Cascade Blues Association Holiday Party

This year the Cascade Blues Association HOLIDAY PARTY, on SUNDAY, DEC 7, is OPEN TO EVERYONE, so bring your friends & family & enjoy the fun. It will be held at The SPARE ROOM, 4830 NE 42^nd Ave in Portland. Many of you have been there before, but if this is your first time, enjoy purchasing the very reasonably priced food & drinks. To start the Holiday Season, you are welcome to BRING SWEET TREATS & DESSERTS for all to share. We will have both a SILENT AUCTION and RAFFLE, so begin your Christmas shopping here. MEMBERS ARE FREE and ALL OTHERS PAY only $5.00. A steal for six hours of music.

Please think of those less fortunate during the holidays and bring a couple cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank to the Holiday Party. The Tualatin Gleaners will be on hand to accept these donations. Nobody should go hungry during the holidays or any other time of the year.

This year’s Holiday Party Line-up includes:

12:00-1:00 BRIDGE CITY BLUES BAND. They have a reputation of playing a high energy mix of blues standards, both classic and new, that keeps toes tapping and feet dancing. This band of experienced musicians, all with different musical backgrounds, has a real heart and soul for the blues. After 6 years together, something unique still happens every time they hit the stage. Bring your dancing shoes!

1:15-2:15 GABRIEL COX BAND. Gabriel Cox is a true songwriter at heart, blending elements of blues, rock, pop, funk and soul. He just released his debut album, which you can buy that night at the CBA merchandise table. His performance at the Waterfront Blues Festival this year was rewarded with the nomination for CBA best “New Act”, and best “NW Recording” of 2014. Expect great things from this rising talent, you’re gonna love him!

2:30-3:30 KEVIN SELFE & THE TORNADOES. Kevin Selfe has been electrifying audiences nationwide as he effortlessly combines the guitar traditions of both legends and modern masters into his own unique approach. Signing with Delta Groove, “Long Walk Home” peaked at # 15 on the Billboard Blues Chart, # 6 on Living Blues Radio Chart, and #2 on SiriusXM Radio Bluesville “Pick to Click” list. Kevin’s songwriting skills won Muddys for both NW Recording of the Year and National Recording of the Year in 2013. That same year, Kevin was nominated for a Blues Blast Award. In all, the band has collectively 18 Muddy Awards. Take him home with you and put him at the bottom of your sock.

3:45-4:45 THE KEN DeROUCHIE BAND. This Soul/R&B/Funk/Blues band is composed of top players who bring a crisp horn section, tight rhythm section, & amazing 5-part vocal harmonies. The original music, written by Ken DeRouchie, has The Oregonian calling them “one of the best live bands in the NW”. They deserved this year’s Muddy nomination of Best R&B Act. By this September, their 4^th CD, “Muse” has been played on radio stations in 17 different countries. Come buy at least 1 CD and wrap it up for yourself. Now that’s true re-gifting!

5:00-6:00 ELLEN WHYTE & ALBERT REDA. Ellen is known for her astonishing vocals, moving gracefully from blues to jazz to funk to ballads. No wonder she has won numerous awards, including consideration for 2 Grammy Award nominations, in 1999 & recently 2009 for “Four Way Stop”. Albert Reda has received 11 Muddy awards & is now in the CBA Hall of Fame for Bass Player. But he can also mesmerize you while playing guitar or piano. But a pair of hearts, one from each.

Ellen is developing ”Second Season Concerts”, starting Feb, 2015 at The Alberta Rose Theater. We can all support this, both by donating funds to get this production off the ground, and coming to hear 3 bands perform on the second Sunday of each month. How special when artists, who have paid their dues, want to share what they have learned with new fans. I’m a fan, how about you?