Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Waterfront Blues Fest
Portland, OR
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CommentPortland guitar veteran Jesse Samsel debuts his new band, CrossTown Traffic, performing original material as well as songs from Samsel's 15-year stint recording and touring with world renowned blues vocalist, Terry Evans and slide guitar wizard Ry Cooder.
CrossTown Traffic includes Michael Phillips on drums, Tom Katt on sax and harp, Ron Hampton on bass guitar.
CrossTown Traffic includes Michael Phillips on drums, Tom Katt on sax and harp, Ron Hampton on bass guitar.
CommentAlthough Louis Pain and James Benton have worked together in various bands over the years, they only recently joined forces as King Louie and Baby James. But the band is already generating plenty of buzz.
"King Louis," as a key former member of the Paul deLay Band and Mel Brown's popular "B-3 Organ Group," has led the local revival of the Hammond organ sound. And "Sweet Baby James" has been one of the most soulful vocalists in the Northwest since the heyday of the legendary Williams Avenue scene in the '50s and '60s. Together, Louis and James are simply dynamite.
Filling out this exciting group are the soulful Renato Caranto on sax and Anthony Jones, arguably the most sought-after young drummer in Portland, along with Grammy-nominated pianist Janice Scroggins. Peter Dammann, the searing blues guitarist with Paul deLay and D.K. Stewart, has promised to sit in. This set will satisfy your soul!
"King Louie" Pain-organ :
This San Francisco transplant has become Portland's best-known exponent of the mighty Hammond, anchoring Mel Brown's popular organ group for over seven years and performing & recording with numerous other top local artists including Paul deLay, Curtis Salgado, Linda Hornbuckle, and Tom Grant. Louis has also worked with drum legend Bernard Purdie, Tower of Power guitarist Bruce Conte, Santana saxophonist Jules Broussard, and many others.
"Sweet Baby" James Benton-vocals :
Long considered one of the most soulful singers in the Northwest, "Sweet Baby" started his career singing with such west coast vocal jazz groups at The Audios and the Del-Tones. James has been a fixture in Portland since his days running "The Backyard," an after-hours club that was prominent during the Williams Avenue heyday of the 50's and 60's. As Willamette Week wrote, "Soul shouter Benton is a human landmark of Portland jazz."
"King Louis," as a key former member of the Paul deLay Band and Mel Brown's popular "B-3 Organ Group," has led the local revival of the Hammond organ sound. And "Sweet Baby James" has been one of the most soulful vocalists in the Northwest since the heyday of the legendary Williams Avenue scene in the '50s and '60s. Together, Louis and James are simply dynamite.
Filling out this exciting group are the soulful Renato Caranto on sax and Anthony Jones, arguably the most sought-after young drummer in Portland, along with Grammy-nominated pianist Janice Scroggins. Peter Dammann, the searing blues guitarist with Paul deLay and D.K. Stewart, has promised to sit in. This set will satisfy your soul!
"King Louie" Pain-organ :
This San Francisco transplant has become Portland's best-known exponent of the mighty Hammond, anchoring Mel Brown's popular organ group for over seven years and performing & recording with numerous other top local artists including Paul deLay, Curtis Salgado, Linda Hornbuckle, and Tom Grant. Louis has also worked with drum legend Bernard Purdie, Tower of Power guitarist Bruce Conte, Santana saxophonist Jules Broussard, and many others.
"Sweet Baby" James Benton-vocals :
Long considered one of the most soulful singers in the Northwest, "Sweet Baby" started his career singing with such west coast vocal jazz groups at The Audios and the Del-Tones. James has been a fixture in Portland since his days running "The Backyard," an after-hours club that was prominent during the Williams Avenue heyday of the 50's and 60's. As Willamette Week wrote, "Soul shouter Benton is a human landmark of Portland jazz."
Set 1Shake Tonight
Get On Down With Me
Not This Fool
All I Need Is You
This Place Has Changed
Pink Pedal Pushers
This Land Is Nobody's Land
1948
Way Down There
Try Not To Kill Me
Get On Down With Me
Not This Fool
All I Need Is You
This Place Has Changed
Pink Pedal Pushers
This Land Is Nobody's Land
1948
Way Down There
Try Not To Kill Me
CommentDavid Vest and the Willing Victims
Hard on the heels of Way Down Here, their successful debut on Trillium Records, David Vest and the Willing Victims are back with a vengeance on a brand-new CD, Serve Me Right To Shuffle. Recorded at Portland's Falcon Studios, the CD features "1948," a funky tribute to the victims of the Vanport Flood, which swept away an entire community once located between Portland and Vancouver, WA.
Anchored by drummer Jeff Minnick, the Willing Victims quickly became Northwest blues festival and club favorites as Vest originals like "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On" were featured prominently on blues radio programs.
Although probably best-known for his absolutely explosive boogie-woogie numbers, which sometimes almost defy belief, Alabama native David Vest holds a long pedigree in serious blues piano. He played with Big Joe Turner in the '60s, and toured with Jimmy T99 Nelson, Floyd Dixon, and Lavelle White. Along the way he wrote the first songs ever recorded by country legend Tammy Wynette and became the first American artist ever to record an album in Romania (Heart Full of Rock and Roll, 1980). His many festival appearances include Seattle's Bumbershoot, the Baltimore Blues Festival, Houston's Juneteenth Festival, the Ritzville Blues Festival, the Salem Arts Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival.
After moving to Portland in 1999, David was a founding member of The Cannonballs before joining forces with Paul deLay as a featured performer in the Paul deLay Band, "except for a few gigs where Pinetop Perkins has subbed for me," he laughs
Hard on the heels of Way Down Here, their successful debut on Trillium Records, David Vest and the Willing Victims are back with a vengeance on a brand-new CD, Serve Me Right To Shuffle. Recorded at Portland's Falcon Studios, the CD features "1948," a funky tribute to the victims of the Vanport Flood, which swept away an entire community once located between Portland and Vancouver, WA.
Anchored by drummer Jeff Minnick, the Willing Victims quickly became Northwest blues festival and club favorites as Vest originals like "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On" were featured prominently on blues radio programs.
Although probably best-known for his absolutely explosive boogie-woogie numbers, which sometimes almost defy belief, Alabama native David Vest holds a long pedigree in serious blues piano. He played with Big Joe Turner in the '60s, and toured with Jimmy T99 Nelson, Floyd Dixon, and Lavelle White. Along the way he wrote the first songs ever recorded by country legend Tammy Wynette and became the first American artist ever to record an album in Romania (Heart Full of Rock and Roll, 1980). His many festival appearances include Seattle's Bumbershoot, the Baltimore Blues Festival, Houston's Juneteenth Festival, the Ritzville Blues Festival, the Salem Arts Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival.
After moving to Portland in 1999, David was a founding member of The Cannonballs before joining forces with Paul deLay as a featured performer in the Paul deLay Band, "except for a few gigs where Pinetop Perkins has subbed for me," he laughs
Set 1Teach me How To stay
Spirit World
Day Drinking
Nothing But The Truth
Send Me Someone To love
Nobody Gets Hurt
?
Bigger Wheel
Spirit World
Day Drinking
Nothing But The Truth
Send Me Someone To love
Nobody Gets Hurt
?
Bigger Wheel
CommentHailed for its entertaining performances, Rose City Kings gives audiences a fresh, dynamic approach to the classic Blues traditions. The band’s well-honed songs propel the heart of traditional Delta and Chicago Blues forward into a unique powerhouse sound. Combining hard-driving rhythms with soulful vocals, Rose City Kings pleases general audiences and Blues enthusiasts alike.
Rose City Kings has received back-to-back Muddy Awards from the largest Blues society in the West, the Cascade Blues Association: Best New Act 2003 and Best Contemporary Act 2004. The band was selected to represent the Northwest at the 21st Annual International Blues Challenge in 2005. Now, Rose City Kings’ energetic performance lives on with the 2005 live release of “Holler Out for More,” its third recording, following the successful launches of Up On It in 2004 and Delta Hop in 2003.
Holler Out for More broke into the Top 50 on the Roots Music Report in the Roots Blues category in radio airplay this August. It was the highest ranked self-released album on the Chart.
In September of 2005, the band was recognized with several awards from Real Blues Magazine, based in Victoria, BC. The results of the 11th Annual Real Blues Awards:
• Top West Coast Blues/Rock CD – Up On It – 1st Place
• Top West Coast Blues CD – Up On It – 4th Place
• Best Pacific Northwest Blues Band
• Best West Coast Blues/Rock Band
Band Members: (L to R in photo)
Dan Berkery, guitar/vocals
Roger Espinor, drums
Ron Camacho, bass
Jeff Simonson, keyboards
Joe Powers, harmonica
Rose City Kings has received back-to-back Muddy Awards from the largest Blues society in the West, the Cascade Blues Association: Best New Act 2003 and Best Contemporary Act 2004. The band was selected to represent the Northwest at the 21st Annual International Blues Challenge in 2005. Now, Rose City Kings’ energetic performance lives on with the 2005 live release of “Holler Out for More,” its third recording, following the successful launches of Up On It in 2004 and Delta Hop in 2003.
Holler Out for More broke into the Top 50 on the Roots Music Report in the Roots Blues category in radio airplay this August. It was the highest ranked self-released album on the Chart.
In September of 2005, the band was recognized with several awards from Real Blues Magazine, based in Victoria, BC. The results of the 11th Annual Real Blues Awards:
• Top West Coast Blues/Rock CD – Up On It – 1st Place
• Top West Coast Blues CD – Up On It – 4th Place
• Best Pacific Northwest Blues Band
• Best West Coast Blues/Rock Band
Band Members: (L to R in photo)
Dan Berkery, guitar/vocals
Roger Espinor, drums
Ron Camacho, bass
Jeff Simonson, keyboards
Joe Powers, harmonica
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