Sonny Hess beats the odds on music
scene,
joins forces with Lady Kat on new CD
project
Sonny Hess is a survivor. Not only did the popular guitarist/vocalist beat breast cancer in-2006, she suffered the loss of her soul mate and music partner, the late, great Paulette Davis in 1996, and has thrived in this city’s tough music scene since the early ‘80s!
It’s hard to write anything new about such a stellar performer who’s been covered time and time again. This publication alone has published numerous articles. Like the Energizer bunny, she just keeps on goin’!
To complement Hess’ talent on vocals and guitar is the expertise of her backing band and the local blues divas that she so often incorporates into her act. Such talents as Rae Gordon, Lisa Mann, Megan James, Ellen Whyte, as well as Kat and others have shared the stage with Hess’ Women in Blues ongoing show.
The Sonny Hess Band’s backup players include drummer Kelly Pierce, who recently beat the odds in his bout with cancer; he’s backed Hess for 17 years now and “is like a brother,” says Hess. Jim Hively, nine years with the band on bass and vocals, “has the best tone out there,” according to Hess. Recently back with the band for a couple of years is superior tenor saxman Kevin LaBaron.
Hess’ latest project is a new CD entitiled Blue Smoke by Smokin’ True Blue with the equally talented vocalist/songwriter Lady Kat. The preview cut Takes Love will be unveiled June 13 at the Spare Room, N.E 42nd & Alberta, at 5 p.m. This is the
Kevin LaBaron
Hess has this to say about the project: “Producing an album takes a lot of work; it can be combinations of your life’s work, which stems from your experiences; gut wrenching, heartfelt lyrics with the insight to look at the positive sides of life.”
Hess continues, “We as musicians have a mission, I believe, to communicate a message to our listeners. While we are writing about all the ‘blues’ life deals us, let us not forget to ring a positive note as well. Takes Love is that message, taking us back to the ole phrase ‘love thy neighbor’, help others in need and so on. It ‘takes love’ to get through some of the hardest times in life, whether it be the love of a partner, the love of life or anything that drives you to be the best you can be.”
Lady Kat’s history began with Paulette ‘n’ Power Band in the mid-’90s. It was a superb group on the rise and on the edge of a record deal, before the tragic auto accident that took the life of leader Paulette Davis, Kat’s partner. Kat has proven her worth time and again, raining her vocal talent on lucky Portland audiences year after year. Read More
More live music
Gin Sun adds Andy Stokes Band to lineup
Gin Sun Restaurant and Lounge, at 20725 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Fairview, Ore., is owned by Lily Choi from Canton, China. She came to America in 1991 to attend Portland State University and pursue business goals in customer service; she opened Gin Sun in 1998.
Gin Sun is very spacious and comfortable, serving Chinese and American food including Kung Pao chicken, fried shrimp and more, served by an experienced chef who’s been in the business for over 40 years. A few lounge snacks include: mozzarella sticks, jalapeno peppers, nachos and fish and chips. Monday night tacos are two for $1. There will soon be more items on the menu.
Andy Stokes (Photo by KT)
Choi is dedicated to customer service, allowing customers to have a wonderful evening enjoying delicious food and music served with class. The restaurant is separate from the lounge. There is an on-site spacious parking lot, well-maintained with a drive-up coffee booth on the lot. Restrooms are very clean. Hours of operation are Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 a.m. (breakfast 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon); Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Karaoke is featured Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9 to 1 a.m.; Jimmy Thompson performs Sundays from 4 p.m. to midnight. In the lounge, there are cigarette, snack and Nintendo game machines, Keno, ATM, two pool tables with free pool Wednesdays and Sundays, seven big screen televisions, video lottery machines and comfortable seating with a juke box, a bandstand and a spacious dance floor.
On the dance floor one recent Saturday night, people were jammin’ to the R&B charismatic vocalist Andy Stokes as he drew a packed crowd. He sang Happy Birthday to a member of the audience. He grooved all night with rockin’ tunes that made you want to dance all night. His vocal expertise is smooth with excellent quality similar to the ‘70s and ‘80s R&B sound, similar to the Stylistics. Guitarist Jay (“Jay Bird”) Koder and pianist/bassist Ricky Varnato were in sync with the chord arrangements; especially the way Varnato laid some serious bass lines down on the keyboard as if he were playing the bass. Drummer Rusty Cox played down-home soul drum patterns, keeping the heart and soul of the music ongoing. Cox also performs the old-school harmonies as he sang with Stokes. This band is tops with fine quality musicianship and style well worth checkin’ out. He will be performing at Gin Sun June 11, 19, 25; July 3, 10, 24 and 30. Read More
At the Icehouse
Sockeye creates high-energy classic
rock
The Northwest music scene has some great bands; fortunately, as one band falls apart, another group springs up to fill the void. Lost Sockeye is one such band. Formed six months ago, this band is up-and-running and putting on a great live show. Performing at The Ice House in Vancouver, Wash., Lost Sockeye has a strong following and puts out some high energy classic rock.
Scott Taylor
(Photo by Brad D. Morley)
Right out of the gate, the band smooths into a Tom Petty song as it gets the crowd comfortable with the sound and they get their groove on. As the intro of a Stone Temple Pilots song begins, you realize this is not just going to be another night of standard classic rock. Lost Sockeye performs a flawless rendition of STP’s Plush and moves into the Romantics’ What I like About You. Of course, this song fills the dance floor. And then it’s game time as these good friends have a good time knocking out their favorite songs.
In the middle of the first set, the band performs an original song titled Post Man, composed by singer and front man Scott Taylor. This song holds up well against the well known cover songs in the band’s repertoire. Taylor is a man of many talents and his skills allow him to perform in front of his fellow musicians and lead his band in a fashion seldom realized in a local cover band. His ability to sing and play a variety of instruments, including some tasty harp work, lend a classy touch to the show.
Larry Garver is one of the two guitar players in Lost Sockeye, chunking out the rhythm parts and adding backup vocals. Garver is a very competent player with a solid tone and a good ear for harmonies. On lead guitar, Ken Shriener gets the pleasure of shredding over the guitar parts to all the favorite songs of his youth as Lost Sockeye lays down a solid foundation.
The rhythm section is comprised of Dan Wood on bass and Mike Rouse on drums. These two players work well together and get the job done. Woods has a bright clear bass tone that usually comes from running the Hartke bass amp; he cuts through the songs with a solid style and very articulate playing, covering a band’s signature parts, as well as adding his own style to some of the songs. Rouse is a very solid drummer and has a very good handle on his dynamics and sound volume. He seems to be steady as he goes and the songs tend to finish at the same tempo they begin with. Read More
New manager brings magic
& passion to Phoenix Lounge
In the current days of uncertainty in the business and economic climate, it takes one of two types of people to try and bring a business up from what appears to be its grave. You must either have a completely crazy person, or one with a combination of skill and passion for the task.
Jaysen Daskalos
(Photo by Alistair Case)
Jaysen Daskalos does not appear to be a crazy person. He does, however, have passion and skill. You see, Daskalos is no newcomer to the bar scene in Portland. He managed the place that Maxim Magazine named “Best Dive Bar in Portland” for years. This experience gives him an upper edge and vision to realize what can be done with a club that has a shaky past.
Daskalos’ passion side is obvious to all that know him. For example, when he is away from the bar business, Daskalos is the director of development for Magic For Life. A not-for-profit organization, Magic For Life brings magic acts to children’s hospitals and assisted living centers.Some folks may say it’s going to take a magician to get this bar on the right track; nope, it’s going to take Jaysen Daskalos and he’s already doing it. Read More
Former BC's owner Ralph McKee and Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders, PE cover photo Oct. '97
