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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 1983)
Ik’ W ' A Good Sound Of Silk A Great Geneva's Tradition Is Backl I t ’s all loo rare these day* to find a new band with the skill, imagination and sense o f history you’ll immediately recognize in Rare Silk— a complete ly unique pop /jazz singing quartet. Mde up o f three women and one man. Rare S ilk’s impeccable harmonies are both intricate enough to win them the respect o f hard-core jazz fans, o f the old and new school, and accessible enough for general pop listeners. Their debut album on Poiydor/Polygram , New IPevve, should immediately establish them among the highest rank of vocal groups, among such luminaries as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and The M anhattan Transfer. The group comes out o f Boulder, Colorado, where they began as an ail- fem ale threesome in 1978, including M argu erite Juenemann and sisters G aile and M arylynn Gillaspie. They started out doing background vocals for commercials in Boulder but soon got their own show on K G N U Public Radio. In 1979 the three singers added a trio o f musicians to back them up. A t the time they were perform ing '40s style swing. M arylyn n and G aile. whose father is a jazz trumpeter, grew up listening to a lot o f the big band sound. “ We used to listen a lot when we were young to the Dorsey Brothers band, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.” Rare S ilk’s early swing influence soon won them the attention and respect o f Benny Goodman, after they opened a show for him in late ’79. Goodman invited the singers to join him on a world wide tour that included the Aurex Festival in Japan, the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl and cul minated in a sell-out concert at New Y o rk ’s Carnegie H a ll. T H is led to a U S O tour o f the Far East, concluding with a guest segment on the M erv G riffin Show. , JAZZ ON SUNDAYS! Starting: March 13. at 3:00 p.m. Featuring Ron Steen Trio Geneva's Lounge 4228 N Williams U m this M ta o n a paatela to blossom Ilk» a lovely spring flower. Modal Sheila Johnson enhances her beauty w ith sunlit ahedea of A Fresh Lovely Look In January o f 1981 Todd B u ffa was asked by the singers to jo in them, adding a whole new dimension to the group. They began to leave the swing sound behind, exploring a more eclectic vocal jazz style. Their influences by then spanned tw o gneerations o f ja z z , fro m B illie H o lid a y and Benny Goodman to Miles Davis to A l Jarreau. The foursome’s reputation spread so quickly that in August o f ’81 they turned up on Downbeat’ s readers and critics polls for Best Vocal G ro u p — quite an achievement for a group that had yet to record an album. Their popularity was all based on local Colora do fans and their live jazz festival appearances. The group placed on the prestigious poll in 1982 as well. In August o f ‘82 the group was signed by Polygram. Now Rare S ilk’s de but is here, featuring original music by the singers as well as reinterpreta tions o f such classic ja zz songs as Freddie H u b bard 's “ Red C la y " and Chick Corea’s “ S p ain." The record features guest spots by such top talents as Randy Brecker (who, besides playing turmpet also did the horn arrange ments), alto sax player G ary Bartz and Bruce Forem an. Rare S ilk ’s able backup trio consists o f Michael Berry (drums). Kim Slone (bass), and Jim Ridl (keyboards). It all adds up to that rare combination o f technical skill and emotional spontaneity that will appeal to listeners o f all tastes. Hats Hats EVERQEEN EVENTS PROUDLY PRESENTS : 315PM * “ T h e P ro fessio nal A m a te u rs " w ill be appearing at the Interstate Firehouse C ultural Center, 5340 N. Interstate, M arch 18, 1983, at 8:00 p .m ., in A re They Really Dreams, a play written by Lois M arie Lewis. These vignettes on the poetic expression o f life are worth seeing For reservations call 243-7930. « s Portland EUGtNt Ma co » M„n Carnai H» ina tloorang Ans T«»»ts intoug« ftwojiaan anta o retxua'» n m ai u ot l) r a ) Mun Cm -r- « O »«» Historic American Tap Dance Review Dazztmg i/xx«*ctabla and aslumsrwtg lap dance Io uve ia u OurceO tty the orQrwls legendary dancers who made lap dance rvsiory m the 30 s and 40 s alter Mty years O' more they re SHI the best n the business' ! TICKETS: 224-3351 • $ 5 75. $7 75. $9 75. $11 75 • unctudn?S«c«yie»<<»»i • Charge By Phonal Vo ' & • ♦ « • «atv» ü*a«m AfNH ftwty year « of -niematonai t a x i iwa«ds arxJatx. ’ s she i h o n a ' ' M n ever Hee« Wave D ll Y|aSa* f *•••> » on the H O o r d P * * * O w n the ta* Ce Lowest Prices In Town By order or ! net on» dinner» 2361 N. Lombard •a i a9 tha 99edhwadt k P fcN IN O thr Carmen r M c k e t coecen w ill be I Oregon'« own )azz < * r , Ron Steen, and Ma . He play« the kind o f R u i he « t to play «vtthout making « any kind o f commercial a eomiaea A JJ year old e . young in the muaac • a. play« today'« music h u t * I firm ly entrenched in the * 1 o f purity o f | a u I in by Ma early heroes * . S, 1SS3 S riS pan « • EVERGREEN EVENTS • Mult C enter * U r i O OPEN FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS f ” u*teA fy r c i kv« and > freathe maarung m e makes " aqík X s a*vJ < e *O 'a tc n s o» Me out o» G every long S h t • the g»ea»en r t f f p f W f of »12,6 NW 21stAvenue •Portland Oregon 97209 • Cupene Tickets — Save $ 1.45 B&L Floral Designs O v e Audilonum e Portland e THE LADY ’ IS A LEQEMM March Only $ 6.00 High Society Restaurant J Donation 93.00 advance, 94.00 at door. Prizes — Prizes— Prizes. Proceeds go to help someone and Token of Love. A p r il 1 , 1963 8 15 P M Civic Auditorium 750 ML Size . . . New, pretty, and very good, but reasonable! Are They Really Dreams? 1963 Save $ 2 80 NOW OPEN Lois Marie Lewie Muaic by Uoyd Allen Band. A rt N S , March Only $12.95 284-3525 April 2,1983 at the Royal Esquire Club McRAEl 1.75 L Size 517 NE Killingsworth Ustenl The Mordenesbc Social Club wiR qtve you a prize for the hat you are wearing - g o back ae far aa the '30a, '40a. and up to now. the '80a — and dig out a bed het or mad hat ae long aa it ia a hat. !'<,■> Mn> V»rk CH» V •» -n«»»«} I « dsne« »'MM III» d K « m <1 th» vrw u Want C alM «YJ ia *» w !,»■»«■ CMk * ' 4'Kl rn» «no» ««V I Mrunng (.«>« " S W W " iarws íw k la " i . » "» » » H r " »own and suru s t« , anta BuiaHwa to n u I «« ma P>nw tun n«« j j ii Hand ma Coca«»' < » •"> MARCH SAVINGS Find out how to give yourself a lift wit this season's new look in an array o f luscious pastels by reading "Spring Radiance" in the A p ril Ebony. In the past, shades such as baby blue. pink, and lilac didn't flatter black women because they were formulated to compliment white skin tones. This spring cosmetic companies that cater to black women have designed eye, check, and lip color in pastel shades that really light up fair, medium, and dark complexions. Red has been spruced up for spring with glowing gold and yellow undertones. The explosion o f new color is also refreshingly evident in hair c o l o r - im agine yourslef in a radiant raspberry h en n a!— and enticing mascara shades like green and violet. Whatever combination o f spring's new palette you choose, you’re sure to be welcomed everywhere . . like a breath o f fresh air! Hats H O M IC O U U AND THE COPASBTICS A.t>ea,ls •%, 224-3361 w«an.w. t«»t me ta iw a a a a w J H k H M M NOTING g S COUGH ANO STU FT NOSE so© See v -ju f! COUGH FORMULA f ! « • ! Dnrwey LatMMMonee Divtawsfl a t Sánelos In« Lin« »In Ne hr a a Re AASeii Hours op«n: Monday-Saturday* Breakfast 7-11 a.m. Lunch 11-5 p.m. • Dinner 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday: Lunch & Dinner, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
