Oregon Music News: Recent Episodes
Oregon Music News
Regular listeners to Coffeeshop Conversations….and I mean over the years…know that one of the things we like to do is bring on some of the folks responsible for some of Oregon’s great music festivals.For the past few years, a regular visitor to wherever we happen to be recording these has been Chris Doss, the Executive Director of the Biamp Portland Jazz Festival…usually long before the festival has begun.This time he’s here as the festival is winding up. It ends this weekend and we’re recording on Thursday March 19. I wanted to find out how he feels with the finish line in sight, and get some impressions of what he has heard and learned etcetera.At the controls in his Studio Blue in Northeast Portland is Paul K Ward who seems to be at every keyboard in town these days. Playing music or recording it. I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland.With Paul is Chris Doss himself.
This was supposed to have run a couple of weeks ago but that awful flu intervened, both for me and Paul K Ward. We're both back at work. Sorry to keep you waiting.= = = = = = =A couple of weeks ago we got the news that Music Millennium owner Terry Currier was, at 70 years of age, looking to the future of Music Millennium and handing off to another owner or owners the home of recorded music in Oregon…after forty-two years at that magnificent museum of music on East Burnside.I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland, at the controls engineering, producing and editing is Paul K Ward in his Studio Blue in Northeast Portland.And in his office at Music Millennium is our guest Terry Currier to tell us how all of this happened, how he sees his future and that of the record store.He’s no stranger to Coffeeshop Conversations. He’s been a guest once a year for …well for EVER.
Hey Tom D’Antoni back with ya. It’s another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop ConversationI’m at my desk in Northwest Portland.Engineer, producer/editor Paul K Ward is in his studioblue and at his home? Guitarist/composer Chance Hayden.It’s been a long time since Chance was on the podcast and I don’t know why. …he is a very busy musician.
It’s another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland and in studioblue in Northeast Portland are, at the controls, Paul K Ward and with him is Darka Dusty.She of the Light and Limn podcast she and her husband Miri do.She and Miri visited Ukraine for five weeks during the summer. They did an episode of their podcast when they returned. I wondeed, now that Darka has had more time to process, what she thinks of it and how it has effected her.
PDX Jazz Festival Jazz Master. He ran the Portland State University Jazz program for 27 years and produced generations of great musicians. //
Tom D’Antoni back with you for another, as a matter of fact the four hundred and forty sixth Coffeeshop Conversation.Well, yeah I’m proud of that. Proud also that returning to the bat controls at his own studioblue in Northeast Portland is the very busy pianist/comper/proudcer Paul K Ward.I’m still at my desk in Northwest Portland. Sitting next to Paul is the fabulous Miz Kitty of Miz Kitty’s Parlour…l o u r…the long running vaudeville show, which returns once again on Saturday, October 18th to the Mission Theater. We’ll find out who’s playing in a bit.Miz Kitty, in her other life is Lisa Marcicek, she of many bands, maybe the most well-known of which was the Flat Mountain Girls who many of us still miss.
What we’re going to do this week is talk to Arietta Ward and Terry Robb. The backstory? You remember Sly Stone passed away on June 9th I did a memorial set on KMHD’s I Like It Like That.But there was one song I wanted to play and I couldn't find the album no matter how hard I looked and I have a lot of CD’s. It was a lengthy search and very frustrating. I was on the last shelf, the last place it could be and there it was. The song was If You Want Me To Stay and the version I wanted to play was from an album called Sista by Portland’s angels; Janice Scroggins and Linda Hornbuckle.You know how you get when you hunger for knowledge about something you love? That is precisely why Janice’s daughter Arietta Ward is here. She was there at the recording sessions. Also with us is Terry Robb who produced those sessions.And by the way, the day I found it would have been Janice’s birthday.
Happy to be with you for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation.I’m Tom D’Antoni at my desk in NW Portland. At the controls in NE Portland studioblue…all lower case…all one word is Paul K Ward without whom Coffeeshop Conversations wouldn’t exist in its present form.As Dr. John would say, A big round of ammunition for Paul. And along with hin is our guest today, Jim Friscia, from an organization called Swan Songs, musical last wishes. What’s that? That’s what we’re here to find out.Jim was one of the founders of Portland’s own Mardi Gras Krewe The Missti Krewe of NimbusWhich makes merry every Mardi Gras.And we are still trying to have lunch at that Sicilian restaurant…what was it again Jim?And what do you recommend?
First of all, thanks for all the Birthday wishes. Much appreciated. Of course, it’s another reminder of my age. Not much I can do about that.Thanks also once again to Paul K Ward for recording and editing at his studioblue in Northeast Portland as is our guest. I’m at my desk again in Northwest Portland.You know lots of musicians moved to Portland because of our music scene, at least in part.Today we’re talking to Debra Giannini who has lived all over the place, moving to Portland in 1990. She had multiple careers, the musical one being as a singer/songwriter and folk music artist.But she’s about to leave town, to a degree. And as such she’s about to launch a farewell Portland tour, singing and playing guitar and baritone ukulele.She’s calling it “The Savoring Time Tour.” It begins in Portland and ends (if there is such a thing) in Kansas where she will light like a butterfly on a leaf.That seems like a good time for me to stop talking and let her explain herself.
Glad you found another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation once again not at Artichoke Music…yet.Paul K Ward is at the controls again in studioblue…all one word, lower case,and doing a great job of being the real reason why there still are Coffeeshop Conversations Artichoke or not. I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland.With Paul is guitarist, composer and educator Ryan Meagher and we’re going to talk baseball.He’s a Giants fan and I’m an Orioles fan so there are no bitter rivalries between us.Ok, we’re not going to talk baseball. That’s for when we’re not rolling.I could give you a list of what Ryan is up to, but it’s hard to keep up with him. Let’s just say he does a lot of things and we’ll let him tell us what they are in the order he thinks best.
Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations yet again not at Artichoke Music, although we’re getting closer.I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland and Paul K Ward is in his studioblue on the other side of town, at the controls along with our guest making a return appearance, saxophonist, vocalist and educator and once again a resident of Portland…….our friend Reggie Houston.He’s got a new band, something I’m eager to hear about. He has a birthday gig coming up at EAT that combination restaurant and venue that’s been a home to him and various ensembles he has put together.That’ll be on Wednesday, July second.Reggie has done several memorable Coffeeshop Conversations so let’s get rolling on this one
Vocalist/bassist Lisa Mann is coming back strong from a severely broken leg, as only she can. She's gigging again and is full of the fire and energy we've come to know. But that's not all we talk about, as you might expect. You'll like this one.
Glad you found us after a couple of weeks off, OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations is back. Paul K Ward is at the control in his Studio Blue Productions headquarters, I am still at my desk on NW Lovejoy Stret because I’m not quitte ready to return to the world.With Paul is today’s guest Nichollas Grier, pianist, a mental health therapist, professor of Practical Theology and counselling at Claremont School of Theology and a councelor at the Bishop Wellness center at Wilamette University.He has a presentation at the 1905 club, it’s called Juneteenth Emancipation Jazz Concert on Thursday, Jun 19th and Professor Grier is with Paul in the studio to tell us all about it.
Molly Tentarelli is with Paul K Ward at his studio, I'm at my desk in NW Portland. Molly is as versatile an artist as it gets. Find out how and why.
Brady Goss used to be the kid Boogie-Woogie piano player. He isn't a kid anymore but in addition to pounding out the Jerry Lee Lewis sound, he's added other genres and techniques. He's playing with Curtis Salgado and also is a part of an Allman Brothers tribute band. His journey has been an interesting one.Paul K Ward recorded and produced from his studio blue. Brady was there and I was at my desk in NW Portland.
After a week off, OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations is back in a big way.Sometimes Coffeeshop Conversations introduces you to new artists or artists you may not have heard of but if you have never heard of Curtis Salgado, God help ya.He’s with Paul K Ward at Paul’s studio blue. Paul is at the controls and I am beating on my laptop as usual.It occurred to me that I have never introduced Curtis in public, not at the Waterfront Blues Festival….nor anywhere else….and I have introduced hundreds of musicians to tens of thousands of people. One of these days I’d like to stoke up a crowd, already psyched to hear Curtis…and fix that.Meanwhile, ladies and gentlemen, give a big round of ammunition for everybody’s favorite favorite Curtis Salgado.
Happy Mardi Gras everybody.Things are winding up or winding down to Fat Tuesday on March 4th 2025…Depending on how you look at it. And who better to help us find out all about the big fun here in the Big Rainy is Steve Kerin, keyboardist and co-founder of the Misty Krewe of Nimbus, our own Portland Mardi Gras Krewe, Steve Kerin.The Krewe is throwing their annual Mardi Gras Ball at the Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, March first and then on Mardi Gras day it’ll be time for their big Parade.That’s when the big bass drum leads the big paradePaul K Ward is producing today’s episode, he’s at the controls at his studioblue…one word all lower case and a big thank you to him for helping to pull the podcast out of hiatis hell while I recover.I’m at my desk in Northwest Portland, and Steve Kerin is at home in NE Portland.Steve, Hey now and Happy Mardi Gras!
Thanks for finding Coffeeshop Conversations again. Today’s logistics include me at my desk in Northwest Portland, and at Paul K Ward’s studio blue…(two words all lower case) …where he is recording and making it sound pretty, Paul himself plus today’s guest, The Boogie Cat, Norman Sylvester who has a major life event coming on Sunday, March 16th at the Alberta Rose Theater…a celebration of his forty years in music.Let’s find out all about it, and how you get there.Mr. Sylvester? Congratulations!
Hey now! Back again with Paul K Ward at the controls at studio blue…and that’s supposed to be all lower case. I’m Tom D’Antoni at my desk, not ready to go back to Artichoke Music. Wait, I’m not done. With Paul is famed guitar slinger Terry Robb, so good that the Cascade Blues Association stopped giving him best guitarist award and named the damned thing after him.Plus, at his home in Victoria, British Columbia is former Portlander, winner of a bunch of Blues Maple Awards for best pianist, Paul deLay’s last of the best piano players and boogie woogie master, David Vest.They have a new album of duets out called Criss Cross. And we’re here to find out why and wherefore.
Since Coffeeshop Conversations has returned from health-related hiatus (mine), first of all it’s been fun doing them again and second, I love the guests we’ve had. David Vest and Terry Robb last week in particular.If you missed them, I suggest you listen but not this minute because we’ve got a good one this time.Before we go any further, let’s give a big round of ammunition (as Doctor John used to say) to Paul K Ward who has kindly lent his talents and his studo blue…all lower case…to record, mix and fix these episodes while I continue to try to recover from what I have to recover from.The strange thing is that the first time that today’s guest Kyleen King made an appearance on Coffeeshop Conversations, in January 2023, we had to do it this way too. Me at my desk and Kyleen at home. I had covid that time.One of these days we’ll actually sit across from each other, I hope. By the way, Kyleen was also a guest last summer on Darka and Miri’s Light and Limn Podcast which also can be heard on OMN.So why such a fast return? Because Kyleen’s life has taken a new direction and we’ll find out all about it. That and how it will or will not limit her music.We had a delightful conversation last time and there’s no good reason to think this one will be any different.So with that too-long introduction…a big hello to Kyleen King.
We’re not back at Artichoke quite yet but we’re back in podcast production again. And happy to be.A giant thank you to Paul K Ward for recording these things until I am able to get back to Artichoke Music. I am at my desk and Paul is at the controls at studio bLue. Joining him is Chris Doss, the Executive Director of PDX Jazz, with us for his annual visit to talk about the 2025 Bi-Amp Portland Jazz Festival which takes place February 20 to March first, all over town.
It’s the return of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations!We published the last new one at the end of August, at which time I became a much-to-frequent visitor to various medical facilities, had a number of surgeries and procedures and generally had a bad tme of it.I’m not out of the woods yet and not quite ready to return to Artichoke Music, but in the meantime Paul K Ward, pianist, composer, engineer and all around helpful person is recording these new episodes from his studio blue.I have to tell you that I am thrilled to be able to make fresh episodes of Coffeeshop Conversations again and I thank everyone who came to my aid and offered support of many varieties. I Love you all for it.So, here I am at my desk some of my guests join in at Paul’s studio, and there will be others in which we’re all internet connected.This time, it’s the latter. Meaning, today OMN’s National Editor Art Levine is on the line from his place in Washington DC. The jumping off point will be the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.In one form or another, Art and I have been Dylan fans since we were teenagers, and Dylan himself was just out of his teens. So let’s jump right in.We’ve both seen the movie.
Sorry that there hasn’t been a new episode of Coffeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music for a few weeks. I’ve been looking at the four walls of a hospital room and then recovery at home, but most of that is behind me and here we go again, just in time for this year’s Montavilla Jazz Festival.With me is guitarist, composer, teacher and PJCE Records honcho Ryan Meagher, no stranger to this podcast. He’ll be performing at the festival but he’s much more than that these days.The festival runs from Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 1. This is what our conversation sounded like.
I wonder if you know that Lee Dorsey, the great New Orleans Soul and R&B singer, famous for songs like Ya Ya, Workin In a Coal Mine, and many others, was also known as the best body and fender man in New Orleans.We have an equivalent in Oregon. Kenny Goldstein has been a part of the music scene in Oregon for decades, a bass player in multiple genres and an ace auto mechanic. He has helped keep my last four beaters on the road, to be transparent.But do they have anything to do with each other?He’s in the Artichoke café with me right now.
In A Summer full of music festivals, one of the loveliest, happiest of them all is the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival.It happens Friday through Sunday, July 19-21.This is the 44th annual festival. It has gone through a lot of changes, some good and some not so good. These days it’s run by the Jazz Society of Oregon and one of the directors is Yvonne Lerch who is in Artichoke Music with me.She’s been on the Oregon music scene, in one form or another for a long time.The festial is free, so even though it’s this upcoming weekend, there’s no need to plan months in advance. Just come on out and sit under the magnificent St. John’s Bridge and have yourself the perfect summer’s day.
Hi. Tom D’Antoni back in The Artichoke for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation.Next time our guest will be Yvonne Lerch, director of the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival which is coming up soon.Also upcoming right here will be bass player Kenny Goldstein, who is also an ace car mechanic.And you’ll be happy to hear that OMN National Editor Art Levine has completed his mammoth story, not for us…and it turns out his appearance on this podcast is a double- header, half on UFO’s and half on AI.Today, an old friend from our days and nights at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Amanda Gresham will introduce us to a new EP from United By Music and we’ll get the lowdown on it and the wonderful work that organization does.So right now, once again, let’s meet Amanda Gresham.
Hi. Tom D’Antoni back in The Artichoke for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation.Next time our guest will be Yvonne Lerch, director of the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival which is coming up soon.Also upcoming right here will be bass player Kenny Goldstein, who is also an ace car mechanic.And you’ll be happy to hear that OMN National Editor Art Levine has completed his mammoth story, not for us…and it turns out his appearance on this podcast is a double- header, half on UFO’s and half on AI.Today, an old friend from our days and nights at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Amanda Gresham will introduce us to a new EP from United By Music and we’ll get the lowdown on it and the wonderful work that organization does.So right now, once again, let’s meet Amanda Gresham.
In the coming weeks, Amanda Gresham of United By Music will be here.Yvonne Lerch will stop by to talk about curating the Cathedral Park Festival.Art Levine, our National Editor hasn’t finished his 5 thousand word piece yet…and it isn’t even for us.And you’ll meet Kenny Goldstein a bass player and mobile car mechanic.Today Tim DuRoche pays us another visit. He’s a great hang and a terribly smart guy, a musician and former Jazz journalist.There’s a new Battle Hymns and Gardens album with the two sax players from the Blue Cranes. Let’s find out about it and listen to a track at the end.
Springtime at the Artichoke.Coming up soon on Coffeeshop Conversations…Yvonne Lerch will us about curating my favorite music festival of the summer…Cathedral Park.Also, an interesting person who combines the life of a Blues musician with a car mechanic. And I promise our National Editor, Art Levine will finish his five or six thousand word piece on UFO’s in time to make an appearance here.Today Amy Maxwell, founder of Ticket Tomato who is here to fill us in on the Live Nation situation, how we got here and what’s to come.
Hi, Tom D’Antoni, as always, with another Coffeeshop Conversation from Artichoke Music.Coming up soon we’ll have OMN’s National Editor Art Levine with a conversation on UFO’s and music, not that they have anything to do with each other.Also upcoming, Ticket Tomato’s Amy Maxwell on the Live Nation controversy, Yvonne Lerch on booking the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. A new episode every week.Today, Adam East is in the building. He’s been at the Alberta Rose Theatre since it opened in 2010 and has helped build their reputation as one of Portland’s best loved venuesHe’s their talent buyer. You may also know him as a musician, which he still is.
Six years ago, the last time David Monette was our guest on Coffeeshop Conversations, we called him “Portland’s Stradivari” because the trumpets he designs and builds are the equivalent of a Stradivarius violin…and he makes them for some of the world’s greatest musicians at his shop out near the airport in Portland.He's back because he has a new book called “Calculus of Life: A Practical Guide to Transcendence.”What does that have to do with music? According to David, just about everything.He’ll be giving a talk at Portland’s New Renaissance bookstore on Saturday, May 25.On Tuesday, May 21st, he’s bringing musicians in from nearly everywhere to perform and to mark the publication of the book. The event is sold out but he’ll be streaming it. Watch it here.Let’s talk with David Monette.
Back in the Artichoke today with singer/actor Lo Steele, daughter of Portland’s LaRhonda and Mark Steele.Coming up soon…trumpet genius David Monette with his new book on transcendence, our National Editor Art Levine on UFO’s and (maybe) music, plus Adam East the talent buyer from the Alberta Rose Theater.But right now Lo Steele is sitting across from me. We’re so lucky in Oregon to have musician families like this one. After you’ve listened to this one, Follow the link to a video episode with LaRhonda and Mark.Right now, meet Lo Steele.
I hardly know what to say. Eddie Martinez, one of the best known session guitarists in history just left the Café at Artichoke Music after nearly an hour of inspired conversation.Now look. I don’t mean to disparage the over four hundred other guests we’ve had on in ten years of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations but this one is at or near the top.It’s the third time he’s been on the podcast. I asked him to join me because he has a gig at Jack London Revue on Friday May 3rd. He also has a new EP on the way. We find out about both but mostly we had a bracing conversation. I hope you enjoy It as much as I did. I think he did too.
Every year at this time, we get together with Peter Dammann, Artistic Director of the Waterfront Blues Festival and ace guitar slinger to find out who’s in the festival lineup.He's joining me in the Artichoke Music Café. Next week Lo Steele will be here and coming up guitarist Eddie Martinez and also OMN’s National Editor Art Levine will be talking to us from Washington D.C.But now lets turn our attention to the fourth of July and the shores of the Willamette where tens of thousands of fans gather at the Waterfront Blues Festival.Here’s Peter Dammann to let you in on who’s playing this time around.
As promised, with me in the Café at Artichoke Music is Jennifer Carrizo, Senior Talent Buyer for the Crystal Ballroom, the Mission Theater and the Spanish Ballroom in Tacoma, all part of McMenamin’s wonderfully funky empire.It’s hard to believe we haven’t had many from the venue management side of de bizz eh nezz. But here we are.What does a talent buyer do? Senior or not. I’ll tell you this, the reason you can go out and hear music is because the talent buyer has made a deal which brought that band to you.Let’s meet Jennifer Carrizo.
I’m happy we’re back here in the café at Artichoke Music..Next week, Jennifer Carrizo from McMenamin’s will be here to talk about what’s going on at the Mission Theater…the answer is a lot!But this week a new conversation from a couple of months ago (and I apologize for the delay) with one of our best singers and songwriters, Anandi. She has a lot to say about Jazz singing, especially the Latin variety. At the time we talked she had just released a new album called A Better Way.We’ll hear a track from it at the end of our conversationPlease meet Anandi.
We’ll be back at the Artichoke Music Café next time but this episode had to be recorded today, before a fund raiser to help complete a documentary on the life and death of one of Oregon’s favorite musicians, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist member of Pink Martini and Lions of Batucada among others; Derek Reith who committed suicide in August of 2014.Today Director Joanie Fox will talk to us about Derek, the film and the fund raiser which is being held at Pink Martini World Headquarters in downtown Portland on Thursday, April 4, 5-30 to 7pm.Let’s welcome for the first time, Joanie Fox.
We’re not at the Café at Artichoke Music this time. We’re in Seaside Oregon at the Seaside Jazz and Blues Festival on March 16rh for a very special occasion .We told composer/pianist Gordon Lee that we wanted to talk to him onstage about the set he was about to play and also his new album.In reality we were going to present to him the first annual award in the name of the late beloved drummer and teacher Carlton Jackson for Excellence in Musical Education and Musicianship.Gordon, a friend and long-time musical collaborator with Carlton did not know anything about it. We surprised him. It was quite a moment.
Well this is getting as regular as a rainy February in Oregon. Grammy time rolls around and Cheryl Pawelski gets handed one.She won one for It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers. She’s also won for The Garden Spot Programs, 1950.She was the compilation producer on Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), which won the Grammy for Best Historical Album.And just a couple of weeks ago she won for the massive collection Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos for Best Historical Album.She also won Best Coffeeshop Conversation episode for 2021. Mostly Cheryl and I like to geek out, talking about music and records.That’s why she’s back at Artichoke again today.
The last time Lisa Lipton sat here in the Artichoke Music Cafe was in August of 2020. I noted at the time what a busy person she was with multiple artistic and executive directorships, plus teaching and a full schedule of her clarinet playing.She still does all that but recently she was brought on as Executive Director of 45th Parallel Universe in addition to retaining the same position with Opera Theater Oregon, as well as Co-founder/Co-owner of Mendelssohn’s, Portland's first classical music-themed bar.We recorded our conversation a few weeks ago on her first full day as the capo di tutti capi at 45th Parallel and to say she was psyched is putting it mildly.They have a concert on Tuesday March 5, Pulse and Pillars: an Evening with Andy Akiho and Gemini Percussion. But now let’s hear what Lisa Lipton has to say about her big day.
Returning for another episode of Coffeeshop Conversations is Lisa Marcicek, known to one and all as Miz Kitty that saucy character who has a major basis in real life as hostess of Miz Kitty’s Parlour, a vaudeville show that has been in our lives for twenty-two years at various locations in Portland.She was back this year at the Mission Theater, a favorite spot for her and the hand-picked troupe of fine performers and misfits, along with the thrift-store prizes she awards to lucky members of the audience.You will remember Lisa as a fiddler with the Flat Mountain Girls. One never knows what she’ll come up with, or as whom. Today, I’m guessing, we’ll be talking to both Miz Kitty and Lisa Marcicek, everything all in one.She’s always fun, no matter who she is at any one time.
Guitarist/composer/teacher Dan Balmer is in the Artichoke Café this time around. He always has a lot to say. I’ve been looking forward to sitting down with him again.Coming up soon on Coffeeshop Conversations, the new executive director of 45th Parallel Universe Lisa Lipton and a visit with Lisa Marcicek also known as Miz Kitty.Dan Balmer has a new album called When the Night. That name. What does it mean. I mean to find out. Listen to the title track at the end of our conversation.Here’s what happened. As soon as Dan got here, we started talking about…well, everything. That’s what happens with Dan. I stopped the conversation and turned on the recorder. The rest Is history.
The Biamp Portland Jazz Festival is rapidly approaching. It runs from February 16 to March 2.As we like to do when our major festivals come around, we ask the folks who are responsible for bringing them to us to fill us in.And as he has been for the past few years, actually since he got the gig, Executive Director Chris Doss is in the Artichoke Café with me to tell us all about every headliner in the festival.It’s an interesting festival this year, with some new faces. So let’s let the boss let us in on the details.
I hope you have been watching the development of OMN’s young Photographer Sydney Lewis. She started shooting for us at seven years of age, under the watchful eye of her father Mike, who also takes photos for us.Her specialty is Metal bands. Seriously. Her first shoot was at the 2019 Waterfront Blues Festival but she has shot almost exclusively Metal since then.After the covid break she continued to shoot with more confidence and authority. She’s eleven now and shows no signs of stopping.As a year-end treat, meet Sydney Lewis and her dad, Mike.
We’re going to wind up 2023 with a couple of Best Of’s but next time, that precocious 11 year old OMN photographer Sydney Lewis will be here with her dad to tell us about shooting Metal bands for the past 4 years.Today I’ve got one person who is in several of the most eclectic bands in Oregon, Galen Clark of Trio Subtonic, Outer Orbit…and others. He’s going to bring Outer Orbit and Greaterkind to McMenamin’s Kennedy School Ballroom on New Year’s Eve.There are at least a dozen or more great shows on New Year’s Eve, but this one would be my pick of where to go.How does he juggle so much talent and creativity in so many projects and do such a fabulous job at it?Welcome back Galen Clark.
Sometimes we have fresh new faces on the scene come to the Artichoke Music Café, and sometimes we welcome musicians who have been around the block a time or two. People who have long-time fans but who have never stopped evolving and discovering new music within them.Steve Wilkinson was in Gravelpit and Mission 5 and his current band Wilkinson Blades, but he’s releasing his first solo album Truth or Consequences, recorded over eight days with producer Rob Stroup in Truth or Consequences New Mexico. Want the truth? When we started rolling I got his name wrong. What a dope. I’m leaving it in.
I think this is the first time we’ve ever run two Coffeeshop Conversations in one week. It’s because of the concerts both Ben Darwish and Jeremy Wilson are doing this week and weekend.Jeremy Wilson is, of course, known for his music. He was a member of the Dharma Bums and others. But he is also known and loved for starting the Jeremy Wilson Foundation which helps fund medical bills for musicians.There are several fund-raising musical events during the course of the year. One happens this weekend at the Alberta Rose Theatre. It’s the Next Waltz during which a whole lot of our finest musicians sing and play all of the tunes from the movie, The Last Waltz which was the final concert by The Band.Let’s catch up on the concert preparations, the work of the foundation and what’s up with one of Oregon’s favorite dudes, Jeremy Wilson.
Nearly ten years ago we got the news that Ben Darwish, composer, producer and keyboardist was moving from his Portland birthplace to Los Angeles.He had been a part of a flowering of young Jazz musicians, coming out of college in the early two thousands. The other part of the news was that he was going to be playing with a Pop band.He is with me now at the Artichoke Café because he’s going to have his first Portland gig in eight years on Tuesday, November 21 at Mississippi Studios for an evening of what he calls “High energy Jazz.”Great news. We’ve got some story to fill in here.
There are various signposts by which we mark the beginning of the holiday season. My favorite is John Waters’ return to Portland for his annual “A John Waters Christmas” show at the Aladdin Theater.It always sells out, and has again this year. Nevertheless, it’s a chance to talk with John about the show and all of the exciting things he’s been up to over the past year. We know each other from my Baltimore days. I was born there and spent far too many decades there before I escaped to Portland.Mine was his final interview of the day about the show. Lucky us. Welcome back John Waters.
Arietta Ward: Looking forward to another 400 episodes of Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music by Oregon Music News
This is the four hundredth episode of Coffeeshop Conversations. Next week will be four hundred and one.There are times in our lives that call for courage and inspiration. Our guest today, pianist Dave Fleschner is fresh out of rehab. His story is full of both. Our guest next week is Arietta Ward who is known and loved for bringing the light of inspiration even though deep down she’s a shy person.I just had back surgery which brought me over a hundred good wishes.So it’s a special time around the coffeeshop at the Café in Artichoke.Here’s episode number four hundred with Dave Fleschner.
One of my favorite Coffeeshop Conversations guests is here again. She’s Sarah Tiedemann, Third Angle New Music’s Artistic Director, and also a flutist.Third Angle’s exciting new season is already underway and Sarah will tell us all about it.Our next two episodes are special…this one is too, but we’re marking episodes 400 and 401 with a very personal story from Dave Fleschner about recovery...that’s 400 and an inspiring look to the future from MizEtta, Arietta Ward.But first, let’s welcome back Sarah Tiedemann.
It has been three years since composer/pianist/educator Darrell Grantvisited the Café at Artichoke Music. He’s so busy and prolific it seems like we could have him on once a month.Of course he is still a tenured professor of Jazz Studies and Associate Director of the School of Music at Portland State University, but I also like to think of him in the true New Orleans use of the word “professor,” when it comes to pianists, one of great respect.He released a new album this week called Our Mr. Jackson, honoring not only the Modern Jazz Quartet and Milt Jackson but beloved Portland drummer, the late Carlton Jackson who plays on the album along with Marcus Shelby and Mike Horsfall.The album release concert takes place at Hallowed Halls on Thursday October 12.It’s a beautiful album. Let’s find out all about it.Listen to Versailles from the album at the end of our conversation.
We’re not in the Artichoke Café this time because although our guest Doug MacLeod will be performing there on Saturday, October 7, he’s not rolling into town until the day of the gig. Such is life on the road.So instead, when we talked, he was in Memphis and I was right here in Portland.Doug is a legendary Blues singer, guitar picker and storyteller. He’s been out there doing all three for several decades and he just seems to get better every year.He’s got great stories and not only about himself.Doug has seven Blues Music Awards and about a million nominations for others.Listen to “Unmarked Road” at the end of our conversation.You’re gonna like Doug MacLeod.
I was doing a bit of rummaging and in one of those boxes were audio cassettes of a show I used to do on the American Radio Network. In the past I have found one show with Max Roach and one with Leon Redbone.Today the tape that somewhat magically appeared in my hand was the time I spent on the air with composer/pianst Carla Bley.It aired live on March 31st 1990 as part of a series I was doing which I thought of as…”Who Haven’t I interviewed that I’ve always wanted to talk to.I’m pretty tenacious when it come to landing interviews especially with people who have never heard of me. Even in the days before podcasts, and this is really proto-podcast stuff, she had no idea who I was.Yet I persisted. Here it is, complete with station breaks and commercials.
Regular Coffeeshop Conversations followers know that every once in a while we like to bring in one of the folks who help bring you OMN. Today photographer Anthony Pidgeon is in the Artichoke Café with me. Performance photos are a major part of OMN’s coverage of Oregon’s music makers. We have several excellent photographers who brave photo pits to capture unforgettable moments in music. Not long ago, Anthony had EIGHT photo galleries from this month’s Pickathon. That’s a lot! Let’s meet Anthony Pidgeon.
There’s a new addition to Coffeeshop Conversations this time. I asked Saxophonist/Tap Dancer Shoehorn aka Michael Conley to sit in my chair and lead the conversation with someone he wanted to talk to. He’s an entertaining guy and I wanted to hear what he did with one of these things. He chose Blues singer/guitarist Tevis Hodge, Jr. who in the past few years has made quite a name for himself in the Blues World. They have played together many times and it’s interesting to hear them talk musician to musician without being too technical. That’s what I have liked about the stories Shoehorn has written for OMN. Let’s listen to him and Tevis Hodge. Jr.
It’s ironic that even though in order to make a living at playing music in Oregon, you have to be able to play in diverse styles, there are many loyal groups of people who are fans of strictly one particular genre or another. There are Metal heads, Blues fans and Tango lovers to name a few. One of those groups is the folks who love Swing Dancing. Therefore, there are musicians who provide them with something to dance to. With me in the Artichoke Café today is Eddie Montejo who’s Rhythm Wrecker Dance Band is a favorite of our Swing Dancers. He’s the leader and the drummer. He also helped organize the Portland Lindy Society. So here’s everything you always wanted to know about Swing Dancing and Eddie Montejo.
Cellist Skip vonKuske is in the Artichoke Music Café, not his first time here but it’s a special occasion. Skip is moving out of Oregon after a long run as one of the founders of the Portland Cello Project, a solo performer and member of many other bands and ensembles playing all kinds of music over the past few decades. He’s staging a farewell show on Sunday, July 23 at the Star Theater with a vast array of musicians and bands Skip has played with. It’s called Cello Goodbye. Skip is one of the people responsible for cellos turning up in so many bands and ensembles over the past 30 years or so. Find out where he’s going and why and why the huge rise in the popularity cellos have found. We’ll miss him.
First of all, don’t miss the next Coffeeshop Conversation. It’s with Skip VonKuske Oregon’s beloved cellist who will be moving to Massachusetts in a couple of weeks. But this weekend is the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, under that magnificent bridge in St. Johns. It’s the forty-third annual and it’s presented by the Jazz Society of Oregon. From the Jazz Society is Rita Rega who has been in on the planning and execution. I love that festival. There are hardly any spots in Portland that are as beautiful and although the festival has had it’s ups and downs over the years. It sure has been extremely up in the past few years. Meet Rita Rega.
If you thought Soul singer Andy Stokes has been missing since the clubs and concerts returned, you’re right. We’re going to find out why. Andy, no stranger to Coffeeshop Conversations is back with us and in the midst of a flurry of concerts. He’ll be singing with Soul Vaccination at the Waterfront Blues Festival on Tuesday July 4 on the South Stage. He will be singing some Tower of Power and a few of his originals. It’s always a treat to hear Andy’s big voice but especially so since he has just come out the other side of some health problems. He has as new album on the way, too. Welcome back Andy Stokes!
It’s a special edition of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations this time. At the other end of the Skype box is Jack Heyrman, an ex-label owner and producer and an old friend of mine. His label was called Clean Cuts and it is most famous for Dr. John’s first solo album called Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, recorded in1981. Jack also produced the follow-up The Brightest Smile In Town which was also solo. The two remain the only studio-recorded solo albums of Dr. John’s career. The Sundazed label is re-releasing the first one In August. Jack is with me to tell the story of how it happened. Welcome Jack Heyrman.
It’s not every day that we have a new music venue open up. Especially one like SoundsTruck Northwest, a brand new mobile stage, complete with concerts, begins its inaugural season on Sunday, June 18 at Cathedral Park. Other offerings in their Summer Series include concerts at the Japanese Garden, Mt. Tabor and Lewis and Clark College. More details here. There are many other concerts already scheduled for the summer. With me today is Amelia Lukas who is also a flutist and is involved in curating the Summer Series as well as working comms for them. So let’s welcome her and a big Portland welcome to our newest and most unique venue…SoundsTruck NW.
A couple of weeks ago composer/guitarist Ryan Meagher was here to talk about his latest recording, AftEarth a collaboration with artist Tina Granzo. If you heard it you realize that it had a profound impact on me. It is such a close collaboration that I felt we had to hear from the other half of the creators. So with me in the Café at Artichoke Music is Tina Granzo who’s drawings along with Ryan’s music have made this such an evocative work. Whether you think it’s about climate change or a document evoking those years we were quarantined, it is a remarkable work. So closing the circle, meet Tina Granzo.
Ever wonder what a music publicist does all day? Or even what one is?With me in the Artichoke Music Café is Nicole Lane who has much experience doing that.I know publicists. I get a hundred emails a day from them. I chose Nicole because she’s so good at it, as you will see.She works for Chamber Music Northwest but she’s done work for multiple genres of music. The job stays the same no matter what.And what is the job?Meet Nicole Lane.
Ryan Meagher is in the Artichoke Café with me today. He is a very busy man. Besides his career as guitarist and composer, he is also the Artistic Director of the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble where he also runs their PJCE label. He also programs the Montavilla Jazz Festival, does a lot of teaching and I will run out of intro time if I continued to list what else he does.He’s here to talk about his latest project, a combination of his music and Tina Granzo’s art called AftEarth. It was written and recorded during the Covid lockdown.It’s one of the most unusual, compelling documents of that time. And something you should hear.Let’s talk with Ryan Meagher.
This is the three hundred and eighty-fifth episode of Coffeeshop Conversations. That’s a lot of talking and not all of it by me.Next week KMHD’s head honcho Matt Fleeger will be here and the following week Nicole Lane, ace publicist will visit the Café.Today writer Larry Colton is sitting across from me. He has authored six books, was the founder of Wordstock, now known as the Portland Book Festival. He was also a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and the beloved Portland Mavericks.What? No music? What me worry?By the time we’re finished that will not be an issue.Welcome back Larry Colton.
This is going to be fun.I’ve been looking forward to this one. Next time writer Larry Colton will be here and the following week Matt Fleeger, the head honcho and my boss at KMHD.But today across from me is ace bassist, all around smart guy, fellow Orioles fan and East-coast compare Dennis Caiazza.He’s generally not the headliner in the band but he is indispensable in any band he plays with.He’s musically versatile, specializing in Jazz and braciole. We’ll get to that. I just love saying the word “braciole.”We’ll also get to the Chicken Dance.Meet Dennis Caiazza
From the Artichoke Music Café….next week bassist Dennis Caiazza will be here, the following week, writer Larry Colton and the week after that, KMHD’s Matt Fleeger, my boss over there.Today, however one of my favorite people, saxophonist, teacher and bee person Mieke Bruggeman.She is one of the founding members of the Quadraphonnes, playing baritone sax in that wonderful saxophone quartet.Also, she is the Education Coordinator for and plays in the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. And she teaches in multiple schools and/or organizations.And then there are the bees. You heard me. She is queen of all the queen and other bees in her yard.That’s a first for Coffeeshop Conversations.Let’s meet Mieke Bruggeman.
It isn’t quite time for the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival but it is time for OMN’s annual preview from the lips of festival Artistic Director and ace guitarist Peter Dammann.The festival is back at full strength after weathering covid. The same old beautiful grass-covered park alongside the Willamette July firsr to fourth.There will be some old favorites, others returning from long absences, newcomers we’ve heard about and some we will discover, that’s one of the delights of the festival.The cruises, the food, the sun and the breezes all await as does the headliner, Buddy Guy who is advertising this appearance as his “Damn Right Farewell Tour.”Welcome back Peter Dammann.
In the Artichoke Café again. Coming up in the next couple of weeks, Peter Dammann to tell us all about the lineup for the Waterfront Blues Fesival, Terry Robb, famed guitar slinger, and Jazz bassist Dennis Caizza.Today I’m very happy to welcome China Forbes of Pink Martini but not only Pink Martini, she has a new album of her own in the works and will be singing with the Oregon Symphony on Saturday, May 6.That’s a lot to talk about. As I’m sure you know China has been with Pink Martini since circa 1997. It’s something that’s taken her all over the world. One thing I will ask is has she ever gotten tired of singing Brazil.Let’s welcome China Forbes.
Next week on the pod, China Forbes pays a visit to Café Artichoke. Can’t wait for that one. Also coming up are Coffeeshop Conversations with Terry Robb and also Peter Dammann is coming in to tell us about the Waterfront Blues Festival lineup.Today Jazz pianist/composer Gordon Lee is here. He’s just as busy as ever. He’s a part of a memorial tribute to David Ornette Cherry on Thursday, April 13 at Alberta House. We’ll hear all about that and also about his upcoming album.Both something to look forward to.You know him, of course for his years with Mel Brown’s Septet. He’s as comfortable playing hard bop as he is on the outer edges of Jazz.Welcome Gordon Lee back to the podcast.
While we await the upcoming Coffeeshop Conversations arrivals of China Forbes, Gordon Lee and Peter Dammann it is my pleasure to introduce you to Shelley Garrett, the new Executive Director of Artichoke Music. She’s no stranger here, having booked the live music for the last couple of years, and also having been a fixture on the Blues scene in Oregon for a long time with her work with the Cascade Blues Association.She has a hand in several major events here, a spring clearance sale in the store March 31st – April second. Their first ever fundraiser Telethon on April 15 and A week of events from June 4th through June 10th in the Cafe’ to celebrate their 50th anniversary, culminating in a concert on June 11th with Artichoke favorites from years past.Let’s meet Shelley Garrett.
In the Artichoke Music Café with Portland Radio Project Executive Director Veronica Bisesti today.Coming up, pianist/composer Gordon Lee, new Artichoke Executive Director Shelley Garrett, Peter Dammann who curates the Waterfront Blues Festival and just confirmed, China Forbes of Pink Martini.But today….Veronica Bisesti has been with Portland Radio Project since it began in 2013. She does the Subculture show on Wednesdays from 7 to 8pmHow is PRP doing? What does the future look like? They recently moved to a new location and are settling in just fine.We’re both radio station rats so let’s have some fun. Meet Veronica Bisesti.
There are some folks who just radiate light. I like to have them here on the pod. Today’s guest has been here before and when I heard she was involved in Siren Nation’s 16th annual tribute to Billie Holiday, I said, “Well ok! It’s time to have her back and catch up.”You know Marcia Hocker from her radio days at KMHD and now at KBOO. She’s curating the Siren Nation tribute to Billie Holiday where she will also MC and sing. That’s at the Alberta Rose Theater on Saturday April 8.Find out all about it, who else is on the bill, what she’s going to sing. She’s one of the nicest people in Oregon’s music scene.Welcome back Marcia Hocker.
Portland music's Joey Scruggs got hit by a car and now some in Portland's music industry are having a benefit for him on Saturday, March 18 at the Mission Theater.Listen to Steve Wilkinson, who put it together.
Wayne Shorter - SO IT GOES - Christopher Woitach And Friends 3 7 23, 6.27 PM by Oregon Music News
It’s a beautiful day in the coffeeshop, otherwise known as The Artichoke Music Café.Next week, you know her as one of the great radio voices but do you know Marcia Hocker as a singer? She’ll be here.Sitting across from me today is trombonist/composer/teacher Adriana Wagner. What I’m wondering is how to I not ask her what it’s like to be a female trombonist without asking her what it’s like to be a female trombonist, a question I am as sick of asking as I am guessing she is of answering. We’ll see how that goes.She has a bunch of exciting gigs upcoming, mostly Jazz which is her first love. One is right here in this room on Sunday March 12 at Artichoke as part of the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble’s Young Jazz Composers Alumni Concert.Meet Adriana Wagner.
I’ve got good news today. After a few years of bad news in the music industry, there have been many musicians who have lately told me that they’re gigging more than ever.Now here comes Terry Currier who runs Music Millennium with similar good news. He’ll tell us all about it.It’s always good to sit down and talk with Terry. He’s been an immensely valuable member of the Oregon music industry for decades.Coming up on Thursday, March 16 Music Millennium will celebrate it’s fifty-fourth anniversary.There’s nothing quite like browsing in a record store. Welcome back Terry Currier.
I never thank enough, the folks who made our theme music and allow us to use it. They are Derek Sims and Keith Schreiner for Ghost Jazz.Coming up in the next couple of weeks we’ll have trombonist Adriana Wagner and Mr. Music Millennium Terry Currier.I’ve been looking forward to today’s Coffeeshop Conversation. Beth Harrington is making her third appearance here, but her first since 2017.You know her from her many music documentaries including The Winding Stream: The Carters, the Cashes & the course of Country music.She has a new project that she is immersed in. It’s called Our Mr. Matsura and we’ll find out all about it.Welcome back Beth Harrington.
This is a special edition of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music. At the last moment three separate guests had to cancel. A bad thing, perhaps. But perhaps not because I turned to an old box of audio cassettes, the remnants of some of my earlier years in radio, and I ran across a tape of a conversation I had with the great drummer, percussionist, composer and icon…Max Roach.I had forgotten that he was a guest on a show I did on what was then called the American Radio Network one Saturday night, March 1, 1990. Max was on the phone and I was in the studio in Baltimore Maryland. That is this week’s podcast.Max Roach!I am leaving the commercials, beeps boops, interruptions and everything else in. Just as it originally aired.Enjoy.
You may have heard that in January, The 1905, Portland’s premier Jazz club was named by Down Beat Magazine as one of the best Jazz venues in the world.In the world.Not since the demise of Jimmy Mak’s have we had anything even close to what The 1905 has going for it. The top world-class musicians in an atmosphere equal to the music.With me in the Artichoke Café today is Aaron Barnes, one of the people who made all that happen.Was that his aim when he started? How did he manage to survive the pandemic not only intact, but flourishing.He’s a born and bred Portlander and that makes it even sweeter.It’s a great story. Let’s meet Aaron Barnes.
Guess what happens on March Fourth? It’s the twentieth anniversary of March Fourth. Actually every March Fourth is an anniversary of every other March Fourth but this March Fourth is the twentieth anniversary of March Fourth the band.That’s a Saturday and there will be a lot of fun at the Crystal Ballroom that day and night.One of the founders who is also one of two remaining members of the original band John Averill is here in the Artichoke Café with me.We’ll find out how they’ve managed to keep on going despite the rigors of the road and band busses that tend to break down.He’s on his way to the recording studio where March Fourth is making an EP.At the end? The classic Space Hole from their fifth anniversary album. Welcome back John Averill.
It’s Biamp Portland Jazz Festival time of year again, and as we always love to do, we asked PDX Jazz Executive Director Chris Doss to come here to the Café at Artichoke Music and tell us who’s playing this year, from beginning to end (that’s Thursday February 16 through Saturday, February25.It’s a big musically diverse concert series in several venues. Kind of like we say at KMHD…Jazz Without Boudaries.Chris Doss has as big hand in curating the festival which features everything from the newest Jazz on the planet, to straight-ahead Jazz, ECM -type Jazz, international Jazz, Soul, Funk and Hip-hop Jazz…just about anything you can think of and some that you’ve never heard of.That’s what I like, discovery.So let’s find out right now from Chris Doss.
This time with me here is pianist/composer Greg Goebel, known for his virtuosity as well as his versatility. We’ll get into that and at the end of our conversation we’ll here one of his compositions. He’ll also talk to us about that and his work with Chris Brown and how some Jazz takes on some popular tunes fits into what he does.That synthesis is part of the history of Jazz, and it hasn’t stopped.Nor has Mr. Geobel. Nor have we. Upcoming Coffeeshop Conversations will feature John Averill, founder of March Fourth. Also coming up is Chris Doss the Executive Director of PDX Jazz to fill us in on this year’s Portland Jazz Festival.Right now, meet Greg Goebel.
We’ll be back at The Café in Artichoke Music next week. Mean ole Mr. Covid laid me up for a few weeks but things are much better now.Nevertheless, I am using an ancient arcane device known as the telephone to talk with this week’s guest Steve Swatkins, he of the keyboards and voice box, a composer and bandleader as well as a member of Allen Stone’s band.His new album Friends and Other Necessities is just out and it is both very funky and tremendously inspiring. Not religious, but just exactly what we need right now.I realize I said that about Jim Brunberg’s new album a couple of weeks ago but that just means we’re lucky to have both of them in our world.Steve lives in L.A. now with his fiancé Moorea Masa, who appears on the album.Mr. Swatkins, come here, I want you. That’s what Mr. Bell said.
Hi there. We’re not in Café Artichoke today because I have the covid. I am not in any danger but I don’t want to give it to anyone and so I am at my desk, and at her home in Portland is violist Kyleen King.She is having the time of her life, having played the Moda Center on New Year’s Eve and an appearance on Saturday Night LIve both as a member of Brandi Carlisle’s band.Matter of fact, she’s played all over the world as Brandi’s violist.How did this happen? How did she become a member of Brandi’s band? And what’s up with Swansea, another band she’s in, with Portlanders Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer.It’s a happy episode of Coffeeshop Conversations.
Thanks to Artichoke Music’s Chairman of the Board and Artistic Director Paul Ward, we have two guests in the Artichoke Café today…and Paul is at the controls, along with a mic for himself.Our guests today are singers and songwriters Bre Greg and Colin Hogan who have a double album release coming up on Saturday, January 14 at the Alberta Rose Theatre.Bre’s band Red Bird will be playing and The Colin Trio will also. Separately and together? That remains to be seen.They’re both here in the Café and have come to talk about their new releases and their musical friendship.They both live in multiple genres which, in Oregon, is a necessity as well as a love.So for the first time on OMM’s Coffeeshop Conversations…let’s meet Bre and Colin.
Jim Brunberg is back. He’s been here a lot during the pandemic because he was one of the folks who were responsible for getting federal and state money to our venues to keep them open.We’re not going to talk about that today. We’re going to talk about his new album Songs of Stupid Hope. We need this album now and you can quote me.We’ll find out why during our conversation which, if you know either one of us, goes off in fifty different directions.The great Jack Casady appears on a couple of tracks. We’ll find out about that.There’s also a story about Jim’s opening for Bruce Springsteen which may or may not have been a dream.Welcome back, Jim Brunberg.
It’s the last of a trio of inadvertent Coffeeshop Conversations with accordion players for which I have no explanation other than they all have clever, sparkling personalities.First was Darka Dusty, then Courtney von Drehle and today it’s Jetty Swart. I asked her how to pronounce her name, and since I don’t edit these things, you’ll hear her explanation in detail including her other name, Jet Black Pearl.She’s a composer, singer, accordionist and an all-around funny, singular personality who is married to the Bubble Man.She is from the Netherlands and has travelled the world performing and leaving a trail of delight wherever she goes. Including here. Meet Jetty Swart.
It’s the second installment of Why Did He Choose to talk with accordion players three episodes in a row.Last time it was Darka Dusty, next time it’ll be Jety Swart aka Jet Black Pearl and this time it’s our old friend Courtney von Drehle.Bela Balogh, his collaborator of a couple of decades in groups like Three Leg Torso was supposed to be here too but he had a gig tossed his way at the last minute.They’re working on a new holiday show called The Elves of Frostländ - The Next Generation featuring film segments directed by Bela. It’ll be at the Alberta Rose Theatre on December 17.Let’s do some catching up with the ever clever Courtney von Drehle.
We have a very interesting series beginning with this episode of Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music with very interesting people. The one thing they have in common is that they all play accordion. Now when I asked them to guest, that fact did not occur to me. Don’t ask why because I don’t know. I just like all of them. In the next two weeks Jetty Swart aka Jet Black Pearl and then our old friend Courtney von Drehle of Three Leg Torso. Right now, across from me is Darka Dusty who is also well known as a vocalist, specializing in the music of Ukraine. Lately she has put together several fund raisers to help Ukranians caught up in the war. She and her husband Miri own Mirifoto which specializes in photographs of musicians. And there’s talk of her doing her own podcast. Lots to talk about and Darka is a trip.
Welcome back to the Café at Artichoke Music. Wanted you to know that next week Darka Dusty will be here to talk about all things Ukranian (including music). Today we have light in the Café and it’s brought to us as she brings it to everywhere she goes…it’s MizEtta….Arietta Ward. If you’ve been in the Portland music scene for any length of time you saw her grow up…the daughter to our beloved Janice Scroggins. But she stepped out of her mom’s shadow a long time ago. She’s just back from Europe….and that is a story in itself. Several stories. December is Ettabration month with a birthday show at the Alberta Street Pub on Thursday the eighth. Welcome back Arietta Ward.
Coming up next week here in the Artichoke Café, MizEtta, Arietta Ward, and the following week Darka Dusty will be here to talk about Ukraine and a lot more. We’re on a great run of Coffeeshop Conversations. Last time it was Jeremy Wilson and today it’s pianist/composer Kerry Politzer who has a new album on Portland’s PJCE label. It’s called In a Heartbeat and features an all-star band which includes her husband George Colligan on drums. She’ll talk about the rest of the band why the album is called In a Heartbeat, and you can hear the title track when we’re done talking. Kerry also teaches music and we’ll get into that too. This terrific run of Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke rolls on.
Next week Miz Etta, Arietta Ward will be here in the Artichoke Café with me to tell us about her European tour. The week after, composer, pianist Kerry Politzer about her new album. You’ll like them. Today Jeremy Wilson who you know as an Oregon Music Hall of fame inductee for his long career which, of course includes the Dharma Bums. He’s also known for starting the Jeremy Wilson Foundation which gives money to people in the music industry who are in need. It’s a great service which has leant a hand to many of our finest musicians. Find out about it and the annual upcoming benefit concerts, the Next Waltz.
We’ve got some exciting Coffeeshop Conversations coming up. In the next three weeks we’ll have Jeremy Wilson, Miz Etta, Arietta Ward and also pianist Kerry Politzer in the Artichoke Café. Today James Latham is here with me. He’s the mastermind behind the Tom Waits tribute show on Sunday, November 6 at the Alberta Rose Theater. We’ll find out the lineup of Portland singers and players who are tackling the Tom Waits canon. It’s a benefit concert, too. How does something like this happen? He’ll tell us why and how. Meet James Latham.
A middle of the night interview with Carley Harvey who will sing at Newberg ’s Meraviglioso Winery at 4 p.m, Saturday October 22 show, followed by a 10:30 p.m Tuesday show at Garages Music in Lake Oswego and an appearance next Friday in Camano, Washington. “I
Hey. Welcome back to the Café in Artichoke Music. Next week Farnell Newton will pay a return visit and the following week, Jeremy Wilson will be here for the first time to talk about his foundation and what he’s doing musically. Today, sitting across from me armed with a pile of harmonicas is Arthur Moore who has seen and heard and played with a lot of the great Portland Blues musicians and is the maestro of Arthur Moores Harmonica Party which has been going on for decades and which is now right here in Café Artichoke once a month. Think we can get him to play something? Pretty sure we can count on it. Meet the legendary Arthur Moore.
I’ve been looking forward to being back here in the Café at Artichoke Music with Cheryl Pawelski from Omnivore Recordings since she and I first geeked out in April of 2021 after Omnivore won a Grammy for a Best of Mr. Rogers release. I am going to tell you how Omnivore defines itself because it’s succinct and I am lazy. Says here, “It specializes in historical releases, reissues and previously unissued vintage recordings as well as select releases of new music on CD, vinyl and digital formats.” Cheryl walked into the Café loaded down with their latest releases and you should have seen my face. It was like Christmas morning and I was 10 and Santa brought everything I wanted. Welcome back Cheryl Pawelski.
Welcome back to the Café in Artichoke Music. I’m Tom D’Antoni, Next time we’ll bring back for a new visit Cheryl Pawelski of Omnivore Recordings, one of my favorite guests. Across the table today is Peter Bilotta, Executive Director of Chamber Music Northwest. Their new season has just started and he’s going to tell us about the entire rest of the season, which as you know, is something we like to do. I want to find out what an executive director really does. Also, in case you’re wondering, what exactly is Chamber Music and why it is not stuffy and boring…because it isn’t. Meet Peter Bilotta.
Things are still returning from pandemic exile. October brings the return of Miz Kitty’s Parlour, the vaudeville show from Lisa Marsicek who is the Miz Kitty Character. Lisa and her troupe of vaudevillians will be at the Old Church Concert Hall on Saturday October 29. She is with me in the Artichoke Café which is where she staged the first Parlor twenty-one years ago…when the Café and Artichoke were in the ole Hawthorne Boulevard location. Next week we’ll have Chamber Music Northwest’s Executive Director Peter Bilotta. Today, Welcome back Miz Kitty.
We’re really cranking up since my return to the Artichoke Café a few weeks ago. Next week Lisa Marsicek, known to all as Miz Kitty of Miz Kitty’s Parlor will be here. The following week, Chamber Music Northwest’s Executive Director Peter Bilotta will talk about their new season. And the week after that Cheryl Pawelski of Omnivore Records will be here to geek out with me about their newest releases of old or oldER music. But today the great recording engineer Bob Stark is here to catch up on his newest studio and what the life of a recording engineer is like in 2022.
Welcome back to the Café in Artichoke Music. I’m Tom D’Antoni. Sitting across from me is Pepe Raphael, a singer and dancer who may be best known for his Pepe and the Bottle Blondes ensemble. He was a member of Pink Martini too. He’s pretty much legendary around here and even moreso since he added a spectacular handlebar moustache. While keeping the Bottle Blondes always at the ready, his main project at the moment is a trio by the name of the Vegan Carnivores. Yeah, I know. I don’t know what it means either. We’ll find out. We’ll get to the bottom of that and a lot more in the life of Pepe Raphael.
Thanks for finding another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation from the Artichoke Music Café. I’m Tom D’Antoni. With me Is drummer/composer/journalist/intellect and all-around talented guy Tim DuRoche. He is, what amounts to kicking off the fall music season on Wednesday September 7 with a weekly-month-long concert series at the Turn! Turn! Turn! club. In Portland. Each performance with a different ensemble. He also plays on the new album, Amazing Life by Ezra Weiss which will have a release gig on Tuesday, October 4 at the Old Church.
From the cozy Artichoke Music Café, I’m glad you joined us again. This week sitting across from me is one of Portland’s best drummers, Tyrone Hendrix who plays in several bands, we’ll get an update on that. He’s also a part owner of the Alberta Street Pub where he has had a hand in booking and playing, of course. We’ll also find out about his son who is also a drummer…..and the rest of his family. Next week, another drummer and also a music journalist, Tim DuRoche will be here. I’d better sharpen my brain for that one. Tim is deep. Of course, so is Tyrone. He took time out of a very busy schedule to visit. He’s going out on the road among many other things. Here’s Tyrone Hendrix.
From the Artichoke Music Café…and it’s a good feeling to say that again….I am sitting across from Paul Ward, the new Artichoke Executive Director and Board Chair. He’s been on the job for a matter of weeks but he’s full of ideas and has experience in both music, he’s a pianist, and business with multiple degrees and an excellent track record in running companies. Bob Howard, who just retired from Paul’s job maneuvered Artichoke through the pandemic and now it’s up to Paul to take the next steps. He’s on the job. Meet Paul Ward.
Coffeeshop Conversations has returned to the Artichoke Music Café and it’s great to be back and just as great to be sitting across from Reggie Houston, saxophonist, vocalist and composer who moved back home to New Orleans a few years back but is making a visit to Portland in anticipation of moving back to his adopted home. We’ve missed him, his music and his spirit. He is a fountain of knowledge, memories and good will, as you might remember from previous appearances on this podcast when he talked about being in Fats Domino’s band, about Dave Bartholomew and lots and lots and lots of things like that. He was showing me pictures, one of a thirteen boy he mentored, and he was already talking when I turned on the recorder.
Over the years of this podcast…eight to be exact…one of our favorite guests has been OMN’s National Editor Art Levine. He’s a journalist with international cred. His book Mental Health Inc is a very serious work. He has been an editor at the Washington Monthly and has written very funny pieces for National Lampoon, among many others. We always have fun when he’s on this podcast. We’re going to talk about the best interviews we’ve ever done including James Brown, Ruth Brown, Leon Redbone, Hank Ballard, Storm Large and many others. It’s always fun to talk to Art. We’ve been friends for fifty years. That’s scary.
Just a few more weeks until we’re back in the Artichoke Music Café. The podcast which goes up on August 19 with Reggie Houston, fresh from New Orleans will mark our return home to Artichoke. The 19th also marks the start of the three day Montavilla Jazz Festival, and as we always do, joining me electronically to talk about the full lineup is one of its curators, specifically Program Director, guitarist/composer Ryan Meagher. Ryan and I are also big baseball fans but we’ll save that until I shut off the recorder. Montavilla exists on its own but is greatly influenced in subjects and aims of the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. Therefore, here’s the non-baseball part of my conversation with Ryan Meagher.
Welcome back to not the Artichoke Music Café. We’ll be back there on August 18 and talking with Reggie Houston who will obviously be in Portland. Today I am officially ending further discussion of what did you do during the pandemic. I’m about to talk with singer/pianist/composer Rachel Taylor-Brown, one of my favorite musicians on earth. We should consider ourselves lucky to hear what she has to say because she doesn’t do a whole lot of interviews. This being a conversation makes it different but not by much. No, she doesn’t have a new album to push and that’s fine. She does have a lot of new songs which are not ready for us to hear, but she’s ready to tell us about them. I’m calling her now.
I’m counting the days until I am recovered from the back surgery and can get to the Artichoke Café and sit across the table from our podcast guest. That will be on August 16 and it will also mark the return to Portland (for a visit) by Reggie Houston who moved back to New Orleans a couple of years ago. Today marks a Skype return to Portland by Jazz guitarist/composer Margaret Slovak who has had an odyssey which includes eight surgeries on her hand arm and shoulder. She has a new album called Ballad for Brad. Brad being her husband. Title track included here. They live in Austin, Texas. It’s a long journey and it’s not over. Welcome back Margaret Slovak.
Hey. I have recovered enough from back surgery to make it over to my desk and start a whole new round of Coffeeshop Conversations episodes via Skype and other methods. I hope to be sitting in the Artichoke Café in another month. I said hope to. I know that today our guest is Bobby Smith, XRAY radio DJ (and he’ll make some news about that). He’s archivist for the Albina Music Trust who, along with World Arts Foundation will be presenting a series of concerts and discussions and spoken word events all over town this summer. They’re calling it Summer of Sound. It's a celebration of Portland’s Black music…past and present. We’ll find out all about that and all of Bobby’s fine work. Meet Bobby Smith.
The Waterfront Blues Festival is right around the corner…the Fourth of July weekend, as you know. Over the years, OMN has given you inside looks at how it runs, besides keeping you informed about the musicians. Today Louis Pain is here, or King Louie as he likes to be known. We all know he’s a master of the Hammond B-3, but did you know he has a thriving business renting them…including at the Blues Festival. You’ll see two of them this year. He’ll be playing, of course, but so will any other musician who needs one. We’ll take a medium deep dive into those strange creatures, the organs not the organists and hear about the time another musician messed with one that Booker T was going to play. Here’s Louis Pain.
Regular listeners to this podcast, and even irregular listeners may or may not remember that for the past few weeks I’ve invited some of my favorite guests to come to the Artichoke Café while I have a window between surgeries. I’ll still make episodes, but for a little while they’ll be via Skype or something like it. Today I am happy to have Ramsey Embick here with me. You may know him from his Jazz piano playing and composing and his Soul and Latin piano playing and composing. He spent a long time in Los Angeles where he worked with dozens of people you’ve heard of including the Pointer Sisters…even Michael Jackson. I want to ask him a million questions about that and other things because he’s always clever and quirky. Welcome back Ramsey Embick.
Returning to the Artichoke Music Café with me today is Third Angle New Music Artistic Director, flutist Sarah Tiedemann, a Coffeeshop Conversations favorite. The 22-23 season has been announced and Sarah is going to tell us all about what looks to be a very exciting musical experience for everyone…musicians and listeners. After a couple of years of the pandemic, you might say this is the first year she’s been able to spread her wings and put her stamp on all things Third Angle. Everything from the Spruce Goose to music to be played to a 1930’s silent Chinese movie. Let’s find out about the whole season from Sarah Tiedemann.
Pretty Gritty, a duo featuring Sarah Anne Wolfe and Blaine Heinonen has been around since they moved to Portland from the D.C. area twelve years ago. Now Sarah is moving to the East Coast and Blaine is staying put, putting at least a temporary end to the collaboration. Maybe, maybe not. Their farewell concert is Saturday, May 28 at Artichoke Music in the Café which is where I’m about to talk with them.
We’re still back at the Artichoke Music Café this week for a special occasion, the final day as Executive Director for Bob Howard. He’s retiring, there is a new head honcho in charge, his name is Paul K Ward. Bob shepherded Artichoke’s move from Hawthorne to Powell Boulevard and guided it through the pandemic. Not an easy job. The café is crowded today. Bob refers to several of the people here without telling us who they are. That’s ok, we recorded this last Tuesday and by now he’s in Paris. That’s France. Let’s say farewell to Bob Howard.
We are back at the Café at Artichoke Music with one of our favorite guests. And while I have this window of a month or so to be here and not on Skype before my next surgery, I’m bringing back some folks who have made great guests. Today it’s Lloyd Jones, singer, composer, guitarist and a guy who is full of great stories from a very long and productive career that’s still going strong. I see he has brought a guitar with him, so that’s something else to look forward to. So what we’ve got today is basically a hang. And you’re invited. I’ve got a cup of coffee here, so let’s say hi to Lloyd Jones.
For the first time since December, I am back at Artichoke Music in their Café. I had surgery in January…which worked and I did a few months in Skype prison. I have a new and different surgery in about a month and we’ll go back to Skype then until I heal, but for the next few weeks, it’s GREAT to be back and talking to people in person across a table, coffee in hand. Today I am very happy to have Meg with me. You know her as Meg Samples on KMHD and also as drummer and new Executive Director of Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble under the name of Meg Morrow. She took the PJCE gig not long ago and is busy making her mark. We’ll find out what that might be and ask her if she knows any drummer jokes. Meet…well, Meg.
Ever get the feeling that everyone you see has a podcast? Seems that way. Most of them last a few episodes and run out of steam. Some have been around long enough to re-imagine themselves and what they’re about. Gritty Birds is one like that. Our guest today makes that podcast. Her name is Jeni Wren Stottrup. You may also know her as a singer and composer Jeni Wren. She also operates the Podcast Forum and assumes her role as a podcast coach. We’ll find out all about all of those roles and where the name Gritty Birds came from. Jeni has been through a lot in the past couple of years, as we all have. Find out what she’s found on the other side.
Every year for years and years around this time, we’ve had the Waterfront Blues Festival Artistic Director Peter Dammann let us know who’s playing even though it’s April and the festival isn’t until the fourth of July weekend. The big news is that after not having a festival in 2020 and having a truncated festival held at Zidell Yards in 2021 the festival will return, all four stages of it, to it’s normal location at the…well, the Waterfront. Peter will run down all of the headliners and some of the locals as he has not yet booked all of our friends and neigbors. OMN will be there, no booth this year but lots of photographers and writers to bring you the flavor of the weekend. Right now, get ready to hear who’s playing…straight from the curator’s mouth…..Peter Dammann.
You probably know Evan Shlaes one of two ways (or both); as a member of the New Iberians, a New Orleans Cajon/Zydeco band around here for decades. Or you know him as the proprietor of Real Good Stuff a store spectacularly full, and I mean FULL of musical things, furniture, curios…you know real good stuff. The store was destroyed in a fire late last year and because the Portland music community takes care of its own, he found a new store, stocked it and opened for business two months after the fire. The band is back gigging again too. Pretty amazing, but not for him and not for Portland’s music community.He’s in the store right now. Let’s talk with Evan Shlaes.
Shawn Levy is back on the podcast. Every time he’s got a new book out, he’s kind enough to stop by and talk to us about it. Last tine it was his book of poems based on New York Times obituaries. Before that his best seller on Chateau Marmont. And before that Dolce Vita Confidential. This one is called “In on the Joke.” It’s about female comedians, not today’s but the first female standups, from Moms Mabley to Joan Rivers, including Phyllis Diller, Elaine May and many others. We’ll find out what joke they were in on and discover the real people behind the public personalities. He’ll be reading at Powell’s City of Books in Portland on Wednesday, April 6. It’s always a joy to have Shawn visit the podcast.
Maria Muldaur is our guest on Coffeeshop Conversations this week. She will be in Oregon for two upcoming shows; in Eugene at WOW Hall on Friday, April 8 and a sold-out show in Nehalem the next night. Right now she’s in Mill Valley, California. Don’t you dare call her a one-hit-wonder because she has been lending her voice to her own band and dozens of other groups for a long long time. Next week, our guest will be writer Shawn Levy on his upcoming book on female comedians from Moms Mabley to Joan Rivers. But right now let’s talk to the lively and enthusiastic Maria Muldaur.
INESSA REPEAT #15 INTRO We’re taking a pause this week to remember an important and beloved part of Oregon’s music community. On March 9th Inessa Anderson passed away, three weeks after her husband Wayne also left us. She possessed the most beautiful radio voice I have ever heard. She was a kind and insightful interviewer. Her Inessablog was a staple for those who wanted in-depth conversations. We were proud to also run it on OMN. You knew her from KGON, KINK, Portland Radio Project and several other stations. We knew her as a lovely person. In this Coffeeshop Conversation from March of 2015, I was just getting to know her and we swapped radio stories. I wish I had talked less.
Pretty pretty pretty soon we’ll be back in the Artichoke Café…just not today. But that’s ok because on the other end of this digital connection is the great bass player and composer Phil Baker who has seen the world as a member of Pink Martini since 2003. They are back touring the world but Phil has put together a show called Common Tones. It’s a tribute to the great pianist McCoy Tyner on Saturday, March 12 at the Old Church Concert Hall featuring some of our finest Jazz musicians. One thing I want to talk about is a piece he wrote almost 20 years ago that resonates to this day as one of the most beautiful tunes ever composed. Meet. Phil Baker.
We try not to bring our guests back too often, but in the case of Jim Brunberg, co-owner of Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Polaris hall and point person in the fight to get federal and state money to our music venues…well you can understand. This one is solely about music and Jim is joined by Ben Landsverk, the other half the band they call Wonderly. They’re having a CD release on Friday, March 18 at the Show Bar at Revolution Hall. The album is called Story We Tell and some of the songs have been available for quite a while. It’s just that we haven’t been available to be there with them and enjoy listening. When you’re finished listening to this episode, watch the video below it. Here’s Ben and Jim.
Regular consumers of this podcast probably know that I am a Twin Peaks fanatic. That subject has come up several times. So when I saw that singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist Rachel Brashear was doing a concert of Twin Peaks music with her band, along with performances by Jenny Conlee and also Wisteria Lodge at Alberta Abbey on Saturday, March 5. Of course, Rachel does more than Twin Peaks music. Much more. We’ll follow her winding road from Oklahoma to Portland. She’s one of several couples who both make music. In her case her partner plays bass with her. Let’s meet Rachael Brashear
Still a few weeks away from returning to the Café at Artichoke Music so we have to put up with other means. Lucky for us I’ve got Blues harmonica player and writer Kim Field on the line. He was with us a few years ago and he’s back now because he has a new book, “The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold" on the legendary Chicago Blues Harmonica player. It's in first person because he spent a long time in conversation with Billy Boy, who is now 86 years old with seemingly perfect recall. Tales of Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson and the whole panoply of Chicago Blues greats. Let’s get started. Here’s Kim Field.
We’re getting closer to going back to the Artichoke Café. I mean I am. You don’t need details, but I wish we were there so I could see our podcast guest, whom I have never met. His name is Joey Prude and he does a whole of things. He’s a drummer, a DJ and he books bands into what we lovingly call Dive Bars….like the Lay Low Tavern. He’s booked lots of others including the iconic Club 21 and the Vern. I’ve never even talked with him before, so this should be interesting. Next time, blues harmonica player Kim Field on his brilliant new book on Billy Boy Arnold. Let’s Meet Joey Prude.
One of these days I’ll talk about why we’ve been away from the Coffeeshop for a while. Right now I’m happy this is a new Coffeeshop Conversations episode, and hopefully it won’t be long until we’re back in the friendly confines of Artichoke Music. Our returning champion is Andrew Paul Woodworth. When we need some good cheer, he’s my first call. Little did I know that he has lost a little of the sarcasm and irony because of his baby son. It’s still there, but it’s been replaced by becoming a father. Even better. Oh, by the way, he talks about his favorite movie being Pulp Fiction, which I think is a bogus film. He has since told me that in fact, his favorite film is True Romance. And yes, he wouldn’t mind being Christian Slater. He’s writing new songs and I can’t wait for you to find out how they’ve changed. Here’s my pal, Andrew Paul Woodworth.
It’s Another Coffeeshop Conversations episode on an OMN family member. The holidays are all about friends and family and Marti Mendenhall who’s Marti’s Music Kitchen podcast comes to you via OMN among other choice spots on the internet is both friend and family. Her third season is on the way. What does she have in store for the future. The answer is a lot. Best of 2021 for the next two weeks. Come back next Thursday and find out who.
It has been much too long since Courtney Von Drehle of Three leg Torso has been on the podcast so we’re fixing that today. Always the clever gentleman, he’s here to tell us about their big holiday show The Elves of Frostland - Liberté par la Musique Featuring: Pepe Raphael, Jet Black Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man, Eric Stern, Chervona and Varelse…Live at the Alberta Rose Theatre Saturday and Sunday Dec. 18-19. Where did this all come from? Who’s doing what? We know Courtney will be on accordion and Bela on violin…that’s a given. But wow what a lineup. And you can go see it live or stream it. Lucky us. Let’s talk to Courtney.
Furlow intro Regular listeners to this podcast know that every once in a while we let you meet an OMN person who helps bring you our content. Today, Gary Furlow is in the Café. He’s not an OMN staffer, he works here at Artichoke Music but has worked with us on several projects, including the video episodes of Coffeeshop Conversations on which he did everything technical, recording, editing, lighting, mixing…like I said, everything. He’s a pro’s pro, having worked throughout the country for networks and local stations as well as a whole lot of other stuff. Plus, he’s a musician himslself. It’s been great fun working with Gary since much of my career has been in TV like him. Meet Gary Furlow.
John Waters returns to Portland for his Christmas show on Tuesday, November 30 at the Aladdin Theatre after not doing the show in the evil 2020. It’s his annual “John Waters Christmas” full of holiday cheer, John Waters style. I’ve known John since 1970 when he was the outrageous underground film maker and I was the editor of the hippie newspaper in Baltimore Maryland. Matter of fact, near the end of our conversation John brings up a house that we shared serially. He moved out and we moved in. It was in that living room that Divine was raped by a giant lobster. Say hi to John Waters
There are a couple of guys in Portland who have been playing together for a long time. They are both guitarists. They call themselves Moon and Bike mainly because their names are Boone and Mike. Boone Johnson plays acoustic guitar and Michael Robert Swanson plays electric guitar. It’s an interesting pairing and brought into high relief when they just play as a duo. They released their first album as a duo last year…all instrumental. They’re not kids, but have a lot of fresh spacy ideas. Their combination of crystal clear acoustic and reverbed electric guitars is pretty unique these days. They recently played their first Portland Gig at Music Millennium and will be playing right here at Artichoke on December 3. Boone the Moon is here with me right now.
The Blue Cranes have a new album. That news is enough to make fans happy, but that’s not all… it is called Voices, individual collaborations with vocalists Holland Andrews, Edna Vasquez and Luz Elena Mendoza, Rebecca Sanborn, Laura Gibson, Peter Frederick, Gavin Castelton, Redray Frazier, Analisa Tornfelt and Laura Viers. It’s the best thing I’ve heard in years. Magnificent. A masterpiece. And if you know me, you know I don’t throw those words around lightly Blue Cranes’ Reed Wallsmith is in the Artichoke Café with me.
Shawn Levy has a new book, not one of his show biz blockbusters, but…get the concept, poems he wrote inspired by the obituary pages of the New York Times. That’s what it says on the cover. I am somewhat sympatico with him, although I’m not a poet, because I wrote all the obits on Oregon Music News for the first eight or nine years of our existence. Why did he do it? How has it affected him? What was the process? By the way, did you even know he was a poet. He’ll read a few during our conversation, including one on Sharon Jones. Happy to have Shawn Levy back with us.
Somehow, we’re getting closer to the holidays. Now in Oregon, one thing that always marked the holiday season was The Acoustic Guitar Summit holiday concerts. Terry Robb, Mark Hanson and our guest day, who has brought along his guitar, Doug Smith. Doug is one of the great fingerstye guitarists and of course, one of the founders of Acoustic Guitar Summit. They’ll be right here at Artichoke for two nights, Sunday and Monday December 5th and 6th and Doug will be here in the café with Tom May on Saturday, November 13. We missed these guys last year. It’s great to have them back. Let’s talk with Doug Smith.
It’s another in the long line of OMN Coffeeshop Conversations. For some reason, I never introduce myself. Perhaps because there’s a byline. So let me tell you that I’m Tom D’Antoni, Editor-In-Chief and co-founder of Oregon Music News and I love doing these podcast episodes. I hope they are as much fun for ypu and that you learn as much as I do about our guests. Today, She calls herself Stephanie Strange and her band Strange and the Familiars. She sings and writes but you wouldn’t exactly call her a singer/songwriter. There’s more going on than strumming and lyrics. They have an album release coming up and a gig at Jack London Review on Haloween. Meet Stephanie Strange.
Jim Brunberg is back with us in the Artichoke Music Café for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. His club, Mississippi Studios and concert venues, Revolution Hall and Polaris Hall are all open for live music. He’s been a lynchpin for organizations launched during the Pandemic to get federal money in order to survive. He has kept us all informed along the way and that’s why he’s here today, to give us his reading on how things are going and what the future may hold. His group Wonderly, with Ben Landesverk also has a new album. We’ll hear a tune from it at the end of our conversation. Welcome back Jim Brunberg
On Thursday, December 4, 2014, seven years ago today, we launched this podcast, spending time with Mary-Sue Tobin on our first episode. Today she is back on episode three hundred thirteen. Why? Because we like her, she’s always fun to talk to, she is very smart and knows her shit. She’s here to talk about the state of the Quadraponnes that fabulous saxophone quartet she helped found, about an upcoming concert with Ezra Weis’ band and a couple of albums that might have slipped through the cracks from Re-Birthing the Cool, Be Bop and beyond. But she could have had nothing in particular to talk about and still have been delightful. Let’s catch up with Mary-Sue Tobin
In the Artichoke Music Café with me is the co-founder of a new label which she and her co-founder Damon Bucher have launched. She goes by the name of Sappho. Her other name is Megan Andricos. She’s a long-time Portland club DJ and party promoter. The label is called Koritsi Komma which is Greek for Party Girl and they say it is “a dance music record label to raise the visibility of queer party music.” They’re launching with the release of the singles "Higher Love" (on Oct. 1st) and "All I Want Is You" (on Oct. 15th), with remixes by Portland producers Perfect Health and Natasha Kmeto. Those singles are from an LP, due in November You’ll like Sappho. Let’s meet her.
Fifty-one years ago Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen album was released. It was and instant classic. You may not know a lot of backstory but by the time you finish listening to this you’ll know a bucketful because with me in the Artichoke Music Café is the percussionist from that band. You know him, he’s in the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. It’s Bobby Torres who also played with Joe Cocker at Woodstock. As you may remember, Leon Russell played a huge part in the Mad Dogs band which was ad hoc at the time. So let’s go back to 1970 and find out what life was like with the mad dogs and Englishmen. All I have to do is push this little chromium switch. The tune at the end is "Afuebe" by Ghanaian Master Drummer Israel Annoh from the album of the same name, Produced by Bobby Torres.
Our guest today used to be a fixture in the music scene in Oregon…then he got married and moved to Victoria…that’s in Canada. Or maybe he moved first. I dunno. But whatever, that’s where David Vest lives now. And he’s won all kinds of national awards there. He is releasing his first recordings in three years. Two CDs, both live but very different from each other. One, recorded at a festival in Calgary and the other in a small club in Victoria. The festival is full of our favorite David Vest tunes, raucous boogie-woogie. The other is very subtle. I don’t think there’s a name for it yet The songs are familiar Blues tunes but the arrangements and the attitudes are…well it’s almost Chamber Blues. Mr. Vest will tell it best. And we’ll hear a tune from the club at the end.
From the friendly confines of the Artichoke Café once again. It’s time to try to understand what the hell is going on with our ability to go hear live music in person and find out what club owners are dealing with. Without clubs and concert venues, we’re sunk and sunk is not a good way to enjoy a live band. Neil Leeborg who is a co-owner of the Goodfoot Lounge is here. They’re open, although not with music every night as they used to be, and they were one of the first to require proof of vaccination. It’s been a tough road for Neil and other club owners. Let’s find out what might be in store for us.
This is a special episode of Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music and one in a series of radio interviews I did thirty years ago. Still listening or reading? I’m grateful. I was doing a talk show for the American Radio Network when radio networks meant something. And it was before the internet too, in the days of newspapers and pay phones. I decided that I would interview people who I had always wanted to talk to. One of them was pianist/composer Cecil Taylor. He was world famous and little-known because of how his music sounded. Taylor was known as being as ferocious as his music, at least that’s what I heard. I was afraid he was going to eat me for lunch, so I used the weight of a commercial network radio show as leverage and asked Gary Giddins,probably the top Jazz Journalist in the world, in English anyway, and a friend of Taylor’s if he would join Taylor and I in a one hour live intereview. He said yes. And then I asked Taylor. Good move. He said yes, too. You’re about to hear the result. Please excuse the crappy audio. It’s an air check and the gear was pretty bad. Suggest you use headphones. You won’t be sorry. I’ve left in the commercials and breaks to mark the place in time when this occurred. It was March third 1990 in Baltimore, Maryland in the studio of the American Radio Network. And yes, the following was my theme music.
Back in masks at Artichoke Café because the governor said to. She knows more about it than I do. Thankfully someone is here with me. His name is Noah Kite, he’s a singer, composer and guitarist who has a new album out this week called Drunk Lil’ Guy. In case you’re wondering, he is not the drunk lil guy. We’ll get into that. He calls what he does Chamber Folk which is just as good a musical concept as it is a marketing tool. Don’t get me wrong tho, Noah is a serious human, the songs, the music and his demeaner. His release gig is Friday, September 3rd at Polaris Hall with Sama Damas and Blair Borax. Let’s meet Noah Kite
Composer/guitarist Ryan Meagher is in the Artichoke Café with me today at yet another turning point in the long sad saga of trying to make and listen to music during the pandemic. He’s one of the folks who plan and execute the Montavilla Jazz Festival around this time every year. OMN is happy to be a sponsor. It’s the festival home for what we used to call “avant-garde” music. I don’t know if anyone has settled on a new name for it but you know what I mean. This year it’s Friday, August 20 to 22nd. Ryan will tell us about it, but since we do these a week or so in advance and since covid protocols have changed, please check with their website to find out if there are any changes. https://montavillajazz.org/ Meanwhile, I delayed turning on the recorder until we had talked baseball for a while, which we always do.
It’s lovely to be joined in the Artichoke Café today by singer, guitarist, composer and all-around great person, Mary Flower. She’ll be a part of a celebration here at Artichoke they’re calling Summerfest, Thursday through Sunday, August 26th through 29th with a full lineup of not only your Artichoke favorites but some folks you’d never expect like Coffeeshop Conversations favorites Darkswoon. Mary has a new tune, written during the pandemic which she will perform for us at the end of our conversation. We’ll also find out how she’s handling emerging again. Next week Ryan Meagher will be in the Café and tell us about how he and his compatriots have put together an exciting 2021 version of the Montavilla Jazz Festival. But now let’s turn our attention to Mary Flower.
You may not know it but our opening music is a tune called Ghost Jazz. The composers have kindly let us use it all these years. It was written by Keith Schreiner also known as Auditory Sculpture and today’s guest trumpeter, composer and educator Derek Sims. They called themselves Jazztronica in the early 2000s. Derek holds the trumpet chair in Mel Brown’s famed Septet, previously held by Thara Memory. He started the Portland Jazz School in September of 2017, is the Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet and the Jazz Band Director at Portland State University. What I didn’t know before talking to him today is that he has returned to his Jazztronica period in his newest compositions. Let’s catch up with Derek Sims.
A newish band has emerged in the past couple of years called Outer Orbit. It’s made up of members of some of Portland’s top Soul, Funk and Jazz bands,...including Tyrone Hendrix, Damien Erskine, Sarah Clarke, Peter Knudson and Michael Elson. That’s what it’s always been like in Oregon. You have to be versatile to make a living as a musician. Galen Clark of Outer Orbit, Trio Subtonic and lots of other ensembles is with me in the Artichoke Café to talk about those bands and how he navigates between them. We recorded this a couple of weeks ago, before Outer Orbit’s breakout set at the Waterfront Blues Festival. So please excuse any out of date gig references, Next week Mary Flower will be sitting here and the week after Derek Sims. Let’s meet Galen Clark.
For a lot of people, the top musical experience of 2021 has been the new documentary by Questlove called Summer of Soul, built around a series of concerts in Harlem, New York City in 1969. I say built around because it adds political and cultural context to the music. The music is Soul, Funk R&B, Blues, Gospel, Latin and African, the panoply of Black music at the time. I say Black because the movie puts the music in context with the emerging Black consciousness. It is a deeply emotional experience. Bring klneenex. To talk about it, joining me from Washington DC is OMN National editor, author and investigative reporter Art Levine.
To round out our video series on couples who both play music, either separately or together (or both), it was always in our plans to have Stephanie Schneiderman, singer, songwriter and guitarist in multiple genres and her husband Tony Furtado, virtuoso on a variety of stringed instruments and also a singer. The pandemic got in the way, but we were able to start using video again a couple of weeks ago. They will talk to us and also perform on the Café Artichoke stage. Look for more video episodes soon! Produced and edited by Gary Furlow.
Occasional video episodes of Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music are back! Before the pandemic we left our series with couples who are also working musicians, some together, some not.. Our last one was Reecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer https://www.oregonmusicnews.com/sanborn-tanzer-coffeeshop-conversations222 At the time we had two more in the works and we finally recorded them a couple of weeks ago. Next time we'll end the series with Tony Furtado and Stephanie Schneiderman but today it's Jana Cushman and Rachel Elllis of Darkswoon. One of the first things we'll talk about is what is it that they call the kind of music they do? They've settled, at the moment on "Elrectrogaze." They'll also perform two of their tunes which will end up on their next album.
The downsized but still mighty Waterfront Blues Festival begins on Thursday, July 1 and ends Monday July 5 “Upriver” at the Lot at Zidell Yards. Details here. On Monday, July 5 drummer Tony Coleman’s Tribute to the Three Kings, B.B., Albert and Freddie with an all-star band. T.C. played with B.B. and Albert’s bands and on the same bill with Freddie. Listen to him tell us what we have in store.
We have missed all of the live music in our lives over the length of the pandemic but one thing we should recognize is the efforts by broadcasters to keep sending the music our way. It hasn’t been easy, as I can attest from my own show on KMHD but we do it because we love it and we know you need the music. With me today in the Artichoke Café is Suzanne Nance, CEO of All Classical Portland, also an on-air host there and a vocalist in her own right. What have they had to do to keep themselves in fresh programming? What does the future look like? It’s always a delight to talk with her and today, no doubt will be too since we do see some daylight. Welcome back Suzanne Nance.
As you may have noticed, we’ve been checking in with musicians, organizations and venues as things begin to open up, to see what they’re up to and how they’ve been. This time it’s Sarah Tiedemann, Third Angle New Music’s Artistic Director and a flutist. They’re presenting the “Fresh Air Fest” which they call “an outdoor new music mini-festival located at the idyllic Topaz Farm, on Sauvie Island.” Three consecutive one-hour sets on Sunday July 11 starting at 3:30pm. What’s the status of their 21-22 season and what have they been doing to keep at it? Oh, and don’t mind us, but we geeked out on Twin Peaks in the last little bit….maybe more than a lttle bit. Here’s me and Sarah Tiedemann.
With me in the Café at Artichoke Music is child psychiatrist, poet and artist Dr. Diane Kaufman. She’s here to talk about the release of her suicide prevention song 'Don't Give Up' which is designed to give support to those who are struggling with mental health issues and thinking about suicide. In case you were not aware suicide is the leading cause of death among youth 10-24 in Oregon. So here’s an interesting role that music may play in bringing those stats down. Diane Kaufman is founder of Oregon-based Arts Medicine for Hope and Healing and the Arts & Healing Resiliency Center at Mind Matters P.C. We’re starting out differently this time, I’ll let you hear the song first and then we’ll talk with the Doctor.
Want to do something that makes you feel like we’re getting back to normal? One thing you can do is listen to this episode of Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music because unlike last summer when there wasn’t one, Peter Dammann is here to tell us all about the 2021 Waterfront Blues Festival. You heard me! It’s back. It’s smaller and down the street from where it usually is but there are people at this moment knocking themselves out to make it happen. As he has been since the beginning of time, Festival Artistic Director and ace guitarist Peter Damman is in the Café to tell us pretty much everything we want to know about the festival. All I have to do is push this little switch.
Just when we were thinking that tons of music was right around the corner we find out that there’s a ton of Federal money that could help venues….big and small…that isn’t being spent. Enter a new organization called Oregon Arts Recovery, OAR, that has arrived to help matters. Jim Brunberg, one of the leaders in our music industry, both as a musician himself and as a venue owner (Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall) has been working non-stop for the past year to convince government that music and music venues are vital to the life of Oregonians. He’s with me on the phone with exciting news about a united front to help ensure that our venues survive and come back strong.
Can you feel it? Can you feel the music returning? Feels good. Karen Lovely is in the Artichoke Music Café with me today. She has not been doing a whole lot of music in the past year but she has been very busy with her other work as an advocate and first responder for domestic violence. We’ll hear about both, that and her return to music. And as important as the music is to all of us, her work with victims of domestic violence is crucial. She’s still got the voice and the attitude however and we’ve missed both. She’s got gigs lined up and is working on a new album but let’s let Karen Lovely do the talking. She’s good at that. She’s good at all of it.
Slowly, in frustratingly small increments, live music is returning to our lives. People are being hired in anticipation of venues re-opening and people like our guest singer/guitarist Kris Deelane are trying to fill that gap we’re all still feeling. Her outdoor Alchemy Shed opens this weekend and has a bookings through the next couple of months. Why? How? She’s here in the Artichoke Café to fill us in, and on her plans to fire up her band The Hurt which has been on the sidelines for a year. One of these days we’ll do one of these and not have to mention the pandemic. Until then, here’s some good news from Kris Deelane.
A year ago, as we slipped into quarantine I decided we all needed to hear from someone who would brighten things up for us…well for me. I called upon composer, singer and songwriter Andrew Paul Woodworth for that. No woo-woo, no sappy advice…and not even a friend who I hung out with, just someone I could count on to take our minds off of things and make us laugh even though he was not a professional comedian. It worked. Now, as we fitfully emerge from all this. I’ve asked him back. He was full of surprises and I just turned on the recorder.
Here’s some good Coffeeshop Conversation news…in June we’ll be shooting two new video episodes of the podcast…first since the pandemic! Stay tuned for details. Today one of my favorite people is in the Artichoke Music Cafe. We met when we were both doing shows at KMHD when it was out at Mt. Hood Community College. I’m still at KMHD and she’s at KBOO. She is Marcia Hocker. She’s also a singer and just wrapped up several years working with PDX Jazz. A few weeks ago she MC’d and sang as part of Siren Nation’s Billie Holiday tribute show. And she’s got this great radio voice. Meet Marcia Hocker.
This makes three times back in the Café at Artichoke and feeling better all the time. Especially today because I get to geek out about obscure records. As you may know, the only Portland representation in the winner’s circle at the Grammys this year was when Omnivore Recordings won for It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers. Omnivore isn’t totally based in Portland but one of the founders lives here. Her name is Cheryl Pawelsky and she is a curator’s curator and a geek’s geek. It’s also her second Grammy. Their catalog is amazing, just looking at the titles makes me happy. We’re going to have some fun. Let’s meet Cheryl.
It sure is nice being back in the Artichoke Music Café and sitting across from our podcast guests again, believe me. Especially when you’re sitting across from The Boogie Cat, the always splendidly dressed, Portland icon Norman Sylvester who has been bringing us Blues and Soul music for generations. He’s working with the Bravo Youth Orchestras organization which has a virtual event on Sunday, April 18 called Crossing Borders at 6:30pm. Norman will tell us all about it. And Norman is going to sing a little right here on the podcast. How about that. Here’s the Boogie Cat.
December 14 of last year was the last time we recorded one of these from the Artichoke Music Café. I told you I would wait until I could get vaccinated and two weeks ago I got my second shot. That’s why we’re back at Artichoke today, and very happy to be here. We don’t plan to be anywhere else. Dino Paris is with me. He’s a therapist…what we used to call a shrink, but we’re too polite to anymore. I wanted to talk with him about the effects of the pandemic on creativity and what we can do about those effects to help ourselves and each other.pari It’s for all of you and especially me. Meet Dino Paris.
This is the last, at least I hope it’s the last of our Skype Coffeeshop Conversations. Next week when we call it Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music, it will really be from the Café at Artichoke. Our guest will be therapist Dino Paris and I’ll talk to him about the effects of the past year on creativity. I wish I could be sitting across from December Carson, Artistic Director for Siren Nation but I’m not, They’re having their 14th Annual Billie Holiday Tribute Night, virtually on Saturday, April 3. She’s also Marketing and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Northwest Film Center and we’ll get her take on the return of going to movies too. And eleven years ago she wrote a few excellent pieces for OMN. Meet December Carson.
It might be hard to believe but it’s been four years since Jimmy Mak’s closed. It was Oregon’s top music club. It closed the day before owner Jimmy Makarounis passed away. Two key employees JD Stubenberg and Lisa Boyle took up the quest to make a new Jimmy Mak’s and they were poised to make that happen when the pandemic hit. I think most of us figured that if the existing music clubs were closed, any chance of a new Jimmy Mak’s was dead. Well, guess what? They’ re still at it and making plans to begin construction on the new Jimmy Mak’s. JD is on Skype with me to tell us all about it and also about a new organization to aid musicians in distress. It’s hard to imagine JD and Lisa’s friendly faces bringing great music to us again, but we can use all the hope we can get. JD and I just kind of fell into our conversation, like we always do.
We’ll be returning to the Café at Artichoke Music on Thursday April 8 for an interesting OMN Coffeeshop Conversation with therapist Dino Paris on how the pandemic has effected creativity. But today we’re Skyping with keyboardist Dave Fleschner who has been a big part of many Portland bands. Many people remember him from being on the road with Curtis Salgado for six years. He’s doing a lot of teaching these days as most musicians have been doing during the pandemic. One of these days I’ll be able to do one of these things and never have the pandemic come up in conversation…coffeeshop or not. Dave has been a fixture in the Soul/Blues/Funk/Jazz scene around here and it’s a good time to say hello.
George Colligan is Skyping with me today. We’re looking to be back in the Café at Artichoke Music in about a month, once I’m fully vaccinated. You may know George Colligan as a Jazz pianist and composer, a teacher and valued member of several internationally known ensembles. On his new album Long Term Goals with his band Theoretical Planets, he’s a leader and a drummer. Most of the ensemble is made up of former PSU students of his, but they play like they’ve been together forever. That’s all pretty unique in the world of music and it takes a lot of talent to pull it off. That’s what George Colligan does. He’s a true musical intellectual but has the ability to clearly relate musical concepts to dummies like me. He’s peripatetic but he took some time to be with us.
This edition of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music is headed your way early this week because March Fourth is Thursday. It’s the 18th anniversary of Portland’s beloved March Fourth who used to be called March Fourth Marching Band. They’ll be streaming a special anniversary show featuring footage from the best of the last three anniversary shows at the Crystal Ballroom…and boy do we miss the Crystal Ballroom. It’ll be hosted by March Fourth bandleader and founder John Averill. John is trapped in my Skype machine at the moment. We’ll find out what they’ve been doing for the past year, what they’ve got in store in the future and we’ll look back at some of the moments that made us all love the band. Let’s pry open the lid of that Skype machine and find out what he’s up to.
Curtis Salgado has a new album. That alone should warm your heart and make you get out your dancing shoes. More than that, it’s a satchel full of inspiration for the times in which we live. He didn’t plan it that way, but some people have a way of unconsciously knowing what we need. Curtis Salgado, seems like, has always known what we need, even if he didn’t know what was good for him at the time. You’ll hear a tune from Damage Control at the end of the interview. We’re getting closer to being back at the Artichoke Café. Curtis has a lineup of experienced musicians who have played with giants. You know what? Curtis is a giant too.
We’re getting closer to moving back from Skype to The Artichoke Music Café. This time next month I’ll be able to be back sitting across a table from a real live human being. But we have had a nice run of interesting people in the meantime. Next week I’ll be talking to Curtis Salgado who has a new album coming out. Today it’s singer/songwriter Carl Solomon, no stranger to the Artichoke Music Café. Among other things he’s a part of the popular Soldier Songs and Voices which is now an Artichoke weekly online ZOOM event. Carl has been singing and writing songs for decades and if you’re a part of or a fan of that community, you know that. He and I are both from Baltimore Maryland but we compared notes on those experiences both before and after we were rolling. Meet Carl Solomon.
I did this interview just before fhe world shut down in March of 2020 This is in lieu of having a real Mardi Gras Day. They’ve called Davell Crawford the “Piano Prince of New Orleans.” He has had long and diverse career playing all kinds of music, New Orleans R&B, Gospel, Rock n Roll, Blues, and Jazz but he was trained as a classical musician too. His grandfather, James “Sugar Boy” Crawford wrote and recorded “Jock-a-Mo” which you know as “Iko Iko” for Chess records in 1954. And when he was young he hung out with Fats Domino. He never moved back to New Orleans after the flood but New Orleans never left his soul. No longer a prodigy but now a musician with a long string of great albums who tours the world, he’s now in New York which is where I called him on a day when the whole world seemed to be self-quarantined. That would be Monday, March 16, 2020. Meet Davell Crawford
It used to be more difficult to catch up in person with guitarist John Stowell. That’s because he used to spend so much of his life on the road, playing and teaching. Since we’re currently Skyping instead, it’s not so hard.. There’s not been a lot of travelling or live playing going on as you may have heard. Fortunately John had been teaching online for years before the current tribulation, so he was prepared when it happened. He has a new album with Don Dean called Rain Painting…you can hear the title tune at the end of our conversation. John has a huge body of work over a long period of time but he has never stopped growing as an artist. He’s got a couple of gigs coming up, we’ll hear about that and many other things in the world of John Stowell.
If it matters to you…and it matters to me…in a few weeks we’ll be back in the Café at Artichoke Music. As soon as I get jabbed, to be honest with you. Doing it on Skype works fine but it’s not like being in the same room. Therefore…….Bassist Jeff Langston is on the Skype with me. After a great run with Antony and the Johnsons , touring the world and playing before tens of thousands, he decided to come bac home to Oregon. You’ve heard him with Rachel Taylor Brown, Bre Greg and a lot of others. Got you interested? Let’s meet Jeff Langston.
We’re Skyping again today. Hopefully just a few more weeks and I can get jabbed and we’ll be back in the Artichoke Music Café. Communicating online is a way of life now. So is playing music and streaming it. Moses Barrett who leads the band the Junebugs is also one of the founders of Left Door Streaming, one of Portland’s most active presenters of music online. How did it happen? What’s involved in doing it? How does it effect his band? What does the future hold? I guess nobody really knows the answer to that one. But Moses has some ideas. My guess is that live-streaming will be an option for years to come. But who knows? Let’s meet Moses Barrett.
It’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation, this time another Skyper. Hoping to be back at Artichoke Music soon. Very happy to have composer, singer, keyboardist and the only international star I ever heard of who grew up in Mollala. Jarrod Lawson has a new album with a lot of Oregon stars and also including the great percussionist Sammy Figueroa and Amber Navran and her Moonchild band. It’s called Be the Change and it’s about as relevant as relevant gets. It’s got that Jarrod Lawson sound, layered vocals, funky keys and something to say. Let’s talk to Jarrod.
We’re Skyping again this week. We’ll be back in the Artichoke Café soon. Ben Landsverk is with me today. He’s a composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and one-half of Wonderly with Jim Brunberg. They make music for other people’s films and have begun releasing their own films with their own music. There’s one on DB Cooper on this page and a new song at the end of our conversation. Ben has also transformed the Low Brow Chorale into an online Chorale. Let’s meet Ben Landsverk.
We’re not at Artichoke Music this week or next. The store is open and doing well, but since I have all the right things wrong with me, I’m going to wait for the vaccine to arrive before I start recording there again. This is a week I’ve been waiting for...literally, years. Composer Andrew Durkin and Mary-Sue Tobin are Skyping with me because after a four-year wait, Five Pointed Star, the collaboration between Andrew and the Quadraphonnes, Oregon’s all-female saxophone quartet, is about to be released…and it’s very special. It’s unique, as you might expect, reflecting the unique personalities and talents of all involved.
This is another OMN Coffeshop Conversation at Artichoke Music. The final one for 2020. The next two weeks you’ll find our best two conversations of what has been an awful year. I’d like to thank everyone who as been a guest on the podcast. It hasn’t been easy, but it sure has been worth it. January we will return with a couple of interesting episodes including Ben Landsverk and Andrew Durkin. But to wrap up the year I wanted to sit down with a guy who has helped facilitate every episode we’ve recorded here, Artichoke’s store manager Jason Alberger. He’s also a guitarist and composer and I don’t know what we’d do without him.
There are two more new episodes of Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music before we run our two best of the year. This is one of the new ones. Next week, we’ll wrap up the year with Artichoke store manager, guitarst and teacher Jason Alburger, someone who has made producing these things at Artichoke a lot easier given the times. Today, however I’m psyched to be able to meet and talk with Jana Cushman who leads the band Darkswoon, which makes music that sounds like it’s name. They played a live-streaming set last spring as part of the OMN Live series, and our publisher Ana Amman wrote about her in a story celebrating World Goth Day. What’s it like writing dark songs in a dark time when your partner is part of the band. Let’s meet Jana Cushman
Given the givens looking forward to 2021 is a happy activity. One thing we can count on in 2021 is that there will be a Portland Jazz Festival in February. And as we always do, the executive director is here to tell us about all the performers, how they will perform and how PDX Jazz has been plowing through the muck of the past year. Chris Doss came on for 2020’s festival in his first year on the job, and he’s in Café Artichoke with me to run down everything you’ll hear and see in 2021 from top to bottom. Believe me, it’s a pleasure to actually talk about music and musicians and festivals again.
Hi there. Next week Chris Doss, Executive Director of PDX Jazz and the Portland Jazz Festival will be here to give us our annual rundown of the performers, virtual as they may be this time around. The last week of December and the first week of January we’ll have my two favorite Coffeeshop Conversations episodes of the year. That’s going to be fun. But today, this is one of those times when I get to meet and talk for the first time with someone I should have met years ago. Dunno why we never did but today in the Artichoke Music Café I’ll be talking with Catón Lyles, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist in a wide variety of genres…and he’s an actor too. He’s involved with an ongoing series of performances called Walk A Mile In Our Shoes….and we’ll get to that first. Meet Catón Lyles
The holidays officially begin next week, so best wishes from all of us at OMN and Artichoke Music. I know some of youse guys are already engaged in finding gifts and that is why, sitting across from me, at a safe distance, and masked, is Oregon’s premiere music poster artist, Gary Houston of Voodoo Catbox. I know you’ve seen his work. Twenty years of Waterfront Blues Festival posters for instance. Did you know his signature style even has a name? This is a very busy time of year for Gary. He’ll be having a big show and sale at Music Millennium November 27-December 24 and also at the Aladdin Theatre which has a large trove of his signed work which you can buy here. He did posters for shows there for decades. He’s done posters for concerts all over the country for decades. And he’s here to talk about them. You’ve seen his work, now you get to meet Gary Houston
Happy to be back with you again in the Artichoke Music Café. And after several years, Amy Maxwell is back on the podcast. She runs Ticket Tomato, the Oregon-based concert and venue ticketing company, trying to keep their head above water, like the rest of us. What does the present look like? And what does the future hold? The first part we know, but the second is speculation, at best an educated guess. Amy is an expert and that’s why she’s here. She also has a fun new company we’ll be finding out about. She’s wearing one of her items in the picture. Here’s Amy Maxwell.
Because OMN just turned eleven last week. I thought I’d take a break on Coffeeshop Conversations from talking to folks in the music industry and talk to myself….and you. I helped found OMN in 2009, Later, I’ll tell you why in case you’ve never heard that story before. What else are we going to talk about besides of course the future? I dunno. Let’s just find out. Oh, and by the way, next week we’ll be talking with Ticket Tomato’s Amy Maxwell, no stranger to the podcast, about the future of concerts. And the following week to percussionist and actor Caton Lyles. Our eternal thanks to Keith Schreiner and Derek Sims, recording as Jazztronica for our theme music, called Ghost Jazz.
In Café Artichoke with another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Upcoming episodes? Amy Maxwell from Ticket Tomato on the future of concerts, immediate and otherwise. Also percussionist, actor and all around interesting guy Caton Lyles, and next week, since we just had OMN’s eleventh anniversary….I’ll be doing the podcast solo. Something for you to either look forward to or run from screaming. Today one of our best guitarists, Jon Neufeld is here. You know him from a lot of bands, as that smooth, supple jaw-dropping player. Kung Pao Chickens is one of them. He’s also known as a master masterer. I know we talked about that with Ramsey Embick last week but nobody ever talks about mastering. Let’s talk to Jon Neufeld about a lot of things and then listen to him play a tune.
Welcome to the Café at Artichoke Music for another…267th, to be exact, OMN Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music podcast. Next week, the virtuoso guitarist and Master of Mastering Jon Neufeld. The week after that my guest will be me. The election will be over, I hope, and I’m going to take center stage. Anything might happen. But today a unique individual, a pianist who can play anything. Jazz, funk, Latin, he’s done it all. He put in time as a producer and engineer in Los Angeles, helping the Pointer Sisters make a couple of albums and lots of other people, too. He has a soul/funk band these days called Bridge City Soul. He masters albums too. Welcome back to the podcast Ramsey Embick
Welcome back to the Café at Artichoke Music for Coffeeshop Conversation number two hundred and sixty six. Can you believe it? Portland has a world famous choral ensemble. Its name is Cappella Romana. They’ve been around since 1991 giving the world early and contemporary sacred classical music in the Christian traditions of East and West. These days, the replication of sounds from an ancient Byzantine cathedral in Turkey has put them on the charts! And I’m betting they’ll be up for a Grammy. Executive Director Mark Powell is here with me. They’re doing so well they now have their own label and this week are releasing Benedict Sheehan: Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom by The Saint Tikhon Choir, a non-Cappella Romana album. a non-Cappella Romana album this week. Excerpt at the end of our conversation courtesy Cappella Romana. Let’s talk to Mark Powell
You know It’s one of those times when we say that there’s a musician who has stepped up and been recognized as that one young cat who is what? I’m not handing out trophies here, but for me, I’d like to think of Charlie Brown III as someone who deserves to be known as the top young keyboard player around here. I know that might sound archaic but at least it’s not a list for us to harvest clicks. Anyway, Charlie is in a lot of ensembles including a band called greaterkind…lower case G. They recently streamed on OMN Live. Let’s meet Charlie Brown III
Vicki Green intro Welcome back to the Café at Artichoke Music for another OMN Coffeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni, as you may know. Do you need a coach? Think about it. Wouldn’t that be nice? To have someone on your side who wants to help you improve your work….and can’t fire you? With me is Vicki Green who is a Performing Artist Coach. What’s that? That’s what we’re here to find out. In addition to musicians and bands, she coaches actors, writers, directors and playwrights. Let’s meet Vicki Green.
I always like it when I Have someone in the Artichoke Music Café who I’ve enjoyed and admired but have neve met. One of those people is Sarah Clare who is here in the Café with me. I’ve known about her for years for her singing with Dirty Revival. They were getting ready for a tour with Galactic when we all got smacked down with the virus. That has not stopped her. She’s been doing a lot of live-streaming, she is headimg up the Musicians in Solidarity organization and is involved with a new label, People Music. We’ll talk about all those things. I was great to finally meeting Sarah Clarke.
Yes it’s me with a smoky voice not because I want to sound like Barry White (which I actually do want to) but because of the smoke. When we recorded this conversation with Michael Quinby, leader of the Roseland Hunters (I ask if there’s a chance they’ll get back together), all we had to worry about was the pandemic and the election. Michael was the leader, vocalist and guitarist for the Roseland Hunters and I played the living hell out of their record on the radio. So what’s he been doing lately? Let’s find out.
Steve Berlin, long-time saxophonist with Los Lobos, and a Portlander for years is in the Artichoke Café. He’s here to talk about the work on a new Los Lobos album and how he has spent all of this damned time off re-learning how to play the saxophone. After decades of playing it one way, he’s spent months learning a different way to play it. We’ll hear about that and a lot of other things. Hey, if ya got, please donate to our GoFundMe campaign to keep OMN alive. We’re not kidding when we say that. If OMN has meant anything to you these ten years, now’s the time to step up and keep us going until the advertisers return. Having said that, let’s talk with Steve Berlin.
I am with Tucker Martine, one of the world’s best producers and recording engineers. I could read you the list of the people he’s worked with but it would take the rest of the podcast, and that’s only slightly exaggerating. Here are just a few, Roseanne Cash, My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Don Henley, the Avett Brothers. I could go on but you get the picture. One of his most beloved collaborators is Bill Frisell who comes to Portland to record right here at Flora Recordings and Playback. He’s also a musician and like everyone else right now doing everything he can to keep afloat until we get back to something that resembles normal. Bill Frisell is one of my favorite musicians and so excuse me if I talk too much about him. It’s my podcast. Here’s Tucker Martine.
Lee Fields. came up in the 1960’s, did pretty well for himself, known as “Little JB” for James Brown because of his voice, his dancing abilities and because he was just downright funky. When disco hit, he wanted to remain true to his art, so he quit the business for a few years. He was a part of the great Soul music revival in the late 1990’s and hasn’t looked back since. He has a tight band he calls The Expressions and they travel the world. He has a new album out called. “It Rains Love.” We caught up with him on the road, the morning after a fabulous show at the Roseland in December of 2019. Remember when it was just normal to go to the Roseland, or any other place, be with people, dance and hear great music? I did this interview for a short-lived podcast I was doing but stopped doing after a bunch of episodes which I loved, but could't work out a deal to keep going.. He’s deep. Meet Lee Fields.
When you hear the start of this, you will notice that you're not hearing the Coffeeshop Conversations theme. Good catch. The regular theme doesn’t have men imitating birds and frogs. No, this is Martin Denny’s Quiet Village which ushered in a whole new thing when it was released in 1957…called Exotica. And it was. It was also a huge hit and so were the Martin Denny lp’s that followed. Well, today’s guest in the Artichoke Café is Isaac Sluseranko who runs Jackpot Records. Every year around Record Store Day, this year on Saturday, August 29, they reissue something that blows you away. This year it’s four Martin Denny records, including the one with Quiet Village, that one in original Mono. Martin Denny sold millions and millions of records. Let’s find out why from Issac Slusarenko.
The rather spectacular Lisa Lipton is in the Artichoke Café. She’s the Executive Director of Opera Theater Oregon and their principal clarinetist and so much more. She’s a very busy human. She has a live streamed event on her birthday, Tuesday August 25 at Polaris Hall which will feature Micah Hummel on drums, George Colligan on Piano, Mark Dubac on Clarinet, Camille Marie Sherman, Mezzo-Soprano, Daniel Mobbs, Bass-Baritone, Sequoia on Piano, and our friend Jim Brunberg on Guitar. All kinds of music featured. It’ll be quite an event. She absolutely loves the clarinet and related instruments. A lot. Let’s meet Lisa Lipton
After a visit to Falcon Recording Studio last time, we’re back at the Café at Artichoke Music for episode two-hundred and fifty-six in the endless podcast series Coffeeshop Conversations. With me is Darrell Grant composer, pianist, teacher and central to Jazz music in Oregon for decades. He’s the Associate Director of the School of Music at Portland State University which has fueled the development of our homegrown Jazz musicians. But he’s here today to talk about a new piece of music called Take Flight which is also now a music video. If you can see it on the page here, it has been debuted. If you can’t it will debut here on Thursday, August 6 at 6pm. Let’s here all about it from Darrell Grant.
Dennis Carter has been operating the Falcon Recording Studio on SE 15th Avenue for thirty-five years. He’s recorded much of the musical history of Portland. We’re in his studio because he has a client on the way over and that’s how our schedules fit. Like everyone in the music industry, including us, Dennis is looking for ways to keep the lights on. But when you sit here and think about the music that has been recorded here, it’s almost like a living museum, but one that continues to add to the art not on, but in its walls and which permeates the atmosphere in this room. Let’s meet Dennis Carter.
Recorded message by the animator/filmmaker/cartoonist on August 10, 2010 at cartoonist John Callahan's memorial at the Mission Theater in Portland.
August 10, 2010 at the Mission Theater in Portland Oregon. It was pre-recorded for the occasion.
I’m six feet across the table in the Artichoke Cafe from composer, producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, mentor and scenemaker…the man who introduced the Dookie Jam to Portland and who has just finished a run of releasing twenty songs in twenty consecutive weeks with “What Is Love” Featuring Rain Ezra… I’m talking about Tony Ozier…that tall, lean gentleman who has been an important part of music in Oregon for over a decade. It's people like Tony who have managed to keep busy even though live performances are off the table for the foreseeable future. Let’s find out how he does it.
We are back to the Skype machine this week but we’ll be back at Artichoke Music next week with a conversation with Tony Ozier. Right now we’re going to talk with Lady A. Not the band that used to call themselves lady Antebellum, but the Soul and Blues singer from Seattle who has been calling herself Lady A for decades, has made many appearances in Portland including many times at the Waterfront Blues Festival.. I’m sure you’ve heard about the dustup between them. Lady A will be filling in all the details along with her producer John Oliver (a non-British John Oliver). Lady Antebellum changed the name of their band after the massive anti-racist demonstrations after the murder of George Floyd. Antebellum being the period of time before the Civil War, when slavery was legal. You’ll have to ask them why they chose a name that celebrates that period of time. What happened when Lady A, the singer found out that Lady Antebellum decided to call themselves Lady A? Let’s find out.
One of the busiest, most productive and most versatile musicians around here is Farnell Newton. It’s been way too long since Farnell has visited the podcast…five years, even. Are we that old? I guess we are. He’s back as trumpeter, composer, producer and label owner. He had multiple working ensemble before the tribulations hit. Those tribulations have not stopped him from composing, playing and starting a new label…lofisouljazz….all one word. There’s a new compilation album just out featuring Farnell and lots of collaborators. Listen to a track at the end of our conversation. Let’s catch up with Farnell.
Today Portland Cello Project’s Skip vonKuske is in the Artichoke Music Café with me. That’s not the only ensemble he’s involved with. He has lots of projects and after we’re done talking you’ll hear a track from the latest album by Groovy Wallpaper, the duo he has with Don Henson. Skip has been pretty busy during the current tribulations. He’s been live-streaming, recording and writing but he misses us as much as we miss him. Face it, we miss being able to be in the same room with live music. Let’s talk with Skip vonKuske.
Today we’ve got the two sides of drummer/composer Tony Coleman…or TC as he is known. He was BB King’s drummer for 35 years. He’s here in the Artichoke Music Café, six feet away and masked. I did an interview with TC a few months go for another podcast I was doing at the time and it centered on music. When the Black Lives Matter protests spread world-wide I knew we had to ask TC to come in and give us his views, something he has never hesitated to do. So the first part of this is TC on Black Lives Matter and the second is on BB King and the music.
It’s our second week back in the Artichoke Music Café. Today we’ve got Andrea Algieri from the band Mbrascatu. He’ll be performing Sunday, June 14 at 6pm as part of the OMN Live streaming series. Our friend Denise Kowalczyk wrote in an OMN story in June of 2012, “From Calabria to Firenze to Portland, Andrea Algieri's Mbrascatu is a fusion of the cobbled streets and cafés of the Old World and the creative melting pot of Portland.” And that pretty much sums it up. They have a distinct sound, and not only because Andrea sings all of his songs in Italian. Let’s meet Andrea Algieri.
The last time we sat in the Café at Artichoke Music and recorded an episode of Coffeeshop Conversations was March 11th, nearly three months ago although it feels like another century ago. Well, guess what? Even though Artichoke isn’t fully open yet, here we are back in the Café and six feet away from Artichoke CEO Bob Howard who is full of news, not only about Artichoke but about the future of all the music venues in Oregon. Even though we’re masked…we’re here! When will it open? What will it be when it opens? What will anything be when anything opens? What will WE be when it opens? Bob may not have all the answers but he has a lot of ideas. That’s for sure.
Unless there’s a change of some kind…always a possibility…this will be the last in the series of Skype-recorded Coffeeshop Conversations (Not) @ Artichoke Music. Next week we’ll be back in the Café at Artichoke and I can be in the same room with the person I’m talking to. Thanks to Storm Large, Terry Currier, Jim Brunberg, Jeremy Wilson, Lloyd Jones, Andrew Woodworth and the others who have been guests. Therefore, we end this Skype series with the one, the only, your friend and mine, the inimitable, the sensational, the Tony Starlight. Applause goes here. We pick it up shortly after we fixed our respective audios.
Back for another Coffeeshop Conversation (Not) @ Artichoke Music. It’s looking like we’ll be back in the Café for real in a couple of weeks. The café won’t be open to the public but I’ll be able to sit in the same room and talk with people. Today, continuing what we’ve been doing, checking in with folks to see how they’re doing and how they’ve been doing it, Lloyd Jones is on Skype with me. He’s got a new album coming out at the end of the summer. There’s a story there and nobody tells a stry like Lloyd Jones. He’s been streaming online a lot you can find out about them here. He misses us and we miss him in person. So let’s catch up with Lloyd Jones.
We’ve been checking in on folks to see how they’re doing during the current tribulations. We checked on Jim Brunberg, Jeremy Wilson, Storm Large and others and today we’ve got Music Millennium’s Terry Currier on Skype. They’re still open, doing curbside delivery but everything is tenuous. Life itself. They’re still getting new product in every week at Music Millenium so let’s find out how their doing, what they’re doing and what are some good new albums. Here’s Terry Currier
Since the music industry is shut down, although I know musicians are continuing to make music…and performing…particularly online and especially on Sundays at 6pm on the OMN Live series…and since Artichoke Music’s doors are still closed, how about we get back to talking to people who were and are big parts of OMN. One of them is on Skype with me. Her name is Stephanie Salvey. She was a club owner, a band manager and publicist, one of our first OMN writers and now produces movies…while remaining a rocker through and through. She used to be an upstairs neighbor of mine…and I’m glad to say, a friend. Meet Stephanie Salvey.
We’re Skyping our way through another Coffeeshop Conversation (Not) @ Artichoke Music and hoping for the day we can sit in the Café across the table and talk the way we used to. But here’s the next best thing. Last fall we did a video episode with Shelly Rudolph and Chance Hayden, two musicians who are married to each other. Thing is, I had promised Shelly we’d do an episode with her when her long-awaited album came out. Well the wait is over. It’s called The Way We Love and it was worth the wait…in gold.
This is more than a Coffeeshop Conversation not at Artichoke Music with Art Levine our National Editor when he’s not being an author and one of the best investigative reporters on earth. He’s going to talk about the current phenomenon of musicians and comedians live streaming performances from their homes. I hope you’ve been catching ours, OMN Live which streams every Sunday at 6pm on our Facebook page. Maybe we’ll get lucky and in this podcast you’ll get to hear one or more of Art’s famed endless and endlessly entertaining rants. We can hope.
Hello once again from not at Artichoke Music. Hopefully we’ll be back there when this is over. One of the busiest people during this thing who is not a first-responder is Jim Brunberg, who I’m sure you know is a musician and owner of Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall etc etc etc. I thought that combination of things would make him the perfect person to talk to about the current situation where we find doors closed and musicians scrambling to find an income. He has been working on a new coalition of venue owners to try to keep them intact for when the music starts again. He’s been on the podcast before in better days. We’re thankful he took the time to talk to us.
Another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation but not at Artichoke Music and not sitting with a guest…and waiting for the day we can do both again. This time I’m talking with Storm Large, the only real star Portland has produced in this century. I don’t need to tell you anything else about her, you already know. Since the pandemic she’s been putting up live performances on her Instagram which have been everything you could ever want. How is she dealing with the current situation? She’s meeting it head-on, as you might expect. Let’s hear from Storm Large.
Welcome again to the OMN Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music Not at Artichoke Music because it’s closed because you know why. Rather than wallow in the misery of the moment, I thought I’d like to bring back singer/composer Andrew Paul Woodworth for a fresh and funny distraction. We’ve had some very funny episodes with him, and that’s what we need right now. That’s why I put up those April Fools stories on Wednesday. As usual this will be NSFW, but since most of us are at home, or listening on headphones, there’s less chance you will offend anyone. He had just answered my Skype call……
Well, hi there. We recorded this episode before we all got told to stay home. So it’ll be the last one until the time we can sit in the Artichoke Music Café again. Until then, as we did last week, we’ll make do with Skype and phone. Today I’m with composer/pianist Jasnam Daya Singh who has a new album on the PJCE label…that’s Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. It’s called Ekta: The Unity Project. Sound like something we need right now? At the end of our conversation we’ll play a track, “Acceptance.” We’re not going to stop making Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music while we can’t really be at Artichoke Music
Needless to say, we’re not in the Artichoke Café for this episode, but we’re going to keep doing Cofeeshop Conversations until the doors open again. On the phone with me is Jeremy Wilson who has just launched the COVID-19 Oregon Musicians’ Relief Fund. At this moment there are no venues open for musicians to play and no pay for no play. Of Course, he runs the Jeremy Wilson foundation which helps with musicians’ health costs. This is a whole different thing. I thought you ought to hear it from him.
One of the most joyous sounds you’ll ever hear in Portland is the Afro-Beat band Jujuba. Sitting with me at Artichoke Music 2007 SE Powell Boulevard is Norjeem Isisi their leader, he of the talking drum…which he has brought with him. He’s from Nigeria and he toured with King Sunny Ade, the man who helped make Afro-Beat music popular throughout the world. Just a word about the temporary closing of Artichoke during the COVID-19 virus. While we wait for the go-ahead to open the doors again, Coffeeshop Conversations will continue, even if we have to skype or do them on the phone. Jujuba found a home at the Goodfoot Lounge and their performances there are legendary. So lets meet the man who makes the drum talk, a Coffeeshop Conversation with Norjeem and his drum.
Bob Howard CEO of Artichoke Music, Portland's iconic music store/venue, announced today that it will close it's doors temporarily until safety returns.
I always look forward to this and it’s become almost a yearly pleasure to sit across from Liv Warfield and visit. She’s with me in Café Artichoke at Artichoke Music 2007 SE Powell. She was in town for an appearance at the 2020 Portland Jazz Festival. Apparently it’s been a busy year for her, a year of moving forward. And in talking to her before we started recording she mentioned something about a CIRCUS. This coming from a woman who once played professional football. That’s football, not soccer. She was radiant, of course.
I’ve got someone in the Artichoke Café who I’ve never met before. I like those Coffeeshop Conversations. I get to be nosey with a stranger. Articoke Music is located at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard and we’re very happy to be there. Tate Peterson of the Resolectrics is here. They’re an up and coming band who have been around for ten years. I think we’ll find out how a ten year-old band can be up and coming and how taking things at their own natural pace can help a band develop. They do an interesting combination of Americana, Rock, Soul and their own special sauce. They’re playing at the Bunk Bar in Portland on Saturday, February 29, Sadie Hawkins day. Let’s meet Tate Peterson.
Archie Shepp in a Jazz Conversation with Jazz journalist Ashley Kahn on February 22, 2020 in the Art Bar at the Portland Jazz Festival 2020.
Jazz Conversation between guitarists Stanley Jordan and Ashley Kahn, February 21, 2020 at the Art Bar during the 2020 Portland Jazz Festival.
If you’ve been going out to hear music in Portland for a long time, you’ve probably seen Norman Sylvester and if you’ve seen Norman Sylvester, you’ve seen his bass player of 30 or so years, Rob Shoemaker. Rob is in Café Artichoke with me now at Artichoke Music 2007 SE Powell Boulevard in Portland. Veteran musicians are vintage treasures. They’ve made their homes here and are important parts of our community. Norman and Rob are going strong and I hear they’re actually expanding their sights in the new year. It’s safe to say that perhaps Norman might not be the complete Boogie Cat without Rob. Let’s meet the bass player.
Welcome to Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music that’s 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. Six-plus years ago, pianist/composer Andrew Oliver, the central figure in the emerging new Jazz scene left Portland and moved to the U.K., to London where he became a figure in the Traditional Jazz scene in London. We’ll find out how that happened and why he’s moving back to his Portland hometown because he’s sitting across from me. It’s going to be interesting to see what direction his music takes once he’s back. Contemporary Jazz? Tango? Traditional Jazz? Or something new. Or does he even know at this point. Welcome home Andrew Oliver.
It’s always a joy to make connections with someone you’ve had fun talking to in the past, and who has brought so much musical pleasure to your life. That’s what we’re finding today because sitting across from me in the Artichoke Café at Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard is Pink Martini percussionist, founder of Portland’s own Brazilian Marching band, the Lions of Batucada, teacher and world traveler, Brian Davis. He’s been in Pink Martini for over 20 years and could fill several books with road stories. He’s no baby, but he’s a bundle of joy, that’s for sure. He was in town to do some teaching in his youth Samba program. We were lucky to snag him.
Welcome back to Café Artichoke, for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Artichoke Music. That’s at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. The emphasis today is on versatility because our guest, Cal Scott, has written music for TV and documentaries, is a singer/songwriter who is part of the Songwriter Circle, appearing here at Artichoke on Monday, February 3. He also was the musical director of the beloved Oregon Trail Band, which fans are missing greatly since they stopped playing a year ago. He has brought his guitar with him today and I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble getting some music out of him before it’s over. So let’s get started. Meet Cal Scott.
Back in the Café at Artichoke Music again, that’s 2007 SE Powell Boulevard for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation at Artichoke Music. Today it’s someone I haven’t had a chance to talk with for a while, multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist Martin Zarzar who you may remember from his time with Pink Martini. He has a new album out of songs in Spanish and French and it’s beautiful. I like to think of Martin as our own version of Arto Lindsay, the composer/singer who came out of the Downtown music scene in New York in the 80s. Not that he’s in any way retro, but he’s versatile like Arto. There are covers and originals in the new album and I’m anxious to talk with Martin about them.
In the Artichoke Café here at Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard, we’re talking music movies. Not musicals. And not Cats, but the Northwest Film Center’s annual Reel Music Festival. This year it runs from Friday, January 24 through Sunday, February 16 and it’s got some old favorites among the new films which are all about music. With me in the Café today is Ben Popp, Filmmaker Services Manager & Programmer who had a hand in curating this year's films. He’s here to tell us all about the films in the festival and what goes into choosing them. I know one thing, I can’t wait to see The Harder They Come on the big screen again, just like I did at midnight when it first came out. Meet Ben Popp.
Four of the world's greatest Blues harmonica players join us in the Artichoke Cafe for OMN Coffeeshop Conversations #227. Jerry Portnoy played in Muddy Waters' and Eric Clapton's bands. Magic Dick played in the J. Geils Band, Lee Oskar played in War and Mark Hummel is a two-time Grammy nominee and producer of the Blues Harmonica Blowout Tour, of which Portland was a stop. A show at the Aladdin Theater, a workshop at Artichoke Music and this podcast. Hosted by OMN Editor-In-Chief Tom D'Antoni. Video, audio and editing by Gary Furlow Executive Producers: Bob Howard and Tom D'Antoni Presented by Oregon Music News and Artichoke Community Music.
In the café at Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Artichoke Music. We’ve got a wild video episode coming up soon with four of the best harmonica players on earth. Look for that. Today Juliana Tabon is with me. She’s the Event Director at The Old Church Concert Hall. She’s worked behind the scenes at some of the more famous and infamous clubs in town including Dante’s and Ohm. Nobody ever talks about the importance of the behind the scenes people at music venues but without them, you would have a lousy time there. So it’s about time we talked with one who has had a lot of time making your club visit better than it might have been without her. So let’s meet Juliana Tobon.
Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music returns for December with Folk singer/songwriter/concert promoter and radio personality Tom May. Both his Winterfolk concert to benefit the homeless and his River City Radio show are in their third decade. Find out the secret of their longevity and listen to Tom May sing three songs in the Artichoke Music Cafe. Winterfolk tickets are available at The Alberta Rose ticket office- Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (503.764.4131), or in person at the box office on any show night. Online at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8821379... Hosted by OMN Editor-In-Chief Tom D'Antoni. Video, audio and editing by Gary Furlow Executive Producers: Bob Howard and Tom D'Antoni Presented by Oregon Music News and Artichoke Community Music.
Finding it more difficult to promote on social media? We’ve got someone in today to give you some pointers. It’s Will Fries who is in that business. He’s in the Artichoke Music Café for an OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Artichoke. By the way, we have shot another video episode, this time featuring singer, songwriter, broadcaster and the person in his third decade of producing the annual Winterfolk. But that’s next week. No matter which side of the music business you’re on, either promoting music or consuming music, the stranglehold on that information by Facebook is becoming more and more problematic. Will Fries has some answers. He does that for a living.
Welcome back to the Café at Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We will have another video episode, one with Tom May and an audience even, in December, so stay tuned for that. Happy to have filmmaker/musician Jon Meyer in here today. He’s premiering a new music documentary series called “Kontrast.” There’s a live opening show at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland on Saturday, December 7 featuring some of the bands in the series. Someone called John a “real Bohemian artist,” and I’m going to ask him if he really is. We’ll go out of the conversation with one of his tunes. Meet Jon Meyer
This is the fifth episode of the new video versions of OMN's long-running podcast from the Artichoke Cafe in Portland, Oregon. They have featured couples who are both working musicians. The first was with Kate Power and Steve Einhorn. The second episode featured two internationally known Blues bass players who are married to each other, Lisa Mann and Allen Markel. The third was singer and songwriter Shelly Rudolph and her husband guitarist/composer Chance Hayden. Last this time it was singer LaRhonda and her keyboardist husband Mark Steele. This time it's Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer both of whom play in The Blue Cranes and Swansea. They perform two tunes together here, Rebecca on keys and vocals and Ji on percussion. There's also a home video clip of their 2 year-old daughter on piano! This episode is hosted by OMN's Editor-In-Chief Tom D'Antoni. We'll return to making video episodes after the first of the year. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, visit oregonmusicnews.com for our weekly audio-only episodes. Thanks to Artichoke's Bob Howard for giving us a home, to Gary Furlow for the production design/editing and audio mixing. Presented by Oregon Music News and Artichoke Community Music.
Welcome back to the Artichoke Café at Artichoke Music 2007 SE Powell Boulevard for the two hundred and twenty-first episode of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music. I know we’re a couple of months away from the 2020 Portland Jazz Festival, but there’s been a change at the top at PDX Jazz. As we reported in May, Don Lucoff has parted ways. Replacing him as Executive Director is Chris Doss who is with me today with the grueling task of telling us about all of the performers in the 2020 festival which runs from Wednesday, February 19 through Sunday, March 1. He’s here now because tickets are on sale and you probably need time to make plans and get them. It’s also a really good chance to meet Chris.
I guess we’re in the holidays by now. That’s what advertising tells us, anyway. Another holiday benchmark is the annual visit to Portland by John Waters. This year his one-man show is called “John Waters: Filthier and Merrier.” They also add, “It’ll stuff your turkey.” He’ll be at the Aladdin Theater on Friday, December 6 where, we are told he will answer the following questions, “Are stolen Christmas presents more special than bought ones?”, “Is Mrs. Clause a ‘feeder’ or a ‘chubby chaser’?”, “Is Santa a ‘gainer’, an erotic ‘bear’ or a ‘silver fox’?”, “Can you have Christmas sex inside a chimney?”, and “Are the reindeers paid minimum wage?”
Once again, I talked with John about this year’s show. John and I are contemporaries, around the same age and both born and raised in Baltimore Maryland. I am proud to say (and have bragged and name-dropped about for years) that I wrote the first review of “Pink Flamingos,” and was blessed by being asked to be in the legendary, “Who wants to die for art?” scene in “Female Trouble.” I was there when Divine bounced on that trampoline, waving a gun. Divine did not shoot me, I’m sorry to say. John is still one of the funniest people on earth. When I talked with him a couple of weeks ago, over a very rough phone line, he was at the end of a full day of fifteen-minute interviews. When I talk with John for one of these things, we tend to stray off topic and talk about Baltimore things. So shoot me. I apologize for not having perfect audio, but we couldn’t skype it. I’ll jump right in.
Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music, in the cafe which as you know is located at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard in Portland. This time we’re with someone who has made beautiful cafes and clubs in Portland for over twenty years. If you were ever in The Green Room, The Empire Room, Saffire Hotel, or Maiden in the Mist, you’ve been in one of her places. She has a new café called The Emerald Line in Northwest Portland. It just opened and she’s waist-deep in getting it off the ground. It’s a very interesting time to talk to Sheila Baraga and find out about all those places she created and what you’ll find at her new one. I was doing a radio talk show in 1998 when I had her on as a guest…and that’s a story.
Back for your ears-only this time. Our next video episode is on the way with Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer. Today it’s one of our favorite people. She led an all-star band at the recent OMN 10th Anniversary show. She is a member of one of families of musical royalty around here. She’s Janice Scroggins daughter, singer and composer Arietta Ward, a true, sure-nuff Soul singer, although she can sing in virtually any genre. We’ll talk about that all-star band, her surprising reluctance, at first, to perform in public and what brought her to the spectacular public performer she is today. And what role did her mom play in all this? I’ll give you a heads-up….it was a very positive role. Check out her performance at the 2019 Waterfront Blues Festival at the end of our conversation. She’s a singular personality…meet Arietta Ward.
This is the fourth episode of the new video versions of OMN's long-running podcast from the Artichoke Cafe in Portland, Oregon. The first five video episodes feature couples who are both working musicians. The first was with Kate Power and Steve Einhorn. The second episode featured two internationally known Blues bass players who are married to each other, Lisa Mann and Allen Markel. The third was singer and songwriter Shelly Rudolph and her husband guitarist/composer Chance Hayden. This time it's singer LaRhonda and her keyboardist husband Mark Steele. They perform two deeply soulful tunes. Next time Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer visit the Artichoke Cafe. This episode is hosted by OMN's Managing Director, Scott Cunningham. Thanks to Artichoke's Bob Howard for giving us a home, to Gary Furlow for the production design/editing and audio mixing. Presented by Oregon Music News and Artichoke Community Music.
I know sometimes it seems like each of these Coffeeshop Conversations @ Artichoke Music is special and I really feel like they are. Some are more special and one of those is today. Sitting across from me here at Artichoke Music at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard is Jennifer Folker who holds a place in Portland’s musical history for a lot of things but especially for her work with Keith Schriener and Jay Bozich in the band Dahlia which had a spectacular run at a club named OHM which they sold out every week. No one can forget her presence, her singing and her lyric improvisation. Those nights were magical. Period. She moved back to Portland from L.A. not long ago. Let’s catch up.
This is the third episode of the new video versions of OMN's long-running podcast from the Artichoke Cafe in Portland, Oregon. The first five video episodes feature couples who are both working musicians. The first was with Kate Power and Steve Einhorn https://www.oregonmusicnews.com/kate-power-steve-einhorn-coffeeshop-conversations208-video The second episode featured two internationally known Blues bass players who are married to each other. Lisa Mann and Allen Markel. https://www.oregonmusicnews.com/lisa-mann-allen-markel-coffeeshopconversations213 This time it's singer and songwriter Shelly Rudolph and her husband guitarist/composer Chance Hayden. How do they both maintain careers and raise 7 year-old Hollis? Sometimes they perform together and sometimes they perform with others. They play and sing two songs here. The next video episode features LaRhonda and Mark Steele, and then Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer visit the Artichoke Cafe. Hosting is OMN Editor-In-Chief Tom D'Antoni Thanks to Artichoke's Bob Howard for giving us a home, to Gary Furlow for the production design/editing and audio mixing. Presented by Oregon Music News https://www.oregonmusicnews.com/ and Artichoke Community Music https://www.artichokemusic.org/
Hey, before we get to our guest, Neil Leeborg from the Goodfoot Lounge, I want to tell you that next week we’ll have our third video episode, another spousal unit: Shelly Rudolph and Chance Hayden. They’ll be performing too. That’s right here at Artichoke Music, in the Café 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. We like to bring venue owners in from time to time to hear their side of it. Just kidding. I’ve wanted to bring in Neil Leeborg, co-owner of the Goodfoot Lounge because he’s always been fun to communicate with, one way or the other. It was just a coincidence that the OMN staffer who was booking our 10th Anniversary Show contacted Neil to see about having it there around the same time I was contacting Neil. It's a small town. Anyway that's where it's going to be on Sunday, October 20, 5-9pm featuring Ken DeRouchie Band, Arietta Ward and Metts Ryan & Collins. I'll DJ some too. It's free. Neil claims he has never been interviewed. I told him it’s a conversation, so it’s ok. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first tme anywhere, Neil Leeborg.
It's another Coffeshop Conversation at Artichoke Music…that’s at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. We’ll have another video episode up on Thursday, October 17…another spousal episode, this time with Shelly Rudolph and Chance Hayden…yes they’ll also perform. Next week it’s an all-audio episode with Goodfoot co-owner Neil Leeborg and today we have harmonica player and writer Kim Field who leads one of the hottest Blues bands in town, the Perfect Gentlemen. I hear he has a fabulous story on Deford Bailey, the first African-American performer at the Grand Ole Opry, and who you may have seen in the recent Ken Burns series. Kim tracked him down one afternoon. I think Kim brought his harp with him, so let’s meet him.
It's another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Artichoke Music…which is located at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. Ever wondered what a music publicist and manger really does? Alex Steininger from In Music We Trust is here to let us in on the secrets. I get a million emails a day from publicists wanting in on OMN and Alex is one of my very favorites and that’s why we’ve invited him back. Next week, we’ll have our second video episode, another couple who are both working musicians…..Lisa Mann and Allen Markel, and they’ll perform for us right here at Artichoke. He'll let us hear a new tune from Sassparilla. Debuted right here at the end of the conversation. Right now, let’s meet Alex Steininger
Well, we’ve got one for you this time. Returning to the spotlight is Andrew Paul Woodworth who is a talented singer and composer, and has been a movie actor and also did the funniest NSFW episode of this podcast last time he was here. We’re at Artichoke Café at Artichoke Music, 2007 Powell Boulevard in Portland where we’ll be shooting two new video episodes of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations next week. Couples who are both working musicians…Shelly Rudolph and Chance Hayden and Lisa Mann an Allen Markel. The recorder got turned on early this time and when we join the conversation, we were already gabbing. Maybe next time we’ll just be rolling when he walks in the door.
We're back in the café at Artichoke Music which you can find at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard, for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We’ve got two more video episodes coming up. We’re shooting them soon. But today, Ezra Weiss is here, he’s a Jazz pianist and composer who’s latest album. “We Limit Not the Truth of God” apparently blew everyone away when his big band performed it live at the Montavilla Jazz Festival. It’s an attempt to deal with the babies in cages life we lead every day, as many musicians are trying to deal with these days. But it didn’t start out that way. Let’s meet Ezra Weiss
We’re not hiding, we’re just back as audio-only this week. Coming soon, we’re going to be making (at least) one video episode per month. We had so much fun with Kate Power and Steve Einhorn last time that coming up are a series of couples who are also working musicians…Chance Hayden and Shelly Rudolph is one and Lisa Mann and Allen Markel is another…and more. Stay tuned. In Café Artichoke at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard this time is a protest singer. Bill Valenti has had a very diverse life and after several careers he has found himself singing about our current social and political situation. It’s subject rich in song topics. We’ll play a tune of his at the end of the conversation. Regretfully, we had audio problems again…for the last time, we’ve taken steps. But don’t worry, Bill Valenti shines through.
The motto coined years ago by the Art Ensemble of Chicago was "Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future." If a comparable vision and range applies to anyone in the blues field, it's doubtless Chris Thomas King, the restlessly inventive and eclectic bluesman who was a headliner a while ago at the Waterfront Blues Festival and is coming this Thursday with his full band for a four-night stand at the prestigious Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. He's perhaps best known for playing Delta blues icon Tommy Johnson in the prize-winning film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- and his haunting version of the Skip James song "Hard Times Killing Floor" that was featured in the film and the Grammy-winning "O Brother" soundtrack album that put roots music on the map in a way not seen since the folk revival of the 1960s.
This episode also exist on video but we know that some of you listen to this podcast audio-only and while we will be making a video episode every month, we didn't want to leave you out.
My intro sounds nice and clean. Well don’t get too used to it because we had some recording problems with this week’s Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music…which were all our fault. So the conversation with Marv Ross of Quarterflash and the Trail Band is, let’s say, a little fuzzy. We tried fixing it but it’s about as good as it’s going to get. Marv was so good that I didn’t want to do it over again. That’s life. Marv has a couple of new projects he’s going to tell us about. And you thought ending Quarterflash and the Trail band was going to be that’s all we’d hear from Marv? No way. Rindy either, one of the projects is a duo album. You can live with the audio problem. Here we go.
Welcome back to the Café at Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. It’s our new home for these things. I am not new. Our guest today, however is pretty new. She’s Nora Meier, a singer, composer, pianist who just a couple of weeks ago graduated from Cleveland High and is at a jumping off point in her musical career. She’s made some recordings and has had some great teachers here in Portland, and has been a part of Artichoke Music, but she’s off to college on the other side of the continent. Lucky her. Let’s find out what this experience is like for her since she’s right in the middle of it. Let’s meet Nora Meier.
We're back at the Café in Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell Boulevard for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation…and they actually give us coffee, too. We’ve got some exciting stuff planned for you over the next few months, but it’s still very hush hush sweet Charlotte. With me today is Ryan Meagher, for those of you reading this, it’s pronounced “Marr.” You know him as a guitarist and composer and also as Artistic Director of the Montavilla Jazz Festival, coming up on Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18 at Portland Metro Arts. It’s a special festival. No other like it. It’s a part of Portland Jazz Composers ensemble and that means new music, some of which is composed expressly for the festival. Ryan is going to tell us about all of the performers. Really.
Michelle Bean of Catfish Lou's joins us this week for a great discussion about their first two years on the PDX music scene and their upcoming move to the west side.
OMN’S Coffeeshop Conversations at Artichoke Music is back…Artichoke is at 2007 SE Powell, a magical place full of musical instruments and musicians. It was around this time in 2016 that drummer/composer Tyrone Hendrix was on the podcast to talk about his album Rhythm On Life Vol. 1 and now he’s back to talk about Rhythm On Life Vol. 2…what’s different about this one and what’s the same. One thing different is that Portland Cello Project is on a track. Tyrone if one of the busiest drummers in town and with good reason! Let’s catch up with Tyrone Hendrix (of the Seattle Hendrix’ if you know what I mean).
We’re starting to settle in to Artichoke Music, our new home for OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. They’re very nice to us. Look for expanded podcast production, even including video. We’re working on it. Returning to the podcast today is Ron Blessinger. Last time he visited he was leading Third Angle Music. These days he has a similar role at 45th Parallel, a similar music organization with some key differences. I met Ron when I did a TV story on Third Angle’s legendary collaboration with Steve Reich. It was momentous. Really. So let’s find out what 45th Parallel is all about and catch up with this guy who also has a day job…a violinist with the Oregon Symphony.
This is a special edition of Coffeeshop Conversations. First of all because it’s our first one at our new location, Artichoke Music at 2007 SE Powell Boulevard. I’d like to thank everyone at Catfish Lou’s for their kind hospitality and we wish them the best in their new location next month. Look for more info on OMN when they make the move. This is also special because Reggie Houston has returned. Last time he was here it was to talk about the life of Fats Domino. Reggie played bari sax in Fat’s band for 20 years. A couple of weeks ago the man who might be called the father of Rock N Roll died, Dave Bartholomew, who wrote and arranged nearly all the music that came out of New Orleans at the dawn of the Rock n Roll era of the 1950’s, including all of Fats Domino and Little Richard’s work. That was Dave’s band on all those tunes. Reggie was very close to Dave, who passed at age 100. When we sat down Reggie pulled out pictures of tours they had made together. He was looking through them when I turned on the recorder.
Happy birthday to us. This is the 200th episode of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. I’d like to thank all of our guests who have come in and talked to us. On December 4, 2014 we premiered with saxophonist Mary-Sue Tobin. We had her back on too. Sometimes it’s been funny, sometimes we’ve learned something new about musicians we love, sometimes discovered folks we hadn’t heard of and sometimes we’ve cried over people we’ve lost. This time OMN’s National Editor Art Levine is back. He’s an author and investigative reporter when he’s not writing about music and being funny. He and I have been doing these things since the 1980’s and we’ve been friends since 1970. With that in mind. Happy Birthday us.
We're back at Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th for the one hundred and ninety ninth OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Next time our national editor Art Levine will be here for number 200. Back in Portland for some gigs is Naomi Sparrow who with Rob Stroup make up Moody Little Sister. They were fixtures on the Portland scene until a couple of years ago when they moved their recording studio and their lives to New Mexico. It figures in their new album Great Big Mama Sunshine. We’ll hear the title track when we get finished talking. This week they’re appearing at Al’s Den for a residency. Let’s find out how New Mexico is agreeing with her. Meet Naomi Sparrow.
Back at Catfish Lou’s…that’s 2460 NW. 24th in Portland…and another Oregon Music News Coffeshop Conversation @ Catfish Lou’s. Today it’s a gentleman who has made huge breakthroughs in music since he got his masters from Portland State. He’s touring the world and singing with Pink Martini. He’s Jimmie Herrod and he’s got one of the most beautiful voices on earth. He seems to be everywhere, a concert of original music with a few Jazz Standards included with George Colligan here, appearances on Jimmy Kimmel with ODESZA…it’s a very exciting time in Jimmie’s life. We’re happy he stopped by to tell us about it. He’s always writing, although it’s hard to know when he finds the time. Meet Jimmie Herrod.
Leon Redbone, troubadour from a distant time, died this week. He was unique. He sang Ragtime, Vaudeville, Blues and Jazz tunes. He was the foremost interpreter of the last of the blackface minstrels, Emmett Miller. Nobody seems to be mentioning that in the coverage of his death, but to leave that out would to be eliminating a giant portion of Leon's repertoire. Deadpan, funny, a living ghost who put a smile on everyone's face, even if they didn't know why. Circa 1989, I was doing a network radio talk show on the American Radio Network, based in Baltimore, MD. He agreed to do a phoner from his home near Philadelphia, PA one Saturday night, although that's not where he claimed to be when I called. Naturally, there were no cell phones so when I dialed area code 215, i knew where I was calling. He told me I was mistaken and he was in Spain. It was the kind of thing he was known for. A god-natured shadowy figure of uncertain lineage singing now-obscure music. He always sounded like an old man, even though, when we did this interview he was, and remained until his death, four years younger than I. His heirs continued the joke when they announced his death at age 127. The audio here is shitty. A very cheap audio cassette recorded on an inexpensive studio cassette machine. I did not edit, keeping in all of the radio ephemera, including the commercials. Use headphones. It's worth it.
Welcome back to Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. As you may have noticed we talk to more than music industry people. Like today, for instance. I re-watched the documentary, “The Battling Bastards of Baseball” the other night. Larry Colton popped up in it. He was a member of the Portland Mavericks. I thought, “Oh yeah, he would make a great guest.” Larry is also a Pulitzer Prize nominated author for his book “Counting Coup.” He’s written a lot of great books and is working on more. I did a TV story on him in the past and we had a lot of fun. That’s why he’s here. He also founded Wordstock and a lot of other things. We could have gone on a lot longer but he’s always welcome back. Meet Larry Colton.
It's another one of these OMN’s Coffeehop Conversations at Catfish Lou’s! Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th has been a home to our guest today, Karen Lovely. As you may know, she had a hip replacement not long ago but is back at it and better than ever. The saga of what she went through is inspiring but her recovery is even more inspiring. She’s here to tell us about it but also to talk about her work in the field of domestic violence counselling. She’s more than an activist. As always, she’s a ball of fire riding on this ball of confusion…that’s what the world is today as they say. Boy are we glad Karen Lovely is back!
Back at Catfish Lou’s, a Blues and Soul club at 2460 NW 24th, winner of the last two Muddy Awards for Best Venue. Today Sarah Tiedemann is here. She’s the Artistic Director of Third Angle New Music which has been astounding Portland audiences for decades with what we used to call the avant-garde. I’m not sure what we call it now, but I’m sure she found out. She’s going to let us in on what next season is all about…that will be her second full season as Artistic Director. She’s a native Oregonian and flutist who also plays with Oregon Ballet Theater Orchestra. Let’s Meet Sarah Tiedemann.
Not everyone knows what Chateau Marmont is. Points for you if you do. But if you say, “Remember the hotel where John Belushi died?” “Oh yeah!” The hotel happens to have a long history of celebrity hanky-panky. Portland’s Shawn Levy returns to the podcast to talk about his new book, “Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art and Scandal at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont.” It was published this week and we snagged Shawn in the middle of non-stop interviews to come to Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th and tell us about it. You know Shawn from his other books and of course for his time as movie reviewer at the Oregonian when there was an Oregonian. Let’s talk to Shawn.
I know the flowers are just blooming and we’re getting some warmer days but this is also the time when we start to think about summer and in Portland that means outdoor music festival time. I also know you have to plan ahead and that’s why once again, Peter Dammann, Artistic Director of the Waterfront Blues Festival is on the podcast to tell us about all of the artists he’s booked this year. It runs from Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7. Of course, he’s no stranger to Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th. He’s played here many times. So what’s in store for the 2019 festival? Tickets are on sale right now so give a listen and let Peter give you a preview like no other.
It’s been since September of 2015 that Enrique Ugalde, also known as Soriah, has been on the podcast. He is, as I hope you know Oregon’s own Tuvan throat singer. Enrique is his given name and Soriah is the entity he becomes when he performs. He’ll be performing at the Old Church Concert Hall on Friday, May 17 with the Chirgilchin ensemble who are on tour from Tuva itself. They’ve actually regular visitors to Portland, having been here several times. We’ll play a piece by them at the end of our conversation with Enrique. It’s been a big year for him. Let’s find out why.
Welcome to another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Catfish Lou’s located at 2460 NW 24th. I’m Tom D’Antoni, OMN Editor-In-Chief…although you may already know that. With me today is drummer Edwin Coleman III who I’m sure you know from his years as a major part of the Soul Vaccination groove. He’s very much in demand these days, including as part of the Louis Pain organ trio. But did you know he’s also a cellist? Betcha didn’t. I’ve been looking forward to this. He’s a very smart guy and fun to hang with. Meet Edwin Coleman the third.
We’re feeling nice and comfortable in our new podcast home…Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th…they’re proud that they won the Muddy Award for Best Venue in 2017 and 18. In with me is Kit Taylor who has had an interesting and diverse career. You should remember him from his previous band Intervision. They had a nice run a while back. But he had other ideas…a pop career. I know that sounds unusual in DIY central, Portland, Oregon but that’s what he wants and he’s got a album to prove it called Love + Pain. Let’s let him tell his own story. Meet Kit Taylor.
We’re back at Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th for another Coffeeshop Conversation. We’re coming full circle today because with Michelle Medler, we have now had all four of the Quadraphonnes on the podcast. Of course, we’ll talk about them but Michelle is here to talk about her new album Pink Sky. Some funky Jazz with husband Ben on bass, Dan Gildea on guitar and the ubiquitous drummer du jour Edwin Coleman III. Yes, we’ll try to find out when the Quadraphonnes album of Andrew Durkin music is coming out and we’ll probably fail. Has there ever been a longer-awaited Jazz album around here? I don’t think so. Nevertheless, Michelle Medler persisted.
Keyboardist Louis Pain was releasing a new organ trio album, "It's About Time," and I thought it would be a good idea to have him do an OMN Coffeeshop Conversation @ Catfish Lou’s so we scheduled for this week. And then last weekend, while playing a gig at Bluehour, he had a heart attack and almost died. I was ready to postpone but his wife Tracy Turner-Pain said nope, she’ll drive him. I said what? She said yep. So here he is at Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th St, twenty four hours after he was released from the hospital with two stents in him after having what is known as a widow maker heart attack. Hard to believe, I know. We’ll finish with a tune from the new album, but with the whole story is Louis Pain.
It’s great when there’s a musician who struggles throughout his career, you know he’s immensely talented and you try to expose his music to a broader audience and then one day, boom. He makes it. Andy Stokes is all that. OMN called him Oregon’s King of Soul years ago. Last year, his song “Best Day Ever” was a hit. He has a new album and we’ll hear something from it. He has sung right here at Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th St. many times. And he’s back today to talk about success. One note. Something happened to the start of the conversation, and we’re picking it up about a minute in. You didn’t really miss anything. Welcome back to Portland, Andy Stokes.
Welcome back to Catfish Lou’s, our home for OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. With me today is an unusual gentleman, even for a musician. Not only has he been a drummer on the Portland scene for a long time, but he’s also a Mafia historian. What? Yeah. Usually you think of Mafia music as stuff like the theme from The Godfather, or Louis Prima or Jerry Vale but in addition to his work on the National Crime Syndicate webmagazine, and appearances on national TV, he writes songs ABOUT the Mafia. How about that? Let’s meet Casey McBride.
Today we get to do what we love to do and that’s bring in someone who curates one of our major music festivals and let them tell us about everyone in it. We’re at Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th Ave. They won Muddy Awards in 2017 and 2018 for Best Venue, as you may know. With me is Nicholas Harris, who is one of the founders of the Soul’d Out Festival and is back this year to tell us all about the performers. He also books Jack London Review in downtown Portland, which has grown into THE place to discover national and international Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B talent and also a home for folks like Mel Brown. Nicholas is always engaging, he’s enthusiastic about this festival, as he should be. It starts in mid-April. Let’s turn Nicholas loose on the lineup.
We’re getting pretty comfortable in the new home for the podcast…Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th Ave. They won Muddy Awards in 2017 and 2018 for Best Venue. Lloyd Jones is no stranger to Catfish Lou’s, he’s played here several times and he’s here with me right now to tell you a fabulous story about making his new album with some Nashville Blues stars, and how he’s just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring it your way. If you’ve ever heard any interviews (or his previous Coffeeshop Conversation) you know that nobody tells a tale like Lloyd Jones. He’s one of a kind and still out there blasting. Wait till you hear him tell this one.
OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations is back for our second week of what we hope to be a long run at our new home Catfish Lou’s at 2460 NW 24th Ave. It’s a real music club which won Muddy Awards for Best Venue from the Cascade Blues Association for the past two years. With me today is painter and photographer Diane Russell. You’ve seen her paintings and drawings of musicians all over town, including in here. And you’ve seen her photography on OMN for many years and we’re happy to be able to have her work on our pages. So we’ll be talking about a show she has up at the Art Bar as part of the 2019 Portland Jazz Festival and how she works and also about fighting it out in photographer scrums at concerts. Let’s meet Diane Russell.
Hi there. Yep, we’re in our new home for Coffeeshop Conversations, Catfish Lou’s, an actual music club. It’s at 2460 NW 24th Avenue and for the past two years it has won the Muddy Award for best venue from the Cascade Blues Association. And what better way to kick off what we hope is a nice long and happy run here than the great Blues guitarist/singer/composer/producer Terry Robb. He’s got a new album coming out called Confessin’ My Dues with some interesting new twists as well as the fine playing we have come to expect from Terry. We’ll find out about that and as usually happens with players like Terry, we’ll end up swapping stories and talking about great personalities. I think John Calahan may come up. Let’s talk with Terry.
OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations has traveled today. Next week we begin making these at Catfish Lou’s in Northwest Portland. But today we’re at Music Millennium for our annual conversation with Terry Currier on all things record store and lots of other things. They have their fiftieth anniversary coming up in March, and Terry has been there almost that long. They have lots of cool things happening to celebrate it, in-store and out, including a special concert at the Aladdin theater on March 15th. What’s he been listening to lately?
Welcome to another one of our weekly Coffeeshop Conversations. We don’t usually deal with the business part of show business because…well, unless you’re a working musician it can be boring. But I wonder if you knew that there is a chapter of the American Federation of Musicians in Portland known at The Musicians Union Local 99? Not only is there one, but it has a head honcho who is here with me today. There’s a lot that goes on that we don’t know and possibly don’t want to know, but Bruce is going to give us a non-boring glimpse into that end of de bizzinezz. What does a Musicians union do? How has their role changed with the changes in culture and technology. Let’s meet Bruce Fife.
It’s OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number 179 in a long line of OMN Coffeeshop Conversations from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan. I am very happy to have Mary Flower here. She’s one of the world’s pre-eminent guitarists, specializing in Blues, Rags and fellow travelers. She has some big news for us today, which we are revealing here for the first time. I’ll let her do that. She also has had another in her series of instructional DVDs released. Everybody loves Mary Flower and by the end of this, you will too.
Well, the holidays are over, so are the Best of 2018’s and we’re back at it at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another whole year of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. I’m Tom D’Antoni. The Portland Jazz Festival is right around the corner, beginning Wednesday, February 20 through Sunday March 3. Once again we’ve got the world’s foremost authority on the performers, Don Lucoff, festival Artistic Director, who curated all of the performers. He’s here to run down the whole schedule and tell us about who’s playing, why and fill us in on performers who might be new to us. We love to do this with artistic directors from the major festivals around here. Let’s unleash Don Lucoff and let him rip.
Dunno when you’re hearing this but in real time, this is the week before Christmas and all through the OMN house and at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan, we’re celebrating the return of Jimmy Mak’s with J.D. Stubenberg. Happy holidays from all us OMN’ers. And you heard me right, a new Jimmy Mak’s with J.D. and Lisa Boyle the faces behind the bar for all those years, back and this time in charge. It won’t be until spring but they have a building a few blocks from the old place, and it’s ready for interior construction. Oh boy! Let’s find out all about it.
This is going to be fun. Ever since I heard her show on KMHD radio on Thursdays between 9 and 11pm, I knew we were kindred spirits. It has a lot in common with mine. Now she’s here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan to talk about her show and the events and dances she throws all over town. Her real name is Shannon Wiberg, by the way, she came to Portland from Olympia with powers far beyond mortal women. That’s a Superman ref, children. There are differences between her radio show and mine, but more similarities. Main thing is that we both love what we play. You’re gonna like this. Let’s find out how she got the name DJ Action Slacks.
We're at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. If you are a regular visitor, you know that from time to time I like to bring an OMN staffer in here so you can find out things about them, you nosey visitor you. Today it’s one of our photographers, Brent Angelo. Multi-media is just as important to us as the written word and we have a long history of great photography. Brent is one of our hardest working and most talented photographers. If you’ve looked at our photo galleries, you’ve seen his work. But what’s it like out there on the front lines, in the pit? Let’s meet Brent and find out.
Kelley Astoria intro We’re still in Portland but we’re going to talk about a special holiday show in Astoria with singer/composer Kelley Shannon who has done a lot of travelling since she moved away a few years ago. But she’s right here with me in the Cupping Room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Gilsan along with a lovely little two-year-old named Violet. Her holiday show in Astoria at the Liberty Theater, The Astoria Christmas Fantastic on Saturday, December 22 features her, of course, plus Gordon Lee, Dave Captein, and Todd Bishop along with the North Coast Chorale…and she’ll tell us all about it. There are very few individuals quite like Kelley Shannon and you’re about to find out why. Here we go.
I’ve been wanting to get Ken DeRouchie in the coffeeshop for years. He wanted to wait for his new album but we’re not there yet. But every year around this time, he does the Ken DeRouchie Food Drive. It’s been growing larger every year, so here he is at World Cup Coffee and Tea. He’s been leading his Soul band for a long time and it’s always been one of the best. So we’re going to talk about the Food Drive first and see where we go. Meet Ken DeRouchie.
It’s OMN Coffeeshop Conversation #172 right here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. In with me today is one of the busiest guitarists in town, Mark Bowden. He’ll play at the 7th annual Next Waltz show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday November 23-25 at The Alberta Rose Theater. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and patrons are encouraged to bring two non-perishable food items for Oregon Food Bank. He’ll also be playing at the 2018 Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular at the Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, December 15 to benefit Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Now that you know that, meet Mark Bowden.
Back here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan…with me today is one of Oregon’s great singers, Shirley Nanette. She’s sung it all, Jazz, Soul, Blues…you name it. She’ll be a part of the Albina Soul Revue on Friday, November 16 at Alberta Rose Theater along with many other vintage Soul musicians. We’ve never met, although she’ll call my KMHD show now and then when she likes something I’ve played. I’ve been looking forward to talking to Shirley Nanette.
When the history of music at the turn of the century in Portland is written…IF it is ever written, they’ll write about someone who played a major role in it. His name is Jim Brunberg and he’s with me in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for this OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Number 170. There’s his own music, of course, and responsibility for Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, and a new venue Polaris Hall on North Killingsworth also the new Bar 101 at Revolution Hall. I love talking to Jim. Let’s get started.
I’ve been waiting for this Coffeeshop Conversation for years. That’s because it’s been a few years since Rachel Taylor-Brown has given us a new album. This one’s called “Run Tiny Human.” Hi there. We’re in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan. Rachel is not a singer-songwriter, although she gets lumped in with them. She makes art songs. Hoping saying that is not the kiss of death because her songs are the breath of life. Nobody writes songs like she does. They’re impossible to describe. There’s one at the end of the conversation. Just listen to her talk about them. Welcome Rachel Taylor-Brown
Changing things up a little bit, as we do now and then, and on this episode of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations…I should tell you, right here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Gilsan…I’ll be talking with Sam Mowry about a special kind of theater…live radio theater. Say what? You’ll find out. If Sam’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard him on many commercials, but it’s radio drama that’s his greatest love. His Willamette Radio Workshop has a bunch of show coming up soon including, especially for Halloween on Haloween…Macbeth. So let’s meet Sam.
At World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan today for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni. With me today is someone I’ve always wanted to meet. It’s Isaac Slusarenko who opened Jackpot Records 21 years ago this week. Pretty amazing that a store like Jackpot still thrives. He also runs their label which on November 9, is bringing out a vinyl reissue of Dr. John’s epic “Gris Gris” album. They’re having several in-store concerts this month to celebrate their anniversary and we’re celebrating it right here in the coffeeshop on our podcast! Music lover, record lover and record store lover…meet Issac Slusarenko.
Pepe Raphael is back in the Coffeeshop for a brief stopover in the middle of a whirwind week of rehearsals for the concert at the Old Church Concert Hall with two shows on Saturday, October 13. So, as they say,back by popular demand: DUELING TANGO DUOS! This year, THREE international duos take the stage in this one of a kind bilingual concert exploring the passion of Argentine tango music in English & Spanish. This is an original performance written by Megan Yvonne & Pepe Raphael and funded by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. On Vocals: Duo Kitty-Raphael: Megan Yvonne & Pepe Raphael (Portland, OR & Madrid, Spain) Piano & Bandoneon: Duo Oliver-Krebs: Andrew Oliver & Alex Krebs (London, UK & Portland, OR) Guitar, Guitarron & Vocals: Duo Fuertes-Varnerin: Agustin Fuertes & Ariel Varnerin (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Always a pleasure to talk to Senor Raphael!
Hope you like the new theme music. It’s called “Ghost Jazz.” Thanks to Auditory Sculpture and Derek Sims for that. And thanks to World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th & Glisan… which is where we do these OMN Coffeeshop Conversations. Very very happy to have been able to catch the great drummer Tony Coleman before he’s off to some other part of the world. Tony lives in Portland but he was the drummer in B.B. King’s band for 32 years. Imagine that. How good do you have to be to keep that gig! He has played with lots of other greats too, including Buddy Guy. He’s playing with a re-formed Cilmax Blues Band currently, and has his own group. His opinions are as strong as his drumming and you’ll be surprised when you hear about his attitude about the Blues when he first came up. I’s always nice to run into Tony, even better to sit down and talk to him. Hang on. Get ready for Tony Coleman.
There's new theme music for OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. It’s Ghost Jazz by Auditory Sculpture and Derek Sims. Thanks for letting us use it. We’re not in the coffeeshop today. We’re in the studio of Soul singer/composer Ural Thomas, a fixture in the Portland music community for a very long time. A few years ago he started collaborating with drummer/composer Scotty Magee, who is also known as DJ Cooky Parker and the result is several years of fabulous concerts and now a new album called The Right Time. The release show is Saturday, September 29 at the Aladdin Theater. The story goes that he dropped out of the national music scene in the 60s to return to Portland. We’ll find out the real story, and you’ll discover his inspirational place in Portland music culture. Turns out, this is the right time for the rest of the world to re-discover Ural Thomas.
In the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for the one hundred and sixty fourth OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. It was 17 years ago that Lisa Marsicek, a fiddler in the Flat Mountain Girls band became Miz Kitty, a saucy wench who introduced Portland to modern Vaudeville. She has brought her show back to the Mission Theater this fall. Miz Kitty’s Parlour’s season debut is Saturday, October 13. We’ll find out all about it. Yes, there’ll be prizes. Lisa was one of our first guests when we started Coffeeshop Conversations. Time to catch up and find out what’s keeping her ticking. Look out. Here comes Miz Kitty.
This is another Coffeeshop Conversation although our guest is not in the cofeeshop, although I am. And that coffeeshop would be World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan. No, talking with us today through the miracle of Skype is John Doe of X and several other bands. He’s bringing his Folk Trio to the Old Church Concert Hall on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. John’s no stranger to Portland having played here many times. Doesn’t matter if he’s playing Rock, Americana or in this case Folk. The question is what kind of Folk is he talking about. We’ll find out and let’s not be surprised if an X tune or two finds its way into another genre, he’s known for that. He’s one of the founders of Punk, has documented that in a book, with another on the way. He’s always interesting. Do I dare say, meet John Doe?
Here we are at World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We’ve got Bob Howard, the CEO of Artichoke Music, an institution around here. As you may know, they moved out of their home for decades on Hawthorne Boulevard to a new place on Powell. What’s different? What’s the same? How has the move been for them? What’s in their future? And how to I play this goddamned ukulele? Ok, I’m not going to ask, but if I really wanted to know, I could learn at Artichoke. I could buy instruments there and hear live music, too. The other question is, who is Bob Howard and what are his plans for Artichoke Music. Let’s meet him.
Back in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in what used to be Portland, Oregon for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Number one hundred and sixty-one. Geeze. Today we’ve got one of the finest musicians in Oregon and beyond. He’s a Jazz pianist and composer but in addition, has been Diana Ross’ pianst since 1980. Think about that for a minute. He’s been all over the world with her in large and small ensembles, while at the same time maintaining a busy schedule of gigs back here. I’ve been as curious about his work with Diana Ross as I have enjoyed his Jazz playing. So what’s it like playing with Diana Ross for so long? How did he get the gig? And all those other questions. You know. Meet George Mitchell.
From the air conditioned cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th & Glisan in smoky Portland this is OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number 160. Coming up next month is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the birth of Tony Starlight. He was already alive and grown at that time, but his career as Tony the crooner, entertainer, nostalgia boy, club owner and one funny guy began in 1993…and I will let him tell you how because he’s sitting next to me. And he just took off his Portland Mavericks hat. Not dressed to perform at the moment but we’ll get into how he chooses his outfits later. His anniversary show will be Saturday, September 22 at the Alberta Rose Theater and it will be something special…and he’s going to tell you all about it and a lot of other things about himself that you might have never known. And now ladies and gentlemen……….
Remember the David Simon HBO series Treme? The one based in New Orleans? And the character Davis McAlary? You know, the guy who got fired from WWOZ for sacrificing a chicken in a Voodoo ceremony while on the air? The guy who was kinduva semi-lovable asshole? Well that character was based on a real person who actually had a hand in creating that character (played by Steve Zahn) and also helping create some of the music in the series. His real name is Davis Rogan who is from New Orleans, but went to college at Reed in Portland (and then went home). He's been here before, at Al's Den. He'll be here again on Thursday, August 16 at The Old Church Concert Hall. As Dr. John likes to say, Davis is a Ky-RACK-ter. I spoke with him over the weekend via Skype. He was in Chicago, having opened for Michael McDonald in Oshkosh, WI on the 9th. He would be playing in a club in Chicago that night. He has several albums and we'll end the conversation with a tune called "No Blues" from his latest album Davis Ex Machina. He'll be playing solo piano and singing his quirky tunes in Portland. He's a strange dude. You might even like him.
Hello sweltering Summer fans, it’s nice and cool in the cupping room here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan. I’m Tom D’Antoni, your genial host. You know, music today is so diverse, it’s hard to tell which kind is more popular than another. Used to be Rock, used to be Indie, but today due to the Soul Music revival of the past few years, you can find just as much funky music and you can any other kind. One of the leaders in that category is here with me. It’s keyboardist, singer, composer Steveland Swatkins. I have just learned that I should call him Steve, and I will. He’s very busy with his own band, Swatkins and the Positive Agenda, with lots of gigs with others local and national…he just got back from playing with the great George Porter Jr. His partner is Moorea Masa and they share in each others’ careers. Both of their bands will be appearing at the Aladdin Theater on Saturday, August 25. He’s busy, he’s also genial. Here he is.
Glad to be back in the cupping room here at World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Also very glad to bring back Lloyd Jones, who has been bringing us Blues and Soul since dinosaurs ruled the earth. He was last in here in way back in June of 2015…we’ve been doing these things for a while now, huh? Whether he’s singing, guitar slinging or playing Delta Blues on his trusty Martin acoustic guitar, he’s one of the guardians of the groove. He’s been to Europe again, and well…everywhere except fishing. He performed at the first Waterfront Blues Festival and when he’s not on the road plays all over town, as he always has. Let’s catch up with Lloyd Jones.
Happy to be back in the brand new grand newly re-decorated World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for OMN Coffeeshop Conversation #156. You know, educating our kids is a big enough task but it doesn’t help things when schools don’t teach music as part of the regular curriculum. When that happens, private organizations have to step in. One of those is the Youth Music Project, which is much more than just a project, it’s a fully operating juggernaut with a big facility in West Linn. They’ve got classrooms, rehearsal spaces and performance areas…and a lot of kids, hundreds of them. With me in the Coffeeshop is Travis Magrane, who is Executive Director at Youth Music Project. It’s a big job with lots of responsibilities and great rewards. Let’s meet him and find out more.
Back at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in the world famous Cupping Room after a week in the OMN booth at the Waterfront Blues Festival. I’ve got composer/guitarist Ryan Meagher in here with me, continuing something that I find fascinating, that’s when we bring in the curator of one of Portland’s music festivals and have them talk about the performers they’ve booked into the festival. The Montavilla Jazz Festival returns this year on Saturday and Sunday August 18 and 19. It’s the most adventurous of all the festivals. Ryan will also be performing. We’ll hear at tune from his latest album Evil Twin at the end of our conversation. The festival is, if not a part of, at least very closely aligned with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble organization which is very active in bringing a special kind of Jazz to us on a regular basis. Ryan’s been in the coffeshop before, and he’s always welcome.
Welcome back to the newly redone World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in Portland. You have stumbled across another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today in the cupping room with me is Amanda Stark, Executive Director of The Old Church which is now known as The Old Church Concert Hall, something she’s been working on since 2010 and is no longer a work-in-progress….although everything in life really is…but it’s about to be re-launched as one of Portland’s finest venues. Not that it hasn’t been all this time, but the improvements and restoration during Amanda’s time there, including a fabulous sound system, have made TOC (as they like to call it) a beautiful unique place to hear music. What’s been done? How did it get done? What’s coming up? Let’s find out.
The great Boogie-Woogie Blues pianist, vocalist and musical polemicist David Vest talks to OMN's Tom D'Antoni before coming to Portland to play at the 2018 Waterfront Blues Festival. Hear all about his new album.
We’re back in the World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. They’ve finished completely re-doing the place and it’s fabulous. You should stop in and check it out. With me today is Dylan Magierik who twenty years ago founded Badman Records. Over that time they’ve put out a whole lot of albums including Starfucker, My Morning Jacket and many others. They’re having a twenty-year anniversary celebration at Doug Fir Lounge on Saturday, June 30 featuring three Badman bands: The Builders and the Butchers, N. Lannon and TENTS. Dylan is also a recording engineer, among other things, and one of the partners in the Type Foundry recording studio. Did you think record labels were a thing of the past? Apparently not. What kind of person keeps a small record label alive? Let’s find out. The tune at the end is "Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second" from STRFKR's Badman album STRFKR.
We’re back in the World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. They’ve finished completely re-doing the place and it’s fabulous. You should stop in and check it out. With me today is Dylan Magierik who twenty years ago founded Badman Records. Over that time they’ve put out a whole lot of albums including Starfucker, My Morning Jacket and many others. They’re having a twenty-year anniversary celebration at Doug Fir Lounge on Saturday, June 30 featuring three Badman bands: The Builders and the Butchers, N. Lannon and TENTS. Dylan is also a recording engineer, among other things, and one of the partners in the Type Foundry recording studio. Did you think record labels were a thing of the past? Apparently not. What kind of person keeps a small record label alive? Let’s find out. The tune at the end is "Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second" from STRFKR's Badman album STRFKR.
World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan has been closed for over a week for renovations, but by the time you hear this it’ll be open again. While they were closed I thought it would be a good idea to call upon OMN’s National Editor, Art Levine and find out what’s going on with him. He’s in Washington, D.C. so we’re Skyping this one. He hasn’t been writing for us very much lately because he has been working on his new book, Mental Health, Inc. “How corruption, lax oversight and failed reforms endanger our most vulnerable citizens.” Yeah, it’s not a book about music. It's called Mental Health, Inc.: How Corruption, Lax Oversight and Failed Reforms Endanger Our Most Vulnerable Citizens. But there is a music and an OMN connection. We’ll start with that. But with Art, you never know where things will go from there. We’ve been friends since 1970, so you know how that goes.
Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea’s world famous cupping room at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. You know, the Waterfront Blues Festival is right around the corner, beginning on July 4. Stop in and say hi at the OMN booth in the Louisiana Pavilion. Performing again this year is an ensemble called Okropong, part of the Obo Addy Legacy Project. They’ll be at the festival on Friday, July 5 on the Front Porch Stage, near our booth. One of the leaders is one of Obo’s sons, Alex Addy. Obo has been gone since 2012, but his family has maintained his rich legacy with the Obo Addy Legacy Project. This includes a best-of album, released a little while back. Obo had settled in Oregon after moving from Ghana and had become a beloved part of Oregon’s music scene, and indeed the world’s.
The cupping room runeth over today because right here in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan we’ve got the return of the great guitarist Eddie Martinez, who before he moved to Portland was THE in-demand studio guitarist in New York, having been in Robert Palmer’s band, among many others. And yes, that was his lick on “Addicted to Love.” Eddie is back. He did one of these in April of 2016. We talked about a lot of things including working on a new album. Well, he’s ready to release it. It drops on June 15 and it’s a blockbuster. We’ll hear all about it, but as happens when Eddie and I sit down to do one of these, the conversation has a tendency to deepen. So let’s catch up with Eddie Martinez.
Back at World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today, Stephen Rutledge, a most engaging and entertaining fellow, and a spectacularly prolific writer is in the chair opposite me in the Cupping Room. It’s one of those episodes that I love to do, never having met him before, so much so that I asked him a stupid question right off the bat. We hit it off before I started rolling and continued after I shut off the recorder. He writes for an online publication from the vast RuPaul empire of media. And like I say, he’s more prolific than anyone has a right to be. We didn’t get to even half the stuff I wanted to talk to him about. Meet Stephen Rutledge.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. This is number one hundred 49. My name is Lisa Helfer, I’m filling in for Tom D’Atoni today and with me is Portland-based, virtuoso mandolinist, Tim Connell. Tim is a graduate of New England Conservatory who has created a sophisticated and original global mandolin style. Regarded as one of the top North American interpreters of Brazilian choro, Tim has also developed his own unique voice for the instrument through jazz, bluegrass, klezmer and classical music.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. This is number one hundred forty-eight. With me is a funky bass man, a Gospel bass man, a Blues bass man and one of those go-to guys that other musicians call when they need talent, versatility and reliability…and quality. It’s Ben Jones who’s here with me. He’s got his own band, is in bands, and pops up everywhere. That’s cause he’s good. But did you know that Ben was a member of the Neville Brothers for a while? He’s not even from New Orleans. We’re all mourning the death of Charles Neville a couple of weeks ago, so I think that’s a good place to start. Meet Ben Jones.
All set up and ready to go in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number 147. In the coffeeshop with me is trumpeter Paul Mazzio, a mainstay in the Oregon Jazz world for a long time. He has his own ensembles but he’s also known as one of those go-to guys when fine players want to add a trumpet in their recordings or live performances. He’s versatile enough to have toured with Woody Herman and Delbert McLinton and has chops enough to play with Alan Jones. He’s from Portland…went to Sunset High even. He has Classical training but is known for his Jazz playing. Trumpet players are a singular breed. Even when they’re playing soft, there’s something about the instrument that says, “Look at me!” Is Paul like that? Let’s find out.
Sitting in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number one-hundred forty-six. Buckle-up friends because Andrew Paul Woodworth, all three of them, is paying us another visit. He has a new album called Drinks To Sleep but I would have wanted him back even if he didn’t. His last visit was in February of 2015 but it was one of the most memorable…just seems to be that way when we sit down to talk. The album release gig is May 4 at Secret Society. I’ve got some questions about this album, mister! He’s a composer, singer, guitarist, actor, teacher and although I have no proof of his behavior outside of this room, a wild man…if only in his mind. A singular personality, this guy.
This delightful bit of cleverness took place at the Art Bar on Saturday, February 22, 2014 as part of the Portland Jazz Festival 2014's Jazz Conversations
OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number one hundred forty-five coming to you from the internet via World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan. I am still Tom D’Antoni, barely, and you know, we’re all dealing with current events the best we can. Robert Parrish and Teri Briggs took action in the best way they know. They call it “Musicians Rising Up.” They make videos of local talent who perform songs connected to the times in which we live? Or as they put it, “…live performances to heal and inspire a confused and angry nation." That’s quite a task but they’ve been at it for over a year and have no intention of stopping. We’ve broken the format for this. It’s always been one-on-one, but I got a taste of my own format-breaking history on this one. Meet Robert Parrish and Teri Briggs.
Hi there. This is OMN Coffeeshop Conversation number one-hundred forty-four. No kidding. And there are no signs of stopping. Back at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. If you ask who makes the best trumpets in the world, a lot of folks will tell you it’s David Monette who makes his here in Portland. Both Jazz and Classical masters world-wide own Monettes. This is not news to trumpet players. Just this week they were putting the finishing touches on a decorated trumpet for Brazil’s Maestro Forro E Opbh and shipped a new trumpet to Avashai Cohen. Who is this guy? What’s his secret? Let’s meet. David Monette.
Welcome back to the Cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th & Glisan, for another in the endless series of OMN Coffeeshop Conversations. Last year we started what has become a sensational tradition of having the folks who book major festivals come in and tell us about the people they booked. Did it with Don Lucoff and the Portland Jazz Festival, We did one last time with Nicolas Harris of the Soul’d Out Festival and today for the second year in a row, Peter Dammann, Artistic Director of the Waterfront Blues Festival is in the coffeeshop to tell us all about the 2018 festival starting on the Fourth of July. There are some big internal changes this year, and of course, lots of great music. OMN will be in our booth in the Louisiana Pavilion, of course. Let’s get started and welcome back ace-Blues guitarist Peter Dammann.
In World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan, it’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Last year, I stumbled across the best way to preview a music festival. I had Waterfront Blues Festival Artistic Director Peter Dammann here and he just went day by day and talked about every performer. Who would know better? Did the same thing with Portland Jazz Festival’s Don Lucoff a few months ago and we’re doing it again to with Soul’d Out Festival’s Nicholas Harris. He’s been here before, around the time the club he books, Jack London Review opened about a year ago. This is the Soul’d Out Festival’s ninth year and it just keeps getting better. Let’s find out who’s playing from the guy who booked the players.
Our guest this week is Kendra Carpenter, a Portland-based musician and music instructor.
Back in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. When I do these things, it’s always nice to get to talk to people I’ve never met. Just as nice to renew acquaintances with people I haven’t talked to for a while. It’s been years since I’ve talked with famed Irish fiddler Kevin Burke. He is still travelling the world, he and his fiddle. He’s got a solo concert on St. Paddy’s Day at the Alberta Rose Theater on Saturday, March 17. We’ll talk about that, about growing up Irish in London, England. Whether he was a Mod or a Rocker. And all things Irish fiddle. He’s lived in Portland for decades now and he’s sitting right in front of me.
. Instead of sitting in the cupping room at World Cup, we are in an office located somewhere inside the Music Millennium building on East Burnside where I’m going to talk to Terry Currier who owns the joint. It’s comforting to come to Music Millennium, not only because you can find any kind of music there is, but because it’s still HERE…unlike so much of Portland. It’s here and Terry’s here…It’s coming up on their forty-ninth anniversary…Thursday, March 15th. Terry and I did one of these a little while back and we both enjoyed it. Just catching up on what’s going on…but mostly two guys sitting around bullshitting about music.
Back in World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today it’s a man who is known for his thoughtful singing and song writing. He’s known as WORTH, although he has a first name…Christopher. We first met him when he was a member of a band called NIAYH, Now Is All You Have. He moved on to a solo career. Last November he released number three in a trilogy of albums, called Pardon Me. I’m holding a vinyl version of that right now. He’s got quite a following and he has a lot to say. So let’s let him say it. Meet Worth.
Once again we’re in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today it’s a real star in Oregon’s Classical Music world, Suzanne Nance came to Portland to be the Program Director for All Classical Portland, our state-wide Classical Music service …not just radio…and now around two years later, she’s been named CEO at All Classical. That’s quite a change from her daily show and from wrangling on-air talent. How is she adapting? Does she miss doing her show? What about her new Sunday show? And when is she going to sing for everyone publicly here. Yes, she’s also a singer. What can’t she do? That will not be a line of inquiry. All Classical is riding a wave of popularity and she’s right in the middle of it. Let’s meet Suzanne Nance.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another Coffeeshop Conversation. Today I’ve got drummer Scott Magee and DJ Cooky Parker here with me. Ok, they’re the same person. Scott has played with a lot of Portland bands including Y La Bamba and Loch Lomond, and he leads the Ural Thomas band. Cooky Parker (and wait till you hear how he got that name) is a DJ around town specializing in vintage Soul and R&B and who is host of KMHD’s “Friday Flashback” 6-8pm. That’s back to back with my show “I Like It Like That” from 8-10. He lived in New Orleans for ten years, where he got his start on drums. There may be no better place on earth to get your start on drums. Meet Scott and Cooky.
You’re back in the coffeeshop today, World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan with me is one of those musicians. His name is Alan Hager and he IS one of those musicians who is appreciated by his peers but because he’s been known as a side player, sometimes unfortunately gets overlooked…and that’s a shame. Currently more people are finding out about Alan because of Rough Cut, a duo album he recorded with Curtis Salgado which has been finding it’s way up the Blues charts and contains a wonderfully memorable song, “I Want My Dog To Live Longer (The Greatest Wish)” He and Curtis have a special chemistry, rooted in a love for the Blues. Alan has been playing guitar for a long time and you’ll be amazed at his versatility, especially if you know him only as a Blues player. You’ll also be surprised at how he learned the Blues as a teen with his pal, Terry Robb. You’re going to come away wanting to hear a lot more from Alan Hager.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me in the cupping room today is Ron Buel who was the founder of Willamette Week in the days when journalism was made on paper. He has a unique perspective on the history of journalism in Oregon, and of the current state of it because he has seen it all…and participated. If you’re wondering where the music angle is, there isn’t one. We’re expanding the scope of Coffeeshop Conversations…mostly on music, but not completely. If I’m going to keep you interested in the podcast, I have to keep me interested and I’m very interested in hearing what Ron Buel has to say, particularly about what he sees for the future of journalism in general and Oregon in particular.
Ronald A. Buel, President and Chief Executive Officer. Ron is a seasoned veteran of start-up businesses. Most recently he served as CEO of Morgan Connector Corp. Prior to that Ron spent 13 years at Nike, where he rose to the position of Director of Business and Strategic Planning, directly responsible to Nike’s President. In 1974 he founded Willamette Week, Portland’s renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning alternative weekly newspaper, which Ron edited and published for eight years. Ron is active in local and state affairs and has served on many community boards including, Tri-Met and Human Solutions.
You are, by association at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. If you are among those who carry the spirit of New Orleans around with you, then you know that we are in the middle of Carnival, that magic period of time which leads up to Mardi Gras. We have a lot of people like that in Portland and I’m one of them. We also have our own Mardi Gras Krewe, The Misti Krewe of Nimbus which stages parades and other celebrations including a spectacular Mardi Gras Ball on the weekend before Fat Tuesday. I think I’ve been to every one. With me today is one of the founders, Steve Kerin, also one of the busiest musicians in town. The Ball is on Saturday, February 10 at the Tiffany Center in downtown Portland. Lots of music, food, costumes and, you know…MARDI GRAS! Let’s talk with Steve Kerin
At World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Very happy to have the perpetually cool, recently named 2018 PDX Jazz Jazz Master and fellow KMHD host Art Abrams. His Swinging Machine Big Band will be appearing at the Festival on Thursday, February 15 at Revolution Hall playing with singers Ernie Andrews and Barbara Morrison in a program called “West Coasting,” devoted to West Coast Jazz. We’ll find out Art’s interpretation of that moniker, too. They’re going to They’ll recast arrangements by Lenny Niehaus, Terry Gibbs, Bill Holman, Lou Levy. How does one remain cool after age 80? For Art Abrams, just keep on with what you’re doing. Art has never stopped. Why should he? Let’s meet Art Abrams.
Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation Mini-episode. With me today is Wayne Harrel who wrote the book of the musical theater production of Just This One, based on the life of the late Paul deLay, the beloved Bluesman from Portland. The music and lyrics are all Big Paul’s. Performing are Portland Blues stars Lisa Mann, LaRhonda Steele and Ben Rice, among others. You can see it Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28 at Michelle’s Piano Company. We miss Paul deLay. I don’t think we should ever lose the legacy of his greatness. Let’s meet Wayne Harrel.
Reggie Fats intro At World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. When Fats Domino died at the end of October, I first heard about it from New Orleans’ Reggie Houston, now a Portlander but for twenty years, the baritone sax player in Fats’ band. It hit him hard. It still does. I waited a few months before I finally asked a couple of weeks ago if he was ready to talk about it. He said yes. What follows is an extended episode but which barely touches on the life of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew and Reggie’s time in the band, but it’s an oral history that’ll knock you out. What was life on the road like? Who was the enigma of Fats Domino? Who was the real king of Rock N Roll? And on and on. A heartfelt thanks to Reggie Houston for sharing all of this with us.
Hello 2018 and welcome back to a new OMN Coffeeshop Conversation, as always from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. With me today is (and now he will always be known as) Grammy nominated Randy Porter, pianist, composer, teacher and Nancy King wrangler. His album with Nancy King, “Porter Plays Porter” on which they do songs by America’s greatest songwriter, Cole Porter is nominated along with Portland band Portugal the Man. Did he say, “America’s greatest songwriter?” You heard me. Go back and listen again. Randy is a musician’s musician. We hope he wins. We’re homers. Meet Randy Porter.
Welcome to World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, and to the last new OMN Coffeeshop Conversation of 2017. We’ll be running a couple of our best podcasts of the year for the next two weeks. A great year of Coffeeshop Conversations winds up with Don Lucoff, Executive Artistic Director of the Portland Jazz Festival which will be happening all over Portland from Thursday, February 15 through Sunday, February 25. Appearing will be a whole lot of literally the greatest Jazz musicians in the world. Don is going to tell us about each one. OMN will be a media sponsor and once again podcasting all of the Jazz Conversations. Ready to hear about EVERY PERFORMER? Meet Don Lucoff.
Hi there, back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today we’re talking to Blues singer Rae Gordon who has had a fabulous 2017. She and her band recently won two Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards and earlier this year she placed third in the prestigious International Blues Challenge competition in Memphis. She and her band also released an album this year…so it’s been a year of accomplishment for her. She’s in the middle of her annual Christmas, Coats and Kings drive, which helps provide coats for folks left out in the cold. We’ll find out all about that. Let’s meet Rae Gordon.
We're back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We like to have some of the people who run and/or own music venues in here from time to time. We’ve had Nicholas Harris from Jack London, Jim Brunberg from Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall…and a few other folks. Today we have Michael Gibbons who owns Jo Bar and Papa Haydn. Jo Bar has music four or more times a week. And that’s where my full disclosure comes in. I DJ there on Saturday nights. Thing is, I’ve always thought Michael was a very interesting guy who would make a very interesting Coffeeshop Conversation. So let’s meet him.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is Rebecca Sanborn who was first here in January of 2016. She’s a composer, keyboardist and singer in the Blue Cranes, Loch Lomand, Swansea and a few others. Swansea has a new album called "Flaws." Last time she was here we talked about how she was able to combine band mate and soul mate considering her husband Ji Tanzer is in most of the bands she is in, including Swansea. Well, they have a brand new collaboration. A baby, due just after New Year’s. How is that going to work? And what’s it been like bringing a new life into the world in the midst of a rich and busy musical career? She has thoughts. She has thoughts about everything.
Happy to be back in the coffeeshop at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan. I’m especially happy to have Liv Warfield back in Portland for at least a few days. She did two intimate concerts at Jack London this week, and is in town to see friends, and remind herself of rain. After Prince passed, her solo career continued. Liv has faced bad breaks before and has always come out on top. Why did we expect anything less now? She is in a band with Heart’s Nancy Wilson these days, called Roadcase Royale…we’ll get to the origin of that name…and so much more. She’s still magnificent, but what else would you expect? I’m so glad to be sitting across from Liv Warfield.
Hello there. Another Coffeeshop Conversation coming to you from OMN via World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. In the coffeeshop today is Robin Jackson who you may know from March Fourth, Vagabond Opera, the Joy Now Arts Program (a musical circus for kids) and/or his Songwriter Soiree from which his new album, Dark Stars is most connected. It is dropping on Saturday, November 11 with a release show at Secret Society. And it’s coming out at the perfect time. It matches the drippy darkness of Autumn in Portland. “Alchemizes Rainy Day Doldrums” is what he says it does. Let’s find out what’s behind it, and if a revival of Vagabond Opera is possible. He’s been at the center of some of our most memorable music.
Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations, as always, at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault charges came a flood of responses to a call for women to tell their own stories with the hashtag Me Too. Tens of thousands of women and some men told stories they hadn’t told to anyone or nearly anyone. We’re doing two Coffeeshop Conversations on the subject of sexual aassault and the entertainment industry. Tomorrow Ara Lee will be here to talk about writing “Nasty Woman,” which has become the anthem of the moment. Today, Portland Radio Project Music Director and long time Portland radio personality Inessa and I are sitting down with no firm agenda other than to openly discuss this MeToo moment in time.
Hey, welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan. Today we’ve got Marti Mendenhall with is. She’s a singer, composer and proprietor of a new radio show slash podcast called Sound Tasting which combines food and music, a novel approach for sure. It airs on the second Friday of each month on Portland Radio Project. We’ll find out all about that concept. She’s classically trained and sang in classical ensembles for years. A lot of you know her as a Jazz singer, which is her main focus nowadays. I think that’s plenty to talk about. She’s bright light with great pipes.
Thanks for coming back for another Coffeeshop Conversation at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. We’ve got a special episode today. With me is Oregon Music Hall of Fame Member, percussionist, composer and band leader, Bobby Torres. Now most of us know Bobby from his many years here in Portland, but not everybody is aware that he had a long and thriving career first with Joe Cockers bands, and then with lots and lots of other top musicians. He even toured with Tom Jones Did you know he played the first Woodstock festival as a member of Joe Cocker’s band? Today, we’re going to hear all about. The behind the scenes stuff that nobody but an eyewitness can tell us. Let’s dive in.
Well I see you’re paying another visit to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, at least digitally, for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We’re coming up on our third anniversary at World Cup. That’s a lot of talking friends. We’re going to be expanding our horizons in the months to come. We’ll still be here, but we’re going to be expanding our range of guests. Gotta keep it fresh, you know. Today we’re talking with pianist Dan Gaynor, a clever fellow and a great player. He’s a Jazzman, although he can play any kind of music. You may have seen him with Bobby Torres, Chuck Israels’ Orchestra, Nancy King and many others. He’s one of those fellows I’ve encountered over the years, but have never really sat down and talked with. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to. You’re going to enjoy Dan Gaynor.
Thanks for coming back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. As always, we’re at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. We were all scared to some degree when the Columbia Gorge was set on fire. Some to a larger degree than others. In the coffeeshop with me is Billy Oskay who lives in Corbett. His famed recording studio, Big Red Studio, as well as his home were within a few miles of the Eagle Creek fire. Can you imagine what that must have been like? You don’t have to because Billy is here to let us know. We know the end of the story. The courageous firefighters did their job, but so did the rain and winds. What did he do when he got an evacuation warning? How are things now?
Thanks for joining us again at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Joining me today is Douglas Detrick, the Executive Director of Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble which I have been covering since before it was a real organization about ten years ago, and before there was an OMN. Since he became Executive Director he along with Ryan Meagher and Mieke Bruggeman-Smith have made PJCE into a real cultural force in Oregon. They’ve got a large amount of concerts and events coming this fall and we’re going to get the inside scoop on them. Douglas is also a trumpeter, composer and arranger. How does he have time for all this and his two little kids? Let’s meet him.
Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. Big thank you to our Managing Director Scott Cunningham for a terrific conversation with Rich Layton. Hope Scott will come back and do some more of these. As usual, we’re at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan and with me is KMHD’s Program Director Matt Fleeger…also the guy I report to at KMHD, so there’s that. In the eight years since he moved from a station in Texas to take over at KMHD, he has transformed the station, built a ratings winner, an artistic and financial success in a field where those are usually incompatible. He brought a philosophy with him which he has carried out through the years. KMHD is one of the few, if not the only Jazz station to have raised the numbers of younger listeners, and that’s pretty amazing. Meet Matt Fleeger.
Our guest is Rich Layton, one of the area's finest harmonica players and one stand-up cat if there ever was one. Take a listen as we trace his musical career, his influences, gear, and continuing efforts to swampify the Portland music scene.
Alan Jones, drummer, teacher and founder of the Alan Jones Academy of Music is here. He’s been one of our finest drummers for decades. His Academy has sent some of our best young musicians to some of the finest music schools on earth. Saying that someone is a force of nature is overused but in Alan’s case it’s the truth…in his drumming and how he lives his life. He’s an interesting mixture of humbleness and confidence. Probably a good thing for all of us to learn how to be. That’s something he teaches, too. He’s a world traveler and a Portland native. And he’s got at least four bands going as we speak. You’re going to like Alan Jones.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee & Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is a singular gentleman, Oregon Music Hall of Fame member Calvin Walker. He was one of our most favorite bringers of the funk. As a singer and a drummer in a vibrant Soul and Funk scene, he used to work six nights a week. Later he was the head of the Musicians Union. I met him when he was Development Director at KMHD when it was at Mt. Hood Community College, and was the voice of reason in a dysfunctional environment. He stayed at Mt. Hood when the station moved its operations to OPB. He’s now a counselor. He has a wealth of stories and is a fountain of musical knowledge. He’s funny too.
Another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation as always we’re in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in smoky Portland. With me today is Pablo, who, with Ricardo make up the Ojeda brothers, leaders of Sabrosa, the heir to their legendary Funk-Latin Band of yore…Rubberneck who tore it up in the late 90s and first part of this century. They were neo-Soul before there was neo-Soul and the new band fits right into the pocket that is so popular now. Pablo is the bass player and Ricardo is the singer and guitar player. They’ve been making music since they were kids and they may never stop. They have a crowdfunding thing going on to help get a Sabrosa album out.
In World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is Alex Krebs, Tango teacher, Tango dancer and proprietor of Tango Berretin, his own Tango studio since 2001. He’s pretty much been Mr. Tango in Portland for a long time. And that’s Argentine Tango only. No other type of Tangos need apply. What’s the difference. That’s something we’re going to discover. You’ll also find out what a milonga is and why you might want to attend one. And what about his Balkan ensemble Krebsic Orkestar? He brought his very well-behaved young sons with him. Let’s talk with Alex Krebs
Thanks for finding us again. Live on tape from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in Portland, it’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Wth me today is Jay Bozich, one of the unsung heroes of the music scene in Portland. You may know him as King Fader from his DJ work in clubs. He also has added magic from the board that even the musicians can’t match in his work with live bands. Sometimes he does sound reinforcement only. He is currently handling sound at the Jack London Revue, a new club in the Rialto downtown. He’s done a whole lot more than that. You’ll be amazed. He was there when you were there, even if you didn’t realize it. Let’s meet King Fader, Jay Bozich.
Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Let’s go back to the first week of December in 2014, the premiere of Coffeeshop Conversations. This is number 109 of them, but number one was with saxophonist Mary-Sue Tobin, she of the Quadraphonnes and many many other bands and every kind of saxophone imaginable. When we passed number 100 a couple of months ago, I wanted to come back to her. Boy was that the right decision. She’s smart, funny and bursting with ideas. And we share an obsession about a certain pop tune. You’ll find out. She’s got so many things going on these days, including a Quadraphonnes gig playing the music of Andrew Durkin coming up. Let’s just dive in. p.s. She sent me a track from Paxselin called "Death and the Child" from A Guide To Desolation Wilderness to end things.
We took off last week because of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. In the coffeeshop with me today is Scott Cunningham, OMN’s Managing Director, writer, fixer of IT problems and all around good guy. Every once in a while I like to bring one of our OMN family in and let you get acquainted. Scott is multi-talented and had a whole other career before he got involved with music.
Welcome back to another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th & Glisan in Portland. Today is special. It’s the return of Curtis Salgado, what with his return to performing this weekend, on the Fourth of July at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. He’s returning after a heart attack and multiple bypass surgery while he was on the road on the east coast. That’s a story. While all this was going on he won three Blues Music Awards: his song “Walk a Mile in My Blues” won the top honor for Song of the Year. Listen for it at the end of the conversation. He also was named Soul Blues Male Artist and received the Soul Blues Award for his album The Beautiful Lowdown. We always enjoy each other’s company when we do these things, so let’s just dive in.
Welcome back to another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th & Glisan in Portland. Today is special. It’s the return of Curtis Salgado, what with his return to performing this weekend, on the Fourth of July at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. He’s returning after a heart attack and multiple bypass surgery while he was on the road on the east coast. That’s a story. While all this was going on he won three Blues Music Awards: his song “Walk a Mile in My Blues” won the top honor for Song of the Year. Listen for it at the end of the conversation. He also was named Soul Blues Male Artist and received the Soul Blues Award for his album The Beautiful Lowdown. We always enjoy each other’s company when we do these things, so let’s just dive in.
Back at World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation Mini-episode. The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is upon us and today I’m with Steve Kerin of about a million bands and a founding member of Oregon’s only Mardi Gras krewe, the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus. OMN will have a booth for the eighth year in the Louisiana Pavilion which the Krewe is in charge of for the first time. Make sure and stop by and say hello. It’s at the North end of the festival, near the Front Porch Stage. Steve is from southern Louisiana but he’s been a Portlander for quite a while.
Glad you have returned to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations which always take place at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan. Today we’re going to find out why Rob Stroup…singer, songwriter, composer, producer and recording engineer is moving his studio and the rest of his life from Portland, where they all were born, to New Mexico. I know, surpising,right? Rob and his wife Naomi…a duo they call Moody Little Sister took a long time to come to this life-changing decision. A lot of music has come through his 8-Ball Studio including the latest by Debroah Arlyn. He’s got lots of gigs before the move. His Fourth Annual Camping Concert Happens Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27 at Dundee Lodge in Gaston, Oregon. Let’s talk to Rob Stroup.
Happy you’re back with us in World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is a guy I’ve known to say hi to, to do a little business with but we’ve never really sat down an shot the shit. He’s always been kind of a mystery to me. He’s Nicholas Harris, who also helps run Soul’d Out Productions…that’s the Soul’d Out Festival, but he’s also running the newest Jazz/Soul/Funk/Hip Hop club in Portland, the one in the basement of the venerable Rialto. We’re going to get the low-down on that and also a lot of other things including his love of all things New Orleans. This is going to be a good one because I’ve been looking forward to talking to him for a long time.
It’s another day in the coffeeshop and another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation at World Cup Coffee and Tea NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. A reminder that you can find these on iTunes, SoundCloud and TuneIn. Just search for Oregon Music News and there we are. Today in the coffeeshop we’ve got Blues/Soul singer Duffy Bishop, who moved a couple of years ago to Florida, with her cats and husband and collaborator Chris Carlson. She comes back to Portland to perform now and then. This is the now. We’ll find out all about them and why they moved, and how the cats are. She’s such an institution around here that they named the best vocalist Muddy Award after her because she won it so much.
June 1, 2017 Back in the coffeeshop with an old friend, right here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. This podcast is now also available for you to listen to and even download on iTunes, SoundCloud and TuneIn. Just search for Oregon Music News. The old friend is Ron Rogers. His band, The Wailing Wind has been around for seems like ten years. Time flies. I wrote this in 2011 and it's still true: Remember when there was "Rock?" I mean the Rock that defined the late 60's and early 70's. Countrified Rock, Hippie Rock (I do not use the word Hippie pejoratively). The kind of Rock that found it's commercial success with the Eagles, the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Allman Brothers and a lot of others. If that is your speed, Ron is for you. But it's not retro in any respect, it's what he loves. There's a dash of L.A., a bit of Texas. It's guys like Ron that keep this music alive. For them and millions of other it never died, it only got pigeon-holed and held prisoner by Classic Rock radio stations. Ron Rogers and the Wailing Wind keep the roots and the Rock fresh and, well wailing. Born in Ft. Worth, the cool part of the north hill country in the middle of Texas, Ron Rogers worked in the music industry in both LA and Austin. As more proof of the talent crush and fascination between the two big indie towns, Portland and Austin, he now lives here. He's been around the block during his long career in the music industry. There were stints as a songwriter for Island Records, and he fronted an Austin band named Ron Rogers and the White Slave Boys. He added a career as an artist after he moved to Portland. Rogers' icon-on-wood artwork can been seen in the living rooms of some famous Portland music industry characters as he paints features the faces of jazz and blues musicians no longer with us.
May 30, 2017 Hey. Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations, this being another Mini-episode and the coffeeshop being World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Gilsan. I want to remind you that this podcast is also available on iTunes, SoundCloud and TuneIn. Just search for Oregon Music News and bookmark it. Today singer/bassist Lisa Mann is here. I wanted to talk to her about her participation in filmmaker Robert Parish’s “Musicians Rising Up Series,” which he calls, “live performances to heal and inspire a confused and angry nation.” She’ll be participating in a video shoot at Lake Theatre on Monday, June 5. We’ll hear all about it and her globe-trotting career, which has really taken off in the past few years. This Lisa’s return visit to the coffeeshop and it was great to talk to her again.
May 26, 2017 Hey. Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Gilsan in Portland. I’m Tom D'Antoni. Happy to let you know that Coffeeshop Conversations can now also be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, TuneIn and soon to be on Stitcher. Just search for Oregon Music News when you get there. Downloadable, too. Today Amy Maxwell pays a return visit to the coffeeshop. She was one of our first visitors, a couple of years ago, and a lot has changed for her since then. She was one of the founders of Ticket Tomato, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. She started it with her then-husband Patrick Lamb. And that’s the last time we’ll mention it. She’s been on every side of the musical equation and is getting ready to launch a new concert promotion company while she continues to expand Ticket Tomato. She’s a sharp cookie, and anyone who has ever known her can attest to that. They’ll be handling the tickets for the upcoming Waterfront Blues Festival again this year. Let’s catch up with Amy Maxwell.
Hi there. Tom D’Antoni back with another OMN Coffeeshop Conversations Mini episode, something we started a few weeks ago. You can count on one full and one mini episode per week. And did you know we’re also on iTunes, SoundCloud and TuneIn? We are. Just search for Oregon Music News to find every past and present Coffeeshop Conversation. Of course, that coffeeshop is World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. Today we’re bringing back the Boogie Cat, Norman Sylvester who is going to tell us all about a show he’s got coming up at Alberta Rose Theatre which he calls the “Phenomenal Concert,” “The Journey of American Music.” “From Africa to the Mississippi Delta to the 21st Century. Alright then, let’s find out about it.
May 17, 2016 As we wander on into our second hundred of these, let me welcome you back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is Dusty York. Dusty is/was a saxophonist, keyboardist, composer, label owner and now, somewhat suddenly he’s a standup comedian. How did this happen? It has been quite a while since he sold his horn, closed the label, and changed musical direction. But standup comedy? I have to tell you that in addition to our professional relationship…meaning I’ve done lots of stories on him, he’s also my baseball buddy, being the only other human I’ve met in Portland who is a Baltimore Orioles fan. And it was all we could do not to talk about baseball. You can see him as part of his show "Tell Me Where It Hurts" with 6 other comedians. Self-described as "Standup Comedians tell the most humiliating stories of their lives," Sunday, May 21 at Crush Bar. Find his latest album here. Let’s hear about the twists and turns of Dusty’s carreer.
May 9, 2017 This is our one-hundredth Coffeeshop Conversation. We started with Mary Sue Tobin on December 4, 2014 and with the obvious exception of a few weeks, we’ve been right here at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW 18th and Glisan for each one. We’ll have Mary Sue back soon, but I’ve asked filmmaker Beth Harrington to return because she was a great guest early on, and also because she’s working on a major new project called The Musicianer involving a guy named Petunia. Her last film, The Winding Stream on the Carter Family was a major success and resides currently on Netflix, after Beth toured the country with it after its premiere three years ago. No, I don’t know what a “musicianer” is either. So we’ll find out straight away. And perhaps a glimpse at who this Petunia fellow is and what he’s about.
May 6, 2017 This is the second of our Coffeeshop Conversations Mini-episodes. Yes, I said “mini.” Even the world “campy” is campy, I know. Whatever. Josh Malm has been here before. On his new album, Saints & Renegades, he’s billing himself as Josh Allan Malm, he’s aka Redwood Son, also the name of his band, he’s been known as Josh Malmtree and I think Prince. Maybe not. He’s releasing his new album as an LP, available only at Music Millennium at first, with a rollout later on. He was here a few months ago talking about a prospective move to Nashville. We’ll see how that went. We’ll also find out how it felt to have the new album recorded and ready to go and then sit on it for three years. The life of a musician huh? Anyway, Josh is an interesting cat. Why else would I have invited him back? Let’s catch up and find out about the new album…and hear a track when we’re done talking.
May 3, 2017 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. As you know, from time to time I like to bring in a member of the OMN family and let you meet them. Today it’s Stephen Blackman, who has done a lot of good things for us including handling all of the Portland Jazz Festival Jazz Conversation recordings. He’s a guitarist, singer, composer, producer, engineer and a full-time attorney at the same time. He’s a man of long experience in music and one of strong opinions. I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of a legal procedure against him. He’s always been there for us and for me when things go goofy. And he always has a remedy. He plays every Thursday night at Gallo Nero 6-9pm and you can hear him with singer Lorna Baxter at the Hotel Vintage on Friday, May 5. He plays "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" at the end of our conversation.
April 24, 2017 Welcome back to another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation at our home for these things…World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. Tony Furtado is here today. He is known world-wide as a stringed instrument player, especially the banjo and more often than not these days, as a singer/songwriter. He has a new album out, a live one called Cider House Sessions – Live at Reverend Nat’s and if you don’t know anything about that place, you will by the time we’re done. He’s got an album release on Saturday, May 6 at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Full details and tickets here. He’s married to Portland singer/songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman. Two musicians in the family? How does that work? Hear a track from the new album at the end of the conversation.
April 19, 2017 Welcome to the first of our Coffeeshop Conversations mini-episodes. I figured why not do some of these around a particular event. They don’t have to be a full hour’s worth, but maybe something you’d like to hear. At World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland is the smiling face you remember from being behind the bar at Jimmy Mak’s that’s right, JD, who’s real name is John David Stubenberg. He and some other folks are staging a concert on Sunday night, April 23 at Roseland Theater in honor of the late Jimmy Mak and to kick off a scholarship to Portland State University in his name. He’ll tell us all about it. Full info here. OMN is happy to be a Media Sponsor. JD might even give a hint about what’s happening with the beginnings of a new Jimmy Mak’s club. Maybe. He and I stopped talking about baseball long enough to do this.
April 13, 2017 As we inch slowly toward sun and warmth, we’re going to find out all, and I do mean all, about the 2017 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, June 30 to July 4th because Festival Artistic Director and ace guitarist Peter Dammann is in the Coffeeshop today. Welcome to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. This will be the thirtieth annual festival and Peter has been either playing at or curating the music for every one. Have you seen the lineup. What did you think? Some new names? Yes indeed. Some were even new to me and I thought I knew everybody. This is a good thing! If you’re not learning, you’re dead. Let’s hear about them all from Peter Dammann
April 6, 2017 Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea in Portland at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is one of those people behind the scenes who’s name you may only know if you read liner notes…that is if you still buy CDs. His name is Bob Stark and he’s a recording engineer, a producer, arranger, mixer and composer. He has worked on Grammy winners by Esperanza Spalding and the album by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. What’s life like for a guy like Bob in a music world gone DIY? He was at Kung Fu Bakery in Portland for a long time and now works out of Sonic Media. What’s he up to? What are his latest projects? And what’s it like moving from engineer to producer?
March 30, 2017 Back in the World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glilsan after a week off keeping company with the flu, it’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is a singer whose name you may recognize if you were a music fan in Portland twenty years ago. She was the queen of Portland Blues singers back then. Her name is Sheila Wilcoxson. All of a sudden she was gone from the scene around fifteen years ago. Vanished. What happened? No, it wasn’t drugs or alcohol. It was more complicated than that. If you ever wonder what ever happened to her and why she has begun singing again…you’re about to find out. And you’re going to hear her sing again during this Coffeeshop Conversation.
March 17, 2017 Hi there. Welcome back to OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Gilsan. I’m trying to get over the flu or bronchitis or whatever that bug is that seems to have infected everyone in town since Trump was inaugurated. My voice will be back soon. When we recorded this Coffeeshop Conversation with guitarist/composer/luthier Mike Doolin, I was a full strength. Mike stopped building guitars a few years ago, but recently completed a new one for his wife Nancy Conescu. Why did he quit? We’ll find out. He’s one of the founding members of Soul Vaccination and he plays in multiple genres and configurations. One thing we’ll find out is why does he play a seven-string guitar?
March 9. 2017 From the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland Oregon, here’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation In the coffeeshop with me is the singular Tony Starlight who gave up his night club a couple of years ago and now is the proprietor of Tony Starlight’s Showroom. What’s the difference? Keep listening. What will he bring us today? One never knows. He’s multi-talented, multi-faceted and can put you on the floor in laughter or teach hard lessons about the music business. I can only assume we’ll have a big dose of both. He’s Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra…he’s generations of entertainers. Let’s meet all of them. Here comes Tony Starlight
February 28, 2017 Karen Lovely returns to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan today for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation, the 92nd of them. Karen has finished her new album, but it’s not out yet. She’s got some crowd-sourcing to finish up. It’s been a great year for her since she was here in the Fall of 2015. Her last album was a hit…we’ll find out all about it and also about her new album which was recorded with some heavyweights in Los Angeles. She’s been touring everywhere in the U.S. and the world. She’s one of the most refreshing personalities in the Blues or any other world. And she makes no bones about her politics. Let’s catch up with Karen Lovely.
February 23, 2017 Welcome back to the coffeeshop…World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. It’s another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. If you were in New Orleans you would have been celebrating Carnival for weeks now. Mardi Gras is coming up on Fat Tuesday, February 28. But did you know that there’s also Fat Monday. It’s called Lundi Gras and here to talk about it is New Orleans native saxophonist Reggie Houston. He’ll be playing a Lundi Gras show at the Lake Theater in Lake Oswego. We’ll find out all about that and learn some stuff about Lundi Gras I bet you never knew. Hey now! Get your beads out and listen to the real thing. Reggie Houston.
February 16, 2017 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation.
We’ve got saxophonist/vocalist/composer Chelsea Luker in the coffeeshop today. You know her from the Quadraphonnes sax quartet. You may know her from one of her other bands, Joy Tribe. Joy Tribe calls itself a World Funk band. We’ll find out what that means. She is classically trained, was a founding member of the Quads, had a band called Mars Retrieval Unit for quite a while. She’s got quite a story.
February 8, 2017 Today at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland we’ve got probably the best known Jazz musician in Oregon. Mel Brown is here for a Coffeeshop Conversation. Mel is here to talk about a special performance which includes John Faddis at the upcoming Portland Jazz Festival commemorating the 100th year of Dizzy Gillespie on Wednesday, February 22. We’ll find out all about it. And how is he doing now that Jimmy Mak’s his three-gig-a-week home is closed and Jimmy is gone. What about the plans for a new club? And what’s he doing in the meantime? He’s got a great Dizzy Gillespie story. Every Dizzy Gillespie story is a great one. Many thanks to musician, luthier and audio production wiz Mike Doolin for fixing the audio. Mel Brown is the dean of Oregon Jazz. Let’s talk to him:
January 25, 2017 Back in the coffeeshop again. That coffeeshop being World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. Man, this is number 88…and I’m not tired of doing them. Today the other half of Kate Power and Steve Einhorn is here. The Steve half. They came back to Portland in January of 2015. They had been gone for four and a half years. For decades they were the owners of Artichoke Music, a store and teaching center, but more importantly, the hub of stringed instruments and song in Portland. It was a welcoming place to visit. There was always someone playing an instrument, many times one or both of the proprietors who also had a thriving career as a performing/recording duo. Kate did a Coffeeshop Conversation about a year ago, separately and now Steve is here to talk about…well, everything but also about a show they’re doing at Artichoke, their final show before the place moves. It's also the release gig for their new album Portland Romace and a benefit for Artichoke. Saturday, February 11, 8pm, $25 donations accepted at the door. Tickets. Meet Steve Einhorn who says he has a gift for me. More on that later…
January 12, 2017 Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for this OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. and with me today is bassist Dave Kahl. He’s a Bluesman and has been for a long time, a fixture on the scene with many bands, including the legendary final Paul deLay Band with the big man, David Vest, Peter Dammann and Jeff Minnick among others. These days he’s in two or three or four bands. It’s the life of an Oregon musician. Dave’s history is the history of Blues music in Portland, from the 1960’s Blues revival to this minute. He was the recipient of the Cascade Blues Association's LIfetime Achievement award and Best Bassist award for 2016. There are lots of parts of his story that we didn’t get to, but wait till you hear about is encounter with Charles Mingus and how it changed his life. Let’s meet the guy you always see in the back on bass… Dave Kahl:
January 5, 2017 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for this week’s OMN Coffeeshop Conversations. You know, there are an awful lot of internationally known musicians who live in Oregon. They don’t necessarily work a lot here, they make their money all over the world and then come home to live here. One of them is guitarist Jennifer Batten. She’s a lot more than a guitarist, although she did do three world tours playing with Michael Jackson and spent time playing with Jeff Beck and a lot of others. She’s also a film-maker, glass artist, and well, a lot of other things. She’s known for her tapping technique on guitar and she’s pretty astounding with it. I’ve met most of the people who come to the coffeeshop but I had never met her until now.
December 29, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today we’ve got Clark Salisbury, guitarist/oud player and now one of the folks behind the group calling itself “While Rome Burns.” They’re doing what amounts to the fiddling, although no fiddles are required, the fiddle represents all instruments. The Rome in the title refers to America, which is about to be run by a madman. They say they’ve formed in response to recent social and political trends…that means Trump. Their mission is to leverage the power of music and community to support and confirm diversity and social justice in our neighborhoods. Needless to say, OMN is one of the media sponsors!
December 22, 2016 Back in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan our OMN Coffeeshop Conversations home, I’m Tom D’Antoni. Today we’ve got Dean Mueller in the room, a bass player formerly with the Insomniacs, still with Duffy Bishop when she comes up from Florida, bandleader with partner Julie Amici and for the past couple of years, promoter and curator at the very popular Lake Theater and Café in Lake Oswego. Imagine that! A successful new venue. How did he do that? Why would he even try? And how did it happen? He’s also one of the few bass players who specializes in (although not exclusively) the upright bass in with electric instruments. How did he get here and how’s he doing? Let’s meet Dean Mueller...and then at the end we'll hear a tune from Julie's album, not yet released:
December 8, 2016 We’re in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea, NW18th and Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is the spectacular Soul singer Saeeda Wright. You may know her from her time as a backup singer with Liv Warfield. Saeeda was right along with Liv as Liv’s career blossomed…recorded with her, appeared on the network TV shows. You may also know her from church and other inspirational events, both singing and speaking. You may not know that she also toured with Prince. We’ll find out about that. She’s working on a new album. It may just be her time.
December 1, 2016 Welcome to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. Joining me is one of those people who is hard to categorize…as if we needed categorization. That’s another topic. The topic today is Andrew Durkin, who is generally lumped into the Jazz category, but he’s much more than that. He has a new album, his first in a long time. It’s called Breath of Fire and we’ll find out why. We’ll also find out about humor in music, something Zappa used to talk about, and Andrew’s music has been compared to Frank’s I have found Andrew’s new album to be a welcome respite to the awfulness of our current situation in this country. He didn’t plan it that way, but…….
November 21, 2017 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, home of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. Today we’ve got Paul Brainard, a very recent inductee into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. If there is a more versatile musician around here I haven’t met him. This weekend (November 25-27) he’s hearding the horn section of the band at the annual Next Waltz show at the Alberta Rose Theatre.. You may know him better as that steel guitarist who plays everything from Ernest Tubb to Led Zeppelin to Thelonious Monk on this instrument. He’s a native Portlander and has an awful lot to say about his music and his instruments. How did he react to his Oregon Music Hall of Fame honor? How did he get from being a horn player to fame as a steel guitarist?
November 17, 2016 Back in the ole Coffeeshop again...World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan…and it’s not very old, but you know what I mean. I mean this is the 80th OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. This time I’m in the cupping room with Portland Cello Project’s (those are two url's) Gideon Freudmann, as you might expect, a cellist and composer. It’s the tenth anniversary for them and to celebrate they’ve got an amazing concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Friday, November 25. What were they then? What are they now? And what other projects is Gideon working on? A fascinating look back, look forward and a lot of the things you’ve always wondered about Portland Cello Project.
November 1, 2016 Back in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea again for another in the endless series of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. I’m Tom D’Antoni and with me today is the legendary and extremely celebrated Blues guitarist, composer and producer Terry Robb. He’s in the Oregon Music Hall of fame. He won the Cascade Blues Association’s Best Guitarist Muddy Award so many times, they had to stop their membership from nominating him any more and named the damned award after him. It’s always fun to catch up with Terry. I have the feeling we’re just going to sit here and bullshit about music, but first we’ll talk about Cool on the Bloom, his new album. We’ll hear a track from it, too.
October 20, 2016 Welcome back to the cupping room in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni and taking a minute off from the endless road is John Averill, one of the founding members of March Fourth, the giant endless party since March the Fourth, 2003 when they formed. Before going back out on the road in their bus full of 20 musicians, dancers and other creative folks, John was kind enough to take a few minutes out to come here and tell us about Magic Number, their new album which was recorded in New Orleans and produced by Galactic’s Ben Ellman. They’re also in town to play their album release at Revolution Hall on Friday, October 28. Two shows! If you’ve ever marched behind them in Portland, or just heard them play. You know how much Portlanders love March Fourth.
October 12, 2016 Hi there, welcome to another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. I’m Tom D’Antoni Last week, we sat down with singer/songwriter Josh Malm Tree, just a few days before he moved to Nashville. He was a part of the Eckrich Music City Sing Off on Tuesday night (October 11), but he’s fixin’ to stay a while and try his hand and career there after a lifetime in Portland and decades being and playing in Redwood Son. Yes, he’s taking a chance. No, he didn’t win. But on his Facebook page, he said this, written above the video of his son who was unhappy that dad lost, “This is what I told Kaden, and it applies to Life in general. There's no such thing as "losing" when you're following your heart & working hard to achieve any dream that speaks to you. Sometimes, people get tied up in destinations. My personal preference is to enjoy the entire journey, and... (perspective IS power). Thank You ALL for supporting Me, and please know that I feel like a winner tonight. There are many more things behind the scenes that I'm very exited about! This is just the beginning” Let’s hear the whole story:
September 29, 2016 Back in the coffeeshop again for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation, as always, right here at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Gilsan in Portland. Happy to have Soul singer Andy Stokes in today and he’s got with him his new album, Full Circle. We’ll find out the meaning of that title and a lot more from a man OMN called “Oregon’s King of Soul” in a story last year. He’s got an amazing story on the moment he knew he had to go out on his own as a solo and form his own band. A story which includes Charlie Wilson, George Clinton and Phillis Hyman in Japan. One which he has never told publicly before now. We’ll hear another track from his new album, too.
September 15, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland for another in the long line of Coffeeshop Conversations. Hard to believe this is number 75, but it is. Joining me today is journalist Cervante Pope. You may recognize her from the pages of Oregon Music News which is where she got her start in Portland. These days, however she is also the editor of The Deli, a music webmagazine, a full-time reporter for the Portland Observer, as well as writing for music magazines The Owl, mixdown and free-lancing for the Mercury and Willamette Week. How did she get t.here? How did she get to Portland from her native California? And a big question, “What does she have to do in order keep writing in her own special voice while keeping editors happy?’ That’s something she learned a lot about at OMN.
September 5, 2016 Time for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation conducted right here at world famous World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me today is someone you have heard, and if you pay attention you’ve seen in almost every major venue in Oregon. You’ve seen her behind the sound board sliding pots, turning dials, punching buttons and screens. She makes the sound happen. Her name is Shira Otchis and I’m not kidding when I say she is beloved among musicians because of her talents as a sound engineer. Her company, She Rock Sound is always busy. From Storm Large to a Pink Floyd cover band. From world famous Jazz musicians in concert halls, to metal in dive bars.
August 25, 2016 Welcome back to the Coffeeshop…World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland and another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today Jim Brunberg, musician, music venue owner and now a podcaster with his twin seven-year-old daughters Vern and Dana. You know him from his music, from being one of the founders of Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall. He’s a busy guy and we’re glad he took time to be here. His family podcast is called Roam Schooled, as he puts it, “a program about what happens when a father and his twin daughters put away their devices and go in search of answers.” We’ll find out all about that and where they’ve been, about the evolution of Mississippi studios which he helped build with his bare hands, and why on earth a person would start a major new venue! The tune at the end features Jim and Ben Landsverk as Wonderly.
August 9, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today composer/pianist/drummer George Colligan is here. He’s headlining the Third Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival the weekend of August 20 and 21…that’s a Saturday and Sunday. OMN is a media sponsor once again. George blew into town…well he moved here, but it felt like that…a few years ago and suddenly you couldn’t go to anyplace featuring Jazz and not see him. He tours internationally with Jack DeJohnette among others. He teaches and maintains an extremely busy schedule here and everywhere. He has two vastly different programs at the Montavilla Jazz Festival, ending the show both nights.
July 27, 2016 Welcome back to the coffeeshop in which we conduct the OMN Coffeeshop Conversations, that being World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland, Oregon. With me today is the mult-talented singer, dancer, band leader Pepe Raphael, he of the Bottle Blondes, Pink Martini and his new adventure Duo Kitty ~ Raphael. A vocal duo with Megan Yvonne. They will be staging a unique and exciting tango vocal concert, "Dueling Tango Duos" with the famed Argentinians Duo Fuertes ~ Varnerin, making their United States debut, at the Old Church, Friday, August 5, 7:30pm, $20, tickets. How are the Bottle Blondes? How does he feel about Pink Martini? And what about his long career as a ballet and modern dancer? There’s nobody quite like Pape Raphael!
July 15, 2016 Well the Blues Festival is over and it’s time to get back to the normal cycle of OMN Coffeeshop Conversations right here in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me in the place is drummer Tyrone Hendrix and if you have heard funky music around here, you most likely have heard him…with Liv Warfield, Doo-Doo Funk, Farnell Newton, you name it and he has provided the means for you to shake everything you got. He has a new album called Rhythm On Life Vol 1. It just came out and since he calls it Vol. 1 he must have Vol 2 already in mind. The cream of Portland soul and funk are on it: Jarod Lawson, Tony Ozier, Farnell, Saeeda Wright, Nafisaria Scroggins-Thomas..i could do on and on.
June 23, 2016 We're back at World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. The 2016 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is coming up and I thought you’d like to meet the person who is responsible for allowing OMN to have our famed “Comfy Booth” at the festival since 2010. She’s Amanda Gresham who’s Delta Music Experience Louisiana Pavilion near the Front Porch Stage is also home to United By Music North America an organization headed up by Amanda and her mother Barbara Hammerman. UBMNA is performance-based program for musically talented people with development and intellectual challenges and delays. We’ll find out about all that and her adventures in New Orleans.
June 15, 2016 Coffeeshop conversations is back. I’m OMN’s Tom D’Antoni and today we’re not in our usual spot, the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea and that’s because our guest is in Los Angeles where she had a gig last night. Liv Warfield, as most of you know, had a great run while she was living in Portland, Growing as an artist and a person. Then she was enfolded in purple as a singer with Prince. He shepherded her solo album, The Unexpected, and was the most important factor in her emergence as a powerful solo artist. When Prince died, the first thing on the mind of many Portlanders was…how is Liv? How will this affect her career…more importantly, her life. She’s not far into the healing and dealing process and she’s hardly talked to anyone about it. She and I go way back.
May 26, 2016 It’s another day in the Coffeeshop…World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan…and another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. with me today is bass player John Mazzocco who has been a major part of the Oregon music scene for decades as a member of Paul deLay and Curtis Salgado’s bands, and the several bands he’s in now. He toured with John Lee Hooker for three years. Boogie Woogie piano player David Vest told me to ask John Mazzocco about breakfast with John Lee…and I will. He also has a thriving business by the name of Blue Dot Communications which trains business leaders how to make presentations. There is a connection to his musical career there…we’ll find out what that is. Road stories, bandstand stories, a slice of what it’s like to be a working musician for a lifetime.
May 18, 2016 We;re in the coffeshop again. As always, it’s World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is an Oregon Music Hall of Fame member…known to all as the Boogie Cat, the best dressed man in town…Norman Sylvester. An Oregonian since 1957, he’s been playing music for almost as long as he’s lived here. He’s a Blues and Soul guitarist, singer, composer and ambassador to the world for Northwest music. But how much do you know about him? He’s got a great life story, inspiring and worth spending the whole hour with us. I ran into him at last Sunday’s memorial for Sweet Baby James Benton, a friend of his. He played there and when I was talking to him, invited him to the coffeeshop today. And he said yes.
May 12, 2016 Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland Oregon. This is another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today it’s…well I suppose we should call him a keyboard player because he can play them all but I think Louis Pain would rather be known as an organist because we’ve seen him so many times sitting behind the mighty, mighty Hammond B3 and playing with people like Paul deLay, Mel Brown, LaRhonda Steele, Sweet Baby James Benton, Soul Vaccination, Lloyd Jones…shall I go on? I could. He’s got a new album called Rock Me Baby with LaRhonda Steele which has gotten national recognition and airplay. We’ll find out how he got to be named “King Louie.” He’s one of the busiest musicians in the state. Glad he took some time out to talk with us. P.S. Just to clarify......During the conversation, I asked Louis about the bands he's currently in. Somehow the conversation took some left and right turns and we never got back to the fact that he plays with Lloyd Jones and, when he's in town, Ty Curtis. Ty is based in Austin now but they work together quite a bit during the summer. Blame me.
May 5, 2016 We’re not at our usual stand, World Cup Coffee and Tea for this OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Because he’s so busy, we came to the temple of records to meet the Grand Vizier of music in Portland, Music Millennium’s owner Terry Currier. If there’s a more central figure in the music industry around here, I’ve never met him. Most of the time, when he’s interviewed, everybody always asks him how the store is doing and will the record store business survive. I don’t want to do that. If you’ve ever sat with Terry, the most fun is to talk about music. Thing is, his taste is so broad, he can be talking about the Kinks one minute and thrash metal the next. Let’s talk to the person who has done more for music and musicians in Oregon than anybody else.
April 28, 2016 An apology to Ms. Day and the rest of you. The author of this piece made a stupid mistake when recording and it sounds like we're in the bottom of a large metal cylinder. The author of this article feels like an idiot. Sorry. --The Author of this Article Welcome to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. In the coffeeshop with me today is Valerie Day, who with her husband John Smith are Nu Shooz, the Oregon Music Hall of Fame band who’s tune, “I Can’t Wait” is still, after thirty years, still one of those tunes that can easily get stuck in your head all day. And it does all over the world, every single day. I’ll ask her how she feels about being responsible for that. They have a new album called Bagtown coming out in May. There’s more than one story behind that. Coffeshop Conversations are always one-on-one…even this one. I told her that if Kate Power would do one with the Steve Einhorn, than she could too. And she did.
April 21, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. Today we’ve got a true renaissance man with us. I know that term gets thrown around, but in this case it fits well. Composer/multi-instrumentalist David Ornette Cherry comes back to Portland to write but when he’s not here he’s constantly in motion, travelling coast-to-coast and world-wide and playing very diverse musics. He is, as you may know the son of beloved Jazz and World Music composer/trumpeter Don Cherry, one of the most influential musicians of his era. Don is gone, but the spirit of his music is being advanced by his son. Of course David has his own voice and is involved in a wide variety of performance, including theater. It’s always engaging to talk with him.
April 8, 2016 Here we are once again at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’ve interviewed thousands of people and I’ve never met one more gracious than the guy who joins us today. You have heard Eddie Martinez guitar on dozens upon dozens of big hits. From Mick Jagger to Robert Palmer…yes that was him crunching “Addicted to Love.” He was one of the premier session guitarists when he lived in New York. He still gets calls but he’s been a Portlander for a long time now. Ever wonder what goes on in those sessions? And how session players have to be part chameleon and part singular artists? He has a new album in the works, too. We’ll find out.
March 30, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Gilsan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni and this time I’ve got with me J. Michael Kearsey of the Brothers of Baladi, a band celebrating forty years of making their own special brand of Middle Eastern music. Their new album is called Gravity of Love…we’ll find out what that means. It has been eight years since the last Brothers of Baladi album and this one is crafted with much care and patience over a four-year period. It also has a new twist. There are electronics on this one. A new step which we’ll also find out about. Michael is also Secretary of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and we’ll find out the latest from them.
March 24, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. We took a couple weeks off while I had some R&R. I’m OMN’s Tom D’Antoni. I’ve been looking forward to sitting down and talking with Curtis Salgado around the time his new album The Beautiful Lowdown is coming out. It’s always fun to talk with Curtis, he’s a brilliant guy, a great singer, and the world has been waiting for his follow up to Soul Shot his last album. He and I have very similar taste when it comes to music, he returned an Otis Blackwell LP that I had loaned him about three years ago. He could have kept it longer,I knew it was I good hands. I had just handed him the new album, which he had never seen in it's final form ;and we just jumped on in from there.
February 24, 2016 Joining me today at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan is the man who is pretty much responsible for several generations of Jazz musicians in Oregon. I’m not exaggerating. Most of our greatest players have come out of Portland State University’s Jazz program. Charlie Gray invented it and was in charge for twenty-seven years until he retired last spring. He was named a PDX Jazz Festival Jazz Master this year and he’s going to tell us all about how he did all that, and maybe about directing the Ice Capades orchestra before he came here.
February 11, 2016 Welcome to World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is author and former Oregonian film critic Shawn Levy. Shawn’s 2014 book De Niro: A Life was an exhaustive, revealing portrait. It was his eighth book, others including Rat Pack, and Paul Newman: A Life. We’ll find out what he’s working on next, if he misses the daily grind of reviewing movies and how he found that topless photo of Sophia Loren for his next book. Is that tease enough for you to line up at the front door when it comes out in October? Maybe I’m just speaking for myself…I don't think so.
February 2, 2016 We’ve got a percussionist and a poet in the coffeeshop this week…all in the person of Heidi Shuler. The coffeeshop is World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland...and we'rewell into our second year of Coffeeshop Conversations. I met Heidi at the very first Mysti Krewe of Nimbus’ Mardi Gras Ball. She was the percussionist in Steve Kerin’s band. The 2016 Ball at the Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, February 6 is the 6th annual. OMN is a media sponsor again this year. She was a founding member of the Krewe. She’s more than an multi-percussionist. She’s also a poet and I’m going to ask her to read a couple for us.
January 28, 2016 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea, the coffeeshop home of OMN’s Coffeeshop Conversations. With me today is a gentleman who doesn’t do hardly any interviews. Of course this being a conversation, it isn’t really an interview. At least that’s what I told him. He is Keith Schreiner, you may know him as Auditory Sculpture, although he isn’t using that tag as much anymore. He was one-third of the legendary Portland electronic trio Dahlia. He was a member of the Hip Hop group Suckapunch. He is known for producing and helping to re-imagine talents like Stephanie Schneiderman and many more. He has pretty much dropped off the performing landscape and we’ll find out why and what he’s doing. I got to know him from doing stories on him over the years but moreso from working with him on the assisted suicide documentary directed by Greg Bond and me, for which he did the score. Time to talk to Keith.
January 22, 2016 In the coffeeshop with me today is guitarist, composer…and a lot more…Ryan Meagher. The coffeeshop, as usual is World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. Ryan has just gotten back from New York and I’ll be asking about what he did there. He’s working on a new album, he’s one of the leaders of the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble as well as its label PJCE Records, he’s one of the founders of the Montavilla Jazz Festival and he recently was named Editor of the Jazz Society of Oregon’s JazzScene Magazine. Although, over the years, our conversations always turn to baseball (he’s a Giants fan), I’m going to try to keep this one on music. I don’t think I’ll be completely successful but I’ll try. He’s been in Portland just a few years, but he has truly made his mark since he arrived and it’s safe to say he’s a major player these days.
We're at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation…now in our second year. Today Pete Krebs is in the coffeeshop with me. Maybe you knew him as a Rock Star with the band Hazel and with Elliot Smith. Or maybe when he did a one-eighty and founded a Gypsy Jazz band in the late 1990s. The delicious Swing of Stolen Sweets followed that, followed by Honky-Tonk and country. His band the Earnest Lovers is tearing it up currently…Earnest as in Ernest Tubb, you know. Along with Pete Krebs and his Portland Playboys. He’s one of the most interesting people on earth and that’s not a beer commercial. It’s been quite a trip for Mr. Krebs. Let’s meet him.
January 7, 2016 It's time for another OMN coffeeshop conversation. And the coffeeshop is World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. With me in the coffeeshop is Josh Malm Tree leader of Redwood Son. Sometimes he IS Redwood Son…he’ll explain. But I have something else to explain. After checking out the recording gear before we started and making sure it worked, I went ahead like I always do. My conversation with Josh was amazing, and certainly one-of-a-kind, not to be duplicated. When I played it back after we were finished I found audio problems which are not fixable. I was going to cancel using it but then I thought, hell…Josh was too good not to use it. So here it is...listen closely because the audio truly sucks. It’s worth the trouble.
December 17, 2015 Back in World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan today for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni and with me today is Darka Dusty who is singer, songwriter, pianist, accordionist, producer and with her husband Miri Stebivka run Mirifoto, a commercial photography company known for their photos of musicians. She was previously one half of Darka & Slavko (in Ukrainian Дарка й Славко), which was a duo known for performing Ukrainian music. She was one of the founders of the Vulva Underground, known around here for their name, first of all…and for their all-female musical tributes to people like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Simon and Garfunkel. She’s brash and funny and talented. Before we started rolling she did an impression of both Rocky and Bullwinkle, at which point I turned on the recorder.
December 11, 2015 As usual, we’re at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me today is someone you’ve probably been reading for…well, decades. He’s best known as a Jazz Journalist but he’s also known for recording pieces he’s written to the accompaniment of some of our greatest Jazz musicians. He’s Lynn Darroch, he’s also a KMHD stablemate of mine, and for a while we were both in the hunt for assignments at the Oregonian. He has a new book on the way, it’s called Rhythm in the Rain - Jazz in the Pacific Northwest." We’ll hear him read from it.
December 2, 2015 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. That's where we do these Coffeeshop Conversations. With me today is Blues/Soul/Gospel singer LaRhonda Steele. She’s one of our best, having come up in Norman Sylvester’s band…as have so many singers…sung backup behind the best and now taken her place in the spotlight with a new album with keyboardist Louis (King Louie) Pain. They have a new album out called Rock Me Baby…we’ll hear some of that. We’ll also hear about the part of her career that keeps her the busiest, and one side of the Oregon music scene we hear about the least….Gospel music.
November 19, 2015 We are at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation, constantly raining edition. This time we’ve got singer Monica Nelson here. She was in the historic 80’s punk band The Obituaries here in Portland. She left Portland destroyed and in ruins and moved to New York where she lived for twenty years. She returned a few years ago and now leads Monica Nelson and the Highgates. I’m pretty sure we’re going to find out what she means by a “Punk Rock frame of mind.”
November 12, 2015 Hi there welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan for another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. With me today is photojournalist John Rudoff. You have seen his work in Oregon Music News pretty much since we started in 2009. He’s not only a music photojournalist, having come back recently from covering the Syrian refugee tragedy on the Isle of Lesbos. You have seen his photos of Storm Large. Everyone has. He has probably taken more shots of Storm than anyone else on earth. You’ve also probably seen him shooting photos at a concert you have attended. He did all this while maintaining a parallel career as a cardiologist. It’s fun to let you meet our OMN family once in a while.
November 4, 2015 We're back in the coffeeshop this week. That coffeeshop being World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me is Blues singer Karen Lovely who has a new album called Ten Miles of Bad Road…which sounds like the title of a Blues song because it is. A lot of people are saying this is her best album yet…and I’m one of them. We’ll play a little bit from it at some point. It’s up on the charts, very gratifying for her because it was long in the making…long and hard. We’ll hear all about it.
October 21, 2015 After a week off while we ramped up for the new site, we’re back at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portand for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. With me is bassist/composer Jaime Leopold. You may know him from his current group Short Stories. If you’re real good, you know him from the legendary Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. Jaime was on the scene in San Francisco for all those hippie hijinks…he knew Neal Cassady, Kesey, and nearly all of the other luminaries. It was Cassady who once said, "“We are actually fourth dimensional beings in a third dimensional body inhabiting a second dimensional world!” Jaime even spent a little time in the pokey back then for helping distribute what we in Oregon can now buy in stores. He quit music for a long time, but is back on the scene. Stories? He’s got them.
October 8, 2015 Hi there, we’re back in the coffeeshop this week…that being World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. This time…in the days before he will be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame…drummer Brian Foxworth is with us. A member of the Curtis Salgado band for the past five years, also a member of the Roseland Hunters where he shows off his vocal skills…he plays with a lot of people and constantly. He also plays in church…a lot. And he’s helping put together a reunited, rejuvenated version of the famed Portland Soul band Pleasure. And that isn’t half of it.
October 2, 2015 We're not actually in the coffeeshop this week, we're on Skype with David Vest who after he left Portland for Victoria, B.C. became the best Blues pianist in Canada, winning the coveted Maple Blues Award in that category two out of the past three years. Before he moved to Canada, and even after, he was the piano player in Paul deLay’s band. David is not only a Blues and boogie woogie player, he can play just about anything including Sun Ra and Thelonious Monk. In fact he did an all Monk show in Canada not long ago. He’s a political writer too. Most of the time, when we talk, the subect is baseball, but not today. He’s working on a new album…we’ll find out what we can about that. So now from all points south, including Alabama, where he was born, and Houston, where he spent many years, here’s the king of the Blues piano in Canada and probably the whole world….David Vest
September 24, 2015 Welcome back to World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland, Oregon. This time, not long back from two lengthy tours, one with Jill Scott and one with Bootsy Collins, with a new album out, one ready to go and one in production, one of the busiest musicians in Oregon, trumpeter/composer Farnell Newton. Or "Neutron Newton" as we will find out. He’s one of those musicians who is comfortable in any genre but who is focusing on Soul and Funk and Jazz and various versions and combinations of them. His new album is called Ready to Roll and we’ll hear some of it.
September 17, 2015 You are in the coffeeshop with me and Tuvan throat singer Enrique Ugalde who you may know as Soriah. Once again we’re at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. You may not know what Tuvan throat singing is. You may not know where the hell Tuva is. If you don’t you sure as hell don’t know why Enrique, originally from California, now splitting his time between Portland an Tuva where he has won singing competions. Soriah is his performing name. This is going to be good.
September 10, 2015 Chance Hayden plays guitar in nearly every genre you can think of. The coffeeshop is World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland, You knew that. Chance recently got back from an extensive tour of Europe as part of Jarrod Lawson’s band. It was not their first tour and Jarrod is so hot over there that they played major festivals and large halls. But Chance is much more than a Soul guitarist. He’s a Jazz artist, was in an early version of Redwood Son in which he played Americana…face it, he can play anything. He’s married to singer/composer Shelly Rudolph and they have a little son.
September 3, 2105 Thanks for coming back to Oregon Music News’ Coffeeshop Conversations at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me is Kate Power...singer, guitarist, ukulele-ist or is it ukulele-ian…well she’s known for her ukulele playing too. Kate and husband Steve Einhorn came back to Portland in January. They had been gone for four and a half years. For decades they were the owners of Artichoke Music, a store and teaching center, but more importantly, the hub of stringed instruments and song in Portland. It was a welcoming place to visit. There was always someone playing an instrument, many times one or both of the proprietors who had a thriving career as a performing/recording duo.They still do! They gave up the store in 2006. The rest, we’ll find out about.
August 27, 2015 Welcome back to the coffeeshop, World Cup Coffee and Tea to be specific at northwest 18th and Glisan in Portland. Joining me today here in the cupping room is the owner of the Alberta Rose Theatre, Joe Cawley. The Alberta Rose has been an important part of Oregon’s music scene since Thursday, June 24, 2010 when he opened what had been a church, a couple of different movie theaters, but mostly had been abandoned for a long time before he bought it. Known for it’s Americana, Acoustic and Blues shows, it is also home to many of the Wanderlust Circus events. It’s a friendly place, very aware and a great part of the Alberta Arts district. Matter of fact, it’s turned out to be its anchor.
August 20, 2015 It's another Coffeeshop Conversation from World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan. With us in the cupping room is the founder of The Slants, Simon Tam also known as Simon Young…don’t worry, I’ll ask him about that… the purveyors of “Chinatown Rock” a combination of punk, synth-pop, rock and their own special sauce. Yes their name is a key factor, Simon chose it because it is a band made up of all Asian Americans, hence the joke, the slants, but which has much deeper meaning. And we’ll get into that. You may have read about their ongoing legal dispute with the federal government over the trademarking of their name. The feds say it’s disparaging to Asian-Americans, the band says, well, you know, we ARE Asian-Americans. Of course we’ll get into THAT.
August 13, 2015 We’ve got a saxophone playing tap dancer on this episode of Oregon Music News’ Coffeeshop Conversations. His is known as Shoehorn. His real name is Michael Conley. I'm with him in the cupping room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan which is where we do all of these things. Sometimes baristas come in and have to grind coffee, but you know, we’re in a coffeeshop. Glad you decided to spend some time with us again this week. You have seen Shoehorn, I betcha. Yes, he plays clubs and concerts, but you also might find him busking on the street, something he’s done all over the world. He has a new album and dvd out called Wingin’ It. It’s got some of Oregon’s best Jazz musicians on it, plus one of his daughters. His other daughter did the album jacket design.
August 6, 2015 The coffeeshop gets funky today. Joining me at World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th & Glisan Michael Quinby who is the leader, guitarist and vocalist of the Roseland Hunters who have been blasting out funk for over a year on a regular basis and are about to release This Time, their first album, produced by Steve Berlin. It drops on August 21. The Hunters have some of Oregon’s best musicians including Damian Erskine on bass, Reinhardt Melz on drums, and the newest inductee into the Oregon Music Hall of fame Brian Foxworth, moving off the the drum kit to play percussion and sing.
July 30, 2015 Thanks for coming back to the coffeeshop, or…thanks for being here if it’s your first time. As usual this week’s Coffeeshop Conversation is coming to you from a coffeeshop, World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th & Glisan. With me today is Luz Elena Mendoza, the mystic goddess who leads Y La Bamba. They’ve been off the scene for two and a half years, but she is in the process of reviving, re-forming the group and we’ll find out all about it. She is at the tail end of a Kickstarter Campaign to raise money to complete the production of the new album Oljos Del Sol. She's trying out some of the new songs on the road as she prepares to record. She has a lot to say and when she says it, you tend to hang on every word.
July 23, 2015 You have found another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. Lucky you. From World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan of course. With me today is one of the two faces of Jimmy Mak’s. Jimmy Makarounis might think he is because he owns the place, but the two folks who people have grown to know and love over the years are mangers Lisa Brandon-Boyle and our guest in the coffeeshop John-David Stubenberg, known to all far and wide as JD. He’s been at Jimmy Mak’s since the old days, before the new club was built in 2006 and he’s been there almost every night since…and man does he have stories!
July 9, 2015 Welcome back Coffeeshop Conversationalists. We’re back after a week off baking in the Oregon Music News booth at the Waterfront Blues Festival. As usual, we are coming to you from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. With me today is composer and bassist Damian Erskine, possibly the most versatile bass player in a city of truly great bass player. He’s a Jazz artist, he plays in a funk band, he plays with rock star Gino Vannelli…I could go on. He has a signature sound that when you hear it, you know it’s got to be Damian and no other.
June 25, 2015 Lisa Mann is our guest this time around at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. She's pretty much fresh off of winning the Blues Music Award for Best Bass Player (kind of the Blues version of the Oscars) is bass player/vocalist Lisa Mann. As you may know she is married to Allen Markell, who is also a bass player…we’ll get to that and a lot of other things.
June 18, 2015 Lloyd Jones is with me at World Cup Coffee and Tea (NW 18th & Glisan) this week. As I’m sure you know, Lloyd has been a huge part of the Blues and Soul scene in Oregon for longer than he cares to remember. And he’s got stories about everyone. He’s on his way to Europe for a tour, but before he goes, he came in to talk to us.
Here's the latest Coffeeshop Conversation from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland Oregon. With me today is Amy Maxwell, co-owner with her husband saxophonist Patrick Lamb of Ticket Tomato, with. She is also Patrick’s manager. The story of how Tickets Oregon got started and became Ticket Tomato is a good one, so is how they manage to combine a successful music career with a ticket business.
June 4, 2015 Hello fans of Coffeeshop Conversations, Oregon Music News, coffee in general and specifically World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan where we do these things every week.
This week with me in the coffeeshop is entertainment attorney Peter Vaughan Shaver whom, you should know is also OMN’s attorney and has been for six years. He’s a very interesting cat and we’re going to talk about all kinds of stuff.
May 28, 2015 Welcome to the coffeeshop…World Cup coffee and tea at NW 18th and Glisan, to be exact for this week’s Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. This week it’s the spectacular Kris Deelane, singer, composer and guitarist. You’ve known her as a rocker and she still is with her band Sharp Little Things, but now she also has a soul band, Kris Deelane and the Hurt. You probably remember her with Adam and Kris (with Adam East). Her guest recording credits include work with The Decemberists, Jerry Joseph and The Jackmormons and Michael Dean Damron/ I Can Lick any SOB in the House and Lewi Longmire. We’ll find out all about that.
May 21, 2015 In the shop today is a pianist, a composer, an engineer, and a producer…all in one person…his name is Ramsey Embick. Over the years, I’ve had some very interesting conversations with Ramsey, you never know where they’re going to go. I might guess at what we’ll talk about but it would be only a guess. We like that. Let’s talk with Ramsey Embick.
April 30, 2015 With me today is Ron Blessinger, the Musical Director of the internationally known Third Angle New Music Ensemble. I first met him a long time ago when I wrote and produced a TV story on their production of several compositions by Steve Reich, which included a visit FROM Steve Reich to work with them. It was an experience neither one of us will ever forget. Ron and I, that is. Ron talks about TA's landmark concert on Friday, May 1, 7:30 at the Alberta Rose Theatre as the ensemble teams up with The New Yorker’s Alex Ross, author of the bestselling 20th-century music history The Rest is Noise. Ross will read the story of the West Coast avant-garde, complemented by Third Angle’s performance of works by Harry Partch, Henry Cowell, Lou Harrison, and 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams. Ron is also a long-time violinist with the Oregon Symphony. He had fought traffic to get to World Cup.
April 23, 2015 Welcome to another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation…the coffeeshop being World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan. With me today is Blues guitarist/singer Mary Flower, known for her Piedmont and her Delta Blues playing and her slide guitar and her singing. She's a multiple Blues Music and Muddy Awards winner. She’s always on the road, so it’s nice to get her in one place for an hour. I had run into her the previous night at Blackwell’s where she was sitting in for Lloyd Jones. She talks about that and her life and travels as an internationally recognized artist.
April 16, 2015 Tony Ozier is the King of Doo Doo Funk, the Monarch of the Dookie Jam, and is also known as Dookie Green. And he is one of the busiest music producers in Oregon -- about to unleash a new album of Funk-related material on us (due in May) called Speed of Sound, in addition to working on a new album from Janice Scroggins’ daughter, Arietta Ward, among others, and producing tunes on Farnell Newton’s new album. Listen to one below. I wrote the first story on the Dookie Jam in 2007…it’s still going strong every month. And here he is again!
April 9 2015 Welcome to World Cup coffee and tea at 18th and Glisan to be specific. Time for another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation. This time we’ve got someone you may know better as Miz Kitty of Miz Kitty’s Parlour, the long-running vaudeville show, these days at Alberta Rose Theatre. But you might know her by her real name, Lisa Marsicek, a fiddler and player of other stringed instruments…from the Flat Mountain Girls and other bands she’s been in.
It started as a goofy little vaudeville show at the Back Gate Stage at Artichoke Music in 2002 starring Lisa Marsicek as Miz Kitty, a naughty lady in a flamboyant costume a dance hall queen would have worn in the 1875. After moving to Mississippi Pizza and then to Imbibe, she took the plunge and brought Miz Kitty's Parlor to the Mission Theater. At the time it seemed risky. Then she started selling out the place.
April 2, 2015 It’s another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation and, as always, it happens at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan in Portland. I’ve got drummer Carlton Jackson with me, one of the most versatile drummers around…Soul, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Rock…you name it, he’s played it. He's a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and co-leader of the Jackson-Mills Big Band. A native Portlander, a fellow KMHD DJ and one of my favorite people. He's played with Leroy Vinnegar and many many other of our best. He's one of our best!
March 26, 2015 This time it’s Dennise Kowalczyk, who you remember as being, pretty much, the face of the late great all-local music radio station KZME. You may remember her from her days at KBOO too. We'll find out what she's up to these days and a little about the demise of KZME. Also, we finally reveal to the world just exactly what the cupping room is here at world cup. It’s where we record these things and nobody who has come here has been able to figure out what the hell a cupping room is. Me neither. So I asked World Cup’s Cameran Heger…and he told us.
March 19, 2015 It's another Oregon Music News Coffeeshop Conversation coming to you, as always from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Gliasan in Portand, Oregon. Today we’re with singer/songwriter/guitarist/actor/comedian Andrew Paul Woodworth, who also use to write for OMN when he was of a mind to. This will be the first official not safe for work edition of Coffeeshop Conversations…nothing gross, just two guys talking like normal people. Andrew was in the middle of a John Paul Jones story when I turned on the recorder….yes, the Led Zeppelin John Paul Jones.
March 12, 2015 You’ve heard the voice of Inessa on radio for a long time. She’s worked at a lot of stations, including a lot of years at KINK. Currently she’s music director at the Portland Radio Project. I’m an old radio guy, I’m also old and a radio guy. I’ve been looking forward to talking radio with one of the great radio voices in Oregon. As usual, we sat in the cupping room of World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan.
March 5, 2015 Joining me today at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan is a splendid fellow. He is a founding member of what he used to call a third world party band which you know as 3 Leg Torso. He may still call it by that name...it still is. His name is Courtney Von Drehle. I’ve known him and his 3 leg compatriot Bela Balogh since 1997 when I wrote the Oregonian piece on their first album and caused a ruckus at their CD release gig. We’ll talk about that.
February 26, 2015 Today's CC is with Rebecca Sanborn is a keyboardist and vocalist. She is a member of Portland’s beloved Indie/Jazz/Punk/Intellectual (I could go on a naming spree) band the Blue Cranes. She is also a member of Swansea, a trio which she started as a duo with her husband, percussionist Ji Tanzer, also the drummer in the Cranes. I had an absolutely rivetingly delightful hour talk we had which was wide-ranging: from her childhood, to the joys of being married to Tanzer and having him play in both bands (no irony, she means it), to Millennial behavior and a lot of other things.
February 19, 2015 With me in the coffeeshop today is guitarist, composer and educator Dan Balmer who has had a long and interesting career playing all kinds of Jazz and some Jazz the Jazz Police didn’t want you to think was Jazz. This week’s Coffeeshop Conversation, coming to you, as usual, from World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. It went up on Thursday, February 19, 2015, the first day of the Portland Jazz Festival. He's always engaging and opinionated and fun to talk with.
February 12, 2015 Jessica Black in 2012, singer/songwriter Pilar French described herself thus: I guess I'm just somebody... a thoughtful, philosophical person. I think about life a lot. Life is kind of a struggle, but [there are] joyful experiences as well, and we just adapt to the changing environments. nyone who has heard her songs or talked with her knows how true that is. The 2012 interview was around her last album Deliver. She's not quite ready to release her new album. She'll tell you why in our conversation. She brought a new friend with her to World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, where we do these things. It's a guitanjo. Kind of the Prius of musical instruments. A banjo body with a guitar neck. When she told me about it, I thought we had to hear it. And that's what we did. She kicked off our Conversation with a song which will end up on her next album.
February 5, 2015 Joining me today in the cupping room of World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan is Pink Martini percussionist, co-founder of Portland’s Lions of Batucada Brazilian marching band…and teacher of percussion the world over…literally...Brian Davis. We were lucky to snag him while he was making a stop back in Portland and just before he lit out for who knows where on earth. He’s a ball of positive fire and I have had much fun talking with him over the years but not as much fun as I had when I did a TV piece on the Lions and I got to march in the Starlight Parade It's a fast hour! Listen:
January 29, 2015 This Coffeeshop Conversation is special. For what Reggie Houston has to say for himself, but what he really says for all of us. Once again we were in the Cupping Room at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland. Not that all of these conversations aren’t revealing, they’re designed to be, but today's was unexpectedly so. Saxophonist Reggie Houston, a New Orleans native, who moved to Portland the year before Katrina, and who played in Fat’s Domino’s band for twenty years became a very close friend and collaborator with the late Janice Scroggins. Her death affected many folks but I didn’t know how close they had become and how her death affected him until he sat down to talk with me. I thought we were just going to have fun and bullshit as friends like we usually do. Not today. Listen to what happened when I punched record.
January 22, 2015 In December of 2010, she unveiled a completely new side to her music. At the time I wrote: Laura Ivancie has a confession to make. She's not apologizing for all those sets she did with her acoustic guitar or for being mostly known as a singer/songwriter. She still does them. But her confession is that deep-down she's an Electronic music diva. A little background provided by OMN's Ana Ammann in a preview she wrote on Lilith Fair 2010. With a famous Portland last name, Laura Ivancie, whose grandfather served as Portland’s Mayor in the 1980s, is setting out to make a name for herself. Music has been in her blood for as long as she can remember, yet she is a relative newcomer to the Portland music scene. After a successful college basketball career, Ivancie spent 14 months backpacking across South America with nothing but her guitar in 2005. When she returned, she became a firefighter for the US Forestry Service and in 2008, after much pleading from her friends, finally took to the stage to share her musical gift with the world. Her music is a mix of many genres, including elements of folk, rock, country and soul, and her song “Little Girl” is a hit with voters in the Lilith Competition, keeping her in the Top 5 most of the time. That was then. She has teamed up with producer Keith Schreiner who has had a knack with female vocalists: there was Jen Folker with Dahlia, Orianna Herman of Oracle, Stephanie Schneiderman...and now Laura Ivancie. Does it change her sound? About as much as it changed Schneiderman's, and that's a lot.
January 15, 2015 Skip VonKuske helped found Portland Cello Project, he's an original member of Vagabond Opera, he's in Groovy Wallpaper, he is cellotronik, He likes the way it looks capitalized and with a "k" on the end. This month he is celebrating his tenth anniversary of playing in weekly residency every Monday 7-9pm (free) at McMenamin's Edgefield. How is Skip regarded in the Portland music community? When he hurt his back and had to walk with a cane, people rallied around and held a benefit to help pay for his medical bills. He recovered from that. He seemingly never stops. His life is like his live samples, they just keep playing and adding to each other as he adds new layers.f This post is under the "Melting Pot" category. When OMN first started we held a contest to name it so we'd have a place for bands like PCP. Skip named it and won the contest. As always, our Coffeeshop Conversation took place at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in the cupping room:
January 8, 2015 The Winding Stream, Beth Harrington's documentary on the Carter Family tells a great story about American music. But the story of the making of the film ranks right up there. It's formal title is The Winding Stream: The Carters, the Cashes & the course of Country music. OMN's Ana Ammann wrote about her: Beth Harrington is a story teller. The stories she tells are about those people, places and things in our culture that need to be remembered, shared and passed on. As a documentary filmmaker for the past 30 years, Harrington has produced, directed and written her own films, as well as researched and developed shows for PBS, WGBH, and Oregon Public Broadcasting. The story she is currently documenting is one for the history books – it is the chronicle of a family and the music they made that sits in the heart of American culture, and you have an opportunity to help bring it to life. I've known her since 1998 or 9. We're not exactly sure how we met but I think it had something to do with Harpo Marx' son. We sat in the Cupping Room of World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, where all of the Coffeeshop Conversations take place. We had a good time. You will too. Listen:
January 1, 2015 Robert Ham is the top music journalist in the state of Oregon and one of the best in the US of A. Now, I could be saying that to curry favor and get him to write more for us, but I'm not, although that would be a goal. Hell, I'd hand over the keys to the store, if I could afford it and he'd make a better OMN editor than me. One thing I've always liked about our relationship is that even though we've been in competition for the same dollars from various publications (the Oregonian, for instance), I have never felt a shred of competitiveness between us. That's a rare thing in journalism, especially given the shrinking marketplace and minuscule amount of money to be made compared to ten years ago. He's a splendid fella. We talked at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, where all of our Coffeeshop Conversations take place. Listen:
12/25/2014 He has always been a serious journalist, but let's face it, he may be best known for his coverage of visiting celebs, local celebs and who's who and what's what among the Portland glitterati. He covers the parties and events that most of us don't get invited to. Beck has written for The Downtowner, The Oregonian, Willamette Week and now for golocalpdx.com, where he's also an editor. While at WW he had the massive task of being "the gay writer" in the "straight media." It was not a unique position in the wider sense, but it was totally unique to be so identified and have the responsibility on your shoulders. He spent a half-hour with me in the Cupping Room at the World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan, where we do all of our weekly Coffeeshop Conversations. He's one of the busiest guys in town and one of the most prolific.
December 17, 2014 I met Art Levine when he was on summer break from Johns Hopkins University. We were roommates in 1970 in the two floor apartment leased by the Baltimore Underground paper of record, HARRY. I was a gritty city hippie with hair down to my ass and crabs and he was....he had an air conditioner. Nevertheless we became friends and remain so today. He became one of the top investigative reporters in America, still a Contributing Editor to the Washington Monthly. He is also a life-long music journalist and has contributed many splendid pieces to Oregon Music News. He was on Skype from Washington, D.C. and I was in the cupping room of Word Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th and Glisan in Portland, which is where do these things. His new book (2017) is called "Mental Health, Inc.: How Corruption, Lax Oversight, and Failed Reforms Endanger Our Most Vulnerable Citizens," which we did not discuss when this was recorded. Listen to Art Levine and me:
December 11, 2014 It’s another episode of Coffeeshop Conversations. We’re in World Cup Coffee and Tea at Northwest 18th and Glisan, where we do all of these. This episode with Noah Mickens the impresario of Wanderlust Circus whom I have known since 1997. One thing I’ve never really asked him about is the period of time when he would publicly hang from hooks as part of his performance. Stay tuned for that! Let’s talk with Noah Mickens!
December 4, 2014 Spend an hour with one of the busiest, most versatile saxophonists in Oregon. You know her from the Quaraphonnes, Soul Vaccination and many other bands, but you've never heard her like this.
So much of our lives seem to center around our favorite coffeeshop, that when I wanted to start a series of hour-long interviews with some of the most interesting people in Oregon, I thought, "Why not a a coffeeshop?" So here's the first, recorded, as they all are, in the "cupping room" at World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW. 18th and Glison.
And before we go any further, yes I know that "coffeeshop" is usually two words. Well, I decided to change that. So there you have it.
Mary-Sue Tobin is no stranger to OMN. You've seen our shorter video interviews, read about her with the Quadraphonnes and as a huge part of the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. You know her from her years with Soul Vaccination and with countless Jazz bands including Andrew Oliver's bands and the Paxselin Quartet, even with the Oregon Symphony and in the pit band at Portland Center Stage as well as a full complement of teaching.
As well as you think you may know her...as well as I think I may know her, once you spend an hour talking, you learn a lot about a person. That's why we're doing Coffeeshop Conversations.
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