Cathedral Park Free Jazz Festival

40th Cathedral Park Free Jazz Festival 

Will Be Virtual, Streaming Live Online 

July 17, 18 and 19, 2020 

Portland, Oregon, June 27 2020 – Like jazz, life in the time of the pandemic is about improvisation.   

This year, the 40th annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival will be virtual, streaming live online at https://www.twitch.tv/cathedralparkjazz Friday through Sunday, July 17-19, 2020, thanks to presenting sponsor, Oregonians Credit Union, and the organizer, the Jazz Society of OregonFor the past 39 years, this long-running free festival has beens held in North Portland’s Cathedral Park under the historic St Johns Bridge.  

Highlights of this year’s three-day festival celebrating jazz, blues, R&B, and funk: pianist and vocalist Steve Kerin and the Bayou Boyz, originally from Louisiana but now calling Portland home; violinist Eddie Parentechannelling the great jazz violinists like Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, and Joe Venuto; and soulful vocalist Saeeda Wright and her nine-piece orchestraSaeeda has sung backup for Prince, Lalah Hathaway, Live Warfield and others. 

 The complete lineup is as follows: 

Friday July 17 begins with Tevis Hodge, Jrthen two acts that have each been finalists in the  International Blues Challenge”: the Rae Gordon Bandfollowed by Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys. Steve Kerin and the Bayou Boyz will wrap up the evening. 

Saturday July 18 kicks off with the popular Roosevelt High School Band, followed by the Eddie Parente Quartet, Outer Orbit, Latin-favorite Picante, and finally Saeeda Wright as the closing act. 

Sunday July 19 starts with the Minidoka Swing Band, then the John Butler Quartet, followed by the Christopher Brown Quartet, the Mel Brown Trio featuring special guest vocalist Shirley Nanette, and the Ethio-soul Tezeta Band taking it home.  

“This is the 40th consecutive year of the festival, which was started by a group of volunteers commemorating the construction of beautiful Cathedral Park,” said Rita Rega, Jazz Society of Oregon board member and artistic director. “It has evolved into a celebration of Portland’s diverse jazz music sceneIt is also the longest-running community event in the Greater Portland area. While this year’s event won’t be in our usual spectacular outdoor setting, the spirit and music of the festival live on. 

In addition to Oregonians Credit Union, sponsors include: METRO, Bill Mattecheck, Deschutes Brewing, Stoller Family Estate Wines, Shine Distillery, and The 1905 Jazz Club 

Background – Cathedral Park Jazz Festival 

This year marks the 40th consecutive year of the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, which has been managed for the past six years by the Jazz Society of Oregon. 

“This is a free, non-profit festival that provides the best in jazz, blues, R&B and soul, from around the greater Portland/Vancouver area,” said Rega. “In fact, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is both the longest-running free annual jazz festival west of the Mississippi – and Portland’s longest-running annual community event.” 

About the Jazz Society of Oregon 

The Jazz Society of Oregon is an all-volunteer non-profit organization 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote the local jazz scene in Portland and the rest of Oregon.  The Society supports jazz educationas well as fostering a greater appreciation of this thoroughly American art form. 

Information on the 40th Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, including specific times of the livestream  can be found at https://jazzoregon.org/2020-festival  

#  #  # 

Image attached (photo credit: Chris Lazarus): photo of the Jazz Society of Oregon’s free Cathedral Park Jazz Festival taken pre-Covid-19 in 2018.  The 2020 festival takes place July 17, 18 & 19th will be livestreamed at https://www.twitch.tv/cathedralparkjazz. 

 

Cascade Blues Association, Many Opportunities for CBA Volunteers

We are currently working on a web version of the CBA Business Directory where You will be able to submit your Business as well as search the categories for the Blues Business that you need. Stay tuned It will be up soon.

 

The Capacitors

www.thecapacitors.com

310-920-7535

 

Rich Layton & Tough Town

Swampadelic Texas Blues

richlayton.us | 503-381-8171

 

Sister Mercy

www.sistermercy.rocks

206-300-7533, Debby Espinor

 

 

Billy D. & the Hoodoos

Traditional blues elements infused

with a silky-smooth pop sensibility

www,billydandthehoodoos.com

 

 

Tom Gilberts

www.TomGilberts.com

503-804-8284

 

Lisa Mann

2x Blues Music Award winner

www.lisamannmusic.com

 

Curtis Salgado

www.curtissalgado.com

Intrepid Artists: 704-358-4777

 

Timmer Blakely-Pro Bass

TimmerBlakely.com

503-998-2277

 

The Strange Tones

strangetones@strangetones.com

503-775-4077

 

Franco Paletta & The Stingers

Contemporary Dancin’ Blues

“Catch A Blues Buzz”

(503) 515-1622

 

 

The Garages Satellite Pub

Atthegarages.net

503-572-9959

 

Doug Rowell

www.dougrowellmusic.com

www.facebook.com/doug.rowell.9

 

Nikki Jones Blues Band

www.fcebook.com/nikkijones.soul

503-660-5695

 

Mojo Holler

Roots Americana with heavy doses

of slide & steel. mojoholler.com

 

Mike Branch Band

mikebranchband@gmail.com

mbb.rocks

 

The Norman Sylvester Band

Have blues, will travel!

503-419-7093 | bluboog@msn.com

www.normansylvester.com

 

 

Harvey Brindell & The Tablerockers

www.harveybrindell.com

(402) 802-3975

 

The Ventilators

We love to play clubs and private

parties! Tom Bader 503 318-0644

 

Ken DeRouchie Band

www.kdband.net

503-847-8461

 

Terry Robb

Original, award winning blues

guitar & Americana terryrobb.com

 

Ben Rice

Muddy Award Winning vocalist

3x Blues Music Award

Nominee 2019! www.BenRiceLive.com

541-232-6650

 

Julie Amici – Singer

Julie Amici Band

julieamici.com

 

John Bunzow

Americana/Roots

shelleygarrettpdx@gmail.com

 

Harpdog Brown & The Uptown Blues Band

Vintage Blues – A little bit Chicago

& a Lotta New Orleans!

604-940-4888

 

Dean Mueller

Bass player/Producer/Promoter

deanmueller.com

 

Anni Piper

Road Dawg Touring Company

annipiper.com

 

Robbie Laws Band

www.robbielawsmusic.com

503-427-0062

 

Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes

kevin@kevinselfe.com

www.kevinselfe.com

 

AC Porter & The Livewires

acblueguitar@hotmail.com

503-980-8175

 

Greydogz

City & Country Blues

greydogz.net

 

Adam Scramstad

Traditional Acoustic Finger-style,

Slide & Delta Blues 541-231-2422

www.adamscramstad.com

 

Ashbolt Stewart

BEATS WORKIN’

503~200-0611

 

Richard Wilkins Blues Band

contact us on Facebook and at

rwil519457@aol.com

 

Kenny Lee and the Sundowners

Blues Rock

360-980-6604

 

Hollie Olson Band

www.hollieolsonmusic.com

350.521.1953

 

Rae Gordon Band

National Women In Blues – Board

Member, www.raegordon.com

blues_rae@msn.com

 

Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys

www.johnnywheelsband.com

971-237-3388

 

Robin Gibson Band

Text 541-280-9065

Soul-Stirrin’ Blues!

 

The E Wayne Jones Band

Storytelling Blues/Rock

503-780-7614

 

The Eric Sugar Larsen Group

Very High Energy Soul Blues

EricLarsenmusic@gmail.com

 

Eric TwoRivers

Drums/Bass/Vocals

Facebook.com/Tworivers

 

 

 

 

Andy Stokes

 

Northwesl Music & two-time inductee to OMHOF

andystokesmusic.com

 

The New Iberians Zydeco Blues Band

www.newiberians.com

Evan Shlaes 503-238-1838

 

Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen

www.kimfield.com

206-295-8306

 

Fenix Rising Band

Jason Thomas

firstfenix12k@msn.com

 

Kivett Bednar Band

Authentic Texas Blues

Kivettbednar.com

 

Pat Stilwell Band

www.thepatstillwellband.com

503-481-6823

 

Nico Wind

Full Circle

www.nicowind.com

 

Timothy James

Timothyjamesmusic.com

503-310-1184

 

Mary Flower

www.maryflower.com

503-679-1977

 

 

Heart2SoulRadio

HigherVibeStream media

broadcasting, Josephine P. Elle,

www.heart2soul.com

Satan & Adam

Satan & AdamIn 1986, harmonica player Adam Gussow asked if he could jam on the streets of Harlem with one-man-band Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee. Amidst NYC’s racial tension, this Jewish Ivy League graduate and black Mississippi bluesman, Satan & Adam, made an unlikely pair. After a chance encounter with members of U2 and a celebrated debut record, they rose to international acclaim—and then Mr. Satan mysteriously disappeared. This documentary, an odyssey 23 years in the making, captures a miraculous journey of friendship, heartbreak, and the transformative power of music.

Satan & Adam – Hollywood Theater , 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Monday, May 6, 7:30 pm. 80 min.

JJ Grey & Mofro

JJ Grey & Mofro

From his days of playing greasy local juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey remains an unfettered, blissful performer, singing with a blue-collared spirit over the bone-deep grooves of his compositions. His presence before an audience is something startling and immediate, at times a funk rave-up, other times a sort of mass-absolution for the mortal weaknesses that make him and his audience human. Onstage, Grey delivers his songs with compassion and a relentless honesty. When you see JJ Grey and his band Mofro live – and you truly, absolutely must – You’ll experience the musical fearlessness of the man.

JJ Grey and Mofro will perform at The Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside Street, on Friday, February 1 at 8:00 pm. $30.00 advance at Cascadetickets.com. 21 & over.

Dave Keller

Every Soul’s A Star

Catfood Records

 

For several years now, I have been singing the praises of New England bluesman Dave Keller. An amazing guitarist and songwriter with a voice that drips pure soulful honey, every album Keller puts out convinces me more and more of his immense talent — and I am not alone. His past recordings have taken home the prize from The Blues Foundation for Best Self-Produced CD (2011’s Where I’m Coming From), earned him a Blues Music Award nomination for Soul Blues Album of the Year (2014’s Soul Changes) and acclaim from Downbeat Magazine for their best recordings of the year list.

His latest recording, Every Soul’s A Star, continues with the same pace of stellar material that raises the bar every time out. Released on Catfood Records out of Texas, it was produced by the legendary Grammy winning Jim Gaines who brought studio magic to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison, Santana, and Van Morrison in the past. Keller is backed by Catfood house band The Rays, made up of some of the finest players from the Lone Star State, including renowned Motown guitarist Johnny McGhee and bassist Bob Trenchard. All of the musicians put forth top of the line performances, but as always with any Keller disc the true star will always be his voice and his knowledge of phrasing his delivery just the right way. His performances can pull at the strings of your heart, filled with emotion that can be deeply filled with love or expressions of such love lost.

Aside from Keller’s superb voice, his craftiness for putting together meaningful lyrics is a true gift. The title track explains that you should look at everybody as an individual, everybody has something to offer and to just be who you are. “You Bring The Sunshine” is a love song that sings about the happiness finding the right person can achieve. In “Old Tricks” despite all the misgivings and pain he has suffered from his partner before, he keeps falling for the same old thing from her again and again. “This Is Gonna Hurt” is a break-up song and “Freedom Is Ours” discusses social issues such as immigration and protest.

The lone cover on the album is Ronnie Shannon’s “Baby I Love You” best known through Aretha Franklin’s stunning presentation. Keller pays tribute to the Queen of Soul yet makes this song all his own with a nice slower and funkier pace.

If you’re not hip already to the wonder of Dave Keller, it’s high time to take a good listen. Every Soul’s A Star rates high amongst this year’s top recordings and make no mistake, Dave Keller is one of the top modern soul bluesmen of our time.

Total Time: 42:06

Don’t Let Them Take Your Joy / Every Soul’s a Star / Baby, I Love You / Old Tricks / You Bring the Sunshine / Freedom Is Ours / This Is Gonna Hurt / It’s All in Your Eyes / Kiss Me Like You Miss Me / When Are You Gonna Cry? / Ain’t Givin’ In

On January 20, help the CBA’s Journey To Memphis winner Ben Rice make his way to the International Blues Challenge at the end of the month by attending an all-star extravaganza of some of Portland’s most amazing talent. This all day event will feature local luminaries such as Karen Lovely, Kivett Bednar, Doug Rowell, Marty Henninger, Dante Zapata, Arrogant Bastards, and a performance by United By Music North America. 100% of all raffle proceeds and admission sales, plus 10% of all bar sales for the event will go towards helping Ben make his way to Memphis.

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Avenue. January 20 — Noon until whenever. Admission is your donation, $10.00 minimum recommended. 21 & over.

Brett Benton CD cover

Live At Highway 99 Blues Club
Country Blood Records

Brett Benton CD coverBrett Benton left his home in Florida back in 2016, making his way across the country to perform his blues. He eventually landed in Seattle where over the past year he has made a well regarded name for himself, claiming the Washington Blues Society’s BB Award for best acoustic artist and winning their regional competition for the International Blues Challenge taking him to Memphis this last January.

While raising money for his trip to Memphis, he opened a show for former IBC winner Selwyn Birchwood at Seattle’s famed Highway 99 Blues Club. That performance was preserved on disc and has now been released as a CD. Benton had joined forces with drummer Gordon Townsend and for those who like the hard-hitting sounds of Northwest band Hillstomp or the traditional Mississippi Hill Country music of Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm, then you’re going to want this disc right away.

The album is not too long, but that is more from the fact that it is an opening set for the live performance. But Benton and Townsend throw in a world of powerful sound in the six songs presented. The disc opens with Fred McDowell’s “Kokomo Blues” and also features another by

Mississippi master “”Shake ‘Em On Down.” Another Hill Country great, RL Burnside is represented with his “Miss Maybelle” and the Delta legend Robert Johnson’s “Preachin’ Blues” closes the disc. These are all pretty much standards when it comes to blues played in the style Benton does and they’re done absolutely with brilliance. But it is the original numbers of his, “I Got a .45” and “Hard Love,’ that truly showcase why Benton belongs in the same breath as those Mississippi Hill Country greats. You’d never realize that the flow between the tracks go from cover songs into originals and that says a lot for Brett Benton and Gordon Townsend’s live performance.

Live at Highway 99 Blues Club is a disc that gives a very nice hint of what we can expect in the future from Brett Benton. And that future should be bright. It’s a nice hello to the blues community in the Northwest and we’re all going to be happy he made that trek cross country.

Total Time: 29:35

Intro By Ed Maloney / Kokomo Blues / I Got A .45 / Miss Maybelle / Shake ‘Em On Down / Hard Love / Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)

Portland Mardi Gras Ball

Portland Mardi Gras BallMysti Krewe of Nimbus will present the 8th Annual Portland Mardi Gras Ball — a costumed celebration of Louisiana Mardi Gras Culture and joie de vivre — on February 10 at the Tiffany Center’s Emerald Ballroom, 1410 SW Morrison St. Shrug off those winter blues with an evening of live music, creative costumes, dancing, Mardi Gras Royalty, king cake, and of course a little lagniappe here and there.

Mysti Krewe of Nimbus formed in 2010 to celebrate Louisiana Mardi Gras, and bring that spirit of joy to Portland. The Krewe is composed of both former Louisiana residents and many locals who love the food, music, and culture of Louisiana.

Musical performances this year will feature Bridgetown Sextet, BrassRoots Movement Brass Band, Northside Skull and Bone Gang, Too Loose Cajun Band, and Karen Lovely and her band.

Tickets for this event are available at Tickettomato.com for $25.00 advance and are also available for $30.00 day of show. 21 & over only. The celebration begins at  7:00 pm. No food provided with ticket this year (except of course for King Cake), but there will be food available for purchase a la carte and a full bar will be at hand. Costumes encouraged but not required

Besides the annual Ball, the Krewe hosts the Portland Mardi Gras Day Parade, a free community event on North Mississippi Avenue taking place on Fat Tuesday, February 13. During the Parade, hundreds of Portlanders revel in the streets with lighted costumes, marching music acts, a kid’s costume contest, and, of course, plenty of beads!  The Krewe also decorates a limited number of mini umbrellas, which have become highly collectible “throws.” Check www.PortlandMardiGras.com for details.

Lightnin’ Wells Books

Lightnin’ Wells BooksNorth Carolina native Mike “Lightnin’” Wells uses a dynamic style he’s developed over his thirty years to breathe new life into the vintage tunes of early twentieth-century America. Wells learned the harmonica at an early age and then using blues and folk recordings, taught himself the guitar. He toured and played with many of the original blues men and women of the Piedmont region of the Eastern United States, and developed a respect for their plight and the social reality of black Americans living in the Jim Crow South and post civil rights era. Lightnin’ remains an insatiable student and researcher, studying the various forms of American roots music from bygone eras. He plays a number of instruments besides the guitar including the harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, and banjo and he is an educator who has worked at many colleges, universities, music camps and has held a position as a board member with the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Lightnin’ Wells travels to the Portland area in late December/early January for a handful of events.

On Saturday, January 6, he will be performing at Artichoke Music, 2087 SE Powell in Portland. Show time is 8:00 pm. Lauren Sheehan opens. Admission is $15.00.

On Sunday, January 7, Wells heads out to Newberg for a show at the Newberg Music Center, 514 E 1st St at 4:00 pm. Contact the venue for further information including admission.

Then on Saturday, January 13, Wells will be at the Portland Old-Time Gathering at the Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St. in the Crystal Room East on the second floor. He will be presenting a Ukulele Workshop from 12:00-12:50, then performing a concert from 7:00-7:50 pm.   For more information about this four-day event with multiple musicians, visit http://bubbaguitar.com /gathering/.

Music of Paul deLay

Music of Paul deLayThe new blues musical Just This One, featuring two dozen songs by local hero Paul deLay, takes the stage for three performances at Michelle’s Piano Company this January 27-28. Featuring a cast filled by a Muddy Award-winning group, including LaRhonda Steele, Lisa Mann, Saeeda Wright, Ben Rice, Hank Shreve, Carlton Jackson, and Dave Fleschner. They performed deLay’s songs last January at the Alberta Rose Theatre and then on the Mainstage at July’s Waterfront Blues Festival.

The script is by CBA member Wayne Harrel, and tells the story of Moe DuPree, a jail-bound bluesman whose final gig is interrupted by three women come looking for a piece of the musical action and, perhaps, him. Harrel worked closely with the deLay family and band to craft this original theatrical show. “It’s not the Paul deLay story,” he says, “but it is based on his music and he poured his life into his songs, so there’s definitely a resemblance.”

The two-hour musical performs at 7:30pm Saturday, January 27, and two shows on Sunday, January 28 at 4:00pm and 7:30pm, at Michelle’s Piano Company, 600 SE Stark. Tickets are $20.00 through fertilegroundpdx.org and $25.00 at the door. All ages welcome.