. I have also held the ethic that all musicians are treated equally and fairly. That is why you see promotions of events in the BluesNotes whether they are co-sponsored by the CBA or not, as I believe …

A Big Night For Kevin Selfe At The 25th Annual Muddy Awards

The Cascade Blues Association held their 25th annual Muddy Awards celebration on Thursday, November 7th at The Melody Ballroom in Portland and with little doubt it was certainly the night for Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes. The band took honors in seven of the twenty-two categories presented, including both Contemporary & Traditional Blues Act, Kevin for Electric Guitar, Jimi Bott for Drums, both the NW Recording & National Recording for Long Walk Home and Performance of the Year for their big band set at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

Other recipients included Ben Rice whose band tied with Kevin’s …

Duff’s Garage Welcomes West Coast Favorites Rick Estrin & The Nightcats : Dec 4th

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats - press photo2013 Blues Music Award recipient for Harmonica Player of the Year Rick Estrin will be leading his always popular band The Nightcats back to Portland for what will definitely be another stellar night of fun-time blues. Estrin has been praised over the years for his sensational stage presence and crafty often humorous songwriting alongside his harmonica work. He is joined in the band by one of the most fierce guitar slingers to be found anywhere in Kid Anderson. Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are a party just waiting to break out, which has always made them a much in demand …

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Cascade Blues Association Holiday Party, Dec. 11th

The Cascade Blues Association wants to invite all of our members to our annual membership holiday party. It takes place on Wednesday, December 11th, starting at 6:30 pm, at The Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St. We will have live music featuring Kenny Lee & The Sundowners, the Ellen Whyte Trio and the Norman Sylvester Band. The CBA will provide some finger snacks and members are welcome to bring baked goods to share. The Tualatin Valley Gleaners will also be on hand accepting canned food donations for the Oregon Food Bank. Though this is a member’s only event, you are …

Little G Weevil

Moving
VizzTone

Little G Weevil CD coverHaving originally come to the United States from Budapest, Hungary, one really would not believe that Gabor Szucs could possibly possess the knowledge and skills to play truly authentic sounding blues. But that notion would clearly be a fallacy.  Szucs, better known as Little G Weevil, proved exactly that by taking the title in the solo/duo competition at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Little G Weevil was your typical young guitarist fond of rock music when his brother brought home an album by John Lee Hooker. And that mystical sound that he heard on that disc …

Voo Davis

Vicious Things
Butter & Bacon Records

Voo Davis CD coverThis is one of those discs that continues to impress me more with each listen. Brian “Voo” Davis was born and spent his early years in Alabama, then moved with his family to Chicago when he was young. Living in Chicago brought him exposure to many of the most renowned blues players of our time including touring with the late Eddie King’s band, but he still feels a little draw to his Southern roots. Regardless, neither of these locales come across as dominating his musical interests and definitely do not pigeon-hole his own creations. …