Lloyd Jones

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 Fellow Blues Lovers,

Just returned from Memphis & Clarksdale! BMA’s & the “Rum Boogie” were big fun! Curtis Salgado swept the awards, and Portland was strongly represented with Curtis, Jimi Bott, Kevin Self, Peter Damman getting out and mixing it up. Wonderful to see & hear that happen. If ya’ll get a chance to make the trip (every May), be sure to make the trip down to Clarksdale as well. Incredible blues & soul history! Speaking of history, Sun Studio, Stax Museum, and Royal Studio, are worth the visit as well. Just this month Boz Scaggs hit #1 on the charts with his new release recorded last December at that very “Royal Studio in Memphis”! Willie Mitchell produced AL Green, OV Wright, Ann Peebles, Denise LaSalle, etc. out of his “Royal Studios” and now his family has continues to keep the struggling Memphis sound and Royal Studio tradition alive. It’s fantastic for Boz Scaggs to put a hit out of there TODAY!

Check it out!!!

Also in the news…. Saturday June 1st , I’m bringing the “One & Only Teresa James” from Los Angeles to Jimmy Mak’s! One night only! Don’t miss this one.!!!

We met on Delbert McClinton’s “Sandy Beaches Cruise’s” a few years back. She has been at the Waterfront Blues Fest a couple of times… and now…the super “Starlight Review” will feature the full Band Extravaganza of the Lloyd “Have Mercy” Jones Struggle with special guest Teresa James!

It’s early. 7-10pm. Best get your tickets soon. To reserve a spot now, go to www.tickettomato.com. Stay for the Starlight Parade at 10pm.

We’re going to miss the Waterfront Blues Festival this year for the first time since it began! Not to worry, I’ll be touring Denmark & Norway this year (you can check the website www.lloydjonesmusic.com for the specific dates) to promote “Doin’ What It Takes” in far away lands!

Lloyd Jones
“Groove Merchant”
www.lloydjonesmusic.com

 

Bay Area Boogie Piano Master Wendy DeWitt Back In Portland

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Wendy DeWitt performs a mix of boogie and blues that Robben Ford describes as “straight from the heart”. Growing up in California, she was deeply influenced by the sounds of Chicago blues and Texas boogie woogie, with particular nods to Otis Spann, Memphis Slim, Professor Longhair, Albert Ammons and her former employer Hank Ballard who called DeWitt his favorite piano player due to her full sound and two-fisted style. One of the most dynamic piano players today, her most recent album titled Industrial Strength finds her teamed up with drummer Kirk Harwood who also has an extensive background in the Bay Area blues scene having worked with Norton Buffalo, Roy Rogers and Huey Lewis. Together they have performed their lively boogie sounds up and down the West Coast and appeared at the 2012 International Blues Challenge.

Wendy DeWitt returns to Portland for a show at Duff’s Garage (1635 SE 7th) on Thursday, May 23rd, starting at 9:00 pm. Ticket price is $10.00. This is a CBA co-sponsored event with members receiving a $1.00 discount at the door when showing their current membership card.

Jim Mesi Band CD Release Party At Trails End Saloon

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Jim Mesi

Jim MesiIt has been a long wait for a new CD from the Jim Mesi Band, so it is definitely necessary that a party is thrown to celebrate its release. The new disc, I’m Ready, is filled with the great guitar grooves and tones you would expect from the CBA Muddy and Oregon Music Hall of Fame member, backed by a strong band that includes Scott White on bass/vocals, Ed Neumann on keys/vocals and Johnny Moore on drums. They will all be on hand, and probably several guests as well, at The Trails End Saloon (1320 Main Street) in Oregon City on Saturday, May 25th at 9:00 pm to showcase the new CD and old favorites as well. The Jim Mesi Band always gives the best in entertainment and you can expect no less for this show. It is a CBA co-sponsored event, so current members will receive a $1.00 discount on admission at the door by showing their membership card. Come on out, have a good time and take a copy of I’m Ready home with you.

Nick Moss Band Brings The Best In Chicago Blues To Duff’s Garage

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For more than a decade now, Nick Moss has been noted as one of the finest musicians performing traditional Chicago blues today. Sixteen Blues Music Award nominations over that period should easily attest to that. But he has been expanding his music and has proven he is cutting edge within all bluesy styles he approaches. Consistently touring venues and festivals across the country and into Europe have made these road dogs favorites of blues fans everywhere they make a stop. Nick Moss is a fiery guitarist/harmonica player/vocalist and he joined by the equally talented Michael Ledbetter on second guitar/percussion/vocals and drummer Patrick Seals. It has been a number of years since they last performed in Portland and for those who attended his last shows you know his return is long overdue and highly anticipated.

The Nick Moss Band will be performing at Duff’s Garage (1635 SE 7th) on Tuesday, May 28th at 9:00 pm. Admission is $12, with CBA members receiving a $1 discount when showing their current membership card at the door. Do not miss out on this one.

Soul Cookin’

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Bandstand

A lot of folks are talking about Blackwell’s, 1815 N.E. 41st Avenue (across from the Hollywood Theater), but especially about Wednesday nights, when Lloyd Jones, Carlton Jackson, Dover Weinberg, and Dave Kahl put together something they call Soul Cookin’. Apparently, the talk is working. Some good crowds have been showing up. Maybe it’s because of the early hours, 8:30-11:30 pm; maybe it’s the central location, or the ample parking, or even the fact that there’s still no cover. We’d like to think it’s about the music and the whole vibe, something that is more akin to Chicago’s South Side than Portland’s northeast.

The fact is that you will most definitely hear some world-class music and probably a good measure of laughs in the process.

Dover Weinberg Quartet

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Bandstand

As many of you know, the Dover Weinberg Quartet has had some tremendous times on Tuesday nights at Duff’s Garage over the past few years, making good music, good times, and great memories. While we’re not certain what the long term will look like, we are sure of one thing – the month of May will still have us holding down the fort, awaiting your much appreciated presence. From 9 pm to Midnight, Dover, Chris Carlson, Kelly Dunn, and Dave Kahl will be playing whatever moves them at the moment.

As if anything we do weren’t enough – from blues to bop, swing to rock, classic tunes to twisted arrangements – the addition of any special guests only makes the night more open to pleasant surprises. A great venue, friendly staff, large dance floor, and warm welcome await you.

Duff’s Garage is located at 1635 S.E. 7th Avenue, on the corner of Market Street. Cover is just $3.00.

Billy D and the Hoodoos

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Bandstand

Noticed some of the bands in Puddletown are going on the road this Spring/Summer season. Just stoppin’ by to say we’ll be takin’ our Bluzrock Original Tunes to Texas the beginning of May. Playing an event at Tarrant Co College to raise funds for the old Jubilee Theater in Ft Worth on Thursday May 2nd.

The Jubilee has been the home of many blues and jazz musicals for decades. It’s truly an honor to be asked.

Then we’ll be at a good sized rockin’ honkytonk, called Keys Lounge, also in Ft Worth, on Saturday, May 4th—promising all here we will do our best to represent the great music town of Portland and the Cascade Blues Association with everything we have !!!

Thanx for all the support and for all the great music in this city that inspires us all to create, honor and keep the blues alive. Hope we’ll have some cool Texas tales to tell when we return!!! Keep Rockin’!!!

Billy D

 

Franco Paletta and The Stingers

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Bandstand

Hey Everybody,

Nice seein’ you again! Spring has sprung, so things must become new. And in keeping with that theme, Franco Paletta and The Stingers will be having a release party for their latest CD, I Like It Just Like That, on Friday, May 10th, at the Muddy Award winning Trail’s End Saloon!!!

It’s gonna be a blast, with swing dancers, a raffle for prizes and CD’s, food and drink specials, and to top it off, you may just get yourself into the video the band is shooting of the show.

Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for this fun event…Franco and his lovely wife, Jeri, will even be celebrating their May birthdays. We can celebrate yours, too!

As always, thanks for supporting the band and be sure to hit the clubs and “SUPPORT LIVE BLUES MUSIC!”

Franco says,”CATCH A BLUES BUZZ!!!”

Franco Paletta
francopalettaandthestingers.com

Drummerboy

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Bandstand

Hey everyone! I’ve been doing these “Drummerboy feat” nights on the 1st Wednesday of every month for almost two years at The Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. The goal is to feature the best in the Pacific Northwest roots music (and give me a chance to play drums with them). In that time I’ve showcased many of Oregon’s best musicians. A partial list would include Peter Dammann, Ben Rice, Miss Rae Gordon, Gaddis Cavenah, Franck Léonard Goldwasser, James Miller, Steve Kerin, Alan Hager, Franco Paletta, Madman Sam, and more.

These have all been weeknight shows so I had little expectation that I’d see many of my Oregon brother and sisters in attendance. But on Saturday, June 8th I’m bringing back Jim, Ben, and the Madman for a special weekend show at The Highway 99 called “Drummerboy presents a One Night Only Revolution In Roots Music”.

This one-night-only show will feature The Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums (yes ladies…kilts!), The Muddy Sons, my country soul band The Modern Relics, and an all-star blues band with the Fabulous Mark Dufresne (formerly of Roomful of Blues) fronting us.

If you haven’t been to Seattle or The Highway 99 Blues Club in a while, this is an excellent opportunity! I normally offer up my house to out of towners, but I’ll be full up with Portland musicians for the night. So if you need a hotel recommendation, please let me know. I will help out in any way that I can to make your trip to this gig as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Okay now, no excuses. See you there!

 

Peace,

 

Jeff “DRUMMERBOY” Hayes

 

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

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Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, May 1st, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Still Water Vibes
Second Electric Set – Tree Top Tribe

The year keeps rolling along and we are more than blessed with such quality musicians on-hand in our region. We continually try to bring some of the best to you to start each month out at our General Membership Meeting. I mean, what a surprise April was! Lucy Hammond brought in a huge line-up of class A players and knocked our socks off; only to be followed by a stand-out set from Tracey Fordice & The 8-Balls. Well, we’re not going to let up now or anytime during the year, so we have yet another great pair of acts for you in May.

“More than meets the eye” is definitely a great way to describe Still Water Vibes who will be playing the opening set. Starting from the front, you’ll never guess that those incredible vocals came from Nick Wixom. At first glance he is a young, small, red-headed kid that probably has no business in a band let alone in front of a blues band. But give him 5 minutes and a soulful rendition of a classic BB King tune or a funky original song and he’ll sit you down in your chair and have you focused all night. Nick is one step away from becoming a household name in the Willamette Valley. Remember not to let your eyes deceive you, if you see a short red-head take the microphone, you’ll be in for a treat.

But the fun doesn’t stop at the vocals. One of the most important factors in a good blues band is the lead guitar. Brandon Logan fills that all important role with ease. Great tone and the smarts to know when to go overboard and when to sit back and groove, Brandon’s guitar playing is the kind that gives you goose bumps and has you begging for one more song.

What good are a great singer and an incredible guitar player if they don’t have a solid foundation? Jarred Venti on Bass and Brian Wixom on drums fill out the lineup with one of the best young rhythm sections anyone could ask for. With backgrounds in funk and rock and roll, they give Still Water Vibes an edge over the competition. Fans everywhere will certainly agree that if you don’t have a tight bottom end and skilled percussion then dancing is nearly impossible. So it’s no secret that when they put together the rhythm section they didn’t hold back and got some of the most talented young players the area had to offer.

Still Water Vibes doesn’t have the look of your traditional blues band, but that’s one of the best parts of the band. A great band sounds great when your eyes are closed, when they can take your attention away from the physical and bring out emotions with their music. Still Water Vibes is a great band.

After Still Water Vibes, we will take a short break to conduct our monthly announcements of blues events coming to town as well as having our free ticket drawing for your chance to win CDs, tickets and other fun items. Do not forget to get your drawing ticket at the door when you enter the venue.

For the second half of the night we will feature Tree Top Tribe, who performed for us before for our acoustic set at a meeting. This time, they will be throwing down with a bit of electricity. Led by guitarist Mick Schafer and violinist Tom Esch, with different supporting casts, Tree Top Tribe has been performing locally since 2005. Their album, Blackberry Jam Sessions has gotten local radio airplay and made it to Pandora.

Over the past year, the band got a sizable boost from a new rhythm section, bass player Brian Link and drummer Joe Howard. Brian Link has been a professional musician since high school in Virginia. Introduced to the band through their previous drummer, Matt Ramsdell and it didn’t take long before Brian sat in and blew everybody away. Mick and Tom heard Joe Howard play for the first time on a really good jazz demo and later Mick heard him live at Coyote’s jazz jam. The acid test was putting Joe and Brian together. That sealed it.

Tree Top Tribe’s keyboard player is Colin Hogan, who also fronts her own band, the Colin Trio. Here’s an interesting story from her feistyfolk.com site: “In January 2006 her demo found its way into the hands of New Orleans legend Dr. John, who was so captivated by her rendition of Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine” that he requested that Colin join him onstage during his Hampton, VA show. The impromptu duo sang a memorable rendition of the classic “Makin Whoopee.”

Tree Top Tribe is a fine amalgamation of talented musicians. Mick Schafer was once approached by keyboardist Tim Doyle one night at Coyote’s and stated, “You guys are really good. Where do you find these amazing young musicians?” Mick told him…… for a non religious person, he prays a lot. Well you won’t need to do any praying at the meeting, but you just mind yourself giving thanks for the great talent we have in town.

Hope to see you all there.

Greg Johnson

President, Cascade Blues Association