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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
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TROMBONES:
STAN BOCK
TOM HILL
DAVE BRYAN
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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
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