Jimmy Mak’s Presents Blue Christmas With Rae Gordon & Friends- Dec. 13th

,

Tis the Season of Soul at Jimmy Mak’s with the soulful sounds of Christmas, as they present Merry at Mak’s. It will be one glorious holiday happening on Saturday, December 13th, all starting at 8:00 pm and featuring some of the areas finest award winning musicians. They’re all strong forces in the Portland community with their own musical projects, but they’ll share the stage together for just one beautiful joyous night.

This show will include the Rae Gordon Band rhythm section with Gaddis Cavenah on guitar, Federico Pol on bass and Edwin Coleman III on drums . Plus, Louis Pain on Keys, Renato Caranto on Sax, with Lloyd Jones on guitar and vocals, and LaRhonda Steele and Rae Gordon add their voices to the Merry at Mak’s Christmas Chorus. Santa Claus will also be making an appearance.

Come down for the show that will help jump start your holiday cheer with some memorable performances with Holiday hymns that are both new and tried and true, sung by some of your favorite performers. Jimmy Mak’s is located at 221 NW 10th. General admission is only $12.00. Reservations for dinner highly recommended and will guarantee you a seat.  So go early and plan on getting your holiday cheer on. For more information go www.raegordon.com/merryatmaks.

Seven Northwest Acts Heading To Memphis To Participate In Huge International Blues Challenge Fundraiser- Dec. 12th

,

The Pacific Northwest Blues Societies have developed a strong tradition of sending some of the finest acts to Memphis each year to take part in the International Blues Challenge. Though this is a competition being held in Memphis, the competitors are all supportive of one another, cheering for one another at the IBC as well as helping each other out to help raise the needed funds for everybody to be able to get to Tennessee beforehand.

This year, five Northwest Blues Societies will be sending a total of nine acts and one youth band. Two huge fundraising events have been scheduled in December, featuring several of these winning acts at both.

The first will be held in Portland at Duff’s Garage on Friday, December 12th, starting at 7:30 pm. This show will feature the Cascade Blues Association’s representatives The Rae Gordon Band and David Pinsky & Phil Newton, Washington Blues Society’s solo entry Nick Vigarino, South Sound Blues Association’s CD Woodbury Band, Rainy Day Blues Society’s Randy Oxford Band and Walker T. Ryan, and the Ashland Blues Society’s solo/duo entry Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond. Admission to this event is $15.00 and a silent auction and raffle will also be held to raise extra funds. Duff’s Garage is located at 2530 NE 82nd.

Then on Sunday, December 14th, Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle, 1414 Alaskan Way, will host another IBC fundraiser featuring many of these same acts, with the Washington Blues Society’s band winners The Rafael Tranquilino Band and Ashland Blues Society’s Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls joining in.

Please support all of the Northwest IBC acts as they continue to raise the money to cover their travel, hotel and meal expenses to get back to Memphis. These two events are a great way to help out.

2014 Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards Recipients

,
  •  Contemporary Blues Act – Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band
  • R&B Act – Curtis Salgado
  • Traditional Blues Act – Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes
  • Regional Blues Act – Hank Shreve Band
  • New Blues Act – Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls
  • “Duffy Bishop” Female Vocalist – Rae Gordon
  • “Curtis Salgado” Male Vocalist – Ben Rice
  • Electric Guitar – Kevin Selfe
  • “Terry Robb” Acoustic Guitar – Mary Flower
  • Bass – Lisa Mann
  • Drums – Jimi Bott
  • Harmonica – Mitch Kashmar
  • Keyboards – Steve Kerin
  • Horns – Peter Moss
  • “The Hurley” Award – Randy Schleining
  • Venue – The Lehrer
  • Northwest Recording – Lisa Mann “Move On”
  • National Recording – Tommy Castro “The Devil You Know”
  • Northwest Event – For The Love of Janice: A Celebration of Life for Janice Scroggins
  • Performance of the Year – Curtis Salgado at the Waterfront Blues Festival
  • Back What You Believe In – Soul Sisters Productions
  • Lifetime Achievement – Janice Scroggins

Cascade Blues Association Holiday Party, December 7th At The Spare Room

, ,

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 42nd 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 4th 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?

Intent To Run For President

,

Intent To Run For President

What can I say. I have been honored to serve as your Cascade Blues Association President for 13 years, 17 years on the Board of Directors. With your blessing, I would like to ask to return for a 14th year as your President.

Over the years I have been involved with just about every event that the Cascade Blues Association has presented at one time or another, but my main focus personally has been toward the Blues Notes,  Journey To Memphis and the Muddy Awards. I believe in delegating to other Board Members responsibilities of handling events to allow them to grow. I know if I had not been given this opportunity from those leading the CBA before me I could not do a number of the roles I take on now.

My participation in the blues community also extends beyond the CBA. For the past three years I have been the talent organizer for the Blues4MS concerts, volunteering for The Blues Foundation helping them run stages at both the International Blues Challenge and the Blues Music Awards, hosting benefit shows when asked, and somewhere in there over the past couple years I have found the time in writing the narrative for a book being released in January documenting the International Blues Challenge featuring photography from my friend from Baton Rouge.

But the main drive for me still remains with our local musicians, helping them gain greater recognition that will hopefully take them beyond the Northwest. And I still hold the ethic that all musicians are treated equally and fairly. Everybody is offered the same access to promote themselves through the CBA as long as they’re blues or roots related music.

Thank you for the years you’ve allowed me to serve you. But there is still a lot yet to do. I’m asking for your permission to continue on that path.

Thank you for your consideration,

Greg Johnson

Rambling On My Mind- Nov 2014

,

ramblings201306BNGreg Johnson / CBA President

The Portland music community has seen its overabundance of losses this past year when it comes to iconic musicians in the city. In the past eleven months we witnessed the untimely deaths of Jim Miller and Janice Scroggins, both completely unexpected. Mel Solomon left us in late June after a long time run against diabetes. But personally, it was the loss of Linda Hornbuckle this last month that really struck home. Even though we all knew that she was battling a no-win situation with kidney cancer, I could never imagine Portland not having her with us.

When I began working in the music industry back in the early 80s for the national distributor Lieberman Enterprises, new recordings were flying through our doors every week that found its way onto the players in the building. We would often head out in the evening to catch performances in the thriving local clubs downtown. Several bands from the area were gaining national attention, such as Nu Shooz, Quarterflash and the Dan Reed Network. Linda and her strong soulful voice played a part with each of those acts as they played around the country. But it was the soul band Body and Soul that really captured Linda in this time period. We knew without a doubt at that time that their featured vocalist Linda Hornbuckle was indeed Soul Sister #1 in a city filled with terrific musicians. If you wanted to get out and dance or just to hear some of those great Motown and soul hits, there was no better band to be found.

A few years later, blues legend Paul deLay began a hiatus from performing courtesy of the Federal Prison system, leaving his band without their vocal leader. Many acts’ members may have moved on in different directions at that time under this type of circumstances, but the band recruited Linda to become their focal point and it was a winning formula. She won her first of three Muddy Awards for best Female Vocalist in 1992 (the others coming in 1994 and 2004)and the band released a superb album titled Soul Diva Meets The Blues Monsters under their new name Linda Hornbuckle & The No DeLay Band. Already a star in the soul and R&B community in town, this collaboration firmly set her footprint in the blues scene as one of its best. And I can remember how proud I was to see her included in an article in Living Blues magazine naming her one of the Top 40 Under 40 in the world of the blues.

Sadly, If there is any one part of Linda’s career that I felt was missing, it was the fact that she was highly under-recorded. Aside from the No DeLay album, she only released two others under her own name, 2001’s Clearly and 2009’s Sista, the latter a beautiful meshing of her voice with the piano of her close and long-time friend Janice Scroggins.

Linda Hornbuckle became a regularly featured performer at many festivals and events over the years. She was featured annually with The Trail Band’s Christmas shows at The Aladdin Theater. She was routinely scheduled to sing the National Anthem every 4th of July at the Waterfront Blues Festival, an event that saw her perform in many of that festival’s best known showcases such as the tributes to Paul deLay and Ray Charles. Yet, it was always her annual “Old Time Gospel Hour” that proved to be the most emotionally moving. Not a big surprise as Linda Hornbuckle was born singing the music of church from a young age in her father Bishop Howard Hornbuckle’s congregation at Portland’s Grace and Truth Pentacostal Church. It obviously was this early training that helped develop her strong and heartfelt voice.

In 2010, she was given the highest honor for a musician in the State of Oregon as she was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. A place she so rightfully deserved.

Diagnosed with cancer in 2012, performances would continue over the next two years, though sometimes those scheduled appearances were missed due to her painful condition. And she continued to book gigs at Jimmy Mak’s and the Doug Fir Lounge for her gospel shows. I spoke with Linda’s husband Mark Young not too long ago one night at Jimmy Mak’s asking how she was feeling. I felt bad as it had been too long since I had made my way to one of her shows and I promised that I would do so as soon as I could. I never got the opportunity and it crushes me for not making it more of a priority. But again, it is the perception I falsely led myself to believe that I could not imagine Linda not being around. The last two times I saw her perform was at Janice Scroggins’ Celebration of Life and the Old Time Gospel Hour at the Waterfront Blues Festival. How I wish there was more. I hear her now in my mind, singing “Natural Woman,” “Georgia” with The Ray Charles Tribute Band, and mostly “Amazing Grace,” nobody could do that hymn like her.

Not having Linda Hornbuckle amongst us is going to take a long time to comprehend. For so many years she has always been there giving her heart and soul to her music. Thank you Linda for all the wonderful memories you gave to us and which will forever be held within our hearts. You certainly made my life better with your songs.

 

Soul, Blues, Funk, Jazz and R&B Blend Together Seamlessly In the Music of Ken DeRouchie

KDBBy Laurie Morrisey

“If Lenny Kravitz and Aretha Franklin met at the intersection of James Brown Blvd. and Sly Stone Way, while listening to Tower of Power covering an Average White Band tune…yeah, that about covers it.” Those are the words of Ken DeRouchie when talking about his music. An artist that describes his music that way, is a band you just gotta hear.

Ken’s passion started early, when he was only two years old and started playing drums. By the time he was 16, he was playing local shows in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. When he was 18, he was hired to go on a North American tour with Larry Norman and the Young Lions. A year later he got his first record deal. He is living his dream—he’s wanted to play music his entire life.

He is basically self-taught, but did play some in the school band. He confesses, “I don’t read music.” When performing live, Ken plays guitar and sings. On recordings he plays guitar, bass, keys, drums and sings.

Influences

Musical influences are a huge list, according to Ken. “My favorite band is Steely Dan—I think Walter and Donald are geniuses; Lenny Kravitz—one of his songs was the inspiration for the title track of Muse); Galactic; Ray Charles; Aretha Franklin; Gladys Knight; Tom Waits; and sooooo many more.”

Before starting his own band in 1996, Ken played with several other bands: 1985-1986 Larry Norman and the Young Lions; 1992-1995 Monde La Bella; 1996 Kaitlyn Ni Donovan; and 1996-1997 iddy biddy.

Bandmates

The Ken DeRouchie Band (KDB) is made up of: LaRhonda Steele—vocals—joined KDB in 1999; Arietta Ward—vocals—joined in 2013; Jeff Knudson—lead guitar—joined in 2003; Rob Busey—bass—joined in 1997; Clayton Daffron—tenor sax—joined in 2003; Chris Lay—drums—joined in 2013; Alex Milsted—keys/sax—joined in 2014; and David Chachere—trumpet—joined in 2014.

CD’s

Ken has several CD’s out, including: 1986 Street Angel (produced by Bill Romansky and Ken DeRouchie); 1993 Monde La Bella – Exquisite Corpse (produced by Dan Reed); 1995 Monde La Bella – Unreleased CD (produced by Ken DeRouchie, Scott Adamo and Carrie White); 1996 iddy biddy – Meet Me At The Psycogenic Photodeli (produced by Greg Whitehead and Ken DeRouchie); 1998 Ken DeRouchie Band – FunkSoulJazzPopLatinRock (Produced by Ken DeRouchie); 2000 Ken DeRouchie Band – Y2KDB (Produced by Ken DeRouchie); 2007 Ken DeRouchie Band – Live at Jimmy Mak’s (Produced by Ken DeRouchie); and 2013 Ken DeRouchie Band – Muse.

CBA President Greg Johnson reviewed the CD Muse and had this to say, “Ken DeRouchie is an incredible songwriter. His material is filled with emotional tales reminiscing of personal love, both found and lost and covering all points in between, all forever cherished. And like the best songwriters he has used these experiences to express himself in his art. This is his muse that has proven to be the theme of this album.”

In addition to these CD’s, Ken also has some Indie movie soundtracks and Indie video game soundtracks. He is working on material for a new disc, hopefully out in 2015.

In closing

Ken has received praise from publications and radio stations around the world, but local legend, Steve Pringle of KINK FM, sums it up best. “Ken and his band bring it each and every night. Horns that moan and wail, guitars that grind and soothe and a rhythm section tighter than a frog’s ass. The KDB has a story to tell, pull up a chair.”

To find out where to see the Ken DeRouchie Band for yourself, visit their website at www.kdband.net.

What’s on Tap for November’s General Membership Meeting . . . The Muddy Awards!!

, , ,

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, November 5th, 6:30 pm
Members always Free – Non-members attending the Muddys $5.00

It’s here again. The biggest night for the blues in the City of Portland as the Cascade Blues Association honors those outstanding musicians, venues, events, recordings and individuals with the highly coveted Muddy Awards for excellent achievement during this past year. Twenty-two categories will be presented by members of the CBA Board of Directors, noted artists and other friends of the blues recognizing those chosen as recipients by the members of the Cascade Blues Association by ballots the past two months.

Make sure to arrive early, because this event annually draws 500+ attendees and tables fill up quickly. It is a gala event, so feel free to dress up a little, but it is not required. Because of the early start, The Melody Ballroom will have dinners available for purchase.

Since we are honoring our local musicians, it is only fitting that we have live performances to enhance the evening. Opening the night will be the Cascade Blues Association’s 2014 Journey To Memphis winners, The Rae Gordon Band at 6:30. The Awards presentations will begin right around 7:30 following a tribute to those artists we lost in the past year since the last Muddy Awards ceremonies. Mid-way through the awards, we will continue with the tradition we started last year and will have a musical interlude featuring our 2014 Journey To Memphis solo/duo winners, travelling all the way from Ashland to participate, David Pinsky & Phil Newton. After the conclusion of the awards, it’s time to party. Every year we invite a musician to put together an all-star jam band including past and present Muddy Award nominees and recipients. This year’s guest band leader is keyboard maestro Dave Fleschner. Dave has already pieced together an impressive line-up, but he is still talking to others for commitments. At this time expect to enjoy performances by: Alan Hager, Andy Stokes, Brad Ulrich, Brandy Hutchinson, Brian Foxworth, Dave Kahl, Doug Bundy, Doug Rowell, Jim Wallace, Jimi Bott, Karen Lovely, LaRhonda Steele, Mark Steele, Mary Flower, Mitch Kashmar, Randy Monroe and Steve Kerin. Quite an impressive grouping indeed.

The Muddy Awards are a  not to miss event.  Please join us for what is always one of the highest anticipated nights for the Portland Blues Community. If you’re not a member, you can always join at the venue if you’d like. This, like all Cascade Blues Association monthly meetings, is open to all ages.

Cascade Blues Association Board of Director Officer Elections Happen in December

, ,

Your Cascade Blues Association NEEDS you ! Every year the Officer positions for the Board of Directors are selected by the membership at the December General Meeting. Open positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Secretary. These are the key positions of the Board of Directors and the voting positions that elect the At-Large Members. If you would like to run for one of these positions, submit your letter of intent to run to CascadeBluesStaff@gmail.com or mail to PO Box 14493, Portland, OR 97293. If received before November 15th, we will include your letter in the December BluesNotes.

Please note the following message being rerun from last month. We really do you’re your help. You do not have to run for an Officer position in order to be a member of the Board of Directors or a Volunteer.

Have you ever thought about getting more involved? Well now is the time!!  You can choose to be a part of the CBA Board or a volunteer – whatever you choose – we welcome (and need) your help.

We have open At-Large Board positions available for those who would like to get in behind the scenes and make our events happen.  Just think – you can take part in shaping and influencing this great organization.  You can help us keep it running on a monthly basis. We really do rely on you – our members – to continue to make the CBA better and better.

Yes, it’s fun and games – because if it isn’t fun – why do it!  But don’t be fooled – we do work! Board members attend the monthly board meetings where we discuss budget, membership, merchandise, sponsorships and events.  We do ask that each board member take a turn at the merchandise booth at our monthly membership meetings at least once a year and help out at various events – but actually – that’s the fun part!

Do you have a special skill or talent – like managing databases or financial statements?  Running the CBA takes skill (we are a non-profit business) sometimes above and beyond just loving the promotion of blues.  We have a need for help in a variety of areas and I bet there’s something here for you!!  Officer positions naturally take more time – when considering running for either the Membership Secretary or Treasurer positions, we require that you have sufficient background to fill the needs of the Cascade Blues Association. The Membership Secretary maintains the membership information, renewals and address changes that require the ability to keep up an ever-changing spread-sheet and a knowledge of mailing is also preferred. The Treasurer must be able to balance the CBA’s bank accounts, pay due bills on time and keep funds at the Post Office readily available for BluesNotes mailings. The Treasurer is also responsible for maintaining all business filings for annual taxes. These are the two positions that require the most knowledge to keep up, so consider the expectations if you select to run for these officer spots.

Do you just want to be a volunteer with no board commitment – well guess what – we have things you can do! Some options are maintaining merchandise, working with a volunteer list, BluesNotes distribution, writing for the BluesNotes. These functions do not have to be handled by board members. If this interests you please let someone on the current board know!

Every year we put out a request for members to get involved. This year is no different other than we really REALLY do need your help.  Please consider this great opportunity and if your schedule and interests allow – then come join us!  Get involved.

You are welcome to attend one of our monthly Board meetings at 2020 SE 7th (about four blocks south of the old Duff’s Garage), the third Tuesday following the monthly General Membership Meeting.

Still Water Vibes Combines Traditional and Modern Blues into an Explosion of Funk

,

still waterBy Laurie Morrisey

“Still Water Vibes is…putting classic blues guitar, grooving bass lines, funky drumming and ‘Where did that come from?’ vocals into one tight group…With original tunes that bridge the gap of traditional blues and modern blues funk, you’ll find yourself going out of your way to catch another show!” That is how their website describes them, and that description is spot on.

Still Water Vibes, a blues band out of Salem, is made up of: Nick Wixom, lead vocals; Brandon Logan, guitar; Jarred Venti, bass; Mike Windsor, keys; and Derek Jones, drums. Nick and Brandon began working together about five years ago and Jarred joined the group about two years ago. “We met Mike in December 2013 and asked him to join the group. Then in April of 2014, Derek joined. His second public appearance with the group was the first round of the Journey to Memphis Competition,” according to Nick.

BluesNotes: Did each of you always want to perform professionally or if not, what did you “want to be when you grew up”?

Still Water Vibes: Brandon, Derek and Mike currently work in the music industry exclusively. Derek is pursing working as a musician and currently giving lessons out of ABC Music in Salem. Jarred has a day job as a “Beer Czar”, he makes purchasing decisions and manages the beer inventory of two local tap houses in Salem, and has taken some schooling for bass. He also gives lessons on occasion as a private instructor. Nick is a full time employee of the Department of Transportation and operates a small-time sound company. He also provides the sound system that the band uses for shows and recordings. He has the least experience of the group musically, but hopes to build his sound company into a full time career, splitting time with performing.

BN: Do each of you have day jobs?

SWV: Currently Jarred and Nick have traditional day jobs. Derek does some teaching and works occasional nights. Mike and Brandon are focused solely on performing, with Mike just finishing high school earlier this summer.

BN: Who has influenced your music?

SWV: The band has a wide variety of musical influences, each of us grew up around completely different styles of music.

Brandon: His major influences are Joe Bonamassa, early Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Chris Cain. His other influences vary, but his playing lends to a funky groove found in some lesser known BB King music.

Nick: His major influence was the church. Growing up his family played a lot of southern gospel style music—his dad’s side of the family all came from the south and shared a love for performing. Currently he gets a lot of his styling from the likes of Jonny Lang, John Mayer, and Robert Randolph. He loves the style of music that Salem local Ty Curtis writes, as well.

Jarred: He has the widest variety of influences of the whole group. From the Beatles to Led Zepplin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He started to really enjoy the style of Robert Randolph and Joe Bonamassa, having been exposed to them through Brandon and Nick.

Derek: His major influences are from local jazz musicians, which is where he got his first opportunities to play in Salem. Derek’s jazz and Latin influences bring a different flair to SWV’s music. His ability to create music from his kit comes from a minimalist take on the instrument from his gigs playing in jazz trios at local jams and street corners.

Mike: Another member influenced by the church. Mike currently plays modern worship style music at church and grew up playing traditional piano for events. His introduction into playing blues and these styles was the day he was contacted to try out for the band. His musical intelligence and hard work has helped him make a big transition from genre to genre.

BN: How would you describe your music?

SWV: While a lot of our music has traditional blues progressions and we cover a lot of familiar blues standards. We tend to believe that our style pushes the envelope of modern blues and funk. Our grooves are based around a very technical drummer and non-traditional bass lines. Brandon’s style of writing stretches the definition of blues and Nick’s vocals more closely match with soul and gospel music.

BN: Did you have any formal training or self-taught?

SWV: Jarred, Derek and Mike have the most traditional training out of the group. Brandon is mostly self taught, although he has taken lessons in the past, most notably a short stint with local pro Garry Meziere. Nick has no formal training, having learned to sing harmony and lead through family gatherings.

BN: What CD’s do you have out?

SWV: Still Water Vibes is currently working on recording our debut CD, it is yet to be titled. There are rough tracks of three of the songs that will be featured on our web site right now.

BN: What other band have you played with?

SWV: All of us have played in multiple local bands, mostly in non-blues genres. Jarred and Brandon play in an original modern rock band, Groove Thief, that was voted Salem’s best local band a few years ago. All of the group, except for Nick, currently play in other projects and work as subs for multiple groups when not performing with Still Water Vibes.

BN: Are there any former band members you want to mention?

SWV: Still Water Vibes got a lot of its styling from the original drummer, and Nick’s younger brother, Brian Wixom. When Brian was unable to continue playing, it was extremely difficult to find a replacement. Brian began recording the album earlier this year and the album has been on hold since his departure. His style of play can still be heard in the way we play several of our songs today.

BN: Any other comments?

SWV: Being from Salem we are trying very hard to get work in the Portland area and would like to thank the Cascade Blues Association, Rae Gordon and Ben Rice for all of their help while we participated in the Journey To Memphis Competition. We have a new level of confidence and really appreciate all of the publicity that the event provided for us. We look forward to being more visible in the area and have a few events scheduled in the Portland Metro area in the next several months.

For more information about the band and where you can see them, visit their website at www.stillwatervibes.com.