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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1981)
I P o rtla n d O bservar A p ril 1 6 .1 1 * 1 Pa9 " 6 entertainment happenings C i RASSROOT NEWS, N.W.- Occasionally you run into a personality whose spirit is as diverse as the human experience. Injected into this diversity are elements of consistencies, when fused together, creates a talent that cap tured Portland, as well as, the music industry. Jean Cam is the individual who fits this definition to a "tee.” Her forte is jazz vocalizing which astounded Portland at the Superstars o f Jazz Fusion concert held last Sunday at the Paramount Theatre. Jean has a rich musical mixture that’s relative to her unique vocal talents, experience in the entertainment business, and an old fashion type common sense. “ As a child 1 would sing the commericals with the T.V ., and as I developed, 1 would learn to play various instruments. The big band sound in fluenced me during my upbringing because my father has a life long interest in that era of jazz.” As with most of the talented, her primary stimuli were the artists she surrounded herself with. ” 1 admire the big band singers like Ella, Joe Williams, and Sara Vaughan. I gathered even more from singing Opera for five years and profiled on Leyontine Price. Then there was my entertainment TO P JA ZZ PLAYERS A T N O R TH W EST What promises to be one the top jazz events of 1981 will take place Saturday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m., when tenor saxophone giant PharoahSanders brings an all-star quartet to the Northwest Service C enter A uditorium for an evening of challenging and richly rewarding music. Probably best known for his many collaborations with the great John C oltrane in the mid-60s, Sanders has recently come out of retirem ent to record a superb album for Berkeley California based Theresa Records. En titled Journev To The One. the double record set was met with great critical acclaim on virtually all fronts, and found Sanders still able to maintain his P a t g iv e s T a r r y a k is s as th e y re la x b e fo r e " S p r in g O u t l " a t G eneva's A p ril 19th. (P h oto: R ichard B ro w n ) Like M t. St. R&B period and the focus of my admiration was Minnie Rippleton. She has influenced me often and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Eire, introduced me to her music and her best album was ‘Come to my Garden.' 1 would wake up and go to sleep with that album. Later we became friends and her death really hurt me.” Jean made her first mark in the business with background vocals for Earth, Wind & Eire, Norman Conners, Duke Ellington and George Duke, just to name a few. “ I started out as a jazz purest, where words were written to ac company the jazz classics. Each of these experiences contributed to my total perspective.” In terms of duets, the artists who come to mind are Peaches & Herb, Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills and Jean Cam and Michael Henderson, with their 1977 recording of "Valentine Love.” Jean explains. “ It was strange how that all came about because Michael was the bass player of that session and it was his first vocal. It came up quite by accident. During the break Michael put his track together and we went into the booth and made up those words. So, if you listen real closely to the words, they don’t make much sense because we were doing it all spontaneously.” Je a n ’s birth into the music industry was under was under the categorization of jazz vocalist, where traditionally jazz was perform ed without vocals. She broke it all down with “ The concept that was utilized by King Pleasure and Eddie Jefferson.” You put vocals in place of the horn lines so that the voice is used as an instrument. There seems to be a beautiful Helens! W E ARE S TILL H E R E III Let your Birthday or Anniversary Party be a blast Geneva 's 282-6363 A S K FOR P A U L / have to say it. D o n ’t give all y o u r monev hack to the man downtown. NOW OPEN PHARO AH SANDERS old intensity, but with a somewhat mellower outlook. The record heralded the return of Pharoah Sanders to the forefront of the jazz, elite. Other members of this very special group will be Idris M uham m ad on drums and percussion, John Hicks on piano, and Walter Booker on bass. Idris has released a variety of albums under his own name on both Creed Taylor’s KUDU label and Fantasy Records. He is one of the most sought after drum m ers on to d ay ’s scene and has co llab o rated with G rover Washington, Bob James and a host of others. His most recent recording is also on the Theresa label and is entitled Kabsha. Ask Aunt Bea JE A N C A R N marriage occuring among different forms of music. A lot of funk have good jazz solos incorporated into their movements. Many music listeners don't quite understand that basic concept, but the more they listen, the more they are beginning to appreciate it. Jazz Fusion rs a great combination of the two forms ofxontemporary and traditional Black music. She has yet to be stage struck by the glitter of show business. Her earthly spirit is the foundation of her professionalism and showmanship. She has the unique ability to tap into an audience, find its heartbeat and push it into a certain direction. In P o rtlan d , halfway through her perform ance, she requested that the audience strike matches, in empathy for the slayed and missing children of her home town Atlanta, Georgia. It was historical to see hundreds of tiny lights of concern fill the concert hall. Ms. Cam is a powerful vocalist whose songs of love and life touches all, while other evolutions have yet to be reached. She gives her all to her fans, in cluding her rhythms and her rhymes. SPRING OUT!! WITH CATTANI FASHIONS 9 8 9 $ 9 8 slave. When I ask my boss for time off for a vacation, he says the com pany doesn’t have the money and there is nobody to do my work. I am so poorly paid that if he did give me time off, I wouldn’t have money to go anywhere. I don’t want to change jobs - What should I do? Slave Dear Aunt Bea, Both my husband and I are senior citizens, and have illnesses that pre vent us from doing exercises (doc to r ’s orders) which also includes working. I am afraid we’ll both get so overweight we won’t fit into our chairs. What can we do to prevent this excess weight. Inactive Dear Inactive, There’s quite a bit you and your hubby can do while sitting, standing or reclining, like raising feet, (legs stretched out) from floor as far as is com fortable; lifting knees; raising arms; circling arms; wrists; ankles; head...m oving every part o f the body in which ever way you can that will stretch or extend the muscles, even tightening and releasing the muscles helps a lot. Also, eliminate as much fat, sugar and starches from your diet as possible. Eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, bran and wheat. Hears wishing you good health. A unt Bea Dear Aunt Bea, I like my job but I often feel like a 9 Dear Slave, This job undoubtedly is a small business and you obviously see some potential improvement of its con dition. Also you must care a lot for your boss and as you m entioned quite a lot for your job since you seem to feel there’s no other you’d prefer. I suggest you work something out with your boss so th at som ebody could take over for you for a short while, even if you just get some R&R in a place o f a vacation. Things do look bleak sometimes but hang in there, its bound to get better. I’m sure your boss will not let your dedication go unnoticed. Aunt Bea Send your problems to Aunt Bea. Box 3137, Portland. OR 97208. 9 I 8 • j • I 9 Coto Grand opening 3510 N.E. Special Union Ave, 3 H am b urgers 81.00 1 H a m b u rg e r 8 36 9 9 9 9 9 Open; 10 a.m . til 10 p. M onday - Sunday 287-1472 presents M o d e le d by The B lack M o d e lin g A ssociatio n of th e N .W . D a te : S u n d a y - A p ril 19, 1981 (Easter Sunday) S//te Proline Beauty Products Sponsored by T h e Links, Inc. Benefit of Kidney Association of Oregon Links E du catio nal Fund Center for Community Mental Health NAACP A C T -S 0 917 S.W. 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