This is the band's second disk. The biggest difference you will notice between this effort and their first release, is that it showcases the range of talent this group has. From the New Orleans inspired "Make It Easy" to the hypnotic "Don't mean A Thing", the music captures, encapsulates and makes you not want to let go. It is easy to understand after the first few minutes of listening why it is getting the airplay all over town that it is.
It's official release date is set for September 12th at the Trails End Saloon.

While some have commented that the blues are a dieing art form and that they are slowly suffocating underneath the weight of up and coming indie, and hip-hop performers, these three artists strongly prove otherwise.......
New Jersey hailing, Dave Gross was nominated for a BMA in 2007 for Best New Artist-his brand of extraordinary guitar playing has made him a favorite among national blues critics..."Crawling the Walls", his 2008 release under the VizzTone Label, effortlessly traverses across generations of blues styles.

Henry Cooper, Terry Robb and Duffy Bishop-proof that Portland's blues scene can rival any other with it's talent.....
Guitarist Robb and vocalist Bishop have been consistantly winning Muddy Awards for 20 years...
Cooper is well loved locally and made a huge impact with his presence at the CBA fundraiser in January...
you can find out more about the artists and show information by checking out their myspace pages..

WC Clark-From Austin with Soul (2002)-this cd is Clark's 4th release-Clark started playing the Austin blues scene in the 1950's-he played with Big Joe Turner, Albert Collin and Little Johnny Taylor-in the late 1970's he formed the Triple Threat Review with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton-
From Austin With Soul was greeted with warm reviews and long awaited anticipation.

Magic Sam (Sam Maghett)-tracks from what some consider the best blues album ever made and his first full length recording West Side Soul (1967). The album contains standards such as "Sweet Home Chicago", "Mama Talk To Your Daughter" and features Mighty Joe Young as a second guitar player. Magic Sam was born on February 14th, 1937 in Grenada, Mississippi but was raised on Chicago's west side. His tragic, too early death of a heart attack at age 32 in 1969 stays embedded in the souls of the many guitarists he has influenced.

Mary Flower moved to Portland in 2004 with her son Jesse. Her soon to be released album "Bridges" (November 8th at the Secret Society Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.) is essentially a dedication of love to the city. It not only combines her incredible guitar playing and vocals but features a literal "who's who" of local artists. Duffy Bishop,Reggie Houston, Janice Scroggins, and Rebecca Kilgore all appear on the cd.
It will be on sale exclusively, at Music Millennium November 15th.

How fortunate we are to live in a city that exudes the musical talent the way that Portland does. As the show makes a slow transition into featuring more local artists, regularly, it was decided that Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins and Fiona Boyes would be a good first step toward introducing the change in the format. Not only that, Portland just loves it's blues women.

Regardless of whether you are listening to the hypnotic, one chord grooves of John Lee Hooker or the jazzy, ethereal vocals of Eden Brent, the ol' 1,4, 5 remains the ol' 1,4,5. The beauty of the blues is that all the music created in this country is an offset of it and therefore it stays in constant flux. The artists chosen for the show tonite, showcase partly, the differences in sound, style and tonal quality. They all don't represent what is normally considered traditional blues but what a boring world we blues fans would have to live in, if that is all there was....

Welcome to the second part of my first year blog.....
The artists played were chosen because of their connection to Portland, the personal appeal of the music and the quality of the cd.
Curtis Salgado is a survivor in every sense of the word. The cd "Clean Getaway" is his first release since having to overcome a battle with liver cancer. More information can be found on Curtis by visiting his website at: www.curtissalgado.com

Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl met a at a club called the Speakeasy in Massachusetts in the middle 70's and a bond was quickly formed between the two musicians. Duke saw Ronnie as a soon to be force in the blues community and took him under his wing. He allowed him sit in on sessions that he was performing with A Roomful of Blues. This album brought them back to where they feel they started from 30 years ago.
Walter Trout's musical career spans 35 years. He was one of John Mayall's Bluebreakers for five years, playing next to Coco Montoya. He met