Matt Brown and Friends Holiday Homecoming Show

Matt Brown and Friends Holiday Homecoming ShowNashville-based  Matt Brown returns to his hometown of Portland to play at one of his favorite venues, The Alberta Rose Theatre. Matt Brown is an old soul, and that is evident in the music he creates. With a voice seasoned by influences such as Ray Charles and Bill Withers and guitar styling steeped in the tradition of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brown’s artistry is filled with as much blue-eyed soul as his baby blue Fender Telecaster, “Stella Blue.” Brown, backed by his trio, will play songs off his album that will be released in early 2018 and perhaps even a Nat King Cole song for the holiday spirit.

This special homecoming holiday performance will take place on Thursday, December 21, starting at 8:00 pm. The Alberta Rose Theatre is located at 3000 NE Alberta Street. Tickets are $12.00 in advance purchased at albertarosetheatre.com or $15.00 at the door day of show. Minors are welcome when accompanied by a parent of guardian.

Seattle native, Susan Galbraith, will be opening the show.

Rising Star Valerie June

Rising Star Valerie JuneMulti-instrumentalist and Tennessee native Valerie June performs a diverse conglomeration of American roots music that encompasses traditional spirituals, Americana, classic blues, folk, soul, and bluegrass. Through stark acoustic rhythms and uncanny slide guitar, she effortlessly shifts between eras and genres. She can be haunting and melancholic while singing of the ghostly darkness of loneliness, or full of warmth and charm, at one moment seductive in a sensual come-on, fragile and vulnerable, the next in a display of naked honesty. Valerie June transports you to another world the moment you hear her voice. It is a voice that has been winning over audiences around the world in a seemingly short few years since she first burst upon the music scene.
June is currently on tour in support of her highly-acclaimed new album The Order Of Time. The follow-up to her breakout 2013 release Pushin’ Against A Stone, the new disc seals her place amongst the finest of roots musicians exploring new paths while maintaining a truthfulness to the past.
Her last appearance in Portland last June sold out quickly, so in anticipation of the demand for tickets, Valerie June is scheduled for two shows at the Aladdin Theater on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9. Tickets for both shows are $27.50 advance through Ticketfly.com or $29.00 at the door day of show. The Aladdin Theater is located at 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue. This is an all ages event, with minors accompanied by a parent or guardian. Both nights start at 8:00 pm with Louisiana-based guitarist from the band Old Crow Medicine Show Gill Landry opening.

6th Annual Governors New Year’s Eve Ball

6th Annual Governors New Year’s Eve BallAn exclusive night of intrigue at Portland’s largest philanthropic New Years Eve Gala, dress up in your finest black tie and evening gown attire for a night you’ll never forget! The night’s events begin with an exclusive VIP reception where you and your guests will be welcomed with a complementary signature cocktail and hors d’oeuvres followed by a three-course gourmet dinner, complimentary wine at your table, a show unmatched anywhere in the city, with international flare and intrigue featuring Billboard charting artist Patrick Lamb, and then by the original blues brother Curtis Salgado to close out the night. And it all benefits the Childrens Cancer Association. There will be complimentary New Years champagne toast, a Paparazzi photo booth, party favors and more!

This special event takes place at The Sentinel Hotel, 614 SW 11th Avenue. VIP tickets for Curtis Salgado and Patrick Lamb are $150.00 at Tickettomato.com. VIP reception at 7:00 pm, dinner served at 7:30 pm, Music begins at 7:30 with Patrick Lamb.This event takes place on the fourth floor. On the third floor there will be a tribute to Earth Wind and Fire featuring Julianne Johnson and the Brown Sisters. Reserved tickets for the third floor only show are $125.00.

Year’s Eve With The Norman Sylvester Band & Sister Mercy

Year’s Eve With The Norman Sylvester Band & Sister MercyRing in 2018 with two of Portland’s best bands on one fantastic night at Catfish Lou’s!! Doors open at 7:00 pm and you’ll need your dance shoes as the party really gets going at 8:00 pm with a set from the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey To Memphis winners Sister Mercy! Then at 10:30 pm the Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester Band takes the stage for a true house party of blues, funk and R&B, with special guests, playing up to and after that magical midnight hour!
At midnight there will be a complimentary champagne toast and party favors for everyone! And then, the party continues with a breakfast menu available until 4:00 am!

Catfish Lou’s is located at 2460 NW 24th Avenue. Tickets can be purchased at Tickettomato.com, $35.00 general admission or $50.00 VIP tickets that include reserved seating and a dinner entrée.

4th Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular

An all‐star cast of Portland musicians will light up the stage at the fourth annual “4th Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular,” a benefit and toy drive for the patients of Shriners Hospital for Children Portland. Performances cross a wide range of styles from soul, to gospel, pop, Hawaiian, R&B, rockabilly, folk, original songs, and of course, the traditional holiday classics.

This year’s event will be held at The Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, December 16. The artists involved feature some of the Northwest’s most prolific musicians: Alan Spinrad, Aundria Lauren, Dan Berkery, Dylan Rieck, Gary Keeney, Jennifer Smieja, Jim Brunberg, Jim Quinby, Karen Lovely, Katy Oberg, Kris Deelane, LaRhonda Steele, Mark Bowden, Michael Quinby, Paul Brainard, Pete Moss, Peter Dammann, Robert Lefty Head, Steve Kerin, Tim Shaughnessy and Ural Thomas.

Proceeds from the performance will benefit Portland’s Shriners Hospitals for Children, whose 90-plus-year mission is to provide care to children with orthopedic issues, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The Portland hospital has been instrumental in helping children defy the odds of disability, as well as pioneering education and research to improve lives for generations.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketfly.com for $20.00 advance. Day of show admission at the door will be $25.00.  The Wonder Ballroom is located at 128 NE Russell. StreetShow time is 7:30 pm. 21 and over only.

 

 

Ken DeRouchie Band Fighting Hunger

The fourth annual Ken DeRouchie Band Food Drive is currently underway until December 10. Please take the time to donate unexpired and non-perishable canned or dried food items to help the Oregon Food Bank feed the hungry. Donations are being accepted at the following locations. If you’re unable to make a direct donation, you can donate financially on-line at https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/team/141672.

Banner Bank 7675 SW Nyberg St, Tualatin
Rogue Hall 1717 Southwest Park Ave, Portland
Rogue Eastside Pub 928 SE 9th Ave, Portland
Portland Music Company 531 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland
Portland Music Company 2502 NE Broadway St, Portland
Portland Music Company 10075 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton
Portland Music Company 12334 SE Division St, Portland
Tigard Music 11579 SW Pacific Hwy Tigard
Artichoke Music 2007 SE Powell Blvd, Portland
Jack London Revue 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland
Trails End Saloon 1320 Main St, Oregon City
The Blue Diamond 2016 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Catfish Lou’s 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Vinyl Tap 2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd, Milwaukie
The Arbor Lodge 1507 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland
Five Star Guitars 17305 NW Corridor Ct Suite 100, Beaverton
Silkin Management Group 6655 SW Hampton St. Suite 120, Tigard
Tiny’s Coffee 2031 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland
Tiny’s Coffee Southeast 1412 SE 12th Ave, Portland
Guitar Center 1147 N Hayden Meadows Dr, Portland, OR 97217
Guitar Center 9575 SW Cascade Ave, Beaverton,
Guitar Center 13029 SE 84th Ave, Clackamas

Ramblings On My Mind-March 2021

Ramblings on my mindGreg Johnson, CBA President

Every year in December I devote my column to the blues recordings that have stood out to me overall during the last year. One thing it always shows is that my taste is not founded in just one aspect or direction of blues music. It’s all over the map. These ten recordings were highlights for me, but don’t ask me to place them in any certain order because they can all flip flop at any given time. But they are discs that held my attention and their place on my player for significant time and still do. They may include some of your favorites, too, or maybe they might incite you to give something you haven’t heard a listen. But judge me not, as these are my own personal choices.

Valerie June – The Order Of Time – Her voice has been called ethereal and spell-binding and rightly so. It captures you hypnotically and then you listen to her lyrics. This is an old soul in a young person’s body. Highly modern, yet still holding onto the traditional sounds she came up hearing.

Karen Lovely – Fish Outta Water – Once again Karen has stepped up to do what seemed impossible, top her previous outstanding recording. There is so much intimacy and passion behind what she writes and she has no fear of tackling any social issues. But it’s her voice that always stands heads above the rest. The top recording from the Northwest this year hands down.

Doug MacLeod – Break The Chain – There are certain people that seem to be consistently on my annual lists. And for good reason; they’re just damn good at whatever they do and put out. Doug MacLeod is the premier storyteller of our generation. His songs have long-lasting impact whether with his humor or with serious issues. This release includes one of his strongest statements ever with the title song that he wrote and performed with his son detailing child abuse and the efforts to bring it to an end.

Don Bryant – Don’t Give Up On Me – This has got to be the comeback release of the year, even if it is only his second release in a long career, and at the age of 75, too! Bryant took a backseat while writing songs for artists like Otis Clay and his wife Ann Peebles, including the highly popular “I Can’t Stand The Rain” which has been covered many times. But he is more than a prolific songwriter. He is an outstanding performer, vocalist and guitarist in his own right. And he proves exactly that with this deeply soulful album.

Chris Cain – Chris Cain – His eponymous titled debut from Little Village Foundation included an impressive gathering of talent playing alongside him, but it has always been that guitar work of his that is fresh every time out and seems to have no boundaries. And with a voice that often appears to be channeling BB King’s, you can never go wrong with anything he does.

Paul deLay Band – Live At Notodden ’96 – This was a surprise release and one that brought such joy to my heart. Paul deLay has always been one of my absolute favorite artists and losing him way too soon was a crush to many of us. But getting to hear new live material of his brought back such fond memories that I just didn’t want the disc to ever stop. Paul and the boys were at the top of their game!

Samantha Fish – Chills & Fever – What I really like about this album is that even though the music may be all cover numbers, Fish has taken them on as her own children and delivered them with enthusiasm and a newness that screams that she is having a good time with them. And it carries over to the listener, too. It is definitely one of the feel good recordings of the year.

Beth Hart – Fire On The Floor – When it comes to Beth Hart the only thing that can top her incredible songwriting and performance on her recordings is seeing her live on stage. This release continues to showcase the absolute talent behind her words, moods and unlimited musical directions that she conveys on disc. Without doubt one of the best artists of any genre today.

Gary Clark Jr – Live North America 2016 – Believe all the hype you may have heard about Gary Clark Jr. This is his second live recording and it represents the powerful guitar work of one of those who will lead the charge for the blues future. Will lead? Hell, he is already at the forefront and deservedly so. This performance is filled with sizzling solos and improvisation. The perfect artist to cross over to the rock crowd and letting them know that the blues is alive and in good hands.

Johnny Rawls – Waiting For The Train – Johnny Rawls, like Doug MacLeod, is another of those perennial inclusions on my top ten list. Maybe it’s because I love soulful blues so much. But probably more so because Rawls is one of the very best soul singers alive today. Whether he is covering songwriters like Tyrone Davis or Bobby Womack or doing his own originals, the man has the voice to carry it straight to you heart.

There were a lot of amazing albums that came out in 2017, many that could have been included on this list. Fantastic breakout discs from Southern Avenue  and Vanessa Collier and collaborations such as Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ could’ve easily been noted. As could offerings from Wee Willie Walker & Anthony Paule, John Nemeth, the Altered Five Blues Band, Sonny Landreth and so much more. 2017 was a great year for blues. Now let’s look ahead to next year!

CBA Muddy Awards Moves to a New Venue

2017 Muddy Award NomineesThe Cascade Blues Association’s annual celebration of our local blues musicians, events, recordings and venues, The Muddy Awards, was held on Wednesday, November 1 to an enthusiastic audience at The Melody Ballroom. Twenty-two awards were handed out recognizing outstanding achievement as selected by the CBA members.
Highlights of the event included three artists being inducted into the Muddy Awards Hall of Fame for having taken their respective categories three consecutive years: Ben Rice Band for Traditional Blues Act; Andy Stokes for the “Curtis Salgado” Male Vocalist; and Brian Foxworth for the “Jimi Bott” Drums. Norman Sylvester was awarded the “George Page” Back What You Believe In Award for his continual efforts with Healthcare For All Oregon, the Inner City Blues Festival, and taking music into the schools and retirement homes. Terry Robb was selected this year for the “Paul deLay” Lifetime Achievement for his career not only as a musician, but as a teacher, producer and engineer in the studio working with artists including the late John Fahey, Sheila Wilcoxson, The Lightnin’ Kings’ latest recording, and many others. Curtis Salgado was honored with the Performance of the Year for his magnificent appearance at the Waterfront Blues Festival, his first following a heart attack and heart surgery.
And you know, the Muddy Awards would not be a true celebration without music. Opening the night we were treated to a set by Journey To Memphis winners Sister Mercy. An All Star Muddy Awards Band was pieced together by this year’s band leader Sonny Hess. She put together a sensational jam that included Ben Rice, Brian Foxworth, Dave Melyan, Doug Rowell, Fenix, Franco Paletta, Jim Hively, Kathryn Grimm, Kelly Pierce, Kevin Selfe, Kivett Bednar, Lady True Blue, LaRhonda Steele, Lisa Mann, Rae Gordon, Randy Monroe, Rich Layton, Robbie Laws, Scott Franklin, and of course Sonny Hess herself.
A huge thanks to The Melody Ballroom; JBL Sound; Cedar House Media; Just Right Awards; Big Screen Productions; Sonny Hess; photographers Marilyn Stringer, Tony Kutter, Kathy Rankin and Greg Johnson; Wendy Schumer for her work on the slide presentation and program creation, volunteers Sandy Forst and Coila Ash for working the admission door; the CBA Board of Directors; and most of all our membership.
Congratulations to all the nominees and recipients!! You’re all winners!

2017 Muddy Award Recipients

Contemporary Blues Act – Rae Gordon Band
“Lloyd Jones” R&B Act – Norman Sylvester Band
Traditional Blues Act – Ben Rice Band
Regional Blues Act – Ty Curtis
New Act – Lightning Kings
“Curtis Salgado” Male Vocalist – Andy Stokes
“Duffy Bishop” Female Vocalist – LaRhonda Steele
Electric Guitar – Alan Hager
“Terry Robb” Acoustic Guitar – Mary Flower
Bass – Timmer Blakely
Harmonica – Mitch Kashmar
Keyboards – Steve Kerin
“Jimi Bott” Drums – Brian Foxworth
Horns – Peter Moss
Venue – Catfish Lou’s
“Hurley” Award – Charles Rowell
NW Event of the Year – Cascade Blues Association 30th Anniversary Concert
Performance of the Year – Curtis Salgado at the Waterfront Blues Festival
NW Recording of the Year – Rae Gordon “Better Than I Was”
National Recording of the Year – Karen Lovely “Fish Outta Water”
“George Page” Back What You Believe In – Norman Sylvester
“Paul deLay” Lifetime Achievement – Terry Robb

New Music to Note-September 2021

Here’s a list of new music received at the CBA office, purchased personally, or listened to this past month of note:

AJ Crawdaddy – Slow Cookin’ (Renown Records)
AJ Croce – Just Like Medicine (Seedling Records)
Al Corte – Mojo (Self Produced)
Alastair Greene – Dream Train (Rip Cat Records)
Big Creek Slim – Good Mill Blues (Gateway Music)
Chickenbone Slim – The Big Beat (Lo-Fi Mob Records)
Chris Bad New Barnes – Hokum Blues (VizzTone)
Chris Daniels and The Kings – Blues With Horns Vol. 1 (Moon Voyage Records)
Corey Dennison Band – Night After Night (Delmark)
Erin Harpe and The Delta Swingers – Big Road (VizzTone)
Jimmie Bratcher – This Is Blues Country (Ain’t Skeert Tunes)
Joakim Tinderholt Hold On (Big H Records)
Johnny Nicholas & Friends – Too Many Bad Habits (Self Produced)
Kilborn Alley Blues Band – The Tolono Tapes (Run It Back Records)
Lara and The Bluz Dawgz – Out Here In The Blue (Lock Alley Music)
Love Sloth- Love Sloth  (Self Produced)
Milligan Vaughan Project – Milligan Vaughan Project (Mark One Records)
Miss Freddye – Lady Of The Blues (Self Produced)
The Nighthawks – All You Gotta Do (EllerSoul Records)
Quinn Sullivan – Midnight Highway (Provogue Records)
Peter Parcek – Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (Lightnin’ Records)
RL Boyce – Roll And Tumble (Waxploitation)
Stanton Moore – With You In Mind (Cool Green Recordings)
Steinar Albrigtsen – The Daily Blues (Grammoton)
The Original Blues Brothers Band – The Last Shade Of Blue Before Black (Severn Records)
Woodfin – Moki (Self Produced)

Jimmie Bratcher - This is Blues Country

This Is Blues Country
Ain’t Skeert Tunes

Jimmie Bratcher - This is Blues CountryThe Reverend Jimmie Bratcher is back with a new recording and a new idea. The Kansas City-based bluesman has reached back into his younger days, growing up in a household filled with the sounds of classic country music from the 50s and 60s, he has taken a handful of his favorite songs and reworked them into readings through a blues-rock framework. And it comes across quite well in a fashion that just may be able to cross over between both genres’ markets.

Some of the songs are familiar right off, such as long time standards like “You Are My Sunshine” and Marty Robbins’ “Singing the Blues.” But there are also newer sounding renditions that take on fresh life. “I Don’t Hurt Anymore,” best known through Hank Snow’s presentation, comes across as a nice slow blues track. Jim Reeves’ “Am I That Easy To Forget” builds strength through the course of the song, climaxing with some really fine bluesy guitar. Other artists covered here include greats such as Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and a couple timeless numbers from Hank Williams’ catalog with his “My Sweet Love Ain’t Around” being another stand-out delivery on the album. The disc closes with Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You” redone with a New Orleans-like flourish, a sensational way to bring this terrific release to an end.

Total Time: 39:16

Honky Tonk Blues / You Are My Sunshine / Singing The Blues / I Don’t Hurt Anymore / Under Your Spell Again / Am I That Easy To Forget / Don’t Worry About Me / My Sweet Love Ain’t Around / Today I Started Loving You Again / I Can’t Stop Loving You