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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1987)
Page 4 o n la n d O bserver, N ovem ber 18, 1987 THE ENTERTAINMENT SEEN ABOUT TOWN ....................626 S.W. Park, 224 5552 Brasserie M o n tm arte Fri.-Sat., Big Bangg Band ........................... 555 S.W. Oak St., 228 8486 Cafe Vivo Thurs., Michael Harrison & Inner Balance: 5:30-8:30 Thurs.-Sat., Tom Grant Band F.M./The Black Experience Part 2 Their power came from the "all mighty dollar" that small businesses had the chance to have more of, once they utilized the electronic medium known as radio to advertise their services. I saw a simple mom and pop operation known as "Joe's Clothes" go from one to nine outlets, that I can remember. A small record store known as Hudson's Embassy, similar to One Stop Re cords and House of Sound, grew into five major record retail outlets and become the innovators of the Budwiser "Superfest", one of the three major Civic A u d ito r iu m ............................................................................................. Thurs., CHUCK MANGIONE: 8 P.M. ..............239 S.W. Broadway, 241-4151 D a k o ta .......... Sun., Mayther Bros. . . . . 31 N.W. 23rd Place, 223 0099 Dandelion Pub Thurs., Norman Sylvester Band Fri.-Sat., Mayther Bros. ..........424 S.W 4th. 223 4241 Eli's .. Thurs., Romeo ..................... S.E. 39th & Holgate, 771-0742 H obbit Fri -Sat., Mel Brown Quintet J .B .'s P a ra d is e .....................................3530 N. V ancouver Ave.. 288 1196 Thurs.-Sat., Benny Wilson & Friends „ . . . . .31 N.W. 1st, 223-9919 R&B summer touring events. Here we see examples of how radio helped change the economic base of the community I grew up in, and I think that Northeast Portland could use the same shot in the arm. How about you < . . Black radio also made the community aware of what "professionals were doing and what they were up to, not only in our city, but others. The National Black News Network consistently reminded us of the existence of Black doctors, attorneys, corporate heads, movie stars, politicians, and other positive examples of what young African Americans could aspire to be. Unfortunately, in Portland we have a chronic situation where a vast majority of our young are identifying with the pimps, prostitutes and dope dealers in the streets. Afterward these children identify that the next step is association, followed by simulation, and the cancer grows. I'm not saying that Black radio will be an instant cure, but "m y Lord!", .. Fri.-Sun., The Staple Bros. O 'C a lla h an 's...................................................11650 S W C anyon' 626 2223 Mon., Cool 'R „ c 1204 S.E. Clay. 235-7831 Thurs., Dick Blake Trio Pine Street T h e a tre ............................................... 221 S.E. 9th. 230-0661 Sun Regqae Party: Lenny Rancher, Lipp to Lipp, Zion I R a fte rs ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 S.E. Spokane S t . 238 7067 Fri.-Sat., Cool 'R Red S e a ...................................................................... .. S W. 3rd. 241-5450 Thurs., Reggae Allstars Sun Tropical Superstars Steel Drum Band Rem o-S ......................................... 1425 N.W. Glisan. 221 1150 what a start. Music is an intricate and important part of our black culture, and our young are being starved, served a steady diet of the hard core and hip hop, bang-bang music that drives you nuts. Now, I'll admit that it's inevitable for teenagers to drive adults up the walls with one type of music or the other. But here in Portland, due to the lack of airplay, most kids listen to mostly one Kenny G Kenny G's music has always been a challenge to categorize. It s part R&B, part jazz. It's a mixture of the traditional and the progressive. During his career he's worked alongside such artists as Jeff Lorber and Kashif always bringing to the music a strong sense of melody and improv.sationa ima9A ana°t?ve of Seattle, Washington, Kenny Gorelick became fascinated with the saxaphone when he saw a musician playing sax on The Ed Su ivan Show. As Kenny later related it, "The sax player was walking around as . the saxophone was part of his body. You can put your whole self inside , . There's romance, compassion, and feeling in it, like the human voice, fe it would be easy to express myself through it." Enrolled in the University of Washington, where he would graduate Ph. Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude in accounting, Kenny studied by day joined the university jazz band and gigged around town in the evenings member of a popular local band called Cold, Bold and Together. He also added stage work to this credits, playing in the bands of Joh" " y Mathis, the Spinners, Diahann Carroll, Liberace, Ginger Rogers, the Mills Brothers, and even Ringling Bros. Circus. „ „ „ . i, - . About the time of his graduation from college, mutual friends in anothe northwest based funk band, Pleasure, brought Kenny's name to Jeff Lor- ber’s atttention when one of their members withdrew from playing with Lor- der "He'd exhausted Portland. Oregon, looking for another musician and 9aVe'Tfe|3had to label my music," Kenny G has said, "I'd call it contempor ary R&B/pop with a strong instrumental base. I've always been into R&B; that's where my heart lies " On Duotones, his third release, Kenny b ows up a blue storm, and continues to make some of the most appealing-if un- classifiable-music around. Kenny brings his talents home to the Pac.f.c N orthw est a lt h e Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Wednesday, December 30. 1M7. Tickets are $17 50 and $16.50 on sale at G.l. Joes. Everybody s Re cords. Jean M achine (Galleria), House of Sound, and Perform ing Arts Center Box O ffice. Fri.-Sat., Calvin Walker . . . 5700 N.E. Union, 281-1176 - D k ro type of music — Hip Hop. I asked a young lady the other day who Lionel Ritchey used to play with, and she couldn't tell me. It's not that she was ignorant at all. She'd simply not been exposed. Black music is like a five course meal, and we are only Sun., Ron Steen Jam Shanghai L o u n g e .................................0309 S.W M o n tg o m e ry, 220 1865 Sun., Cool 'R being fed one. Portland's Black community wants and needs an electronic medium they can call their own. Portland, Oregon, needs one to balance the one sided picture that is here. No matter how much downtown becomes new and improved, no matter how many new corporations come to town, no matter what - period — there is a whole race of people that needs to be heard from and recognized. Realize what radio really is and what it can do to help all of us. From religion to role models, radio can really be the answer. Portland does have two minority newspapers, but, in addition to that, in an electronic age, why not an electronic medium? It's time for someone to get busy. F.M. - THE W ord of the Week: credulous: Naive, over-ready to believe or tru st Color of the Week: Teal Blue K e y L f l R G C T BLACK EXPERIENCE. Fourth Annual Mayor's Ball Portland's Fourth Annual Mayor's Ball shall be held on April 8, 1988, at the Memorial Coliseum. Mayor Bud Clark has again designated the Port land Music Association (PMA) as the producer of this year's Ball. The theme this year is "Music in Bloom ", reflecting the early spring timing of the event and emphasizing the vitality of the arts in Portland. Our Mayor has established a tradition of endorsing this annual Ball as a rund raising event for local charities. The Ball has also served as a major display, both locally and nationally, for Portland's original music 31 NW FIRST M 1 -W 1 V NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT Thursday, Nov. 19 here comes everybody (tape release) Weekend, Nov. 20 21 CALVIN WALKER The Portland Music Association has selected Peter Mott as the Mayor's Ball Project Coordinator. Mr. Mott has served on the PMA's Exe cutive Board, as chairperson of it's Membership Committee, and has been involved with pervious Mayor's Balls. He was an owner-operator of the Last Hurrah, a club acknowledged for supporting and nurturing many of Sunday, Nov. 22 EDISON JONES Monday, Nov. 23 ZAYUSO Portland's nationally known musicians. M usicians interested in p erform ing at the M ayor s Ball should co nta ct the Portland M usic A ssociation H otline at 284 3206. Tuesday, Nov. 24 PICTURETHIS Wednesday, Nov. 25 CARYL MACK Audition Notice Walnut Park Lock & Key 533 N.E. K illingsw orth 503-288-6338 24 hr. Emergency Service KMHD FM 89 1 "THE JAZZ STATION" PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH CHUCK MANGIONE FRIDAY 8 P.M. NOV. 20 PORTLAND CIVIC AUDITORIUM $1250 $15 $18 On sale now at the new Cen ter Box Office, order by phone 248 4496. Galleria Jean Machine and all G I Joe s Open auditions for two Black males in Storefront's next production, WOZA ALBERT, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, November 23 at Storefront Theatre, 6 S.W. Third at Burnside. WOZA ALBERT was written by director Barney Simon and actors Percy Mtwa and Mbongeni Ngema of the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. The play examines what might happen if Jesus Christ came back to earth in South Africa. Performances are February 5 through March 4 at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. WOZA ALBERT will be directed by John Zagone with Rick Jones as assistant director. Further information can be obtained by contacting Gary 0 Brien, Pro ducing Director, 224-9598. pine street / UHI Kl Till theatke S.E 91 h AT I ..L SAMIY BEVILI lusismi ™ BLACK MAMBAZO c November 22nd Raggae Party Lenny Rancher Lipp to Lipp Zion I w ith O bo A d d y & O k ro p o n g SAT., NOV. 28 9:00 P .M . STARRY NIGHT TICKETS ON SALE NOW E a benefit for KMHD FM 89 1 Portland's Largest Dance Floor Phone: 235 0027 Advance Tickets on Sale Now! Usual Outlets Appearing at Eugene s HUL i CENTER Sat Nov 21 DOUBLE TEE PRESENTS 687 5000 I G .l. Jo e 's, Galleria Jean M achine, & E verybody's FROM PAUL SIMON’S GRACELAND DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES ■ HOMELESS I