Entries by Greg Johnson

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Learning Opportunities Through Artichoke Music

Learning Opportunities Through Artichoke Music Not only has Artichoke Music teamed up with the Cascade Blues Association to help bring live entertainment once a month to our members, they also offer a wide and diverse selection of educational classes in various genres and instrumentation. Renowned instructors such as blues musicians Anne Weiss and Steve Cheseborough […]

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Alberta Rose Theatre Presents Live Duffy Bishop Simulcast

Alberta Rose Theatre Presents Live Duffy Bishop Simulcast Duffy Bishop – legend of the Northwest blues scene – performs a full band show especially for her Portland fans. The event will be live streamed by the Alberta Rose Theatre’s Portland Music Stream directly from the Eclipse Studio in St Augustine, Florida. What truly makes this […]

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Johnny Rawls – Live In Europe 

Johnny Rawls  Live In Europe Continental Records Services Review by Greg Johnson  If you’re new to the field of soul blues, then it’s time for you to sit up and take notice. Going directly to Johnny Rawls may be one of the best options to introduce yourself. The multi-Blues Music Award winning vocalist is like […]

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Victor Wainwright & The Train

Victor Wainwright & The Train  Memphis Loud Ruf Records by Greg Johnson  Victor Wainwright is without doubt one of the piano kings of our time. On his latest disc, Memphis Loud, he takes us on a compelling journey through a series of musical styles where he expands on his range of playing, from his well-known […]

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Ramblings On My Mind July 2020

Ramblings On My Mind July 2020 Greg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President  Typically, we make a point not to bring politics into the organization’s stances, but this past month has brought about a divisiveness that we must address. The crimes committed by police in the name of law and order in Minneapolis and cities throughout our country […]

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Ramblings on My Mind -June 2020

Ramblings On My Mind  Greg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President  As our world continues to be on hold due to the pandemic, we watch over and over again as our dreams of nice summer weather with gatherings to enjoy music and friends disappear before our eyes. Here in Portland and throughout our region, summers are […]

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Ramblings On My Mind – May 2020

Greg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President In this time of pandemic, like everybody else, I found myself confined to either home, or in my case also spending long hours at work, listening to a lot of music. Whether live online broadcasts from various musicians, including being able to see some old friends that I haven’t […]

April New Music Releases

There is so much good music out there. To help sort through it, we recommend starting here.   Bernard Allison – Songs From The Road (Ruf Records) Jimmy Johnson – Every Day Of Your Life (Delmark Records) John “Blues” Boyd – What My Eyes Have Seen . . .  (Gulf Coast Records) John Bunzow – […]

Tom Gilberts

Old School Polymerase Records Review by Greg Johnson On his sophomore release, Old School, guitarist Tom Gilberts continues to display his full-tone sound and tasteful string work. He hits the notes just as they’re supposed to be—with meaning and clarity. Once again, the music selections are more instrumentals than songs. And that is just fine […]

Tinsley Ellis

Ice Cream in Hell Alligator Records Review by Randy Murphy One could quite quickly exhaust a long list of adjectives trying to describe Tinsley Ellis’s new album, Ice Cream in Hell. “Searing? Sure. “Gutsy?” You bet. “Combustable?” Beyond any doubt. But this recording, Ellis’s 18th to date, never succumbs to the shopworn guitar pyrotechnics or […]