Hey everybody! It’s time to clean out all of your closets, garage and basement. While you’re at it . . . your neighbors, too! The third annual Cascade Blues Association rummage Sale is coming and your donated items are needed and welcome. This year’s sale will be held at The Bomber, 13515 SE McLoughlin in Milwaukie on Saturday, September 7th, from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Come on out Read more
July just seems to be packed full of great performances from local and touring acts, but here is a quick look at a few other blues acts hitting the area that you may be interested to checking out.
On Saturday, July 6th, British blues-rocker Sandi Thom will be doing an in-store performance at Music Millennium at 3:00 pm. That same night at the Oregon Zoo, one of the leading influential Read more
By Laurie Morrisey
A while back, I approached Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival Talent Coordinator, Peter Dammann, and asked him about some of the unsung heroes of the festival. The first name that came to his mind was Ray Varner. Ray worked at the Fed-Ex Stage for about 10 years, although he’s retired now.
“He was the perfect guy for that gig. I relied on his judgment a lot; he was one of the people, especially in the early years, that encouraged me to go after some of the Read more
Curtis Salgado Wins Big at 34th Annual Blues Music Awards
The Blues Foundation held the 34th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, May 9th, and the night’s biggest winner was none other than Portland’s own Curtis Salgado. Nominated for four awards, Curtis Salgado took home three, including awards for Best Soul Blues album for his incredible release Soul Shot, his third Soul Blues Artist (2010, 2012 & 2013) and the most coveted prize of the night, the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. That third BMA is perhaps the most telling due to the tribulations Curtis has suffered the past few years with health issues that have seen him undergo a liver transplant and surgeries for lung cancer, only to dive into his recording, touring and performances with renewed vigor. All that hard work has definitely paid off and has been recognized by the voting members of The Blues Foundation.
The sole prize that Salgado had been nominated for that he did not receive was for Song of the Year for his number “She Didn’t Cut Me Loose,” which was awarded to Janiva Magness for her touching tune “I Won’t Cry.” Magness also was named Contemporary Female Blues Artist. Other multiple winners included Derek Trucks (Gibson Guitar Award and also with the Trucks-Tedeschi Band for Band of the Year and Rock Blues Album for Everybody’s Talkin’); and the late Michael Burks (Contemporary Blues Album and Album of the Year for his posthumous release Show Of Strength).
The Blues Music Awards is much more than just an awards show. It is also an amazing concert that featured 21 sets of music over a time frame of nearly eight hours. Performances by nominees and winners included burning sets by acts such as Joe Louis Walker, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Victor Wainwright, Janiva Magness, Curtis Salgado, The Mannish Boys, Heritage Blues Orchestra, Dorothy Moore and many others.
Besides the Blues Music Awards, Memphis was packed full of terrific shows surrounding the event, including jams led by Nick Moss and Brandon Santini, a 100th birthday tribute to Pinetop Perkins, and label & agency showcases from VizzTone Records and Blind Racoon amongst others.
On Wednesday night before the BMAs, The Blues Foundation also held a dinner honoring this year’s inductees into the Blues Hall of Fame. Joe Louis Walker remarked on what an honor being inducted, “”You get in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by selling a lot of records. You get into the Blues Hall of Fame by having credibility” Joe Louis Walker, Jody Williams and Otis Clay all were honored with inductions along with artists who have passed Earl Hooker, Jimmie Rodgers and Little Brother Montgomery. There were also numerous people recognized for their songs, albums, literature and music production, such as Memphis Minnie. Louis Jordan, Howlin’ Wolf, Henry “Ragtime” Thomas and New Orleans studio wizard Cosimo Matassa. For the full list of Blues Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.blues.org.
Blues Music Award winners for 2013 were:
Acoustic Album: Not Alone – Ann Rabson w/ Bob Margolin
Acoustic Artist: Eric Bibb
Album: Show of Strength – Michael Burks
B.B King Entertainer: Curtis Salgado
Band: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best New Artist Debut: They Call Me Big Llou – Big LLou Johnson
Contemporary Blues Album: Show of Strength – Michael Burks
Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Tab Benoit
DVD: Eagle Rock Entertainment – Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones, Live at Checkerboard
Lounge
Gibson Guitar: Derek Trucks
Instrumentalist-Bass: Bob Stroger
Instrumentalist-Drums: Cedric Burnside
Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Rick Estrin
Instrumentalist-Horn: Eddie Shaw
Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female): Ruthie Foster
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Victor Wainwright
Rock Blues Album: Everybody’s Talkin’ – Tedeschi Trucks Band
Song: “I Wont Cry” written by Janiva Magness & Dave Darling – Stronger For It (Janiva
Magness)
Soul Blues Album: Soul Shot – Curtis Salgado
Soul Blues Female Artist: Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado
Traditional Blues Album: Double Dynamite – The Mannish Boys
Traditional Blues Male Artist: Magic Slim
Over the years, The Cascade Blues Association’s Sweethearts Dance has become a Valentine’s weekend tradition, as we have brought some of the finest local talent to help celebrate the event. That talent has included the likes of Mary Flower, Duffy Bishop, Robbie Laws, Bill Rhoades, The Strange Tones and one year we even had Blues Music Award winner Watermelon Slim drop by to help out while he was in town. Always a fun night of the blues and dancing with that special sweetheart, we’re hoping to have you join us again this year on Friday, February 15th at Vie de Boheme (1530 SE 7th). And we’re going to make this year’s event a showcase of local Women in the Blues.
We will open the night with a familiar face if you attended last year. Melissa Buchanan sat in with the Deep Blue Soul Revue last year and she was so well received we decided to invite her and her new band to play this year. The artful subtleties and straight, but powerful delivery of the vintage masters are inspiration to Melissa as she works to deliver a performance to remember. She employs several genres of music to fit the audience mood or event ranging from jump blues to smoldering torch songs. Melissa also has a swing and blues dance background, so when it comes to performing music, danceability is of utmost importance.
Making the trip from Eugene for the second set will be the Joanne Broh Blues Band. A past finalist in the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey To Memphis and a musical mentor with United By Music, Joanne Broh is also a recipient of the Rainy Day Blues Society’s Rooster Awards for Female Vocalist. Joining Joanne for the performance are several of the Eugene area’s finest players, including Jerry Zybach, Jim Badalich, Sean Brennan and John Bryson. Joanne has been known to offer a variety of music, from rock and funk flavors, but it is always steeped heavily with the blues in everything she does.
Headlining this year’s Sweetheart Dance will be one of the quickest rising stars on the international blues scene today, and recent transplant to the Portland area from Southern Oregon, Karen Lovely. Following her taking second place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, representing the Cascade Blues Association in 2010, Karen has released two highly praised CDs, received seven CBA Muddy Awards and was nominated for three Blues Music Awards in 2011. And she has also been a favorite for festivals and concerts throughout North America and into Europe. Joining Karen will be her regular guitarist Leonard Griffie, making the trek up from Ashland for the event, and a yet to be named group of Portland area all-stars to compliment her performance.
Vie de Boheme is an urban winery with great food and plenty of room for dancing. Admission to the Sweetheart Dance is $10 per person or $15 for couples. Everything will start at 8:00 pm, so grab your sweetheart and come celebrate Valentine’s Day with three outstanding vocalists and good friends. Always one of the most fun nights on the CBA calendar every year. Hope to see you there.
By Tom Harmon of Positively Entertaining Magazine
The buzz, the electricity, even before the band started, was fantastic. The band members were really enjoying the idea of performing at the Blue Diamond in Portland OR. They greeted customers and friends as they came in the door, which created a real welcoming atmosphere.
As things came about and it was time for the first set to begin the Sonny Hess Band started to cook with the very first song (an original by Sonny). The house roared with approval.
Then, by the third song, the new vocalist Vicki Stevens came up on stage. Just as she was introduced a smile came across her face and a rumba broke out (a rumba, not a rumble). Vicki’s dominance and great voice captivated the audience to its next level of interest.
Between Vicki and Sonny, Jim on bass, and Kelly on drums the crowd continued to respond after every song with outstanding approval. As the evening progressed the band was met with applause from the very first song. They started out hot and just got hotter. The Sonny Hess Band will hold your interest all night.
Sonny Hess is a great and seasoned player no doubt. Having played the Portland and regional circuit from the 80’s and 90’s Sonny played lead guitar for the Paulette N’ Power Band from 1991 to 1996. The Power Band took Portland by storm in the early 90’s winning the Best R&B Act Award by the People’s Choice Crystal Awards.
They had a tight sound with a recording contract in the works when Paulette met her untimely death. Since then, Sonny has continued looking for that “special connection” while performing in clubs and festivals with the Sonny Hess Band. When Vicki sat in with the legendary band, something happened that couldn’t be denied, it was like, MAGIC and that magic was felt by everyone.
Vicki Stevens holds a Rainy Day Blues Society Rooster Award for Best Female Blues Vocalist. She was also a semi-finalist in Memphis’ International Blues Challenge and continues to slam the Northwest audiences in the face with her bluesy vocal style and show-stopping performances. She connects with her crowds as though she knows them personally. Vicki has a dynamic presence on stage. When she sings and moves the audience is focused on her. She molds herself to each song as she performs them. She’s an artist with great expression.
Sonny Hess is the first woman guitar player to hold a nomination for Best Lead Guitar Muddy Award by the Cascade Blues Association as well as a nomination for a lifetime Achievement Award. She has implemented many music programs in the area, fundraisers and benefits, and is known for her productions of the NW Women R&B shows. Hess started playing guitar when she was eight years old. Her influences have been Grand Funk, John and Edgar Winter, Clapton, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt.
Bass player Jim Hively had some of the most slick bass lines and runs. Using his five string custom bass he ran off eighth notes that created a full sound while playing off lead guitarist Hess. The fullness of his playing made the band sound complete something not always achieved by a three piece band. Hively has played ever since he was a kid at school and at church. He was influenced early by bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, Cold Blood, and others. He’s played with Sonny Hess for the last nine years and is excited about the possibilities that the band has.
Drummer Kelly Pierce has professional delivery in every song he plays whether it’s funk, blues, or rock. Tonight both he and Jim were in the pocket on every song. The energy he pours into the Sonny Hess Band behind the drums shines. He’s played with Sonny for eighteen years providing the driving force behind her guitar playing. Playing since he was sixteen his early influences were Tony Williams, John Bonham, and Sonny Payne (Big Band and Swing). He recently was in the studio with Hess and Hively finishing their most recent CD.
The mix for the band was perfect. Each player maintained a volume that didn’t overpower anybody and the vocals were clearly heard from all four mics. And their harmonies were strong and right on.
So what’s in the future for the Sonny Hess Band? Sonny has planned on being a regional touring act. They have national ability and are looking for a good deal. Just recently they released a new CD All Aces and another CD is planned to come out in 2013.
For bookings contact Sonny Hess at www.sonnyhess.com
The Blue Diamond bar is located at 2016 NE Sandy Blvd Portland. The Blue Diamond is a long time club that features Rock, Blues, and Funk entertainment. Steve the owner offers a complete menu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner and lunch specials are offered daily (a favorite dish is the Halibut Bites). The food is great and is served by an excellent staff. There is a full bar with large screen TV’s and slot machines. It’s a great atmosphere. Open from 10am til 12am with entertainment six nights a week. If you’ve never been here you should come in for a visit.
On February 1, a new music-cinema project takes flight at the Clinton Street Theater. Called Reel Relics, it features an assortment of the best, unseen live performances from a broad mix of talent. Probing deep into the vaults of history finding meticulously curated live performances. Seeking to educate through direct transmission and purposeful alignments that encourage the desire to alleviate suffering through universal music. This self-produced program by local independent film producer and musician Darren Aboulafis showcases some of the finest live performances from a diversity of talent spanning the last 40-odd years that have never been seen before.
Of special interest to CBA members will definitely be the February 22nd showing of Down So Long that captures performances by Bonnie Raitt (from 1974), Memphis Slim (1976), B.B. King (1971) and Koko Taylor (1988), and also the Slowhand showing on May 10th & 11th, an unreleased documentary on Eric Clapton filmed in 1979.
The Reel Relics schedule is as follows:
Feb. 1-2: David Bowie/Story of Ziggy Stardust; Feb 8-9: 70’s Women Rock; Feb 22: Down So Long; Mar 8-9: Conspiracy; Mar 22-23: Revolutions; Apr 12-13: Adjustments; Apr 26-27: Wonderland; May 10-11: Slowhand; May 24-25: Who is Poly Styrene/X-Ray Spex?; Jun 14-15: MC5: A True Testimonial; June 28-29: Synthestesia; Jul 12-13: The Who: Can You See the Real Me?
The Clinton Street Theater is located at 2522 SE Clinton Street.