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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2000)
may l ì 2000 • J mat M rt 23 She's got her mojo going # Continued from Page 21 “They go crazy when Mary plays the har pant in the annual California retreat put on by monica,” she waffles, then excuses herself to writer and spiritual teacher Lynn Andrews. use the powder room. Anderson plays music at the event during med Last January, Anderson played the St. itations and served as the event coordinator for John’s Pub in North Portland, and the place several years. At one of Andrews’ retreats, she sold out. It was standing room only, and even met nationally recognized violinist Scarlet the McMenamins booking agent was a little Rivera. surprised. Rivera has toured with Bob Dylan, Tracy She also packed the Hollywood Theatre last Chapman and the Indigo Girls, and she came year for a multiact benefit concert she arranged to Portland to record on several of Morning’s to raise money for a friend who was fighting tracks. Anderson became very emotional breast cancer. Anderson closed that show in a watching Rivera. duet with Myrtle Brown of the Blues Masters, “When she played it was breathtaking. bringing the crowd to their feet. There’s something about her spirit that she’s Since Anderson has made herself unavail able to emanate in her playing. To see her in able, I start in on there, and she’s play Becky Bilyeu, the Anderson’s first CD was cathartic ing my music”— owner of Touchstone Anderson gets misty and an old college even in the retelling. friend of Anderson’s. “I must be pre Bilyeu is more than menstrual,” she happy to confirm the claims, wiping her rumors: “It’s totally eyes. “Anybody can true. She’s really sexual play chords or notes, onstage. It’s a very sen but to be able to actu sual energy; people are ally make a connec really drawn to that.” tion with it and draw Ha! Soon Ander out what it was meant son emerges from the to be...you can’t ask bathroom and con someone to do that, cedes that she might be and you can’t teach a little sexy onstage. someone to do that.” “1 can’t help it! I get Rivera, who will my mojo going, and come back to town then I can’t stop it. for the release con Things start happening to my body," she purrs in cert, experienced similar feelings working with her deliciously throaty voice. Anderson’s music. “The songs really took on a true, deep life,” It’s gonna be a new day, new day, new day, Rivera told me over the phone from her home my world has changed, in Encino, Calif. “Some were my world has changed very touching songs, so I just wanted to really deepen that.... Consider some of the song I don’t know what happened, but titles on My Famous Friend: it happened.... This seems to he “Assault Me, Again!” “Nobody’s one of the best [albums] that I’ve Friend,” “Fight!” Consider the done.” titles on Beautiful Morning: “New Rivera also emphasizes Day,” “Be Who You Are,” “Nice Anderson’s growth on this Night.” recording compared to her first: “She made a big leap,” the vio “It’s a new life,” Anderson linist notes. enthuses. “With the first CD, it was a fight to hold onto love, it I agree. Listening to the CDs was a fight to hold onto relation back-to-hack, I hear the differ ships...and I made it through it, ence. Morning is sharper, more solid, better-written. Anderson and I met the love of my life. At hangs onto the distinctive deep some point in between, the shift and soulful voice displayed on occurred for me.” her first CD, hut even that talent Anderson fell in love three has matured. years ago with Linda Williams, whom she met Anderson launches into the story of how while performing. She describes the relation she found and recruited her sophomore ship as “a dream come true.” Williams has pro release’s impressive ensemble cast: Mannen- vided much inspiration, Anderson says, “both bach is featured on both CDs, and Anderson in regard to my writing and the business.... refers to him as her “rock.” He’s helped arrange She’s the driving force behind my work.” all the songs she’s written in the past five years, Anderson has drawn inspiration for Morning and she can’t imagine working without him. from a variety of sources. Mixed in with the Playing second guitar to Mannenbach is Mary many “mushy love songs,” there’s also a lot of Curtis, who a! provides that show-stopping pride. “Be Who You Are” is about a friend of blues harmonica. Anderson’s—a gay man in denial and strug Anderson was fortunate enough to procure gling with coming out. “What She Needs” was the services of drummer Carlton Jackson for written at the request of a fan who, in her early both albums and her live performances. Jack- 30s, had fallen in love with her best friend. son is a much sought-after favorite in the jazz, Both the women were married. big band and blues communities. Also included "They met each other, became friends, fell in the band are Portland-area heavy hitters in love, and both of them came out,” Ander Holly Leer on backup vocals, cello and flute; son explains. “What influences me more than Clark Salisbury on electric guitar; anything is people and their stories. That’s what all the songs are about.” Continued on Page 2 5 Anderson is a highly enthusiastic partici 5 0 3 .2 9 6 .3 8 7 5 @3 properties EMAIL: ELISE@ REA LT O R .C O M INTERNET: ELISECAMPBELL.REALT0R.COM Same Sex Social Dance Learn the basics of foxtrot, waltz, swing and tango in a casual, relaxed environment. Local dance studio is now taking registration for a Thursday night class running June 22nd to August 10th. Partner required. Call (503) 236-1007 to register or for more information. C enter F or M ovement A rts 1734 S. E. 12th Ave. Portland. OR 97214 "I can't help it! I get my mojo going, and then I can't stop it. Things start happening to my body." —Lynn Frances Anderson Chat I Personals | News | Travel | Entertainment | People P lan etO u t.co m www.planetoutcom | A0L Keyword: PlanetOut e ngage enjoy
