Oregon Music News

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 Strate

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.