The Jumpers and Nico Wind
Nico
Wind & the
Jumpers
Photo by Bonnie Carter
by Lauree Carlsen Hoppers in Southeast Portland is famous as a venue
for talented Portland artists. Recently, they hosted Portland’s
best kept secret The Jumpers, with its featured lead female vocalist,
the forever talented Nico Wind Cordova. As always, this establishment
offered great drinks, spirits and food.
The house was packed and visibly excited through
the night. That is no wonder, as it was like a concert with front
row seats. This newly-formed band with original players from the
Kid Lopez Band, lassoed front talent Cordova, who has definitely
found her niche! The band is also gifted with writing and song composition.
Bass player Eddy Campy, better known as “E.Z.”,
brings a lot of backbone to this band. He has always worked as a
musician and also is a licensed Electrical Contractor. As Cordova
says, “Eddie
is all about business and he’s going to take it to the limit. He
has a high energy. He’s the pusher man.”
Campy and Cordova played together back when they
were in their late teens on the Alaska circuit in 1979. Well, that
must make them 30-something? OK, just shy of baby boomers. They never
quit performing and their paths have crossed once again. Campy, formerly
from the Kid Lopez Band, has brought all those talented players,
and added the must-see Cordova, an experienced music veteran, to
form the new Jumpers Band.
Actually, The Jumpers came to pass in the ‘80s.
Campy has always used them for special projects and played more high
profile gigs such as the Waterfront Blues Festival, the home-grown
music radio station, The Rogue Brew Festival and Estacada Summer
Celebration. The band hosted a Sunday night blues jam at the Longhorn
Saloon in Southeast Portland for a year. On Monday nights there,
they hosted special guest night, with such talent as Lloyd Jones,
Paul deLay, Jim Mesi, J.R. Sims, Ellen Whyte, Lee Blake and Bill
Rhoades. They also hosted the friendly jam at the Trail’s End Saloon.
Campy is a well-accomplished bass player. His
career started early playing with the Curtis Salgado Band. He also
brings strong lead vocals to the front.
Keyboardist Nathan Olsen is fun and spectacular
to watch. He is self-taught and plays with an added funk style all
his own. He has played with most all in town. Olsen says, “I have
to have fun,” and “everyone gets along in this band. Like Charlie
Brown, I can be pretty shy.” On stage however, he is electrifying!
Gordon Hermanson is also a seasoned guitar player.
He brings his composed songs to the band. The originals give the
band uniqueness and open all the doors for success. He can play anything
with style and finesse, with a bit of a Jeff Beck sound. A strong
front singer, he sings a great rendition of In The Throes Of Love.
The band boasts accomplished drummer, Boyd Martin.
He has played with just about everyone in town as well. A web master
by trade, he brings his intellect to the stage and cuts loose. Martin
and Campy play together effortlessly.
Randy Boykin of Audio Alliance is the traveling
studio man. His mobile recording equipment is able to capture every
song live to
take to
the studio for listening and the possibility of using it for the
band’s upcoming CDs. Boykin’s expertise goes back as far as he can
remember. He is working on their CD, to be ready for release in February.
Nico Wind Cordova, the lead female vocalist, has
performed in lounges since the age of 14 when she was emancipated.
This writer heard her sing at this early age and knew that this individual
was born to sing.
On tour most of her early life, performing with
such greats as Ray Charles, she traveled all the U.S. and abroad.
She has paid many dues and it shows in her experience. She is a magnetic
singer, falling in the category of Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur and
Aretha Franklin. Portland has yet to note and take full recognition
of Cordova’s comeback. She is one of Portland’s own.
“This is the kind of band I’m accustomed to musically,” Cordova
says. She has complete confidence in the band to carry them where
they want to go. Playing mostly by ear, Cordova has written and produced
songs of her own that you will hear when you see the band perform.
She says this band is teaching her a lot about theory. “I’m learning,
and it’s a long time coming.” Her songs are heartfelt, done with
her unique rock style with crisp clean tonal quality. Her songs will
be on upcoming CDs. Cordova belts out a wonderful version of Etta
James’ Shaky Ground. She attributes a lot of support from
her husband Seth, a well noted guitar player, her mother, and
of course her friends and fans.
For those of you who want to listen to some of
the finest live music in Portland, you can check out their website
at www.thejumpersband.com for upcoming events, or see PE’s Bandstand.
They are available for local bookings, festivals, shows, concerts
and big stage venues.
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