Joanna and I took our first trip to the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival Friday through Monday. We signed up for a package tour sponsored by KPLU, the Seattle NPR station. The package included the train ride from Seattle to Portland and back, bus transportation to and from the hotel, hotel reservations, festival passes, passes to after hours blues jams, a blues riverboat cruise, tote bag and a drinks and food reception. The room at the Marriott was great. It was across the street from the festival with a balcony facing the main stages.
View of the main festival ground
The festival is held in a natural amphitheater in Downtown Portland facing the Willamette River. This photo was taken from the riverboat cruise we took. There are two main stages, one at each end of the amphitheater. As soon as one show ended at one stage, the next show started at the alternate stage. It was continuous music from noon until about 10:00 at night. You could get a good seat for one stage and stay there, as the sound system was set up so the sound was good wherever you where.
Trombone Shorty
Hands down the best act of the festival, and that is saying a lot. Trombone Shorty on trombone and trumpet, backed by alto and baritone saxes, bass, drums, guitar and Mississippi congettos. Every one a killer player. They are playing 200 shows a year and are funky and tight, with great material. Think Ernie-K-Doe on a massive dose of human growth hormone with gobs of jazz, funk and soul thrown in. They were so good, I also went to their after hours jam. The dance floor was bouncing up and down so far I thought it was going to cave in. Do not miss a chance to see this guy.
Booker T
A dictionary of classic soul, done in a great, mellow way. A lot of Booker T and the MGs of course, plus Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Temptations and more. I believe he wrote, co-wrote or engineered all the songs he played. That is Booker on the guitar. He played more guitar than keyboards and was really good. He is one of the artists that is hard to see as he rarely gigs. Another act worth making a real effort to see.
Janiva Magness
Won Best Comtemporary Blues Artist last three years and BB King Best Blues Entertainer of the year for 2009. Four pieces, bass, guitar, drums and B-3. All really good musicians, although it would have been even better if John had been on the guitar. Really good music, great, well paced show but came up just a little short of being really great.
Commander Cody
Texas Honky Tonk, Truck Driving songs, Lost Love songs and Hot Rod Lincoln. "You're gonna drive me to drinkin, if you don't stop driving that Hot Rod Lincoln!". He sounded exactly like he did on his album from 40 years ago: Hot Licks, Cold Steel and Truck Driver's Favorites. He played and sang great, yet appeared to be almost completely drunk. A very cool show.
Michael Burks and Lucky Peterson
Missed the first half of the show as we were on the cruise. The half of the show we saw was one continuous jam. They did Voodoo Child in double time. Yes, you read that correctly. It was quite interesting, but I cannot say it was an improvement over either Jimi's or Stevie's versions. Lucky was hammering it on both organ and guitar.
Super Chickan
This photo was taken from the balcony of our hotel room. Old style Chicago Blues, pure and simple. Messin with the Kid.
The Willamette River
This shot was taken from the Riverboat Cruise on a part of the Willamette just above where it meets the Columbia River, 78 upstream from where Lewis and Clarke finally reached the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. Since then, the river has been inhabited by many more people and a lot fewer salmon.
Coda
This festival is put on by the Oregon Food Bank. They raised approximately $400,000 and many semi-truck loads of food. It is almost entirely run by volunteers and they do a remarkable job. It ran really smoothly from traffic flow to security.
It was a pleasure to meet John Kessler. He hosts KPLU's Saturday and Sunday night blues shows from 6:00 p.m. until midnight, every week. Not only is he a DJ and radio personality, he is also a player and recording engineer. On top of all that, a very nice guy.
The package tour was well worth while. Not only was it less expensive than if we had driven and done our own booking, there is no way we could have gotten the marvelous hotel room we enjoyed.
If you are considering going to this festival, contact Joanna or I and we will give you all you need to know to get the most out of it.
