.
Coming
Full Circle
Browning,
Pearl Django evolving.
BY
VANESSA SALVIA
Portland-based back-porch chanteuse Rachel Browning
will perform Saturday at Café Paradiso. Browning has been gaining
a following for her work as lead singer with the Portland bands Dryer
and demi-dryer, which is Dryer distilled down to its essence of only
three players instead of four. She is currently performing a few shows
to highlight her first solo release, Good Thing Going.
Over the past five years, Browning has been steadily
developing as a composer, but one thing which has remained mercifully
untouched is Browning's Virginia-raised voice. On one of the CD's standout
tracks, "Amazing Grace," Browning's delivery is totally unaffected and
pure. Her haunting, southern gothic voice is perfectly suited for the
CD's sparse instrumental accompaniment, which lets the purity of her
voice shine through.
My praise of "Amazing Grace" should not be taken to
imply that the best songs on the CD are covers, however. In fact, that's
the only song out of 10 that's not a Browning original, and her songwriting
is getting stronger, in the vein of Lucinda Williams' storytelling.
What's striking about Browning is that her songs always sound completely
unscripted, as if they just appeared out of the ether, with Browning
as the conduit.
Goldmine magazine has nothing but exemplary words
for Browning, describing the overall feel of Good Thing Going
as having that "lazy, spacey, dreamlike quality" of a Cowboy Junkies
album, and I agree. The instrumentation is enough to give the songs
substance but are never overpowering, and the mix of tempos keeps things
fresh, although slower songs suit Browning best. Browning will open
for Megan Slankard and Jim Brunberg of Box Set. Catch
this homegrown talent on the rise.
 |
| Pearl
Django plays Luna on Saturday. |
If you're looking for something a little spicier, that
same night at nearby Luna, you can find the Gypsy Swing stylings of
Pearl Django. Based in Seattle, Pearl Django's jazz pays homage
to guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, who
together pioneered the Gypsy Swing sound, "a unique blend of Eastern
European melodies, Parisian musette, Spanish flamenco and American swing."
Today, the attitude born in Parisian cafés 80 years ago is enjoyed
all over the world.
Neil Andersson, formerly of the Wailers, and Dudley
Hill played jazz as a duo for four years before bassist David "Pope"
Firman joined the pair in 1994 and the trio became Pearl Django. Shelley
Park joined in 1995, contributing a rhythmic guitar sense. That same
year, Pearl Django recorded its debut effort Le Jazz Hot. The
next year Andersson, Hill and Park made their presence known at the
Django Reinhardt festival in Samois-Sur-Seine, France, the town where
Reinhardt spent the last years of his life.
The festival is ground zero for Reinhardt fans and Gypsy
Swing players, and though Pearl Django was not an official part of the
festival, the band's performances at local jam sessions turned heads.
1996 saw the band adding yet another layer of luster with the addition
of violinist Michael Gray and the release of "New Metropolitan Swing."
While the band's musicianship excelled and fans the
world over took notice, "Pope" Firman left the group. The new bassist,
Rick Leppanen, took over just in time to record the next CD, 1999's
Mystery Pacific. Also in 1999 the group released Souvenirs,
a tribute to the music of Stephane Grappelli, spearheaded by Gray, a
fan and "perennial student" of Grappelli. The fifth CD, Avalon,
was arguably the "break-through" CD, having achieved top 40 status on
the Gavin jazz charts for seven weeks. Now people really knew what Pearl
Django was all about.
Despite the success, the band continues to have line-up
changes — Park left the band last year and was replaced by guitarist
Greg Ruby, who is also a member of Hot Club Sandwich. Last year, the
band's sixth release, Under Paris Skies, saw the light, and Pearl
Django finally performed officially in Samois-Sure-Seine's Django Reinhardt
Festival, coming full circle, and ready for more.
ANNEX
23 W. 6TH ST. 431-1111
FR: DJ Tekneek, The Phormula--9; Hip hop
AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. 484-4011
SA: Tim Clarke Trio--8; Jazz
BLACK FOREST
50 E. 11TH ST. 686-6619
TH: Stage Hogs--9; Blues, rock
FR: Nicolette Helm, Queen B--9; Rock
SA: Avoid the Future Shadow--9; Alternative
SU: Open mic w/Pete Christie--9
MO: Karaoke w/Jared--9
TU: Karaoke--9
BLiSS SPORTS BAR
44 MAIN ST, VENETA. 935-3400
SA: DJs Jared, Fiddy Pound--9; Dance
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. BROADWAY 484-9933
FR: Cindy Alexander w/Essence--9
SA: Jim Brunberg, Rachel Browning--8
MO: Songwriter showcase w/John Shipe--8
TU: Acoustic open mic--8
WE: Spoken word/poetry open mic--8
CHAPALA RESTAURANT
68 W. 29TH AVE. 683-5458
SA: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
WE: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE
510 E. MAIN ST., COTTAGE GR. 942-8847
FR: White Mountain--8; Jazz, blues, country, folk
 |
| "FAREWELL
TO AZIZA," SATURDAY AT COZMIC PIZZA. |
COZMIC PIZZA @ THE STRAND
199 W. 8TH AVE. 302-6013
TH: Stoney Burke, Mark Alan-7:30; Peace and Justice
Media Conference benefit, folk, comedy
FR: Kurt Landrie, Over the Counter Jug Band--8
SA: Aziza bon voyage party--6; Bellydance, Molly
Ivins dinner reception--9; Country, bluegrass, Peace and Justice Conf.
benefit
SU: Rich Glauber's Family Pizza Party, The Edge
Performance Group--5, Wendy De Rosa--8; Singer/songwriter
MO: Poetry Lives!--7
TU: DJ Moses--8; Roots, culture
WE: "Voice" open mic poetry slam--5, Nathan
De Hoya--9; Electronic
DIABLO'S
959 PEARL ST. 683-3855
FR: DJs Dinari, Supa J--10; Hip hop, requests
SA: DJs Howie, Anmar--10; House
WE: Ace of Clubs, DJ Danomite--10; Hip hop, open
mic
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 PEARL ST. 343-2346
TH: DJs Supa J & Ceez--10; Requests
FR: Broadfunk, Funtifino--10; Funk rock
SA: Illamental, DJ Dinari--10; Hip hop, scratch
MO: DJs Diablo, Von Rocket--10; '80s punk, butt
rock
TU: Stone Cold Jazz w/Kenny Reed--9
EMBERS SUPPER CLUB
1811 HWY. 99 N. 688-6564
TH: Billy McCoy—9; Country
FR: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
SA: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
WE: Billy McCoy—9; Country
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7TH AVE. 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
INDIGO DISTRICT
13TH AVE. & OAK ST. 434-6553
WE: Lick--9; Glam rock, electro, dance
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5TH AVE. 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's All Star Jazz Jam-9
FR: Roby Edwards Trio--9:30; Jazz
SA: Side Project--9;30; Jazz
SU: Mark Allan--9; Acoustic guitar
MO: Open Mic w/Skip Jones the Boogie Woogie Man—10
TU: Barbara Dzuro—8:30; Jazz piano
WE: Tony Koenigsderg Duo--9
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. BROADWAY 342-3358
TH: '80s night w/Chris, Jenn--10
FR: Ethic--10; Hip hop
SA: DJs Oneself Connect, Dan Craig, Shawn, Miles,
Kirin and others--10; Dance, trip hop, visual art
SU: Browadway Revue--10; Burlesque, magic, dance,
singers
MO: Hip hop--10
TU: Shawn Mediaclast's Museum of Sound--10
WE: DJs Tekneek, Kal El--10; Reggae vs. Hip hop
THE KEG
4711 W. 11TH AVE. 345-5563
SA: Karaoke and dancing w/Jared--9
LAVELLE'S TASTING ROOM
5TH ST. PUBLIC MARKET 338-9875
FR: Jenny Payne--5:30; Jazz
SA: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
LEGEND'S GRILL & STADIUM
44 E. 7TH AVE. 683-5160
FR: Forrest T. Black--9:30; Classic rock, blues
SA: Brian Chevalier--8; Electric blues
WE: Karaoke w/Jared--9
LONE STAR BAR AND GRILL
I-5 AT COBURG 686-8686
TH: Girls get wild--9; DJ dancing
FR: Guys get wild--9; DJ dancing
SA: Karaoke--9
TU: Open mic--9
WE: Coyote Ugly--8
LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR
933 OLIVE ST. 687-4643
TH: Fat Digits--10; Rock
FR: Moonshine Hangover--10; Rock
SA: Stacked, Yeltsin--10; Rock
TU: Ken Ackerman's Jazz 'n' Beer Jam--9:30
WE: Huckleberry, Savitri--9:30; Rockin' blues
LUNA
30 E. BROADWAY 434-5862
TH: Laura Kemp, Roy Brewer--8; Folk
FR: Erik Muiderman--7; Singer/songwriter, J.C.
Rico and Zulu Dragon--9:30; Blues
SA: Erik Muiderman--6; Singer/songwriter, Pearl
Django--8:30; Gypsy swing
MAC'S AT THE VET'S
1626 WILLAMETTE ST. 344-8600
TH: Christie & McCallum—7; Honky-tonk,
rock
FR: Eclypse, Norma Frazer--9:30; Blues, rock
SA: Mo Fessor--9;30; New Orleans funk, boogie
WE: Bourbon Renewal--8:30; Blues
MAX'S TAVERN
550 E. 13TH ST. 349-8986
FR: 8 Track Liberators--10
 |
| PETER
FRAMPTON PLAYS TUESDAY AT MCDONALD THEATRE. |
MCDONALD THEATRE
1010 WILLAMETTE ST.
TU: Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa--8
WE: Hieroglyphic, Little Brother, Encore--9; Hip
hop
THE O BAR
115 COMMONS WAY 349-0707
TU: Karaoke w/Jared--9
FR: Anniversary party w/Roughstock--9; Country, prizes
OREGON ELECTRIC STATION
27 E. 5TH 485-4444
FR: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
SA: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
OVERTIME TAVERN
770 S. BERTELSEN 342-5028
TH: West Side Blues Jam--8:30
PERUGINO
767 WILLAMETTE ST. 687-9102
WE: Irish Jam--7; Celtic
PLANET GOLOKA
679 LINCOLN ST. 465-4555
TH: Acharya film screening--6
FR: Blue Road & Friends--7
SA: Kirttan chant and dinner--6:30
TU: Poetry open mic--6:30
WE: Kava blessing--6:30
PRIME TIME SPORTS BAR
1360 MOHAWK RD. 746-0549
SU: Karaoke w/Don--9
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7TH 485-5925
SA: Forrest T. Black--9; Rock
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Quacker's Blues Bash—8:30; Blues jam
RAMADA INN
225 COBURG 342-5181
FR: Coupe De Ville--9:15; Rock
SA: Coupe De Ville--9:15; Rock
 |
| ORATRIX
PERFORMS SATURDAY AT SAM BOND'S GARAGE. |
SAM BOND'S GARAGE
407 BLAIR 431-6603
TH: The New Autonomous Folksingers--9; Americana
FR: The Ovulators, Silverhawk, Jackson County
5--9
SA: Oratrix--9:30; Spoken word
SU: Irish Jam--4, Bingo w/Tom Heinl; Games, prizes,
chuckles
MO: Ember Swift--9; Americana
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
SAM'S PLACE
285 WILSON ST. 484-4455
TH: Hot Buttered Rum--9:30; Bluegrass
SA: Duck Party--12:30
WE: "Cascadia Alive" Anarchy TV--10
SAMURAI DUCK
980 OAK ST. 345-6577
FR: The Jeff Tobin, The Perverts, The Yawns--9:30
SA: Ghost Parade, Soviet Radio--9:30; Glam
MO: Third, Magnetic North--9:30
TU: Rollerball--9:30
WE: Third, Magnetic North--9:30
SPIRITS
1714 MAIN ST., SPFD 726-2972
FR: Go 211--9; Rock
SA: Go 211--9; Rock
SWEETWATER'S
VALLEY RIVER INN 687-0123
FR: The Valley Boys--8; Classic rock
SA: The Valley Boys--8; Classic rock
TARASCO'S
100 E. BROADWAY 484-1747
FR: Salsa, Merengue w/DJ Mario Mora-9
SA: DJ Herman--9; Salsa, merengue
TINY TAVERN
394 BLAIR BLVD. 687-8383
FR: The U-Gene Band--9; Folk, rock, soul
THE VOLCANO
535 MAIN ST., SPFD. 606-2645
TH: Bobby Six Crows Jam--9:15
FR: Rock--9:15
SA: Rock--9:15
SU: Karaoke--9:15
MO: Karaoke--9:15
WE: Ozone Baby--9:15; Rock
WETLANDS
922 GARFIELD ST. 345-3606
SA: The Sawyer Family, Hillstomp, The Whopner
County Country All-Stars--10; Rock-a-billy, country
 |
| ROBERT
WALTER'S 20TH CONGRESS PLAYS TUESDAY AT THE WILD DUCK. |
WILD DUCK MUSIC HALL
169 W. 6TH 485-3825
SA: DJs Titus and Jayson--10; Hip hop, R & B
SU: Brain Failure, Pocketface--8:30
MO: Slightly Stoopid--8; Rock
TU: Robert Walters 20th Congress, Will Bernard
and Motherbug--8:30; Funk
WOW HALL All Ages
291 W. 8TH AVE. 687-2746
FR: Floater--9; Acoustic rock
SA: 9th Annual Witches Ball w/Land of the Blind--7:39;
Costume ball
SU: Audio Liberation final event w/Chain of Being,
Longshot, Sir Basil--8:30; Battle of bands
TU: Zebrahead--9:30; Rock
WE: West African drum/ dance workshops--6, 7:30
YUKON JACK'S
4TH AND W. BRDWY., VEN. 935-1921
FR: Steppin' Out--9; Rock
SA: Steppin' Out--9; Rock
SU: Karaoke--7
CORVALLIS
FOX 'N' FIRKIN'
202 SW. 1ST ST. 753-8533
TH: Blue Trick--9
FR: The Men of Seduction--10; Male review
SA: Purusa--10
SU: Acoustic showcase--6
TU: Beaver sports talk w/Mike Riley--7
MCNARY CENTRAL DINING
OSU CAMPUS 737-4750
TH: Tricky Dick--5
MURPHEY'S
3740 SE 3RD ST. 758-9000
SU: Nairobi Bois--6; Jazz
SQUIRREL'S TAVERN
100 SW 2ND AVE. 753-8057
SA: Noumena--9:30
|
