Waterfront Blues Fest Ethos/Workshop Stage TV Schedule

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For cable-TV subscribers in the Portland area, videos of presentations on the FedEx Workshop Stage at last summer's Waterfront Blues Festival, recorded by Ethos, Inc., will start airing in October. The production values on these recordings are quite good, and the performances are often spectacular.
-Peter Dammann, Talent Coordinator, Waterfront Blues Festival

Cigarbox Guitars : Jerry Zybach
Oct 24th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Oct 26th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Oct 28th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

J.P. Soars & the Red Hots
Oct 31st (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 2nd (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 4th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Ryan Harder
Nov 7th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 9th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 11th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Blues Photography Presentation : Dick Waterman
Nov 14th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 16th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 18th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

David Vest
Nov 21st (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 23rd (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 25th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Steve Kerin & Friends
Nov 28th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 30th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Dec 2nd (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Dave Gonzalez of Stone River Boys
Dec 5th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Dec 7th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Dec 9th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Last of the Bentonia MS Bluesmen : Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
Dec 12th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Dec 14th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Dec 16th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

The Blues of Jimmy Reed: Randy Chortkoff & Franck "Paris Slim" Goldwasser
Dec 19th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Dec 21st (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Dec 23rd (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Dave's Killer Bread VIP Allstars
Dec 26th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Dec 28th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Dec 30th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

************ New Year ****************
(Schedule subject to change. Stay tuned)

Gals with Guitars: Laura Chavez, Sonny Hesse, Fiona Boyes. Moderated by Judy Tint
Jan 2nd (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Jan 4th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Jan 6th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Kevin Gordon
Jan 9th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Jan 11th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Jan 13th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Rick Estrin & Franck "Paris Slim" Goldwasser
Jan 16th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Jan 18th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Jan 20th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Terry "Harmonica" Bean
Jan 23rd (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Jan 25th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Jan 27th (Wed) Noon Channel 1

Previously Aired (prior to post) ****

Hill Country Mash-up : Hillstomp
Oct 3rd (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Oct 5th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Oct 7th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Lucas Biespiel & Friends (30mins) followed by Piedmont Guitar Styles: IBC Winner : Little Joe McLerran (30mins)
Oct 10th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Oct 12th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Oct 14th (Wed) Noon Channel 11

Mary Flower
Oct 17th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Oct 19th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Oct 21st (Wed) Noon Channel 11

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Additional Information

CD Reviews

"Industrial Strength"

Wendy DeWitt & Kirk Harwood

Wette Music

If you want to hear boogie piano done right, look no further than Wendy DeWitt. She has been tearing up stages with her Chicago and Texas styled playing for a number of years, working with the likes of Hank Ballard, Otis Rush and Steve Freund, while sharing performance time with people like Charlie Musselwhite, Hadda Brooks and Etta James. You can hear a lot of the masters like Otis Spann, Memphis Slim and Sunnyland Slim within her playing and her vocals may bring to mind fellow blues pianist Marcia Ball. In other words, Wendy has the full package that screams out for attention.

On her latest release, Industrial Strength, she has teamed up with drummer Kirk Harwood, whose rhythm supplies a natural beat behind her keyboard readings. Harwood’s credentials credit time playing with Norton Buffalo, Roy Rogers and Huey Lewis amongst others. They are joined by a host of guests throughout the disc including Chicago raised blues guitar maestro Steve Freund, pianist Macy Blackman, Western Swing Hall of Famer Tommy Thomsen from Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, Dave Aguilar from Norton Buffalo’s band and ragtime bassist Marty Eggers.

The music on Industrial Strength is very inspiring, especially the instrumentals. Her take on “Summertime,” combining it with the classic lines of “Flight of the Bumblebee” is brilliant. It makes the song romp, yet it is very recognizable and a delight to listen to. Tracks such as “Nervous,” “Boogie Woogie Stomp” and “Bass Key Boogie” sound like they could’ve come out of a speakeasy in New Orleans’ Storyville or a Kansas City gambling den some fifty-sixty years back. “If I Could Just” is a soft, heartfelt number with lovely piano filled with brushed drums and filled with emotional vocals. “Love And Appreciation” is a fun little ditty that opens with whistling and is backed with tuba. You cannot help but smile while listening to it. “Lucky Old Sun” is packed full of soul so deep that you just want to stand up and testify her playing and vocals are that powerful. The album closes out with the song “Gone,” where Wendy reflects on the memories of past friends, one by one, everybody leavin’ on.

Industrial Strength is highly recommended for anybody who has a love for piano blues. If you’re a fan of Marcia Ball or Eden Brent’s style of playing, you’re going to be thrilled with Wendy DeWitt. Definitely a keeper with this disc.

Total Time: 43:40

Nervous / Summertime / Lucky Old Sun / Don’t Tell Me You Love Me / It’s Too Late / Jungle Boogie / Boogie Woogie Stomp / Wings Of Love / Bass Key Boogie / If I Could Just / Love And Appreciation / San Francisco / Gone

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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