2021 Best Self-Produced CD Competition

best-cdIf you’re planning to offer your self-produced CD to the Cascade Blues Association for consideration as its entry in The Blues Foundation’s competition, then time is running short — all entries must be received no later than the October 5 General Membership Meeting at The Melody Ballroom. This is to ensure that we have plenty of time to have a committee together to listen and score the entries properly before they’re due in Memphis by the end of the month.

Since 2005, The Blues Foundation has held an annual competition to recognize excellence in independent blues recordings. The Best Self-Produced CD competition allows affiliated blues societies from around the world to submit one entry each, preferably selected by a regional competition. The Cascade Blues Association has taken part in this event since its inception, including having the overall winner chosen in 2011 — Joe McMurrian’s Get Inside This House.

All are welcome to enter with the exception of artists who have been nominated for or received a Blues Music Award or recordings that are released on labels that have been nominated or received a Blues Music Award. No compilation discs are accepted. The CBA will accept for consideration only discs from artists in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.

The listening committee will judge the entries using the same criteria that The Blues Foundation will later use in its own evaluation. These are: Blues Content (is this a blues recording?), Musical Performance (musicianship), Audio Quality (production values, levels), Cover Art & design (professional packaging — is this recoding ready for the rack at your favorite music outlet?), and Credits & Liner Information (informative, professional).

After submissions from each affiliated blues society have been received, The Blues Foundation will conduct judging in three stages, with the first two rounds being conducted by a select group of radio/print media people. The finalists will be announced a week prior to the 33rd annual International Blues Challenge and the winning recording will be named at the IBC finals in Memphis on February 4, 2017.

Entries may be mailed to: BSPCD c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228, but they must be received by October 5.

by Wendy Schumer

The 2016 picnic was a huge success! Even the folks at Columbia Crossing said it was the best picnic ever in their history. And of course we could not have done it without the help of many great volunteers and the CBA board. Thank you to board members Wendy Schumer, Merry Larsen, Brenda Docken, Fred Morgan and JoAnn Morgan—all of whom worked tirelessly to prepare, set up, work and then tear down at this year’s picnic. Thanks to Jody Gunn for signing up volunteers.

As you can imagine, this takes a lot of work and time so this year’s picnic would be great for our members. In addition to the board members, we need to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make this possible. Without these volunteers I don’t know what we would have done. So let me list the names of those who I want to thank and apologize to anyone I may have overlooked:

  • First of all, Jon Pierce, Rich- ard LaChapelle and Ed Seifert. Thanks to Everyone Who Made the 2016 CBA Picnic a Huge Success These three worked tirelessly to pick up and load the truck. They had to get tables and ice, then unload the truck.
  • Dan from Dano’s Dogs for cooking and providing all the hotdogs, hamburgers and buns. We love you Dan!
  • Bryan Olson, Al Raines, Holly Thomas, Pat Rolsing, Vince Rolsing, and Matt Northy for setup.
  • Ron Beed, Barbara Sandoval, Robert Jones, and Mark Rankin for cooking under the hot, hot sun!
  • Lucia Michaud for being the master of the food table—cutting, prepping and cleaning! Judith Ellis for helping her.
  • Bonita Davis, Carol Hamley, Beverly Jones, Don Geren, and Michelle Bean for the hectic oversight of checking members into the area and signing up new members.
  • Imperial Bottleshop for providing the beer.
  • Carl Lehman, Danny Knoll, Mark Von Pressentin, Mary Maxson, Darren Maxson, Rick Ivey, Kim Wrabel, Will Crowe, Mary Cummings, and Priscilla (don’t know her last name) for overseeing pouring the beer and wine.
  • George Stevenson, Kathy Rankin, and Mark Rankin for tear down.
  • Gary Jazkoviak and Jim & Nancy also helped.

I know there were a lot more people who helped us load the truck and bring everything back to the office—I apologize if I didn’t get everybody’s names. But I want to thank you as well!

OK, now for the music. What a stellar line-up: starting off with Beacon Street Titans, followed by Gabe Cox, then Bolt Upright and concluding with The Thunder Brothers! What a day?! A warm thank you to all the musicians who graciously donated their time to help us put on this event. I just hope everyone had a great time and I would encourage the membership to think about volunteering to help us next year!

Imagine making a big difference to your blues association while cleaning your closet of your unneeded items — now imagine having fun while making that difference! The annual rummage sale is coming up fast, and you can donate your good used items and turn it into cash for the CBA, offer just a little bit of your time helping to run the sale, and introduce new people to the CBA . The CBA is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and your donation is tax deductible!

LIVE BLUES: Terry Robb, Timothy James, Justus Reece, and Kathryn Grimm!
BARGAINS: Furniture, tools, kids items, household, collectibles, antiques, musical instruments and more!
WHEN: September 17, 2016, 9am – 3pm
WHERE: The Bomber Restaurant, 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97222
WHY: To help fund programs of the Cascade Blues Association and offer live blues music and bargains while educating the public on all that the CBA does and grow membership and awareness of the organization.

VOLUNTEERS & STUFF NEEDED!

To make this year’s rummage sale a success, we need you and your stuff! You need to clean your house, garage, and tool shed anyway, now is the perfect time to do it, don’t wait until Spring!

DONATIONS NEEDED: Furniture (dressers, shelves, small desks, coffee tables, etc. SORRY NO couches, but futons are ok), tools, kids items, pet supplies, collectibles, and musical instruments highly desired (no full size pianos, but consoles welcome).

DONATION DROP OFFS: Please bring your good used items to The Bomber Restaurant parking lot before 9am on September 17, before sale. If you will not be in town that weekend, but feel you have items that would sell well, please contact Cherie Robbins. If in boxes, consider bringing to CBA September meeting where a van will be made available to load items (no furniture at that time).

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: More hands make for quick work, but more bodies make for more fun! To volunteer, please contact sale chair Cherie Robbins at cherieerobbins@gmail.com.

Volunteers are needed all day, but here are the most important times:

6:30AM – Oregon City Storage Location – load moving truck

8AM – The Bomber Restaurant Parking Lot, lots of help needed to unload truck as quickly as possible and place on tables.

9AM-3PM – Helpers needed to work with customers, help load customer vehicles and make thing like pretty!

3PM – Loading truck to donate to charity Thrift Store & clean up restaurant parking lot. The more help for this makes it easier at the end.

There are often more people wanting to donate items, but cannot drop off themselves the day of the sale. If you can donate a couple hours to pick up some great items that will help make a big difference for the sale. Please let Cherie know.

2021 Best Self-Produced CD Competition

Since 2005, The Blues Foundation has held an annual competition to recognize excellence in independent blues recordings. The Best Self-Produced CD competition allows affiliated blues societies from around the world to submit one entry each, preferably selected by a regional competition. The Cascade Blues Association has taken part in this event since its inception, including having the overall winner chosen in 2011 — Joe McMurrian’s Get Inside This House.

The CBA is now accepting submissions for this year’s Best Self-Produced CD competition. All are welcome to enter with the exception of artists who have been nominated for or received a Blues Music Award; or recordings that are released on labels that have been nominated or received a Blues Music Award. No compilation discs are accepted. The CBA will accept for consideration only discs from artists in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.

A committee will judge the entries using the same criteria that The Blues Foundation will later use in its own evaluation. These are: Blues Content (This is a blues recording), Musical Performance (musicianship), Audio Quality (production values, levels), Cover Art & design (professional packaging — is this recoding ready for the rack at your favorite music outlet?), and Credits & Liner Information (informative, professional).

After submissions from each affiliated blues society have been received, The Blues Foundation will conduct judging in three stages, with the first two rounds being conducted by a select group of radio/print media people. The finalists will be announced a week prior to the 33rd annual International Blues Challenge and the winning recording will be named at the IBC finals in Memphis on February 4, 2017.

All entries for the CBA must be received no later than the October 5 membership meeting at The Melody Ballroom.

cba-picnicIt’s time for one of the most anticipated events of the year — the annual Cascade Blues Association members picnic. Taking place on Sunday, August 7th, it is open to CBA members and their families only, and is one of the best perks of belonging to the CBA.  What does that mean? Who can come? FAMILY= 2 adults and up to 3 children under 18 living at the same address.  Additional “family” will be subject to a $5.00 entry fee.

Not a member or your membership has expired? Not to worry. You can join or renew at the picnic.

The picnic will return again to Tomahawk Moorage at Columbia Crossings on Hayden Island, 515 NE Tomahawk Island Drive, Portland, and will run from noon until 6:00 pm.

The Cascade Blues Association will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs, and beverages. The rest is a pot luck. We’re asking members to bring an item to share, so using the first letter of your last name, we are asking you to bring:

A – C: Hot Dishes

D – H:Salads

I – M: Goodies/Desserts

N – Z: Chips, Dips & Veggies

We are also in need of volunteers to help make this year’s picnic a success.  If you can spare a few hours of time for set-up, tear down, check in, raffle sales, or other help please let us know! Send us a message on Facebook or contact us via email at cascadebluescalendar@gmail.com

The CBA is an organization devoted to our love for blues music, so you know we are going to have an all-star line-up highlighting the afternoon. Four great regional bands will be on hand. Here are short bios of each and a tentative schedule:

12:30 – 1:30: Beacon Street Titans Daryl Boggs – Guitars Bill McNamera – Drums Howard McClung – Vocals, Harp, Sax Steve Malski – Bass Tom Ladouceur – Sax John Swecker – Trumpet – we are in for a dancing treat! BST made it to the finals of the CBA Journey to Memphis 2 years running now so they are perfectly suited to kick off the CBA picnic with their lively foot tapping music. Tasty jump blues and swing with just a touch of honey.

1:45-2:45: Gabe Cox, Gabriel Cox is a true songwriter at heart. This multi-talented artist is creating his own fresh, innovative, and quality sound that you will love. His music blends elements of blues, rock, pop, funk, and soul, which comes straight from the heart of the great northwest. He is dedicated to his fans, and always reaches for that one person out there that needs to be inspired. He made headlines with his first album in early 2014, and now he just released his 2nd groundbreaking album June 2016 that is already gaining national attention. Backed by a powerhouse band of all-star musicians, he has a fun, energetic, and truly unique show lined up that you simply can’t miss! He has performed all over the west coast including the Waterfront Blues Festival. His music has been featured on commercial radio, he’s had the privilege to work with many national touring acts, and he was nominated for several prestigious awards from the Cascade Blues Association.

3:00-4:00: Billy D & The Hoodoos is an award winning local blues band. Billy D’s life experience has given him the strength to write his brand of “Bluzy Rock” with a passion that only comes from living it. Heavily influenced by Chicago blues, Rock & Roll, and “Backbeat Roots” music of all types, his songs reflect the tough lessons of his past and show his love for Mother Blues and her first-born, Rock & Roll. Blues influenced roots music with a sexy backbeat!

4:15-5:15: The Thunder Brothers : Michael Quinby-Vox and Guitar Doug Rowell-Vox and Guitar Edwin Coleman III-Drums Timmer Blakely-Vox and Bass – WOW – now that’s a combination perfectly suited to the grand finale of this year’s picnic. The Thunder Brothers have rumbled into the Portland blues scene and are taking it by storm. They were also a finalist this year in the CBA Journey to Memphis completion.  This is a group that has played with others locally and in other configurations, but joined together to compete this year. We are sure to have a blast enjoying their upbeat energy and talent.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all there!

Imagine making a big difference to your blues association while cleaning your closet of your unneeded items? And imagine having fun while you are making that difference! The annual rummage sale is coming up where you can donate your good used items and turn it into cash for the CBA and offer just a little bit of your time helping to run the sale and introduce new people to the CBA . The CBA is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and your donation is tax deductible!

LIVE BLUES: Terry Robb, Timothy James, Justus Reece, and one more TBA!

BARGAINS: Furniture, tools, kids items, household, collectibles, antiques, musical instruments and more!

WHEN: September 17, 2016, 9am-3pm

WHERE: The Bomber Restaurant, 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97222

WHY: To help fund programs of the Cascade Blues Association and offer live blues music and bargains while educating the public on all that the CBA does and grow membership and awareness of the organization.

VOLUNTEERS & STUFF NEEDED!
To make this year’s rummage sale a success, we need you and your stuff! You need to clean your house, garage, and tool shed now anyway, so this is the perfect time to do it — don’t wait until spring!

DONATIONS NEEDED: Furniture (dressers, shelves, small desks, coffee tables, etc. SORRY NO couches, but futons are okay), tools, kids items, pet supplies, collectibles, and musical instruments highly desired (no full size pianos, but consoles are welcome).

DONATION DROP OFFS: Please bring your good used items to The Bomber Restaurant parking lot before 9am on September 17, before the sale. If you will not be in town that weekend, but feel you have items that would sell well, please contact Cherie Robbins. If in boxes, consider bringing to CBA September meeting where a van will be made available to load items (no furniture at that time).

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:More hands make for quick work, but more bodies make for more fun! To volunteer, please contact sale chair Cherie Robbins at cherieerobbins@gmail.com.

Volunteers are needed all day, but these are the most important times:

6:30AM – Oregon City Storage Location – load moving truck

8AM – The Bomber Restaurant Parking Lot, lots of help needed to unload truck as quickly as possible and place on tables.

9AM-3PM – Helpers needed to work with customers, help load customer vehicles and make things look pretty.

3PM – Loading truck to donate to charity Thrift Store & clean up restaurant parking lot. The more help for this makes it easier at the end.

There are often more people wanting to donate items, but cannot drop off themselves the day of the sale. If you can donate a couple hours to pick up some great items that will help make a big difference for the sale. Please let Cherie know.

The Bomber Restaurant offers a wonderful selection of breakfast and lunch items. Please consider stopping inside for a bite to eat when you come by the rummage sale.

The Cascade Blues Association is joining the twenty-first century — for the first time we will conduct the Muddy Awards nominations and final voting online. This will allow us to verify that only one vote is received per email address and will also make it easier for us to automatically tally the returns within a firm deadline. It will also save us a great deal of expense and time printing and mailing ballots. The first round nominations will open in mid-August. Watch our website, Facebook page, and CBA email blasts for further information.

Dave Miller - photo from Pattie MillerLast month we lost Dave Miller, who was known by many around the Portland blues scene. Dave’s business card said “Brewing the Blues since ’62.”  In grade school and high school Dave played Dixieland jazz on trombone with his brother Fred on clarinet and their band teacher on cornet. Dave went to a congressional page high school in Washington DC, and in that town got introduced to the blues. After learning guitar he formed the The Miller Bros. Blues Band with Fred on tenor sax and younger brother Bob on bass while in law school at Stanford. After moving to Portland in 1968, eventually Dave’s son David III became rhythm guitarist. With Mike Oxborrow on bass and Dave Smith on drums a good portion of the time, for some 40 years the Miller Bros. Blues Band entertained in the Portland area under Dave Miller’s inspired and charismatic leadership. Dave was an active supporter of the Cascade Blues Association and KBOO’s blues staff headed by Tom Wendt.

Keep it up, Dave, wherever you may be.

A celebration of life event will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at the World Forestry Center, Miller Hall, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221.

Obituary written by Jeff  Dayne

Since 2005, The Blues Foundation has held an annual competition to recognize excellence in independent blues recordings. The Best Self-Produced CD competition allows affiliated blues societies from around the world to submit one entry each, preferably selected by a regional competition. The Cascade Blues Association has taken part in this event since its inception, including having the overall winner chosen in 2011 — Joe McMurrian’s Get Inside This House.

The CBA is now accepting submissions for this year’s Best Self-Produced CD competition. All are welcome to enter with the exception of artists who have been nominated for or received a Blues Music Award; or recordings that are released on labels that have been nominated or received a Blues Music Award. No compilation discs are accepted. The CBA will accept for consideration only discs from artists in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.

A committee will judge the entries using the same criteria that The Blues Foundation will later use in its own evaluation. These are: Blues Content (This is a blues recording), Musical Performance (musicianship), Audio Quality (production values, levels), Cover Art & design (professional packaging — is this recoding ready for the rack at your favorite music outlet?), and Credits & Liner Information (informative, professional).

After submissions from each affiliated blues society have been received, The Blues Foundation will conduct judging in three stages, with the first two rounds being conducted by a select group of radio/print media people. The finalists will be announced a week prior to the 33rd annual International Blues Challenge and the winning recording will be named at the IBC finals in Memphis on February 4, 2017.

All entries for the CBA must be received no later than the October 5 membership meeting at The Melody Ballroom.

Duffy Bishop (photo by Greg Johnson)In a special press conference held on Tuesday, August 12 at Tony Starlight’s Showroom, the Oregon Music Hall of Fame announced their 2016 inductees and college scholarship recipients. Among this year’s inductees will be one of the Northwest’s most beloved blues musicians, Duffy Bishop. Other 2016 inductees include Pete Krebs, Sleater-Kinney, Fernando, Brian Berg, Paul Brainard, Tim Ellis Bart Day, and Dave Cutter

Duffy Bishop began her professional career while in her teens and has been performing for more than four decades. Both the Cascade Blues Association and Washington Blues Society has honored Duffy with inductions into their Hall of Fames and recognized her with Lifetime Achievement Awards. In fact, Bishop received the Cascade Blues Association’s Female Artist Muddy Award so many times that the award now bears her name: The “Duffy Bishop Female Vocalist” Muddy Award. With eight recordings under her belt leading her own band, she has also performed onstage as Janis Joplin in the Seattle production of Janis, regularly performs in the lead role of the cabaret show Teatro ZinZanni, and has toured with Big Brother & The Holding Company.

Bishop will be performing alongside fellow inductees Fernando with guests Pete Krebs and Paul Brainard, and Three Leg Torso at the Aladdin Theater on Saturday, October 8, with Tony Starlight as emcee.  Tickets are now on sale through Ticketfly.com for $25.00 advance general admission, $30.00 day of show. There are also a limited number of $100.00 Gold Circle reserved seats in prime center location. The Aladdin theater is located at 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue. The Hall of Fame show will begin at 7:00 pm.