October 2017 - Cascade Blues Association

Sonny Rhodes

The Essential Sonny Rhodes: Songs & Stories
Need To Know Music

Clarence Smith, better known to the world as Sonny Rhodes, is part of that long rich line of superior blues guitarists originating from Texas. With a career ranging for more than 60 years, first working alongside greats like Freddie King and Albert Collins, to the constant touring road warrior that he has charged forward on his own, he is one of those must see artists. One of those drive the extra mileage and go out of your way artists. I once drove from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge during an ice storm to catch his show in Hood River. Crazy am I? We are talking about Sonny Rhodes here.
I do not usually do reviews for retrospective or best of recordings. So why is this one different? Because though these songs cover the history of Sonny Rhodes they are new recordings featuring a crack band of Rich Kirch, Frank Stewart, and Dawn Richardson. The disc alternates between Sonny relating key points of his life story and the music. You learn how he grew up in a small town in Texas, received his first guitar, playing bass with the aforementioned King and Collins’ bands, he tells you about the turban he wore for many years, the tribulations of love and so much more. It is truly a personal selection of tunes stemming his life’s work.
It goes back to the very beginning with his first single recorded for Domino Records in 1958, “I’ll Never Let You Go,” and the album closes out with “The Ballad Of Serenity” recorded for the television show Firefly. Also included are numbers like his 1978 song “Cigarette Blues” that he recorded two times again before this release on the albums Disciple of the Blues (1991) and Just Blues (1995), “House Without Love,” “Blues Is My religion,” “Born To Be Blue” and “Ain’t No Blues In Town.”
This is a very well done production combining classic Sonny Rhodes’ material and stories that are fun and enlightening. For true fans of his and those looking for an introduction to a masterful performer. This one gains a full recommendation.

Total Time: 63:00
My Name Is Sonny Rhoades / I Am Sonny Rhodes / First Guitar / Born To Be Blue / Freddie King & Albert Collins / Blues Is My Religion / Transformed / House Without Love / 1130 Midway Street / I’ll Never Let You Go / A Blues Prayer / Hen Pecked Man / The Turban / Cigarette Blues / That’s John Lee Hooker! / Finding Out About Myself / She Didn’t Love Me / Half Smart Woman / I Got Hip To It / Nothin’ On The Radio / Ain’t No Blues In Town / Tears Of Joy / Happiness And Cheer / Texas Christmas / Johnny Copeland & Albert Collins / BB King Says / Ballad Of Serenity / Clarence Smith

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

Muddy Awards

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, November 1 – 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.
And for one night only, we will be returning to the familiar surroundings of The Melody Ballroom in the upstairs ballroom. The building has been going through a great deal of renovation, which will be most obvious with the absence of the old stage that was such a prominent feature. But the new owners will be offering a new selection of menu items for the night and food and beverages will be ordered in a new room adjacent to the ballroom which will give you a space to mingle before and during the event.
As usual, we expect tables to fill up quickly, so arrive early and since it is a gala event feel free to dress up a little, though that is not a requirement for the evening of fun. We’re hoping that the doors will be open by 5:30 pm, but this hinges on the sound and visual preparation because we want to make sure everything is spot-on before we allow entry.
The event itself will all start at 6:30, with a set of music from this year’s Journey to Memphis winning band Sister Mercy. Then we will begin the awards ceremony, handing out all twenty-two awards, followed by a long-time tradition of a jam featuring a band comprised of past and present Muddy Awards recipients and nominees. This year’s jam has been put together by and will be led by one of this year’s nominees for the Paul deLay Lifetime Achievement Award Sonny Hess. At the time of this month’s BluesNotes deadline, Sonny has already confirmed the following musicians to be part of the jam: Ben Rice, Brian Foxworth, Franco Paletta, Kathryn Grimm, Kevin Selfe, LaRhonda Steele, Lisa Mann, Rae Gordon and Robbie Laws with still more to be named!!
The Muddy Awards are a definitely a night not to be missed if you’re a fan of the blues. One of the most anticipated nights of the year for the Portland Blues Community. If you‘re not a Cascade Blues Association member, you can always join at the venue if you’d like. Open to blues fans of all ages!

New Music To Note – Nov 2017

New Music To Note

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

Al Basile – Quiet Money (Sweetspot)
Albert Castiglia – Up All Night (Ruf Records)
Chris Cain – Chris Cain (Little Village Foundation)
Don Bryant – Don’t Give Up On Love (Fat Possum)
Eric Gales – Middle Of The Road (Provogue)
Ilana Katz Katz – Subway Stories (VizzTone)
James Armstrong – Blues Been Good To Me (Catfood Records)
June Core – Rhythm & Blues (Drum Mule)
Kelly Z – Rescue (Kellys Lot)
King Louie’s Blues Revue – Live At Riverhouse Jazz (Shoug Records)
Kim Wilson – Blues And Boogie Vol 1 (Severn)
Lew Jetton & 61 South – Palestine Blues (Coffe Street Records)
Likho Duo – Blues And The World Beyond (Likho Records)
Misty Blues – Dark & Saucy (Self Produced)
Mitch Woods – Friends Along The Way (Entertainment One)
Paradise Kings – Controlled Burn (Self Produced)
Sonny Rhodes – The Essential Sonny Rhodes: Songs & Stories (Need To Know Music)
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – TajMo (Concord Records)
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers – Stompin’ Ground (Alligator Records)
Val Starr & The Blues Rocket – I Always Turn The Blues On (Sandwich Factory Records)
Various Artists – Howlin’ At Greaseland (West Tone Records)
Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra – After A While (Blue Dot Records)

King Louie’s Blues Revue

CD Review

Live At Riverhouse Jazz
Shoug Records

When jazz promoter Marshall Glickman began bringing King Louie’s Blues Revue to Bend for the Jazz at the Oxford series he never felt that the act would become so popular that he’d be booking the performance for subsequent years following. King Louie, aka Louis Pain, had been tasked with putting together an all star line-up for the series that proved to be quite the successful formula and when you consider the talent of friends that he has to chose from how could he possibly go wrong.
Glickman began a new series this past year held at the Mt Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz and once again he turned to Pain for another stellar grouping, and boy did he ever put together something truly magical. Three gifted vocalists in Andy Stokes, LaRhonda Steele, and Lisa Mann who also holds down the bass duties for the group. Pain manned the keys, while Peter Dammann brought his guitar, Edwin Coleman III powered the beat on drums, and Danny Armstrong and Renato Caranto supplied horns. With that band and those voices this is surely a wow factor!
Recorded this past March, the vocalist trade leads covering mostly a conglomeration of soul and blues classics originally performed by the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Little Milton, BB King, Willie Dixon and more. The magic is certainly in high focus as the vocalists combine with one another on numbers like Lisa Mann’s “Two Halves Of One Broken Heart,” “Me And Mrs Jones” the soul masterpiece from Billy Paul with Stokes and Steele pairing up beautifully. Steele is also a highlight with her take on “Full Growed Woman” and nobody pulls off Marvin Gaye quite as nicely as Andy Stokes as he covers “Let’s Get It On.”
Live At Riverhouse Jazz is one of those exciting moments on stage where everybody is bringing their best and then some. If you have attended one of these shows you’re going to smile at the memories retained from being there. For those who have not, this is going to be the next best thing until you can make it to one yourself. Mr. Glickman has found something that must be repeated over and over again. It sells out quicker every year, so it is a tradition well worth continuing.

Total Time: 55:46
She’s Looking Good / It’s Your Thing / Two Halves Of One Broken Heart / Full Growed Woman / Doin’ It To Death / Let’s Get It On / I Just Wanna Make Love To You / Me And Mrs Jones / Rock Me Baby / The Blues Is Alright / bonus: Trombone Duel

Ramblings On My Mind – Nov 2017

Ramblings

Greg Johnson, CBA President

The Muddy Awards is always a night of excitement. Honoring the musicians and people involved in our local blues community is always something to celebrate and we appreciate The Melody Ballroom allowing us to return once again for this special event.
Aside from the awards given out to the outstanding accomplishments that the artists have done this past year we always acknowledge two categories that are for those who have given their all and more for the length of their careers: the Lifetime Achievement and Back What You Believe In Awards.
This year’s nominees for the Lifetime Achievement includes five individuals that all deserve to be inducted, and though there can only be one each year, I foresee each and every one will be in that hallowed hall shortly. Frankie Redding, Jimi Bott, Robbie Laws, Sonny Hess, and Terry Robb. Each of those names is backed by an extraordinary history within Portland, the northwest and national blues scene. And personally I feel privileged to call each one of them my friends.
The Back What You Believe In Award is handed out to those who go above and beyond promoting the blues in a position that is not in a regular performing position. Though Norman Sylvester and Ellen Whyte are routinely seen on stage performing before their legions of fans, they are recognized for what they have done for the community in terms of education and raising consciousness to social issues. Jeri Davis-Paletta is being noted for her work with multiple festivals over the years and as a valued volunteer at many other events.
What you will notice this year at the Muddy Awards is the name of the Back What You Believe In Award. Originally this was the very first award in the Muddys that had been named after an individual in the early years of the Cascade Blues Association after the radio and video personality George Page. For many years Page hosted the Saturday Blues and Jazz program at KBOO radio, bringing a huge focus to the music that influenced a great deal of people. Every week he would close his show out with the phrase, Back What You Believe In,” which is why the award was named as such. It was given out under his name for several years, but for some reason the name disappeared from the presentation in the mid-1990s. Nobody on the board today can recall why this change occurred, but we can certainly rectify its omission by bringing it back and so we are. From here on out and forever more it will once again be presented as the “George Page” Back What You Believe In Award.
Please join us on Wednesday, November 1 at The Melody Ballroom for another stellar night of celebrating our blues community. It’s certainly something you do not want to miss.

Mali Guitarist Habib Koité Coming To The Star Theater

Past PDX Blues Event

As one of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians, Habib Koité is a modern troubadour with extraordinary musicianship, wit, and wisdom that translates across cultures. Hailing from the musically prolific West African nation of Mali, the guitarist and composer has been named the biggest pop star of the region by Rolling Stone. Over the past decade, his artistry and magnetic personality have made him an international star, delighted audiences the world over, and placed him firmly among the leading figures in contemporary world music. As Bonnie Raitt proclaims, “first there was Hendrix, then Stevie Ray, and now Habib.” Koité’s most recent release, Soô (which translates to home) looks squarely at his native land, a country torn apart by violence over the last two years, at a time when a real feeling of home couldn’t be more vital.

Habib Koité will be appearing in Portland at The Star Theater, 13 NW 6^th Avenue, on Friday, November 3 for a 9:00 pm show. Also on the bill will be Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha. Tickets are $25.00 advance at Ticketweb.com. This is a 21 & over show.

Tedeschi Trucks Band To Play Keller Auditorium

General Meetings

Now in its eighth year, the Grammy award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band has earned its reputation as one of the premier live acts touring today. The 12-piece ensemble, led by the husband-and-wife team of guitarist Derek Trucks and guitarist-singer Susan Tedeschi, is a true collective — a rarity in rock-and-roll where every musician is featured nightly while serving the band’s unified vision, pushing the boundaries of group dynamics and improvisation to inspiring new heights. Praised by reviewers for their “joy-filled blast of blues, soul and rock” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “stellar musicianship” (Denver Post), TTB is a touring juggernaut, on the road over 200 days a year and never playing the same set list twice.
Its latest release is Live From the Fox Oakland, a CD and film recorded in a single night at a show that fans and band members all regard as one of their finest performances to date. Live From the Fox Oakland, number one with a bullet on Billboard’s Blues and number six on the Rock Albums chart, follows four critically-hailed and commercially successful TTB albums, including their Grammy-winning inaugural studio effort Revelator
The Tedeschi Trucks Band will be bringing their signature pulse-pounding show to Portland for one night at the Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay Street, on Friday, November 3 at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Portland’5 Box Office, TicketsWest outlets or by phone 800.273.1530, ranging from $39.50 – $69.50. Hard Working Americans open the show.

The Birk Hosts Rising Blues Star Alastair Greene For Two Shows

Past PDX Blues Event

Southern Californian guitarist, singer and songwriter Alastair Greene’s musical journey has been anything but traditional. His combination of blues, Southern rock, and jam band sensibilities have been thrilling audiences for nearly two decades. For seven years he toured and recorded with progressive rocker The Alan Parsons Project and has appeared on recordings with renown artists such as Mitch Kashmar, Franck Goldwasser, Ansley Dunbar, and Toad the Wet Sprocket’s front man Glen Phillips. Greene has also released several albums of his own with his latest Dream Train released just this last month. And with recent appearances at the Chicago Blues Festival and the Big Blues Bender, as well as guest appearances with such luminaries as Eric Burdon, Walter Trout, Coco Montoya, Savoy Brown, John Nemeth, and Debbie Davies, it’s crystal clear that his star is on the rise.
The Alastair Greene Band will be heading out to The Birk for two shows. The first will be on Saturday, November 4 at 7:00 pm and again on Sunday, November 5 for an afternoon show starting at 2:00 pm. Tickets for both can be purchased at TicketTomato.com for $10.00 advance or $15.00 at the door day of show. All ages are welcome. The Birk is located at 11139 Hwy 202 in Birkenfeld, OR.

“Music Heals The Soul” — A Benefit For Frankie Redding

Past PDX Blues Event

Frankie Redding, aka The Funk Master, has been performing as a professional musician since he was 15-years-old. He started at Portland’s Original Cotton Club when he was in High School, sitting in on B-3 organ for the dynamic Billy Larkin. Since that time, Frankie has performed with National Acts like Tyrone Davis and Etta James & Terry Evans. Frankie has also played with many regional acts such as the Staple Brothers and the Norman Sylvester Band to name just a couple.
Since health issues stemming from diabetes has kept him from performing, Frankie has struggled financially. On Saturday November 4 , 9:00 pm until 12:00 am, Catfish Lou’s Play it Forward mission will host: Frankie Redding “Music Heals the Soul” fundraising Night. The Norman Sylvester band with featured guests will donate pass the bucket TIPS and have a Raffle for their friend the Funk master. No Cover, just come through and give what you can, have a drink as 10% of the bar will also be donated. If you are unable to attend you can send donations to: venmonormansylvester

Folk Legend Tom Paxton Performs At Alberta Rose Theatre

Past PDX Blues Event

American folk-music icon Tom Paxton graces the Alberta Rose stage with his original and timeless folk-song repertoire, classic voice, and presence. Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest bonds of family, friends, and community. In describing Tom Paxton’s influence on his fellow musicians, the late Pete Seeger commented that “Tom’s songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they’re becoming part of America.” Guy Clark adds: “Thirty years ago Tom Paxton taught a generation of traditional folksingers that it was noble to write your own songs, and, like a good guitar, he just gets better with age.” Paxton has been an integral part of the songwriting and folk music community since the early 60’s Greenwich Village scene, and continues to be a primary influence on today’s “New Folk” performers.
The legendary Tom Paxton will be returning to Portland for one night only as he appears at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street, on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for this all ages event are available at Albertarosetheatre.com for $28.00 advance, $35.00 at the door. Preferred seating in the first five rows of the front and center section can be obtained online in advance only for $45.00.
Grammy Award winners The DonJuans open the show.