Saturday, May 31, 2014

Fwd: Janice Scroggins Benefit Concert (June 9)

There will be a benefit show at the Alberta Rose for the family of Janice Scroggins on June 9th ... details below and at the Alberta Rose website.

   - Jim


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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For the Love of Janice (A benefit for the Scroggins family)

Monday, June 9, 7:00PM
Alberta Rose Theater
3000 NE Alberta St.
www.albertarosetheatre.com
Tickets $25


The Portland music community is reeling from the death of one of its beloved musicians, piano legend Janice Scroggins.  Janice died May 27 at age 58. Her legendary skill on the eighty-eights put her on the A List of pianists in this town for gospel, jazz and blues. Friends will gather for a musical tribute and benefit on June 9.  The following is just a small portion of musicians who want to be a part:


Lloyd Jones, LaRhonda Steele family, Norman Sylvester, Duffy Bishop & Chris Carlson, Julianne Johnson Dave Fleschner, Louis Pain, Reggie Houston, Brian Ward, Sonny Hess, Myrtle Brown, Curtis Salgado, Mike Doolin, Alan Hager, Lisa Mann, Peter Dammann, Terry Robb, Lyndee Mah, Ken Derouchie, Anne Weiss, Brian Foxworth, Michael Alan Harrison, Tony Ozier, Devin Phillips, Mary Flower and many more musical friends of Janice.

 

For questions or an interview, contact Mary Flower, 503-679-1977 or mary@maryflower.com


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Mid-May PDX live music picks

We pivot into the second half of May which means we're getting closer to summer and a whole lot of outdoor music ... it's coming people! We'll get to that soon, but to whet your appetite, check out this article from OMN and interview with Peter Dammann about the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival.

 It's a busy musical weekend ...here's a few to check out ...

Thursday
A big fave of mine from Louisiana is in town tonight at the Star Theater - Tab Benoit. Tab is a  three-time Grammy nominated, four time Blues Music Awards "Entertainer of the Year" and five time "Contemporary Male" Blues Music Award Winner. A soulful singer, tasty guitar slinger, and engaging entertainer, he's also a committed environmental activist and spokesperson when it comes to issues of the Gulf Coast and energy extraction (see Voice of the Wetlands). Seattle's Cody Beebe & the Crooks and Portland's Woodbrain fill out a blues rockin' evening ... 8 pm, $25

Some very cool cross-cultural world music at the Alberta Rose with Okaidja Afroso and Shokoto ... 7:30 pm, $18

Curtis Salgado with Alan Hagar and Dave Fleshner are at Wilf's ... 8 pm, $10

Longtime premier vocal ensemble, The Manhattan Transfer, are at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $48

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, including jaw-dropping guitarist Chris “Kid” Andersen are at the new Duff's Garage (NE 82nd & Russell) ... 9 pm, $15

Friday
Early and cheap music? Time for a bit of honky-tonkin' at the Landmark Saloon with Hank Sinatra & His Atomic Cowboys at 6, followed by Pete Krebs & His Portland Playboys at 9 pm ... no cover

Two of Portland's premier songwriter/performers, Fernando and Casey Neill, team up for an evening at Al's Den ... 7 pm, no cover

The Roseland Hunters will create a New Orleans influenced funky good time at Duff's ... be ready to get sweaty! ... 9 pm, $10

It an entertaining and funny folk night at the Alberta Rose with The Righteous Mothers and Christine Lavin ... veteran folkies who don't take it all too seriously, but will make sure you have a thoroughly good time ... 8 pm, $20

And, the big show in town tonight is Nickel Creek at the Crystal Ballroom ... Three old friends, numerous and award winning projects, back together after seven years to celebrate a new album and playing together for 25 years (yep, they were preteens when they first played together!) ... this is sold out, but show up and be patient if you really want to go ...

Saturday
Mary Flower brings her outstanding finger-picking and slide work to Edgefield (in the Winery) ... 7 pm, no cover

Another fine finger-picker, Brooks Robertson is at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

Speaking of picking ... two of the finest multi-instrumental pickers we have round these parts - Scott Law and Tony Furtado - do a thing together called The Banjo Killers. Tonight at the Alberta Rose it's The Banjo Killers Present: Scott Law ‘Black Mountain’ Album Release & Tony Furtado ... no instruments will be killed in the process ... 8 pm, $18

Lloyd Jones and band (featuring Warren Rand on alto sax, Carlton Jackson on drums, Denny Bixby on bass and Louis Pain on organ) will be at The Lehrer ... 8 pm, $??

Soul Vaccination will keep the dance floor filled at Vie d'Boheme ... 8:30 pm, $10

Mississippi Studios will be packed for the annual Willamette Week Best New Bands showcase ... this year features Ural Thomas & the Pain, Summer Cannibals, and Tiburones ... 9 pm, no cover

The Quick and Easy Boys will rock The Goodfoot ... 10 pm, $10

Wow ... lots of choices .... so get out to some live music!

Friday, May 9, 2014

May there be music ...

There maybe some good shows about this weekend ... here's what I may check out:

Friday
A good early evening music choice may be Pete Krebs and His Portland Playboys at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, no cover
Eilen Jewell

Both the Aladdin and the Alberta Rose have great shows tonight ... the Aladdin has bluegrass songstress Sarah Jarosz ... 8 pm, $18.  The Alberta Rose has the country and rockabilly sounds of Eilen Jewell and Zoe Muth. Jewell has a swinging sultry sound that is really impressive ... 8 pm, $18


It's also the start of the two-day WhiskeyFest Northwest in the Pearl ... lots of whiskey-related activities, food, and drinking ... And, some outstanding music. Check out the schedule here. $25 - $140. Proceeds benefit the Oregon Active Foundation (ORA), an Oregon 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing Adventure Therapy (AT) for people in our community with disabilities and other life challenging conditions.

The Sportin' Lifers Trio is at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Shanghai Woolies throw a Prohibition Party at Tony Starlight's ... 8 pm, $15

And Torque Libre brings their distinct blending of flamenco and Afro-Cuban styles to Vie d'Boheme ... 9 pm, $8

Saturday
Blues master Joe McMurrian will do a solo show at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

It's time for another installment of Live Wire Radio at the Alberta Rose. Musical guest is Swan Sovereign (though you might remember them as Dirty Martini) ... 7:30 pm, $25

Soul Vaccination brings their horn-driven soul and funk to the new Duff's Garage ... 8 pm, $12

Sunday
Robert Johnson? Maybe.
It's back to the Alberta Rose for Robert Johnson's 103rd Birthday Bash. More myth and legend surround Johnson than any blues artist (or almost any musician). With little beyond the tunes recorded in two sessions and bits and pieces of conflicting stories from people who knew him or may have seen him play, much has been projected onto this relatively blank canvas. But those recordings stand as sacred texts of the blues, so why not worship at the church of Johnson.
To honor his legacy, performers include: Mary Flower, Terry Robb, Joe McMurrian, Mark Lemhouse, Tevis Hodge, Lloyd Jones, Lewi Longmire & Anita Lee Elliott, and Steve Cheseborough ... 8 pm, $20 general/$30 or your soul for preferred seating

And appropriately on Sunday, the muthaship lands in Portland ... George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will be rockin' the Crystal Ballroom. Ural Thomas & the Pain open ... 9 pm, $25

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Since I'm not at Jazz Fest, here's what's going on in Portland ...

Okay, a small lament for not heading to New Orleans this year, as Jazz Fest is in full swing and the city is overflowing with music (more than usual, that is). But, Portland's got some fine shows this weekend that will help sooth that tinge of regret ...

Thursday
South African singer, songwriter, dancer, anthropologist and musical activist Johnny Clegg brings over three decades of performing and recording to the Aladdin. Clegg was probably the first musician to wed English lyrics to African Zulu rhythms, creating barrier-breaking music with international acclaim. He's a world artist who shouldn't be missed ... 8 pm, $35

Need early music?  It's Thursday, so it Lewi Longmire & the Left Coast Roasters at the Laurelthirst happy hour.  Or, catch the May Day Celebration at the Kennedy School that begins at 4 pm with the Play Date, the June Bugs, and finishing with Freak Mountain Ramblers.

The new location of Duff's Garage has opened out on NE 82nd Ave (at NE Russell) and tonight hosts Joe McMurrian. Come out and help get the new digs off to a great start! ... 9 pm, $5

Friday
Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind do their last monthly happy hour at the Landmark Saloon until next fall ... so come join the fun ... 6 pm, no cover

Mary Flower is at the Camellia Lounge @ the Tea Zone in a rare trio setting with Janice Scroggins and Jesse Withers. Get advanced tickets here ... $8

Black Prairie shouldn't be considered a Decemberists side project, but a great band in their own right. With last week's release of their fourth CD, Fortune, the band continues to expand their range and depth. They are at the Aladdin tonight - great show and at a very reasonable price ... 8 pm, $15

Maybe more tomorrow for Saturday ... but all I got time for now!