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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1981)
. a « « y r o m a n a uöserver, November 12, 1981 HAPPENINGS King Facility ENTERTAINMENT Office Space For Lease Zooming With Zoom Approx. 1400 sq. ft. Zoom, a new band from California, has taken o ff at the speed o f sound and a loud roar o f approval is likely to follow . Together for two years. Zoom s seven members have established a most compelling brand o f phil- LP™onv«I h Unk ‘ hat ,ran$CendS * merc R 4 B labd Zoom' s self-titled Produced by veteran producer James Gadson, ••Zoom ” is a striking maiden efrort. One side is the funk side; the other, the sweet side. A ll band members write songs, and all tunes on "Z o o m ” are blistering, relentlessly funky party anthems, while "1 Believe In You” and "Love Season" typify Zoom’s deft handling o f ballads. Lead singer Nolan Semco's extraordinary diJtTbk rangC ,He mUSiC ° f Z° ° m ,horou«h|y fresh a'‘d unpre- Zoom was founded by drummer George Mitchell. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas. George knew early on what road his career would take. “ As a kid I ’d set up my drums and everyone in the neighborhood would leave home for a couple o f hours.” Mitchell moved to L.A in 1969 and played with art ists such as Cheryl Lynn, James Cleveland, and David T. Walker. In 1977, he formed P.L.U .M . with several other Zoom-members-to-be. The group became one o f L .A .’s most popular performing R & B bands, changed their name to Zoom, and have been ascending ever since. Lead singer Nolan Semco hails from Lake Charles, La., and has sung with Wilson Pickett, and other touring bands all over the U.S. Because o f his special range and abilities. Zoom is able to play a wide variety o f ma terial. $6.85 per sq. ft. AH Utilities Paid For more information call 288-0371 Ask for James Lovint 1 ■ ■ PRO STYLE SHOP I a 917 S.W. Alder 224-8401 across from the Galleria a a a a SU PER CUT RANDY BROWN This Memphis-born and bred soul singer is firm ly in the tradition o f such greats as Otis Redding, A l Green and Sam Cooke, and his fourth album, simply titled Randy, clearly shows the reasons why. Produced by Stax veter ans Homer Banks and Chuck Brooks, Randy Brown’ s newest LP revives the tradition o f silky smooth Motown soul, with the added energy o f Stax» rhythm & blues. Accompanied by the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section and some magnificent string arrangements, Randy Brown’ s soothingly warm vocals tantalize on such stand-out Banks/Brooks compositions as "R ight Track,” " I f I Don’t Love You,” "T om o rrow ,” "Just To Be With You” and "Looking For The Real Thing.” I f Randy Brown’ s debut album, Welcome To M y Room, led you into a quiet little hideaway and his second album. Intimately, brought us into a full-blown relationship, and his third album, Midnight Desire, fulfilled our every mood, then Randy shows us an artist at his peak, radiating with warmth, charm and sex appeal. Randy takes you directly into the soul o f one o f the fastest rising male vocalists on the R&B scene today. Randy continues the pervasive themes o f love and desire explored by Brown on his previous three albums, tantalizing the listener with lyrics o f strong emotions, punctuated by the clean and airy production o f Banks and Brooks. With punchy arrangements and the awesome accompaniment o f the Earth, W ind & Fire horn sections, Randy should be the LP to put Randy Brown on the map as one o f the leading soul stylists in pop music. Pianist Marcus Robinson was born in Milwaukee. He’s a remarkable self- Homer Banks, co-producer and guest percussionist on Randy, is a re taught musician who earned music scholarships, taught music, and became nowned songwriter who penned such classics as “ I f Loving-You Is Wrong, I Don t W ant To Be Right, and "W h o ’ s Making Love,” currently a hit for an accomplished jazz pianist and composer before moving to L.A. in 1978. the Blues Brothers. b ^ l X i ^ d mUCh7 ° f ‘ h.e S‘ r,ng * * * h° r" arran®n8 for Zoom, and his jazz background gives Zoom s music an extra touch o f class. Randy, recorded at Memphis’ famed Ardent Studios, includes the cream Bufch Bonham plays all guitars for Zoom. A native o f Dallas, he has of Memphis sessionmen such as pianist Marvell Thomas, drummer Willie worked with artists such as Leon Russell and Yarbrough A Peoples, and has Hall, bassist Robert Russell, drummer Walter Person as well as co-producer toured with blues great Freddie King. As an original member o f P .L.U.M Chuck-Brooks on lead and rhythm guitar. W ith his fou rth LP, Randy he s been part o f Zoom from the very beginning. Brown has finally come into his own. W ith lush accompaniment and his S. Todd Duncan, keyboards and synthesizers, is a native o f San Francis patented sensual vocal style, Randy Brown has made Randy his most ac co. He lived and played in the rich musical community o f Minneapolis for complished album to date. several years before moving west and joining Zoom. L.A . born Henry Prejean, szxophonist. learned his instrument from his father. He was part o f the house band for the legendary Total Experience night club in L.A. In addition to playing sax, Henry also does some arrang ing for horns and back-up singing for Zoom. Trumpetist Darrell Williams is from San Francisco, and has performed on the road and in the club scenes o f L.A. and Minneapolis for many years He also sings back-up for Zoom. Equally adept at playing hard funk and soft ballads. Zoom is ready to show the world what they’re all about. "W e try to reach out in all musical direction,” says George Mitchell. "W e all became good friends right away, and we knew i f we hung together long enough, we’ d make i t . " W ell’ George, the wait is over! $goo •No appointment •First available operator only (present this coupon with visit) 9»*SZM RESTAURANT 728 N.E. DEKUM STREET 2 8 3 -0 0 0 9 Open Monday-Saturday 7am to 7pm 0BBEBS-T0-60 BELI CASE POP-IB O¥EB MEATS PABTT P L A T T E B S_ CATEBIIfi The Deli With A Difference YW CA H o lid a y Clasaaa R e g is tra tio n : Registration by mail begins Nov. 2 fo r the H oliday term at the Downtown YW CA, 1111 S.W. 1 Oth Ave., where H oliday classes w ill begin the week o f Nov. 16. n o m in a ted for 4 n . a . a . c . p im a g e A W A R D S IN C L U D IN G B EST F IL M A REMARKABLE H I M ' tfterJs. I I « m 4ea** F»m*. “ TttoTiejA- Whan Earth, Wind and Fire’s keyboard wizard Larry Dunn Isn’t making music with the hit Columbia Records band, he spends his tim e .. .making more muaic. Here Dunn (left) visits with jazz saxo phonist Stanley Turrentine, whoae new album Dunn is currently producing. And why the smiles? Well, Dunn and Denzal M iller (right) have delivered a song they composed for the album to Tur rentine. and it looks Ilka the three of them hear a hit Even Bobby Rose needs a break What A Winner!! M IM I K A P I AN Top off the Thanksgiving Festivity w ith the diamonds of Whera wW your money do tho m od good? Mow con you w e the noo tar tows tor your bonotlt? HW you bo able te attorti that noo homo, a ooSsgs otiuootton tor your U til or rotlromont? MtthO ooott, roportor U rottartrtootoatoayo to bottor proporo tor your ooonomto futuro, In oCHANNfL rw O N nra«peotafasdssH w oan7 a tto rti to m«s Kappa and the laid-back mellow sounds of Velvet M W A M fR lC A N C IN E M A a B O B B Y R O T H film THE BOSS’ SON ASHER BRAUNER — RITA MORENO RICHIE HAVENS Date: Nov. 28,1981 Time: 10 P .M . to 2 A .M . Place: Sheraton Airport Inn, 8236 N.E. Airport Way Portland, Oregon THE NEWS SOURCE TONGHT 5 0 0 PM ChcmellWoNews kuub 2 S w o m o tho Community Hoouph froo AMWMen n W ■ ■ ■ Proline now offers a Under these conditions ONLY Get Down, with Randy Brown ■ ■ ■ m RUOY SOLARI HENRY 0 SANOER8 JAMES DARREN - Buddy I"™ " " - “ 8,ANOt" ,STR,N 6 , KJSSV ROTH HURRY-ENDS TUES. ■ ■ ■
