Show Your Love For The CBA ~ 2 - Oct 18, 09
An All Star Extravaganza To Help Your CBA
Sunday, October 18th ~ The Refectory ~ 4:00 – 10:00 pm
Last January, the Cascade Blues Association found itself in dire straits as did many small businesses nationwide. A special show held the previous October was aimed at raising money for our Blues Education/Blues In The Schools program with money outgoing that we expected to see covered by an anticipated audience. Little did we know beforehand that the stock market would decide to take a dive that same week, lunging many people into loss of their life savings and retirement. People were scared and rightfully so. Nobody was spending money frivolously, especially on entertainment as many music venues sat nearly empty for weeks afterward. The event brought in enough to pay our artists, but what hurt was the cost of the room rental and sound. All this right before our most expensive event of the year, the Muddy Awards, followed quickly by the Holiday Party, which also coincided with the first day of heavy winter snow forcing most to stay away.
Our bank accounts dwindled, so we held a special benefit show to raise funds quickly for the Cascade Blues Association, the so-called 1st “Show Your Love For The CBA.” It all fell together in less than a week, with so many big-named local musicians wanting to help out. The show was a huge success and righted the CBA’s ship for the immediate time to come.
This following year we have stringently pushed to cut corners on expenses as often as possible without taking away from our membership’s expectations. Our financial situation is stable for the time being, but we do not want to find ourselves in such a predicament again. Therefore, following the expense of the summer picnic and right before this year’s Muddy Awards, we have decided to hold another fundraiser for the organization. And it just may become an annual event. Not aimed at specific functions such as scholarships, Blues in the Schools or Musician Relief Funds, but toward the CBA’s general accounts altogether to be used as necessary to ensure a future in this ever-changing economic times. We had so many acts who were disappointed not to be able to take part in the last show, we knew we’d have no trouble filling another such event’s line-up.
We will be returning to The Refectory ( with yet another all-star line-up, each and every single act worth the price of admission ($10 minimum donation) on their own. The one aspect that we wanted to abide by was that we would bring in a completely different group of acts that did not have the chance the first time to participate. With the exception of Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes. We kind of felt obligated to have them along, since Sunday nights are usually his regular scheduled gigs at The Refectory and he is graciously giving up his space to us.
| 4:00 pm: KEVIN SELFE & THE TORNADOES with special guests. If you attended the Birkenfeld Blues Revue & Festival in early September, you had a sneak preview of what to expect for our opening set with Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes. Completely unrehearsed at that event, but already in the plans for our event, Kevin decided he wanted to experiment with his band’s sound with the inclusion of a Hammond B3 and horns. And he didn’t simply round up just anybody, but Dover Weinberg and The Legendary Horns, made up of saxophonists Brad Ulrich and Dan Fincher, plus trumpeter Heart Attack Joe McCarthy. And of course The Tornadoes couldn’t truly thunder without band members bassist Allen Markel and drummer Don Shultz. Plus the band will be showcasing their new CD Playing The Game. This grouping cooked at Birkenfeld without a planned set, just think what they will do when they’ve worked something up! |  |
| 5:00 pm: THE ROBBIE LAWS TRIO: Robbie Laws is one of the highest honored blues guitarists in the history of the CBA’s Muddy Awards with 18 recognitions, including six straight years as electric guitarist of the year. A longtime favorite throughout the Pacific Northwest, he has toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, he also leads the CBA’s Blues Eductaion/Blues In The Schools program. Robbie will feature his latest blues trio that includes Jolie Clausen on drums and bassist Allen Markel (doing a double duty for the event ~ whatta guy!!). This is a group that knows a thing or two about revving an audience up and Robbie will certainly make a believer out of those unfamiliar with his prowess. The they too will understand Mark Steffani of Vision Music’s statement, “If there is a better blues guitarist than Robbie on this planet, I have yet to hear him.” |  |
| 6:00: JOHN-ALEX MASON: Making his debut performance in Portland, John-Alex Mason is a versatile artist just at home playing in a band, solo acoustic or in the case for this event, as a one-man band. John-Alex won rave reviews at the International Blues Challenge in 2008, reaching the finals as a one-man band. The winner of the 2001 Telluride Acoustic Competition and named the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival’s Most Promising Emerging Artist in 2004, John-Alex Mason has made quite a reputation for himself nation-wide. Relocating to Portland in early October from Colorado Springs, we welcome our newest member of our local blues family at this show. He is sure to quickly become a favorite of all. |  |
| 7:00 pm: MYRTLE BROWN’S DESTINY with special guest LINDA HORNBUCKLE: Vocalist Myrtle Brown plans to hold nothing back for her set, bringing in her all-star band complete with horn section for a big-sounding, bluesy, soul-filled performance. She has thrilled audiences in locations throughout the world, including three tours through Spain and a lengthy stint in Las Vegas before returning home to Portland. She has appeared on concert bills and together with artists such as Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls, BB King, Buddy Guy and Etta James to name just a few. Now back home Myrtle Brown’s Destiny is making its mark on Portland once again with a line-up that includes guitarist Saverio, bass player Greg Earl, Phillip Tucker on drums, Chris Stone on sax and Chris Alexander on the B3. And to make this an even more dynamic set, Myrtle has invited special guest Linda Hornbuckle to join in the festivities. One of Portland’s all-time favorite divas, Linda will display how easily she can place an audience in the palm of her hand simply with the power of her voice. This is one double-header that would be a show stopper anywhere! |  |
| 8:00 pm: THE RICK WELTER BAND: Rick Welter came to Portland just a few short years back and has established himself as a local favorite. Bringing with him credentials that would be the envy of most any blues artist, Rick has been a member of bands led by Mitch Woods, Charlie Musselwhite and was also a member of The Dynatones. He has been a staple of blues scenes along the West Coast, Salt Lake City and Albany, New York before relocating to Portland. His current band just may be his best yet, with John Neish on bass and Tom Royer on drums. Celebrating the recent release of one of the finest Northwest recordings of the year, I’m All Yours, The Rick Welter Band always delivers the goods with their strong traditional flavored blues. |  |
| 9:00 pm: JIMMY LLOYD REA & THE SWITCHMASTERS and a multitude of special guests: It has been way too long since Jimmy Lloyd Rea & The Switchmasters have made the trek from Eastern Oregon to the Portland area. As a CBA Muddy Award Hall of Famer, this just wasn’t sitting well in our minds, so when we decided to put this latest event together, Jimmy was the first person we wanted to approach. When it comes to that full-throttled Texas blues boogie, nobody can do it better and with more determination behind them. Jimmy will be bringing in guitarists The Reverend Danny G and Rockin’ Ron Carnes from his current working band. Original Switchmaster drummer Randy Lilya will also be on hand and he made a few phone calls, rounding up some old friends to help celebrate Jimmy’s return. Participating will be harmonica master Mike Moothart, guitar monster Doug Rowell and one of Portland’s all-time greatest blues guitarists, The Italian Chainsaw himself, Jim Mesi!! Now that’s a grouping that is sure to be incindenary, so The Refectory just might want to have some fire extinguishers nearby, because this one will be smokin’!! |  |
| And don’t think that will be all this evening has in store for you. If it’s anything like the first one, there will be some unexpected guests dropping by who just may get on stage as well. The Refectory is going all out for us this time. The room filled beyond capacity an hour before we started last time and so the back partition will be opened, giving us space for up to 700 people. Extra wait staff, servers, cooks and bartenders will all be on hand and a highly-skilled sound staff will take care of all the needs to make sure everybody hears what is happening to the best conditions possible. All this for a $10 minimum donation. Bring your checkbooks, too, as we will have a silent auction and raffle tickets to win great prizes, too. Come out and Show Your Love For The CBA one more time. With this show, how can you resist? Greg Johnson CBA President and Event Coordinator | ONE NIGHT ONLY! |
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Pianist Georg Schroeter and harmonica player Marc Breitfelder made history this past February, as they became the first Europeans to win the International Blues Challenge. Representing the Baltic Blues Society in Northern Germany, they took the title competing against approximately 100 solo/duo acts from around the world. Their most recent release, Live At BluesBaltica . . . On The Way To Memphis, captures their live performance to perfection. Though this recording is not only the pair, as it also includes David Herzel playing behind them on drums, they are at their peak here.
