Entries by Wendy Schumer

Tedeschi Trucks Band to Play Salem’s Elsinore Theater; Dec. 8th

Tedeschi Trucks Band - press photoBoth husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi had long standing successful careers as individual artists when they decided to join their talents together in 2010. After all, it is a bit tough on a marriage when you’re separated so much with touring, so why not do it together. It was a match definitely made in heaven as the Tedeschi Trucks Band in its short time as a unit has amassed multiple Grammy and Blues Music Awards, including both band and guitarist of the year, while selling out theaters and headlining festivals around the world.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band, …

The Story Of Piano Blues: From The Country To The City

Various Artists
Wolf Records

The Story of Piano Blues CD coverOh, what I wouldn’t give to have the opportunity to go through the recorded archives of some of the record labels offering blues music. Take the German label Wolf Records for example. They consistently come up with releases of some very obscure or lost recordings of both well-known and overlooked musicians, including some never heard before tracks or out-of-print albums that deserve to be heard once again. They have covered artists like Magic Slim, John Primer, Detroit Junior and many others over the years and sometimes put out compilations that are flat out superb. Their latest …

Pete Anderson

Birds Above Guitarland
Little Dog Records

Pete Anderson CD coverPete Anderson is one of those guitarists with a tone that most players would die for. Never overstated playing, using just the right amount to address each song he presents. With a career deeply implanted with a twanging rock background, his music never really does stray too far away from his love for the blues. He has had his share of helping others, bringing artists like Lucinda Williams and Rosei Flores to the forefront and a long partnership performing with Dwight Yoakum, something that has crossed his work over several genres …

It’s Crime-a-Billy Christmas Time Again With The Strange Tones! Dec. 14th

1234669_10201673668474215_605756335_nIt has become an annual holiday tradition to celebrate the season with The Strange Tones over the past few years and their Christmas Concert keeps getting more grand every time out. This year’s event will return to The Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd on December 14th and will include The Volcano Vixens, special guests and even a new original Strange Tones film.

The night will start off with a set by one of Portland’s most popular piano players, D.K. Stewart that is sure to get the crowd jumping. Following D.K.’s set sit back and enjoy a nearly-30-minute original …

Tommy Hogan

Howl Like The Wind
Self Produced

Tommy Hogan CD cover

As outstanding as Tommy Hogan’s debut recording was, this sophomore release, Howl Like The Wind, raises the bar a few feet higher. Listening to Hogan’s guitar playing you can tell that he is well versed in the music of those legendary artists who inspired him. There are sharp glimpses of Freddie and Albert King and a heavy dose of John Lee Hooker, and he takes us from Texas to the West Coast, but all the while he lays it out in his own voice.

Alongside Tommy Hogan’s exceptional guitar work, vocals and harmonica playing, …

Northwest Women Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert “Plays It Forward”

The 15th Annual Northwest Women Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert, produced by Sonny Hess, is a highlight of Portland’s holiday music season. This year there will be two opportunities to catch this amazing event featuring a combination of many of the Pacific Northwest’s foremost female artists. The line-up this year will include Duffy Bishop, Rae Gordon, Sonny Hess, Linda Hornbuckle, Ellen Whyte, Lisa Mann, June Howell, Vicki Stevens, Lady Kat, Theresa Lowe, Janice Scroggins, Arietta Ward, Claudia Knauer and Kelly Pierce. (Please note: Linda Hornbuckle is looking forward to performing at this year’s event, but this may depend on her …

The T-Bone Walker Tribute Show Is Back! Dec. 8th

Over the past couple of years since their first concert was first presented, The T-Bone Walker Tribute Band has become one of the most entertaining and anticipated shows in the region. With only a handful of appearances behind them, including a Muddy Awards nominated set at the Waterfront Blues Festival, they will return to where it all began, Duff’s Garage on Sunday, December 8th.

T-Bone Walker without doubt is one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time. Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and BB King are among the artists who claimed Walker as a major inspiration to …

New Music To Note:

A listing of new music received at the CBA office or purchased personally this past month that should be noted:
Allen-LAmun Band – All In The Numbers (Mad Left Music)
Andra Faye & Scott Ballantine – Laying Down Our Blues (Self Produced)
Bart Walker – Waiting On Daylight (Ruf)
Birdlegg – Birdlegg (Dialtone Records)
Cyril Neville – Magic Honey (Ruf)
Grace Curran & The High Falutin’ Band – Proof Of Love (Vizzable Music)
Harper & Motor City Josh – Bare Bones (BluHarp Records)
Jonny Sansone – Once It Gets Started (Shortstack Records)
Mike Zito – Gone To Texas (Ruf)
Ray …

The Sultans Of Slide: Four Guitar Masters, One Stage At Duff’s Garage; Dec. 20th

It’ll be a meeting of the Northwest premier slide guitarists at Duff’s Garage on Friday, December 20th as Washington’s Rod Cook and Mark Riley travel down from Seattle to share the stage with Oregon’s Monti Amundson and Henry Cooper. Each guitarist in their own right is a master at laying down sizzling slide licks having all worked extensively throughout the region for the past few decades. But together, as The Sultans of Slide, this is certain to be an astounding night of ferocious guitar playing guaranteed to heat things up. And to help push that temperature even further, they …

Bassist Jonathan Chase Plays the Blues Among Other Interesting Endeavors

By Laurie Morrisey

The Portland Metro area is an amazing place for young musicians. The locals are proving that the blues will never die and future generations will carry on the proud traditions of the culture. One of those musicians is Jonathan Chase.

Jonathan began working as a professional musician since he was sixteen years old.  “I got my first bass guitar at the age of fourteen and found my first professional gig by accident. I was called to fill in with a blues band in a rehearsal, even though I only knew one blues song and it wasn’t one …