My Playlist from Last Saturday Night 3-28-09

10:00 PM Wayne Horvitz/ Duke/ Monologue
10:02 PM Esperanza Spaulding/ If That's True/ Esperanza
10:09 PM Chick Correa & Hiromi/ Windows/ Chick & Hiromi
10:17 PM Quadraphonnes/ 4951 Walnut St./ Music to Watch Girls By
10:26 PM John Scofield/ Chicken Dog/ A Go Go
10:33 PM Sound for the Organization of Society/ Poem of the Underground/ same
10:45 PM Nancy King & Fred Hersch/ Little Suede Shoes & Day By Day/ At Jazz Standard
10:53 PM Wayne Horvitz Sweeter Than the Day/ Disingenuous Firefight/ live at Goodfoot Lounge Portland 1/31/09 unreleased
10:58 PM Gary Burton & Michael Gibbs/ In the Public Interest/ same

11:08 PM Carla Bley/ Appearing Nightly at the Black Orchid/ Appearing Nightly
11:36 PM Andrew Oliver Kora Band/ The Funnel & the Vacuum Cleaner/ Just 4 U
11:40 PM John Stowell/ Laughing River/ Solitary Tales
11:45 PM Various/ Introduction & Balancing Signals/ This is Stereormama/ vinyl
11:47 PM Esquivel/ That Old Black Magic/ Other Worlds, Other Sounds/ vinyl
11:50 PM Ray Martin/ Shadrack/ Dynamica
11:52 PM Quadraphonnes/ Who Loves You Pretty Baby/ Music To Watch Girls By
11:56 PM Felix Slatkin/ I Get a Kick Out of You/ Cocktail Mix Vol. 1

THE BAR

12:05 AM Tom Waits/ The Piano Has Been Drinking/ Small Change
12:08 AM Roy Brown/ Saturday Night/ Complete Imperial Recordings
12:10 AM Prince La La/ She Put the Hurt On/ Me Itchy Twitchy Feelings
12:13 AM Champion Jack DuPree/ Nasty Boogie Woogie/ Blues from the Gutter
12:16 AM Dinah Washington/ Big Long Slidin Thing/ Risque Blues
12:19 AM Dave Bartholomew/ Who Drank My Beer While I Was In the Rear?/ Classic New Orleans
12:22 AM Wine-O-Wine/ Willis Jackson/ Atomic Cocktail
12:24 AM H Bomb Ferguson/ H Bomb Rock/ H Bomb Rock
12:26 AM Bobby Hendricks/ Itchy Twitchy Feeling/ same
12:29 AM Northwest Blues Pianorama/ Little Queenie/ live in Seattle (unreleased) David Vest, DK Stewart, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne
12:38 AM Archibald/ Stak A Lee/ Spirit of New Orleans
12:45 AM Ray Charles/ What'd I Say (Pts 1&2)/ Atlantic Collection
12:50 AM Ike & Tina Turner/ I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine/ Itchy Twitchy Feelings 12:53 AM The Meters/ Good Ole Funky Music/ Fundamentally Funky
12:59 AM Labelle/ What Can I do For You?/ Nightbirds

1:03 AM Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Staples/ Trashy Dog/ Jammed Up Together 1:07 AM Bar-Kays/ Soul Finger/ Instrumental Classics
1:11 AM George Clinton/ Flash Light (Groovemaster's Mix)/ 70s Party
1:17 AM MC Hammer/ U Can't Touch This/ Platinum
1:21 AM O'Jays/ Love Train/ Best of Gamble & Huff
1:24 AM Marvin Gaye/ Let's Get It On (futuro mix)/ The Ultimate Motown Remix
1:28 AM Watts 103rd St. Band/ Express Yourself/ Soul Years 1970
1:32 AM Stevie Wonder/ Love's In Need of Love Today/ Songs In the Key of Life
1:41 AM Paul deLay Band/ Could We Just Shoot Your Husband/ The Last of the Best
1:44 AM Phillip Glass/ Forgetting/ Songs from Liquid Days/ by Laurie Anderson voc: Linda Ronstadt & the Roches
1:52 AM Quadraphonnes/ Glass Saxophone Quartet Mvt. 1/ Music to Watch Girls By

QUADS INTERVIEW, SOME VIDEOS, A LITTLE NEWS AND NOTHING NEW FROM OPB/KMHD

While listening to a very out very exciting Cooper-Moore play "All Up In It" and remembering how much fun I had talking with him for a story last fall and how much fun it IS to meet and get to talk with talented creative people and how I can't stop doing it even if it means I have to invent my own place in which to do it…..

Which has nothing to do with the news about KMHD. There's nothing new to report and I'm going to hold for another time what will be a lengthy and pretty shocking story about how that place has operated in the recent past.

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AS PROMISED, THE QUADRAPHONNES INTERVIEW FROM MY SHOW LAST SATURDAY NIGHT

Mary Sue Tobin and Chelsea Luker made the long trek to Gresham to be on KMHD with me. It sounded something like this. Actually, it sounded exactly like this.



And then I got this note on my Facebook "How bout giving Quartette Barbette some ink too! LOL" And there you have it.

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BURNSIDE RECORDS THROWS UP……A BUNCH OF COOL VIDEOS.

Interesting videos of Portland musicians including this one of the Acoustic Guitar Summit.



See the rest here.
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A NOTE TO THE PORTLAND BAND "METH TEETH"

I will never go see you with a name like that. I have easier ways to induce vomit.

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BRAZIL AND PIZZA IS NOT THE NAME AN ART FILM

You can get some of both, however at Mizz Pizz on Saturday night, March 28 when z'Bumba and Vou Vivendo play while you eat. Don’t let them see you eating. It's not good for the creative process.
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BONZO DOG BAND….NEED I SAY MORE?

Click if you must. I got this from a Bonzo fan. I know for a fact that Mississippi Studios' Jim Brunberg and Music Millennium's Terry Currier are huge Bonzo fans, as am I.

Here's the problem. I periodically coorespond with two women who are into the Bonzos. It's fairly unsual for women to like them. Don’t' ask me why. When I asked where they had discovered the Bonzos they both said they had been turned on to them by their dads when they were kids. Oh great.

Here's a version of Canyons of Your Mind I had never seen.



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I WILL BITE YOU, BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE IN COSTUME

This Friday, March (I'm really tired of March) 27 at the Bossanova Ballroom, Avant-Emperor Noah Mickens will throw The Vampire Masqurade Ball Official Meet and Greet Party starring The Deadly Ensemble, Soriah, plus aerialistFaegann Harlow, The Sick DJs Burn, Megadeth, and Jimme Jamma, experimental cellist Uxe Mede and Bogville featuring NagaSita and Eyerish Heather Collins.

As you may realize by now, I swear by all things Mickens but you may not get to read too much of his writing. For instance:

The 7th Annual Vampire Masquerade Ball is drawing the Transylvanian diaspora from across the Globe to celebrate their common heritage March 28th in Portland Oregon.

Those Night Owls who are able to make it to town one day in advance will be treated to a very special Meet-and-Greet party at The Bossanova Ballroom, where the spotlight moon will illuminate the Works of two of our most revered artistic practitioners: the cadaverous cabaret of The Deadfly Ensemble and throat-singing ritualist Soriah.

Framed by DJs and brief performative turns from the dark fairytale musical review Bogville, we offer an opportunity for the very oldest of friends and Family to quench their thirst in the company of their peers, and make themselves ready for the evening to come. Housed in the vintage 1930s grandeur of The Bossanova Ballroom, and organized by the creative minds behind The Wanderlust Circus and Societas Insomnia, our Meet-and-Greet party draws out the unique magick of The Vampire Masquerade Ball to fill an entire weekend. Or at least, the half of the weekend during which the sun is down.

The ball itself is Saturday night. All the details are here.

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R.I.P. EDDIE BO

New Orleans R&B, soul, funk and jazz pianist Eddie Bo died last week. In case you never got to see him, here's a tiny tiny taste.

At the Louisiana Music Factory on Decatur St. in New Orleans in 2007



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IF YOU'RE READING THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO GO

Downtown Pala Lounge has been around for a few years. It opens on the weekends and is best known as the home of House. There's something for Portland Electronic Music Lovers tonight. It's the lastest Underground Rising @ Pala! featuring DJs DJF and Superfunkdiculous as well as resident Tronic on the decks. Music will feature house, funky house, techno and progressive.

Plus there will be live painting by Abztrakt Synergy. If I put my radio show on in my office, think Ab will paint it while I'm Djing?

If you absolutely must dance on a Wednesday night.

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JAZZ AT CINEMA 21, LIVE AND OTHERWISE

A monthly combination of live jazz and jazz on the screen begins at Cinema21 Friday, March 27 at 9pm with Paul Newman in Paris Blues,"the 1961 Martin Ritt-directed study of two jazz bohos (Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier) gigging in Paris and juggling love affairs. From the novel by Harold Flender, "Paris Blues" is an "American New Wave" artifact--rolling in romantic existentialism--featuring Louis Armstrong as Wild Man Moore, with a Duke Ellington score (Newman does a great horn-synch to "Mood Indigo"). Preceded by two concerts: live on German television in 1963--the Thelonious Monk Quartet, and a house party filmed in Finland in 1970 of the Bill Evans Trio."

Mike Horsfall and Craig Snazelle Duo, on vibes and bass will play in the lobby.

On Saturday, April 25 they'll be showing Hud along with 1974's Headhunters and Return to Forever with Herbie Hancock and Chick Correa, duh. O's Shawn Levy will introduce the movie and preview his new book on Newman.

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I AM NOT A MONGRELLLLLLLLL

Seattle's Mark Graham and Orville Johnson, aka Kings of Mongrel Folk will be at blues/roots singer/instrumentalist Laruen Sheehan's birthday party at the Muddy Rudder Public House, 8105 SE 7th Ave. on Saturday, March 28.

In case you need some filling in, These mighty personages are the Kings of this universally loved music that holds within it the realms of folk, blues, country, jazz, and the odd bits that they make up themselves.

Lauren plays the Rudder every week.

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Listen to my KMHD show on Saturday nights 10pm-2am. Jazz till 12 and then The Bar opens at Midnight! Studio line 503-661-8900…call me sometime, it gets lonely out there!

Email me at tvdpdx@gmail.com

KMHD UPDATE! Things looking promising for current programming!

A source who has been in consultation with decision-makers at OPB, responsible for the decision to take over the operations of KMHD told me a few minutes ago that although OPB doesn't know exactly what they want to do with the station, KMHD will remain a jazz and blues station with much of the current programming intact.

This is not set in stone, but it is a much more optimistic reading of the situation than the one presented to me by a source at KMHD this morning.

It just makes sense. The KMHD audience is around 125,000 at the moment, a 10,000 listener increase in 2008. And it has a loyal group of members.

To be honest, many KMHD DJ's, me included, welcome a jolt of professionalism and competence in the KMHD front office. Former GM Doug Sweet made great strides in expanding the sound of the station, bringing in DJ Santo, Mississippi West, Lynn Darroch, Stephen Cantor and me. He's been gone since last summer and in his place there have been no radio pros running things.

I will expand on the sad, mad conditions of what's been the state of KMHD, but let me say one thing. Development director Calvin Walker has been the lone voice of common sense and sanity for quite a while now.

Wouldn't it be ironic if I went back to OPB to do my Saturday night show?

ADD AT 8:33pm

It is also the understanding of my source that the music library, including shelving, also including the untold number (hundreds? thousands?) of albums which never made it out of the "Music Director's" office (more on that later) will go to OPB.

OPB to Take over KMHD....end of KMHD as we know it? Source says YES!

KMHD as we know it will end on July 1, according to a Mt. Hood Community College/ Oregon Public Broadcasting Media release today which said that OPB will be absorbing the station (although not the licence).

A source at KMHD told me that none of the current DJ's or paid KMHD staff will be retained, although that is unconfirmed from OPB.

This has been in the works for quite a while. We KMHD DJ's figured something was up when an email came down a few weeks ago from JoAnn Zahn, who has been caretaker GM since Doug Sweet resigned last year. It said that the search for a new GM had been halted.

What will be retained is jazz programming. What Portland might lose is the variety of music and personalities found on the station right now. That is unconfirmed by OPB, however.

Stay tuned. This has just been announced this morning and things are still developing. I will have more about it as things develop.

Here is the release and the Q&A which came along with it.:


Mt. Hood Community College Proposes Partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting to Operate Jazz Station KMHD

GRESHAM, Ore.—Facing a significant budget shortfall due to state funding reductions, the Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) District Board of Education will consider a proposal to transfer the operation of Portland’s only all-jazz station, KMHD (89.1 FM), to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) effective July 1. Under the proposal, MHCC would continue to own the station, while OPB would take over programming, operational and fundraising responsibilities.

MHCC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski said the board of education will give serious consideration at its April 8 meeting to this proposed partnership with OPB. A decision is expected at the May 13 board meeting. “This partnership would give KMHD the best opportunity to thrive in the future,” Sygielski said. “OPB’s intention is to continue to operate KMHD as a jazz station. With a current audience of about 100,000 listeners, we believe that the station can attract an even wider audience through increased promotion and higher visibility to OPB’s 1.5 million viewers and listeners,” said OPB’s president and CEO, Steve Bass. No changes in programming or on-air hosts are planned before July 1. “At this time, we expect to receive at least $4 million less from the state in 2009-10, with further cuts anticipated beyond next year, so transferring KMHD’s operations to OPB is one of the areas where we can reduce costs without compromising a music institution that is important to the College and the community,” Sygielski noted.

Sygielski, who became MHCC’s president in July 2008, has expanded the College’s outreach and visibility.

Q&A IN SAME MEDIA RELEASE:


Why is this happening?
A mutually beneficial partnership between Mt. Hood Community College and Oregon Public Broadcasting is being considered by MHCC’s Board of Education. If the proposal is agreed upon, OPB would begin operating the MHCC jazz radio station KMHD on July 1, 2009. MHCC would continue to own the station and OPB would be responsible for all programming,operating costs and fundraising. This arrangement would preserve KMHD’s unique music service for the benefit of more than 100,000 listeners in the Portland metro area. Arrangements like this are becoming increasingly common between colleges and independently-governed public broadcasting stations.

Why is MHCC considering a partnership with OPB to operate KMHD?
MHCC faces a formidable budget shortfall due to likely cuts in state funding. Because operating a radio station is costly and requires specialized expertise in order to succeed, the partnership will guarantee a brighter future for KMHD, while allowing MHCC to focus its resources on education. No changes would be made in the short term. OPB is committed to the jazz format and to providing the best music service possible to KMHD’s listeners. Finally, OPB and KMHD would promote Mt. Hood Community College and music events in the nearby community of Gresham.

Will KMHD stay a jazz station?
OPB’s intention is to continue to operate KMHD as a jazz station.

Why does OPB want to operate another station in this tough economic climate?
The current economic climate is the driving force for this arrangement. Because of OPB’s expertise in operating public broadcasting stations, OPB will be able to operate KMHD more economically than currently possible. Operating efficiencies will allow OPB to invest more in music programming and community outreach, elements that are essential for a strong public radio station in today’s environment.

Portland is fortunate to have three strong public radio stations with distinctly different formats (OPB offering news, KMHD offering jazz, KBPS offering classical music). This arrangement between OPB and KMHD will maintain and even enhance this strong public service. And because of the economies of scale that OPB already possesses (particularly in fundraising and engineering), KMHD’s current level of revenue will be sufficient to fully support its operation.

How will KMHD be funded?
KMHD will be supported in the same manner as OPB – largely through individual contributions and corporate underwriting. OPB’s operation of KMHD will not require any financial support from Mt Hood Community College. The capital costs for moving KMHD’s operations to OPB are minimal, due in large part to the transition of KOAC operations to OPB (we will be using much of the equipment in Corvallis to operate KMHD).

What changes will OPB make? When will these changes take place?
There will be no changes in KMHD’s programming, on-air hosts or operations prior to July 1 when OPB would begin operating the service. Over the coming months (and provided the MHCC board approves the arrangement), OPB will evaluate KMHD’s programming and on-air sound to determine what, if any, changes would improve the station’s public service.

How will OPB work with the local music community in operating KMHD?
As in our work on opbmusic, we will work collaboratively with local musicians, music venues and presenters in the greater Portland area to support the music and creative community. We anticipate to enhancing partnerships with the local jazz community so as to heighten awareness of Portland’s unique cultural assets.

What will happen to the current KMHD staff and volunteers?
KMHD’s current staff will be offered other employment opportunities within the college. We hope that KMHD volunteers will stay on to continue working with the station during the transition. OPB also expects that many KMHD volunteers will want to continue working for KMHD after the transition to OPB.

Where will KMHD be housed?
We are fortunate to have available studio space in our main building. KMHD will be co-located with opbmusic in the space previously occupied by the Golden Hours radio reading service.

What will happen to KMHD contributors?
From audience research, we know that about one-third of KMHD’s listeners also listen to OPB. Current KMHD members will be granted a membership in OPB for the duration of the time before their renewal date. Anyone who contributed during KMHD’s March on-air fund drive will be considered to be an OPB member from July 1 until March 2010.

How will the station be identified?
The station will continue to be identified as KMHD and its city of license as Gresham. It will be integrated into the OPB brand in some manner (but we haven’t yet determined how).

How will we handle on-air fundraising?
We don’t know yet. There are many issues to be worked out such as the timing of on-air membership campaigns. We haven’t yet determined whether KHMD on-air drives would be simultaneous with current OPB drives or not. Stay tuned.

How will staff be affected?
We anticipate that between 3 and 4 positions will be created to support the operation of KMHD. These positions will be focused on improving programming. We don’t anticipate that staffing will need to be increased in areas such as fundraising, engineering, or administration to support the station.

What is the timeline for the transition?
The MHCC board of directors will discuss this proposed partnership at its next meeting on April 8 and will likely make a decision at the May 13 board meeting. The partnership is only a recommendation of the MHCC Administration unless or until the board of MHCC formally endorses it.

Who’s responsible for making decisions about KMHD?
Please contact Lynne Clendenin, VP of Radio Programming, at. lclendenin@opb.org

My KMHD Playlist from Last Saturday Night 3-21-09

10:00 Wayne Horvitz/ Duke/ Monolgue
10:03 Joshua Redman/ Un Peu Fou/ Compass
10:08 Fly/ Sky & Country/ Sky & Country
10:14 Chicago Jazz Philharmonic/ An Afternoon with Mr. Bowie Pt. 2/ Collective Creativity
10:17 Quadraphonnes/ Georgia On My Mind/ Music to Watch Girls By
10:21 Quadraphonnes Interview ---- Listen on my Wednesday post.
10:33 Quadraphones/ Cry Me a River/ Music To Watch Girls By
QUADRAPHONNES GUEST SET
10:45 Rebirth Brass Band/ Trouble/ 25th Anniversary
10:51 Sun Ra/ Plutonian Nights/ The Nubians of Plutonia
10:56 Steve Grossman/ Time to Smile/ same
11:04 Frank Zappa/ Zombie Woof/ Apostrophe

11:13 Sound for the Organization of Society/ Constanence/ Poem of the Underground
11:19 Madeliene Peyroux/ Our Lady of Pigale/ Bare Bones
11:25 Marco Benevento/ Seems So Long Ago Nancy/ Me Not Me
11:30 March Fourth Marching Band/ Tora Bora Hora/ 5th Anniversary Live
11:39 Carla Bley/ Death of Superman/Dream Sequence #1 Flying/ The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu
11:48 Rolley Polley/ Blue Rhumba/ Cocktails Vol. 1
11:52 Al Jazzbo Collins/ Goldilox & the Three Bears
11:56 Rithma/ Champagne Time/ Upstairs at Larry's

12:05 Tom Waits/ The Piano Has Been Drinking/ Small Change
12:09 Roy Brown/ Saturday Night/ Complete Imperial Recordings
12:11 Big Boy Groves/ You Can't Beat the Horses/ single
12:12 Jimmy Witherspoon/ Barfly Blues/ Atomic Cocktail
12:15 Roscoe Gordon/ Booted/ single
12:18 Dirty Red/ Mother Fuyer/ Urban Blues vol. 1
12:21 Sam Cooke/ Somebody Have Mercy/ Live at Harlem Square

EDDIE BO TRIBUTE
12:30 Eddie Bo/ Check Mr. Popeye/ New Orleans Popeye Party
12:34 Eddie Bo/ Dinky Doo/ Get Back Up Again
12:37 Eddie Bo/ Hard Times/ Rounder Lousiana Collection
12:40 Eddie Bo/ I'm Through Dealing/ Keys to the Crescent City
12:43 Eddie Bo/ Hook & Sling/ same
12:46 Art Neville/ Another Blues Stringer/Keys to the Crescent City

COSIMO MATASSA SET
12:54 Little Richard/ Rip It Up/ Cosimo Matassa Story
12:58 Roy Montell/ Every Time I Hear that Mello Saxophone/ same
1:00 Roy Baldhead Byrd (Professor Longhair)/ Rockin' With 'Fess/ same
1:03 Lee Allen/ Rockin' at Cosimo's/ same
1:05 Royal Kings/ Teachin' and Preachin'/ same
1:07 Smiley Lewis/ Shame Shame Shame/ same
1:09 Eddie Bo/ I'm Wise (Slipppin' and Slidin') same
1:11 Little Richard/ Heebie Jeebies/ same

1:17: Tom Waits/ Saving All My Love For You/ Heart Attack and Vine
1:20 Gianluigi Trovesi/ Tocatta/ Profumo Di Violetta
1:23 Stephanie Schneiderman/ When You Touch Me/ Dangerous Fruit
1:28 Quadraphonnes/ Tango Suite #2/ Music to Watch Girls By
1:32 Pink Martini/ Everywhere/ Hey Eugene!
1:35 Ennio Morricone/ Secrets of the Sahara/ Soundtrack
1:39 Savara Nazarkah/ Peace Song (Iraq)/ Lullabyes from the Axis of Evil
1:44 Rickie Lee Jones/ We Belong Together/ Pirates
1:49 Gavin Byars/ Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet/ same
1:55 Staples Singers/ Got To Be Some Changes Made/ Soul Folk In Action

R.I.P. Eddie Bo

New Orleans piano legend Eddie Bo dies at 79
Posted by Keith Spera, Staff writer, The Times-Picayune March 20, 2009 6:40PM
Categories: Breaking News, Obituary, Top News

RUSTY COSTANZA / T-P ARCHIVE
Singer-pianist Edwin Joseph Bocage, known simply as Eddie Bo, works the crowd at last year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. He died Wednesday, March 18, at 79.
Eddie Bo, a potent, eclectic New Orleans pianist, singer, songwriter and producer who inspired a dance craze with his 1962 hit "Check Mr. Popeye" and later directed fans to "Check Your Bucket, " died Wednesday, March 18, of a heart attack. He was 79.

A prolific artist, Mr. Bo adroitly distilled an excitable synthesis of rock 'n roll, rhythm & blues, jazz and funk.

"He was one of the last great New Orleans piano professors, kind of a bridge between Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, " said New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival producer Quint Davis. "Everyone now has to remember to check their bucket on their own, without Eddie to tell us."

Born Edwin Joseph Bocage, Mr. Bo grew up in Algiers and the 9th Ward. He was heavily influenced by the piano style of Professor Longhair; he also gravitated to the jazz phrasing of George Shearing, Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.

After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, he served in the Army. Upon his return to New Orleans, he studied arranging and composing at the Grunewald School of Music, a training ground for scores of professional musicians.

He fronted various bands and wrote and released singles for the Ace, Ric, Apollo and Chess labels. In addition to "Check Mr. Popeye, " which was inspired by the cartoon character, his hits included 1969's "Hook and Sling, " which reached No. 13 on Billboard's R&B chart.

Other artists fared well with his songs. Little Richard adapted Mr. Bo's "I'm Wise" as "Slippin' and Slidin." Etta James scored a 1959 hit with his "Dearest Darling." He is credited with writing Oliver Morgan's signature "Who Shot the La La."

In 1975, Mr. Bo semi-retired from music and left New Orleans after the failure of both his marriage and a North Rampart Street club, El Grande, in which he had invested heavily. He said he "couldn't make ends meet spiritually" as a carpenter.

Neither his retirement nor exile were permanent. By 1989 he was back in New Orleans following seven years in Miami, where he studied at the Yahweh Institute. The institute, he said, "teaches men that we should seek love and distribute love, and seek to be moral." It was around that time that Mr. Bo started wearing a turban-like diadem on his head.

By the early 1990s, he was touring Japan and Europe, appearing on albums with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and George Porter Jr., and holding down an evening solo piano gig at Margaritaville. A German label issued his funk album "Shoot From the Root" in 1996. In 1998, he released "Nine Yards of Funk" on his own label.

He also busied himself with non-musical pursuits. He briefly operated a club, the Check Your Bucket Cafe, and ran a health food store with his sisters.

In 1999, an electrical fire destroyed the Tulane Avenue building that housed the health food store. Mr. Bo also lived in the building. The fire claimed his two keyboards, along with master tapes of unreleased and previously released recordings, musical charts he had painstakingly written over the years, and a collection of his own classic 45s.

Scores of musicians -- contemporaries as well as younger musicians influenced by him -- volunteered to perform at a benefit concert in the wake of the fire. "It gives me a deep, deep feeling of not really knowing how people care, until you have to experience something like this, " he said. "Then you really know who your friends are."

His most pressing need, he said at the time, was to replace his keyboards. "I'll try everything I can to get another keyboard, " he said, "because I'm lost without something to play."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Here's a wonderful story on the funeral of Antoinette K-Doe who died on Mardi Gras morning.

As Promised: What I Would Have Told the City Council

The Portland City Council recently had a hearing at which the Regional Arts and Culture Council presented their "State of the Arts" report. You can see the whole thing here.

I was unaware that I could have signed up to add my two cents. Here's what I would have said:

Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, I'm not a part of an arts organization. I don't have a 501c3 or a 401k. I am a writer and broadcaster who has spent a long time documenting music and musicians and artists working in other disciplines here and elsewhere. I am also a published author outside of journalism. And I'm speaking only for myself.

This Council session is devoted to the question "What is the state of the arts?" There are several answers to that question. Without any reservation I can tell you one thing you already know...we have a startlingly vibrant roster of writers, film makers, musicians, painters…all manner of expression. So the state of the arts when it comes to the arts themselves is pretty thrilling.

What's not so thrilling is that because of the current economic crisis there is a major breakdown in how the rest of the public gains information about us. The Oregonian is incredibly shrinking. While I am envious of the good folks there who still draw a weekly paycheck, I know that they care passionately about the arts and are not happy with the way things are going, and that they chafe under the cutback in pages and space for stories. Likewise at Willamette Week.

Creative people communicate with other creative people on the web and there are many avenues to take in order to do that. But what about the rest of the public, the consumers, the people for whom we make our work? How do they know what's going on? Who is working on what? And where are the profiles of our creative people to be found?

We have not begun to feel the effects of all this yet. Well, I have. Assignments have dried up. I can tell you from experience having worked in TV, print and radio, when work in one of those media has been slow, there has always been another to turn to. That is no longer the case…in the arts.

When it comes to buisness, techincal, health or a few other areas, there is work, but not in the arts.

When the word about who is making art can't get out there, consumers don't know about that work and can't buy it. If consumers don't know who is playing where or who has a new album out or is working on something new or can't learn about that work in articles longer than 400 words, then they can't…consume.

And so clubs are emptier, music goes unsold and work dries up. This is beginning to happen now. It will only get worse under current conditions.

A wise head of one of our best organizations once said to me, "We're all playing to the same ten thousand people." That may be true. But there are a million other people in the region.

We're not organizations Mr. Mayor and members of the Council. We're just people with something to express. Where's our bailout? What do you propose? Without us there are no arts. We are the arts. And our state is fearful and not optimistic.

There is a new organization called CAN: the Creative Advocacy Network which is a step in the right direction. It is a little disappointing to see that there is no representation from our music community on their board. Still, you should check them out and do what you can...so to speak.

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Pass this blog on!
…and leave a comment!!!

Listen to my KMHD show on Saturday nights 10pm-2am. Jazz till 12 and then The Bar opens at Midnight! Studio line 503-661-8900…call me sometime, it gets lonely out there!

Email me at tvdpdx@gmail.com

What I Would Have Said at City Council...Hear the new Quadraphonnes here!!....Rob Scheps interview....Darwish at the Keys.

WHAT'S THE STATE OF YOUR ART?

While dreaming I'm sitting in Cosimo Matassa's studio on Rampart Street in New Orleans in 1957…..

I went to last week's Regional Arts and Culture Council's State of the Arts presentation. If I had realized I could have signed up to speak, I would have. I had to leave a little early, but I didn't hear anyone from the music community or the writing community talk about how truly tragically crappy things are right now.

I would have told them what it's like to have words and music to create and be alone in the forest with no one to hear them.

I will post what would have been my words to the City Council and the Mayor next time.

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HEAR ROB SCHEPS TALK ABOUT HIS BIG BAND, ETC.

On a brighter note... Since I'm writing this on Wednesday afternoon and the concert is tonight, all I can tell you is what he told me on the radio last Saturday night…which was a lot. Of course it was a lot….it was ROB SCHEPS!



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HEAR A TUNE FROM THE NEW QUADRAPHONNES ALBUM!

I have this image of the four of them blitzing every possible location all at the same time to get the word out about their new album Music To Watch Girls By" The CD release is Friday, March 27 at Jimmy Mak's.

I went nuts and played 3 or 4 tracks from the album last week on the radio and I'll have Mary Sue Tobin and Chelsea Luker on the show at 10:20pm this Saturday. The first time I listened to the album, this tune jumped out at me and gave me a kiss…An Astor Piazzola Tango Suite.

They told me I could let you in on it:



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THAT WOMAN YOU SEE TAKING PICTURES AT JAZZ AND BLUES CONCERTS ALL THE TIME

.....is Brandy Kayzakian Rowe who runs the Wandering Gypsy Soul Studio at 625 NW Everett St #109.

Here's one she took of Ben Darwish at his recent CD release at Jimmy Mak's

 

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SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE LUCK

Not only is trombonist Stan Bock going get to go to to Hawaii next week, but he's landed a bunch of gigs there too. Talk about having your cake and eating it.

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THIS JUST IN FROM AUSTIN

Ace publicist Alex Steineger reports, "I have six clients playing SxSW this year:

Blind Pilot:An exemplary bit of minimalist melancholy . . . . the album is a new favorite around here - working in the same areas as the Shins or Death Cab for Cutie, but with a more homespun, folk feel." - iTunes (Song of the Week 7/8/08)

The Lonely H "The achingly epic vocal and lead piano belongs in a stadium full of bell bottoms and lighters raised heavenward." MSNBC
"Taut live shows swirled with swank three-part vocal harmonies earned the band a 'don't miss this' reputation." SPIN
"Truly infectious old-school rock n' roll." The New York Post
"Talk about overachievers." CMJ

The Slants: Chinatown dance-rock

Sweet Water: Clear the Tarmac" is the band's first record in nine years, and fifth full-length overall. A collection of ten new songs, Sweet Water proves they haven't slowed down or lost their ability to play loud and hard, all while showcasing their growth and diversity. Creating a record that is as much guitar-rock as it is psychedelic, Brit-pop, and power-pop influenced: think big hooks, charged melodies, plenty of rock momentum, and a wiser, more emotional lyrical bite.

Hillstomp: Drawing heavily from north Mississippi trance blues, a bit from the hills of Appalachia and stealing energy from punkabilly, Portland, Oregon duo Hillstomp create a raucous hill country blues stomp with a fiery youth and vigor. It comes clanging and tumbling out of an assortment of vintage mics, buckets, cans and BBQ lids drenched in rambunctious slide guitar.

And Two Cow Garage:

Ok Alex, we're expecting a full report…or what you can remember.

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JEFF LORBER IN TOWN THIS SATURDAY WITH PATRICK LAMB
PATRICK LAMB

Lorber has a lot of fans and he doesn't get to town very often. Patrick is psyched about the gig. It's Saturday, March 21 at Jimmy Mak's

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I REALLY DON'T MEAN TO MENTION ANDREW OLIVER IN EVERY FCKN BLOG BUT…..

….but he has a new band ever single week, seems like. He writes:

Well, it's Spring Break which means that Tyson Stubelek is back from Boston for a week, just enough time for another live incarnation of Red Fish::Blue Fish, our experimental electro-groove jazz-pop project. Two people, lots of instruments, a tablecloth I picked up in Sierra Leone, and a loop station! Don't miss it, Tyson won't be back in town until June. More info here.

TYSON STUBELEK: drums, cymbals, vocals, percussion, loop station ::::
ANDREW OLIVER: keyboards, cello, trumpet, harmonium, kora, backup vocals, backup percussion, loop station. Saturday, March 21, Mizz Pizz.

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"24/7": 24 CONCERTS IN ONE DAY TO MARK SEVEN YEARS OF WAR

This is very special and very free. 24 hours of live music at Weiden + Kennedy Auditorium featuring dozens of Portland musicians from 7pm Saturday March 21 to 7pm Sunday March 22.

The list of musicians is breathtaking. Do NOT MISS THIS.

Find out all the info here.

Since I get off the radio at 2am Saturday (ok Sunday), and since I'm always still wired I hope to see you at 2:40am for :

2:00 a.m. -- Michele Mariana, jazz vocalist with Reece Marshburn, piano

3:00 a.m. --Portland Cello Project, Doug Jenkins, artistic director

4:00 a.m. -- Thomas Lauderdale program

Thomas Lauderdale at 4am. Think about that for a moment.

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FOR STRUMMERS ONLY

Kate Power and Steve Einhorn are holding a Song Circle class…four Mondays beginning April 13.

Here's what some people who took previous classes actually said about them, "It unlocked the mysteries of making music for me." "The setting is so welcoming and non-threatening. It was nice being treated like a peer even though I'm new at this." "I loved the warm-ups, exercises and learning techniques." "Learning to listen in new ways brought balance into my music making." "Learning about dynamics and phrasing transformed my singing." "I liked stretching and learning new songs with the group." "I was out of my comfort zone and LOVED every minute of it!" "Suddenly I'm writing songs. That's a first!" "This class changed my life."

Geeze.

$50 per session (4 classes). Limited Seats! Email folks@qualityfolk.com or call 503-331-1994.

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AND IF YOU WANT TO BLOW IT ALL OUT AND GET IN FREE…..

Saturday, March 28 at Rotture they're throwing Hard Times, a free dance party with Rude Dudes, Girfriend and Lifepartner.

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Pass this blog on!
…and leave a comment!!!

Listen to my KMHD show on Saturday nights 10pm-2am. Jazz till 12 and then The Bar opens at Midnight! Studio line 503-661-8900…call me sometime, it gets lonely out there!

Email me at tvdpdx@gmail.com

My KMHD Playlist from Last Saturday Night 3-14-09

10:00 PM Wayne Horvitz/ Duke/ Monologue
10:02 PM John Butte/ At the Foot of Canal Street/ same
10:07 PM Bobo Stenson/ Olivia/ Contaldo
10:14 PM Jazz Code/ Traneing In/ In the Moment
10:22 PM Rob Scheps interview….see next blog post for audio
10:42 PM Quadraphonnes/ Tango Suite (Tango No. 2)/ Music to Watch Girls By
10:47 PM Sound for the Organization of Society/ Darrell's Eclipse/ Poem of the Underground
10:52 PM John Stowell/ House of Doolin/ Solitary Tales

11:06 PM March Fourth Marching Band/ Gospel/ 5th Anniversary Live
11:10 PM Medeski Martin & Wood/ Queen Bee/ Best of Blue Note
11:15 PM Randy Crawford & Joe Sample/ Respect Yourself/ No Regrets
11:21 PM Soul Vaccination/ Souled Out/ Souled Out at Jimmy Mak's
11:29 PM Marco Benevento/ Golden/ Me Not Me
11:34 PM Quadraphonnes/ Bemisha Swing/ Music to Watch Girls By
11:39 PM John Zorn/ Sicilian Clan/ Naked City
11:45 PM Les Baxter/ Mood Tattooed/ Cocktail Mix Vol. 1
11:47 PM Leon Redbone/ When Dixie Strs Are Playing Peek-a-Boo/ Up a Lazy River
11:50 PM Dex Dubious/ Bubbles in the Wine/ Lawrence Welk Uncorked
11:54 PM Jack Constanzo/ Inch Worm (From the Garden of Eden Ballet/ Cocktail Mix Vol .1

12:01 AM Tom Waits/ The Piano Has Been Drinking/ Small Change
12:05 AM Roy Brown/ Saturday Night/ Best of
12:08 AM Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Stables/ Trashy Dog/ Jammed Up Together
12:11 AM Sam Burns/ Tiger Man (King of the Jungle)/ Sun Records Vol 1.
12:14 AM Howlin' Wolf/ Tail Dragger/ Howlin' Wolf Album
12:19 AM The Soul of John Black/ Slippin n Slidin/ Good Girl Blues
12:23 AM Albert King/ I Got the Blues/ New Orleans Heat
12:37 AM Soul Vaccination/ Love Maker/ Souled Out at Jimmy Mak's
12:40 AM Ramsey Lewis & Earth Wind & Fire/ Sun Goddess/ Intrumental Classics
12:43 AM Temptations/ I Can't Get Next To You/ Ultimate Remix Project
12:47 AM Brass Construction/ Movin' On/ Instrumental Classics
12:51 AM Sly and the Family Stone/ In Time/ Fresh
12:58 AM Parliament/ P Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)/ greatest hits


1:07 AM Billy Preston/ Outta-Space/ Instrumental Classics
1:10 AM Whistle/ (Nothing Serioius) Just Buggin'/ Rap's Greatest Hits
1:15 AM Menahan Street Band/ Tired of Fighting/ Make the Road By Walking
1:18 AM Rubberneck/ Gimme Da Funk/ El Nino
1:23 AM Gap Band/ Oops Up Side Your Head/ 70s Party
1:42 AM Quadraphonnes/ Saxophone Quartet (Mvt. 1) Phillip Glass/ Music to Watch Girls By
1:46 AM Cavallareia Rusticana Intermezzo/ Pietro Mascagli/ Raging Bull Soundtrack
1:49 AM Betty Carter/ We Tried/ The Betty Carter Album
1:55 AM Mary Flower/ Columbia River Rag/ Bridges

Hey! Leave the Cultural Trust Money Alone! Hear new March Fourth and Soul Vaccination tunes! Reptet's radio interview....Fishy on Mississippi

While finding myself having come back to Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo for solace and inspiration…..

In last week's blog I was wondering where was the stimulus program for writers and musicians? Not only isn't there one, but the Oregon Legislature has decided to try to fill the budget deficit by dipping into the Oregon Cultural Trust funds, funds that were voluntarily DONATED by contributors. This isn't taxed money. It's voluntarily DONATED money.

Read more here and here.

The Oregon Cultural Advocacy Coalition has an easy way to let your legislator know how you feel. Find it here

For some reason money can be found for a profession soccer team, run by Merritt Paulson, the son of Henry Paulson, former Secretary of the Treasury. Henry was the man who allowed Leahman to fall, precipitating the current financial meltdown. Like father like son? Dad has a stake in the operation here, too. Run away very fast from this one.

I don't think any of Oregon's money should be going to either soccer or Paulson (Henry is a minority partner). Especially at the expense of money we voluntarily DONATED for support of the arts.

Yes, yes yes. I know one is a state and the other is a Portland only issue. Guess what? I don't care. Both are wrong. The city should be bailing out the arts and not a rich soccer baron.

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DON'T MISS REPTET TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIZ PIZ

I had John Ewing, their drummer, on my radio show last Saturday….was a lot of fun. He was setting up for a gig in Seattle when he took out time to call me, so he was all psyched and ready to play.

Begins with their tune, Reptet Score! and then John explains the rest.

EWING INT


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NEWMARCH FOURTH ALBUM PREVIEW!

I didn't have it in time to post last week, but I did premiere their 5th Anniversary Live on the radio, and now you get to hear a track! It's Benny Morrison's Limp Imp Parade. Enjoy.



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R.I.P WILLIE KING

Sometimes it takes their death to make us discover their music. I bet you'll feel that way when you listen to Willie King. The NYT obit said:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Willie King, a renowned Alabama blues singer and guitarist, died Sunday near his home in the rural community known as Old Memphis, Ala. He was 65.
His death was announced on his Web site, willie-king.com.
He died suddenly of a heart attack, said Rick Asherson, who had been playing keyboards with him for several years.
With a voice reminiscent at times of Howlin’ Wolf and a style similar to John Lee Hooker’s, Mr. King appeared at blues festivals here and abroad. He first came to prominence outside west Alabama with his critically acclaimed 2001 CD, “Freedom Creek,” on the Rooster Blues record label. He brought an understanding of history and contemporary subject matter to songs like “Second Coming,” which invoked John Brown and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mr. King started the Freedom Creek Festival in 1997 on his farm on Freedom Creek in Pickens County, Ala., near the Mississippi state line. Since then, it has attracted top blues musicians and bands. It is scheduled for May 29 and May 30 this year. Mr. Asherson said there were hopes of keeping the festival going as a memorial to Mr. King.

David Vest had some Willie King video in his blog.

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THE RETURN OF BIG ROB SCHEPS' BIG BAND

On Wednesday March 18 at the Downtown Portland Hilton Grand Balltoom Rob's rockin' big band will play a benefit the Beaverton Arts and Communications Magnet Academy’s (ACMA) Jazz Music Program

A few times a year, saxophonist Rob Scheps blows back into town and somehow his big band appears as if out of thin air. For a while he had the territory pretty much to himself what with Carlton Jackson and Dave Mills big band not playing. Now with bands like the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble and the Portland Jazz Orchestra in the game, I'm sure Rob knows he's not the only game in town.

Not that it changes anything. If there was any musician who was sure of himself, it's Rob.

In the band this time around:

ROB SCHEPS - CONDUCTOR, TENOR/SOPRANO SAXES, FLUTE

SAXOPHONES/WOODWINDS:
GARY HARRIS
SCOTT HALL
WILLIE MATHEIS
KIRT PETERSON
--------------------
TROMBONES:
STAN BOCK
TOM HILL
DAVE BRYAN
--------------
TUBA:
JAT'TIK CLARK
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TRUMPETS:
RICH COOPER - LEAD
PAUL MAZZIO
GREG GARRETT
CONTE BENNETT
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PIANO/KEYBOARDS - RAMSEY EMBICK
BASSES - TIM GILSON
DRUMS - WARD GRIFFITHS

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SPEAKING OF DAVE MILLS

His Soul Vaccination band has a new album, Souled Out at Jimmy Mak's and a CD release gig on Saturday night, March 14 at Jimmy Mak's. And yes, Mary Sue Tobin is in this band too, along with Louis Pain, Leah Hinchcliff and a lot of very hot soul players...with lots and lots of horns, of course.

As I was sitting here typing this (no shit) Dave Mills walked into the bagel shop to drop off a copy. I asked him if I could put up a tune here to give you a preview.

He said yes. I thought he would. This is Lovemaker featuring Gigi Wiggins on vocals.



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SOMETHING'S FISHY ON MISSISSIPPI

It's the Pisces Ball Friday night at 2410 N Mississippi Ave. with Mr. Creature as your host. It's a Wanderlust Production so you know to expect everything.

Here's what they tell me about the headliners (caps are theirs):

Vibesquad (Crunkadelic Basstraveler) Boulder, CO
Vibesquad is dedicated to making music that vibrates POSITIVITY, LOVE, and LIGHT... w/ ridiculous amounts of BASS & a nasty-ass beat of course ;)

Propatingz (aka BreakbeatBuddha) Oakland, CA
PROPATINGZ (aka BreakBeatBuddha) is responsible for some of the biggest dancefloor bangers to emerge from the west coast scene in recent years, deftly fusing UK bass music, Dubstep and Dirty South Crunk. This is a special PDX appearance where he will previewing tracks off his EP release "SOUNDBWOYZ WARPATH" which has been claiming the spotlight and receiving international acclaim for the UK bass/glitch maestro.

I am espeicially psyched to see Dangerruss & the March Fourth Drummers who is "making the move" they tell me to "jazz glitch dubstep and breakbeat," whatever that means. A niche inside a nice inside a niche…more like those dolls inside dolls inside dolls. I stopped dealing in those things a long time ago. I just want to hear the music. Especially this music.

They also tell me that there will be edible delicacies from The Open Heart Café and Live Body Buffet by Cherry! Enjoy delicious Piscean treats served on beautiful human platters for your enjoyment!

You had me at Live Body Buffet

Btw….it's $18 at the door but $15 dressed as your favorite animal. My favorite animal is still Claudia Cardinale. Do NOT expect to see me dressed as Claudia Cardinale, but if you look like her, I'm the older gentleman in the hat. Say hello.

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GET DISTRACTED FRIDAY NIGHT

Good things don't stop, they just take longer between occurrences. So if you haven't had your Johnny and the Distractions fix for a while, you can get as much as you need, as John Koonce brings the 2009 version of the band to the Aladdin on Friday night.

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Pass this blog on!
…and leave a comment!!!
Listen to my KMHD show on Saturday nights 10pm-2am. Jazz till 12 and then The Bar opens at Midnight! Studio line 503-661-8900…call me sometime, it gets lonely out there!

Email me at tvdpdx@gmail.com

My KMHD Playlist from Last Saturday 3/7/09

It was pledge again and there are holes where the music would have been.
Listen to my interview with John Ewing of Reptet in the regular Weednesday blog post.


10:00 Wayne Horvitz/ Duke/ Monologue
10:06 Belinda Underwood/ Bass Blues/ Greenspace
10:11 Gordon Lee/ Tobacco Monkey/ Live at Jimmy Mak's
10:22 Betty Carter/ I Can't Help It/ The Better Carter Album
10:24 Reptet/ Reptet Score!/ Chicken or Beef?
10:29 Reptet Interview with John Ewing
10:38 Reptet/ Go Bears/ Chicken or Beef?
10:51 Madeleine Payroux/ Instead/ Bare Bones

11:00 March Fourth Marching Band/ Space Hole/ 5th Anniversary Live
11:06 Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra/ Paducah/ We are MTO
11:20 Andew Oliver Kora Band/ Bina Na Ngai Na Respect/ Just 4 U
11:25 Bridge Quartet/ Angel Street/ Day
11:34 Oregon/ Pepe Linque/ Prime
11:48 March Fourth Marching Band/ Limp Limp Parade/ 5th Anniversary Live
11:56 Flora Purim/ Nuvem Cigana/ Sings Milton Nascimento

The Bar

12:05 Tom Waits/ The Piano Has Been Drinking/ Small Change
12:08 Lee Allen/ Walking with Mr Lee/ Down on Bourbon Street
12:11 Lloyd Glenn/ Rampart Street Jump/ After Hours
12:14 Ray Charles/ A Fool for You/ Live at Newport
12:20 Amos Milburn/ Let Me Go Home Whiskey/ Aromic Cocktail
12:23 Champion Jack DuPree/ Drunk Again/ Red Robin Presents
12:26 Lee Dorsey/ Sneakin Sally Through the Alley/ Yes We Can
12:28 Wynonie Harris/ Whiskey & Jelly Roll Blues/ Atomic Cocktail
12:36 Andre Williams/ Jail Bait/ Greasy
12:36 Big Jay McNeely/ All that Wine Is Gone/ Atomic Cocktail
12:43 Smoove feat Jess Roberts/ Cominb Back/ Soul Divas
12:49 Bootsy Collins/ Funk Express Card/ Blasters of the Universe
12:55 Sugar Hill Gang/ 8th Wonder/ 8th Wonder

1:01 MFSB/ TSOP/ Instrumental Classics
1:06 Mar-Keys/ Last Night/ Instrumental Classics
1:09 Ike and Tina Turner/ Nutbush City Limits/ 70s Party
1:13 O'Jays/ Love Train/ Best of Gamble & Huff
1:15 Hot Chocolate/ You Sexy Thing/ 70s Party
1:18 James Brown/ Get on the Good Foot/ Get on the Goodfoot
1:23 Chris Kenner/ Land of a 1000 Dances/ 32 Greatest Hits
1:26 Johnny Guitar Watson/ A Real Mother For Ya/ same
1:31 Isley Brothers/ The Heat Is On/ Best of
1:37 Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings/ Pick It Up, Lay It In the Cut/ Dap Dippin'
1:44 Anthony Hamilton/ They Don't Know/ Southern Comfort
1:49 O'Jays/ Backstabbers/ Best of Gamble and Huff
1:56 Stylistics/ Betcha By Golly Wow/ Stylistics

March Fourth on March Fourth

 

See this picture? That's what it really felt like to be at the Bossanova Ballroom Wednesday night for the last of four shows the band staged to celebrate March Fourth's 6th birthday. I would usually say anniversary but they called it birthday.

It was impossibly crowded, full of impossibly dressed people making more noise and having more fun than you would think possible.

Chervona, the Russian wild-men opened the show.

They were followed by the Lloyd Family Players (I called them something else in the original post due to some false information provided in the middle of that crowd...and who sounded like a mini-Lions of Batucada.
 

Ok, look. It was also impossible to get good photographs. If I had wanted to fight through the crowd and make an asshole of myself, I would have. If I were getting paid, for instance.
 

March Fourth has become much more than a group of pretty good musicians having a lot of fun. Their tunes and arrangements have gotten more complex without losing the irrisistable edge they've always had.

We love the stilt-walkers, we love the acrobats, we love the fire dancers, we just love the March Fourth Marching Band. Don't you?

Yes, of course the incomparable Noah Mickens was there,
 

looking smashing and handing out post card ads for CREEPSHOW...a funhouse fetish freakout...from the dirtiest back lot of The Big Top Revolution... at the Bossanova on Saturday, March 21.

Cave Closing...and other things less depressing.

While waiting for a stimulus program for writers and musicians…we're not shovel-ready and we're not tied to sustainablity programs but as far as writers go, times have never been worse…never ever ever. And the next time I hear somebody with a staff job whine about their situation, I'm gonna slug um.

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Keep this in mind:

Times of music and no money will get you through better than times of money and no music!

….and that's the truth.

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THE CAVE IS CLOSING

Like we needed more news of this kind.

That little precious jewel of a pure jazz club has to close and it's not because of bad business…it's the goddamned fire marshal.

Alan Jones says:

By order of the fire marshal, The Cave and the Green Onion must close their doors. Ironically, one of the very things that made The Cave so warm, inviting, atmospheric, and acoustically fantastic is also the thing that caused the fire marshal to cringe... the low, exposed beam ceiling.

We are working now to find a space to re-locate and will keep you updated on when and where, as well as musical events that we are involved with in the meantime.

It's all of you who have participated in the music, the food, the wine and the atmosphere that have made The Cave such an inspiring and valuable experience for everyone.

In the 10 months The Cave has been open, it's been our mission to invite the most innovative, original and simply great musicians there are, to create art in front of us. In this I believe we have been staggeringly successful.

Are you feeling the same, and increasingly (nearly daily) anger and disappointment and frustration as I am? It used to be that we all could go back to day jobs when times got lean and nobody was buying our words or hiring us for gigs. Now there aren't even any day jobs. I wish I had some answers.

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AND IF THIS WEREN'T ENOUGH…VIRGIN MEGASTORES CLOSE UP SHOP.

Rolling Stone reports:

Last week’s news that Virgin Megastores in New York’s Union Square and San Francisco were closing was evidently the tip of a very sharp iceberg. Billboard.biz reports today that the multi-media chain’s only three remaining stores in Denver, Orlando and Los Angeles will also be shuttered by this summer.

In a move that almost predicated the closures of the Virgin chain, Virgin Entertainment Group North America was acquired by a pair of real estate companies in 2007, Vornado and Related Cos., mostly because those companies were interested in Virgin’s prime locations. The music stores were paying well below-market value per-square-foot for their locations, according to Billboard.biz. For instance, the Times Square location was paying a mere $54 per square foot when the actual location could command $500 if leased by another retailer.

In a similar situation, the U.K.’s Zavvi music chain, which was created after buying out Virgin Megastore locations in 2007, also announced earlier this year that they too would be going out of business. The Virgin Megastores in all locations are expected to announce liquidation details shortly.

Go hug Music Millennium today!

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I'm going to March Fourth's 6th Birthday party at the Bossanova Wednesday night…I'll post pics and stuff on Thursday

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I'll have much more on this later, but by next Monday the Quadraphones new album will have been mastered and ready for airplay. The title will killa ya, "Music to Watch Girls By." Is that funny, or what?

They're doing their own compositions plus some Thelonious Monk, Azymuth, Duke Ellington, Paquito D’Rivera, Average White Band, Astor Piazzolla and Philip Glass.

Their CD release is at Jimmy Mak's on Friday, March 27th. Playing with them will be Leah Hinchcliff (Soul Vaccination, Morgan Grace, Sandy Dennison Quartet and Trio, Portland Jazz Singers Showcase, Swamp Mama Johnson, Nicole Campbell, Mark Bosnian and Voodoo Barbeque) and Brandy Keehn (Zeitgeist and Morgan Grace)
Special Guests: Janice Scroggins (Grammy winning pianist), Lily Wilde (of LW Orchestra Fame, vocals), Susie Jones (head of the Mt. Hood Jazz Dept, alto saxophone).

That is going to be one special night. Get reservations early, like today.

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GET YA SOME BLUES ON ST. PATTY'S DAY

In case you're wandering the streets on St. Patrick's day (and night) and you feel the need to hear some blues, a club not known for blues has got Eddie Turner and a bunch of Portland bands on Tuesday, March 17 at Dante's.

Promoter Rose Allen sez:

Turner has amassed a wide variety of experiences as guitarist, singer and songwriter, having performed with numerous artists, from The James Gang and Deep Purple to Otis Taylor. Guitar Player Magazine describes Turner as: “Otherworldly atmospherics lend a decidedly cosmic ambience to Taylor’s sound.” Taylor tours the U.S. and Europe extensively. This will be his only Portland appearance.

Also appearing: Rollie Tussing, Sassparilla Jug Band (awaiting confirmation) and Kolvane.

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A NEW REGULALR GIG FOR KING AND BABY

One piece of good news is that it's nice to see Tony Starlight's booking King Louie and Baby James on a regular basis. They'll start on Wednesday, March 25.

Sweet Baby James Benton has made quite a comeback over the past 7 or 8 years. When I did this story which focused on SBJ and Cleve Williams, he was just at the beginning of it. The Original Cats didn't even have a name yet.

Watch:



Speaking of Tony's, I premiered a new album by Lavonna Zeller-Williams on my radio show last week. Her CD release is at Tony's Thursday night. She's got Pete Peterson on sax, Ed Pierce on drums, among others.

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TOM PETTY TRIBUTE

If the wan rocker is your cup of tea, run down to the Fez on Saturday night because Pilar French has put together the same kind of tribue that worked so well last year when she did one for Lucinda Williams.

Joining her are Reina Collins and Kate Mann plus Justin Jude, Scotland Barr, Lewi Longmire, Michael Jodell and Matt Brown, James Low, and Rob Stroup.

This is a great time to see Pilar. Try to catch her here or at other gigs where she's doing her own stuff. She's been in the recording studio in the past couple of weeks laying down new songs and she's all excited about it.

They're also doing a teaser at Music Millennium at 4 on the same day.
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DO YOU SING ON THE JOB?

I don't mean if you're a working musician. I mean so other people can hear you. Or maybe just sing in public (without Mickey Mouse ears). A while back I did a story on two such people in Baltimore. Let me know if you do this or something like it (not busking). I'd like to write about it.

Watch:


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Listen to my KMHD show on Saturday nights 10pm-2am. Jazz till 12 and then The Bar opens at Midnight!

Email me at tvdpdx@gmail.com

My KMHD Playlist from Last Saturday 2/28-09

Hey everybody KMHD is having a membership/pledge drive right now. One of the premiums is "30 Minutes of Fame." For contributing $250 to KMHD, you get to come out to the station and do a half hour of whatever you want to play on my show! For $450 you get "60 Minutes of Fame"...a whole hour on the air. I'll give you a CD of what you did, too!

You can either do it in the jazz part of the show (10pm-Midnight), or you can take over as bartender at Midnight and open The Bar!

Go to the KMHD website to make your pledge!

10:00 Wayne Horvitz/ Duke/ Monologue
10:02 Carla Bley's Remarkable Big Band/ Awful Coffee/ Appearing Nightly
10:08 Casandra Wilson/ Gone with the Wind/ Loverly
10:24 Ben Darwish Trio/ Ode to Consumerism/ same
10:32 Lavonna Zeller-Williams/ Forbidden/ Breathe
10:40 Andrew Oliver Kora Band/ Just 4 U/ Just 4 U/ releases April
10:45 Madeleine Payroux/ Love and Trechery/ Bare Bones
10:50 Joshua Redman/ Round Reuben/ Compass

11:06 Jacques Voyemant Septet/ Paradigm Shift/ Arrival
11:13 Milton Nascimento Jobim Trio/ Tudo Que Voce Pdea Ser/ Milton Nascimento Jobim Trio
11:17 Jarrett/ Peacock/ Dejohnette/ You've Changed/ Yesterdays
11:30 King Louie & Baby James/ I Don't Want No Woman/ Live at the Waterfront Blues Festival 2005
11:35 Ken Ollis/ Bum Song/ Confluence
11:40 John Hassell/ Light On Water/ Last Night the Moon Came Over…..
11:48 Paul Bley/ Oljos Del Gato/ Plays Carla Bley
11:57 Henri Rene & his Orchestra/ Hansel & Pretzel/ Cocktail Mix Vol. 1

12:04 Tom Waits/ The Piano Has Been Drinking/ Small Change
12:08 Sam Cooke/ Lost and Lookin'/ Night Beat
12:10 Jackie Wilson/ This Bitter Earth/
12:12 AC Reed/ These Blues Is Killin Me/ I'm In the Wrong Business
12:16 Champion Jack DuPree/ Goin' Down Slow/ Blues from the Gutter
12:19 Ray Brown/ Love Don't Love Nobody/ Old King Gold Vol. 10
12:21 Red Prysock/ Crying My Eyes Out/ Red Robin Presents
12:24 Big Mama Thornton/ Ball and Chain/ Ball and Chain
12:35 Anthony Hamilton/ How Did It Go Wrong/ Ain't Nobody Worryin'
12:39 All In Love Is Fair/ Innervisions
12:42 Alicia Keys/ Why Do I Feel So Sad/ Songs In A Minor
12:46 Al Green/ What More Do You Want from Me/ Lay It Down
12:51 Otis Redding/ Pain In My Heart/ same
12:53 OV Wright/ Gone For Good/ same
12:55 Jerry Butler/ For Your Precious Love/ The Sweetest Soul
12:58 Manhattans/ Men Cry Too/ same

1:12 Anita Baker/ Lonely/ Compositions
1:15 Take 6/ Can't Keep Goin' On and On/ Join the Band
1:19 Gnarls Barkely/ Crazy/ St. Elsewhere
1:23 Johnny Taylor/ If You Take Your Love Away/ Taylored to Please
1:26 Bobby Womack/ If You Don't Want My Love (Give It Back)/ Across 110th St.
1:30 Spinners/ Living a Little, Laughing a Little/ Live
1:34 Mary J. Blige/ Be Without You/ Soul Is Forever
1:39 Raphael Sadiq/ Never Give You Up/ The Way I See It
1:43 Stevie Wonder/ Isn't She Lovely/ Songs In the Key of Life
1:49 Ennio Morricone/ Secrets of the Sahara/ same