Greg Johnson, CBA President

2018 is starting off on a change of pace. For me at least. As I write this, the International Blues Challenge will be taking place this week. And after fifteen straight years volunteering to work the event, plus seven Blues Music Awards during those same years (twenty-two trips between the two as a volunteer), I have decided not to travel to Memphis this year. I love the event and have so many friends that I will miss seeing, and of course being there to support our representatives. But I have spent pretty much all of my vacation time in Tennessee over those years and because I have placed myself in so many positions during the event I was spending less and less time with friends and if the acts we sent were not in my venue I missed seeing them compete.

This past year Cherie and I have had the chance to travel to San Francisco and Austin. It opened my eyes that there are a lot of other places and events that I would like to see. I have always dreamed of going to the Chicago Blues Festival for example, but having used my vacation time in Memphis there was no way that I would be able to do much of anything else. It doesn’t mean that I will never return to Memphis, it’s just time to go other places, too.

I do highly recommend that you go to the International Blues Challenge if you have the opportunity. It is simply a blues dream to see new acts that will be the future of the genre. It’s a smorgasbord of activity and no way is it possible for anybody to experience it all in one trip.

On another much sadder note, yet another favorite venue has decided to close. It may have been a little more of a trip to get out to The Birk, but it was one of the most welcoming, family-like atmospheres of any venue I had ever been to anywhere, often open to all ages. Mike and Wendy Ingraham literally opened their home to musicians both locally and travelling. In fact, they had become a go to destination for most every act who toured through the area. After just one visit it was a place they immediately wanted to return. Case in point, Sugaray Rayford’s comments on Facebook following his hearing of the venue’s closing. He would make a point of starting or ending his tours there and he’d spend extra days just soaking in the calm and beautiful landscape of the Coastal Mountain range and the comforts Mike and Wendy offered. Sugaray called it his most favorite place of anywhere in the world. And these were not just words being posted on social media, he had told me directly many times these exact same sentiments.

Over the past couple years, The Birk became a venue that hosted numerous touring shows. It seemed that they were doing more than any of the venues in Portland, despite the hour-plus drive through winding, forested roads to get there. The last few months that they were open, they were hosting five and more shows a month. And they were only open for the most part on weekends, with an occasional Monday or Thursday thrown in. Some of the acts this past summer alone included the likes of The Andy T Band, John Nemeth, Jason Ricci, Anni Piper, Alastair Greene, Curtis Salgado, Seth Walker, Danielle Nicole, Jimmy Thackery, JJ Thames, The Delgado Brothers, Crooked Eye Tommy, Nick Moss, Matt Scofield and on and on.

For Cherie and myself, it is even more personal. We had always felt that we were welcome at any time and Mike and Wendy became very good friends that we looked forward to seeing as often as we could. We could even bring our dog, as did friends Mike and Laura Osborn, too. We held our engagement party at The Birk, with Cherie working with Mike to bring in the Duffy Bishop Band for a sold out afternoon filled with friends and much love. And we were already in discussion setting up arrangements to hold our upcoming wedding there in August. Unfortunately we will have to hold it elsewhere now, much to the sadness of not only us, but Mike and Wendy, too. We’ll miss The Birk, and Mike and Wendy even more, but we know that we’ll be seeing them at shows around town.

Who will pick up the void that is now open to touring acts? There are a small handful of venues in Portland that offer a spot for them at times, but not as it had once been. And like many cities around the country live venues are starting to close at a more rapid rate leaving not only touring acts but local musicians looking for places to play. We know that The Birk was a trek to make at certain times of the year or in inclement weather. But we have seen other venues come and go because people were reluctant just to drive to certain areas of town or maybe over the hill to the West Side. We need to support all of these locations that are offering places for us to hear and enjoy the music we love. New places will come and others will go. But get out there. Keep them in business. Even if you have to go a little bit farther, it’s worth it in the overall scheme of what we desire.

Greg 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!

Greg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President

We are certainly going through some trying times around this country the past month with devastating hurricanes ravaging Texas, Florida, and surrounding areas, and the West Coast going up in flames. People are in trouble and in need of assistance. And the people who always seem to step up are musicians. Not only with benefit events to help raise money, but also to chronicle what happens in our country socially. Over history we have seen musicians describe the feelings of people and what adversity they have faced. I am sure that these current events will also bring about in song the emotions of anger, loss, loneliness, desperation, need and fear, and hopefully will turn to recovery and overcoming the fate that has been handed to them. We just need to remember that this could happen at any time, unexpectedly to us all and those we love. We need to offer the assistance when and however we can.

On a brighter note, remember that the Muddy Awards are coming up in November. We will be returning to The Melody Ballroom for this night, upstairs in the big room. It has gone through some renovation and the stage is now smaller and portable, but it is still the size of room that we need and the new owners wanted us to have the event there. It will still take place the first Wednesday of the month on the 1^st and Sonny Hess has agreed to be the band leader for the All Star concert at the end of the show. We hope that you plan to be with us to celebrate the musicians and events over this past year, and then we’ll be heading back to Catfish Lou’s again in December.

I mention the Muddys also to serve as a reminder that your final ballots will be due in mid-October so that we will be able to have the trophies prepared for the night. Improvements were made in the voting process this year and since I have not heard the complaints that we received last year things must be going pretty smoothly this time. We knew last year that we would have some people who may be unhappy with this route and that we were going to have challenges. But it was a work in progress and we had to move in this direction for financial reasons and to step into the future.

December is also right around the corner and that will mean it will be time to vote on your elected officers for the CBA for the next year. We really do need your help. It is a lot of work when you have a small board and if we could spread the responsibilities out with more members we can get more accomplished. You don’t need to run for an elected position, we need at-large members, too, and can take them on at any time through the year. If you do want to be considered for one of the elected positions, please let us know so we can have you on the ballot. We will also like for you to write a short bio about yourself and why you feel that you can help the CBA in the role through your past work, skills and desire. Please send the bio to us via email at CBAstaff@gmail.com and we will publish them in the BluesNotes for everybody to see and consider. The elected positions include president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and membership secretary. For treasurer we ask that you have a good knowledge of booking and tax preparation. For membership secretary, use of spreadsheets are important and communication skills to remind people when they’re memberships are due to expire. The roles on the board are work, I will not hide that. But it all comes down to helping the blues scene in our area survive and be recognized. It is a labor of love, but very much all the efforts put into it.

Greg Johnson, CBA President

When I look back on this past month’s Waterfront Blues Festival it brings forth many a smile from the performances I was able to catch. Working as the Cascade Blues Association’s prime photographer for the past twenty years I try to make every effort to catch as many sets as possible. I have learned over time that this is something that cannot be accomplished as there are too many stages to get to and the crowds are so large at times that getting between one to another is not always going to happen. And then there is those acts that enchant you so much or that you have been dying to see that you get caught up in the moment and forget about everything else.
That for one reason is why I have asked Tony Kutter to help out as a second photographer for the CBA for both the Waterfront and the Muddy Awards. Ever since I have known Tony he has had the same drive that compelled me to photograph shows. He has the eye to capture those special moments. And he has been able to do it a lot more than I have recently.
As for the performances, once again I was thrilled by a great many. I have stated it over and over again how impressed I am with the job Peter Dammann does every year bringing in people that amaze me. Sometimes I Look at some of the acts listed to appear and wonder how they will fit in, but I know that the event is about bringing in money to feed the hungry and some of those big name acts help draw more people to do that. Bring them in for the names and enlighten them with the fantastic blues artists that they may be missing to fill in the day. And it works, and those acts I sometimes wonder about do a nice job of fitting in, too.
This year, like always, there were many sets that stood out.
I may be biased but I have to say that the CBA’s Journey To Memphis competition delivered four sets of powerful enthusiasm from each of the four bands trying to make their way to Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge. I have said it before and will say it again, I am glad that I am not a judge, Randy Morrison Band, Gabriel Cox Band, Sister Mercy and The Lightning Kings were all sensational. Congratulations to Sister Mercy for a repeat win and to all the performers in all the acts for laying it out big time and bringing it home. Nice job all!
One of my favorites, and again I may be biased because I have known guitarist Ori Naftaly for a number of years now, was Southern Avenue. This is a band that has only been together for a couple years, but you can see the growth within them. They are pure energy, displayed outright by vocalist Tierinii Jackson. If you missed them, you missed one of the acts that will be the talk of the blues world for some time to come.
I was looking forward to seeing Fantastic Negrito more than any other act this year. His two releases have spoken to me about how the blues of the future and now is being addressed and he does it correctly. I was not disappointed. This was one of those sets that I could not move away from and one that I would love to see again soon.
Jim Pugh told me not to miss either The Sons of the Soul Revivers or Blynd. He said that the three-four part harmonies that they do were a blast from the past that will grab hold of you. And he was right. We went to church and it made our feet and bodies move.
Chris Cain has always been a favorite. He is a guitarist that has few peers. And the band he had with him was an all-star cast that brought it home! This was one of those wow sets!!
Chris Isaak was one of those acts that I questioned, but he was definitely a highlight for the festival. Bringing a great mix of his own songs and nice covers, he fit in as a headliner and delivered for the blues crowd who reacted with joyful approval.
Two local acts that I knew would be sensational because they always are at the festival were Karen Lovely and Kevin Selfe. Karen brought back almost the line-up from last year’s Muddy Award winning performance of the year, and gave good reason to think about nominating her again. Kevin returned home from his three-month long hiatus back east and hit the stage with his big band without any practice beforehand and nailed his set completely. Of course, during the introduction I had to tease him that he only brought the big band to cover for him having not played a guitar in months, and that Jimi Bott was going to slip him lyrics he’d forgotten.
And speaking of returning to the stage, Curtis Salgado was in fine form and put on an intense and powerful show. The first time he’d been back onstage since his heart attack and subsequent surgery, but he made it clear that he was not going to be stopped with this over-the-top brilliant set.
Booker T brought us the history of Stax Records, with hit after hit that he had a direct hand in playing behind the original recordings. The crowd was dancing and singing along through the entire performance.
I could go on and on about the great sets throughout the five day. People like Duffy Bishop, Big Monti, Ty Curtis & Robbie Laws, Dexter Allen, Vieus Farka Toure, Norman Sylvester, Elvin Bishop, the Paul deLay tribute: Remember Me …. It was certainly a festival for the memories. Thirty years strong and always bringing forth the best. Can’t wait until next year.