Thursday, June 4, 2009
Editorial
What can I say? The world has gone crazy. We must be better. You and me. Smile at your neighbor, say please and thank you. Let’s slow down a little bit and remember a good life is about good relationships. Let’s make the world a little better today.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Review of a CD I'm on
Dick Weissman
Four Directions
Multi-instrumentalist Weissman has been active on the folk scene since his days with John Phillips and Scott McKenzie in the iconic folk group The Journeymen. This all-originals double CD set (one instrumental, one with vocals) reveals a musical landscape both sonorous and expansive in style, subject matter, time frames, instrumentation and overall alchemy, with contributions from several of Weissman’s friends including Mary Flowers, Anne Weiss, The Robert Zimmerman Memorial Choir (on the tongue-in-cheek parody “So Much Dylan”), Noah Peterson and Chico Schwall. In addition to banjo and various guitars (often over-dubbed), Weissman also proves virtuosic on the banjeaurine, kazoo, mandola, melodica and piano. He likewise adds a dash of stage presence with insightful commentary on each track on each CD’s final cut.
A pair of suites particularly impress on the instrumental disc, as he exhibits a knack for expertly evoking the ambience of a locale or mood. Four Corners Suites (“Canyon de Chelly,” “New Mexico,” “Durango” and “Four Corners”) eloquently captures the Native Americana and Spanish atmosphere rife in the region, wile the Long and Silent Journey of Wesley Westbrooks (Arkadelphia,” “Train to Kansas City” and “Charley’s Not Home”) conjures the perilous boyhood saga of the renowned gospel composer. Weissman also nods to blues guitarist Jerry Ricks on “Jerry Told Me,” leans jazz-wise on “Sam Brown’s Blues” and “Double Banjo Intuition,” and mixes up the Brazilian ethos of Baden Powell with some Claude Debussy tonal coloration son “Bix, Claude and Baden.”
Weissman is an accomplished songwriter as well. Favorites on disc two encompass the nostalgic “Three Dreamers,” which recalls his Journeymen days, along with a pair about the late union activist Karen Silkwood (“One Big Union” and “Dancing in My Dreams”) a tribute to early mentor “Blind Gary Davis,” a road songs dedicated to Karen Dalton and “Larimer Street,” a reflective vignette about an old Denver railroad man.
Recommended.
Sing Out – GvonT
Four Directions
Multi-instrumentalist Weissman has been active on the folk scene since his days with John Phillips and Scott McKenzie in the iconic folk group The Journeymen. This all-originals double CD set (one instrumental, one with vocals) reveals a musical landscape both sonorous and expansive in style, subject matter, time frames, instrumentation and overall alchemy, with contributions from several of Weissman’s friends including Mary Flowers, Anne Weiss, The Robert Zimmerman Memorial Choir (on the tongue-in-cheek parody “So Much Dylan”), Noah Peterson and Chico Schwall. In addition to banjo and various guitars (often over-dubbed), Weissman also proves virtuosic on the banjeaurine, kazoo, mandola, melodica and piano. He likewise adds a dash of stage presence with insightful commentary on each track on each CD’s final cut.
A pair of suites particularly impress on the instrumental disc, as he exhibits a knack for expertly evoking the ambience of a locale or mood. Four Corners Suites (“Canyon de Chelly,” “New Mexico,” “Durango” and “Four Corners”) eloquently captures the Native Americana and Spanish atmosphere rife in the region, wile the Long and Silent Journey of Wesley Westbrooks (Arkadelphia,” “Train to Kansas City” and “Charley’s Not Home”) conjures the perilous boyhood saga of the renowned gospel composer. Weissman also nods to blues guitarist Jerry Ricks on “Jerry Told Me,” leans jazz-wise on “Sam Brown’s Blues” and “Double Banjo Intuition,” and mixes up the Brazilian ethos of Baden Powell with some Claude Debussy tonal coloration son “Bix, Claude and Baden.”
Weissman is an accomplished songwriter as well. Favorites on disc two encompass the nostalgic “Three Dreamers,” which recalls his Journeymen days, along with a pair about the late union activist Karen Silkwood (“One Big Union” and “Dancing in My Dreams”) a tribute to early mentor “Blind Gary Davis,” a road songs dedicated to Karen Dalton and “Larimer Street,” a reflective vignette about an old Denver railroad man.
Recommended.
Sing Out – GvonT
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
March Entertainer
News!
The winter days are flying by and we're closer and closer to better weather. Don't forget to stop by the Peterson Entertainment website! http://www.petersonentertainment.com Peterson Entertainment is pround to announce the signing of "Lazarus Rose" to the label! Lazarus Rose is a Christian Rock band performing mostly original music, their self-titled CD is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/lazarusrose. Please check it out and buy a copy! We're in process for getting it up on Itunes, Rhapsody, Emusic and more. Stayed tuned and we'll let you know about more places to get it in the coming months! Peterson Entertainment has launched a new spin-off: http://www.myboutiquebasket.com Our gift site is a wonderful way to give a thoughtful thank you or a special something to customers, prospective clients, family and friends. Gift baskets, custom orders, creative creations and more! Mellow Open Mic Mondays at the Rock Bottom are the place to be in Portland, OR. Will West & the Friendly Strangers kick off the night and then Portland's singer/songwriters step-up to showcase their talent. Tonight (and most of March) has Noah Peterson and Drew Norman as the Friendly Strangers. Will & The Friendly Strangers are also planning a NW tour for late August and are looking for house concerts and great venues to play along the way! Send an email if you'd like to have us for your event. The 2nd Annual Jazztravaganza is set! The Noah Peterson, Michael Winkle and The Gordon Lee Trio are the talent, June 4th is the date, Jimmy Mak's is the place and all we need is you! Mark your calendars for a special night! More info to come. House Concerts are IN for 2009! Call us today to book some jazz, zydeco, folk, singer/songwriter, blues or gospel to perform for you and your friends, block parties, BBQs our a house concert, we do it all. We'll bring the party to you! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goodies to Eat
2 Servings 6 shots Vodka .5 tsp Dry Vermouth 1.5 tsp olive brine (juice) 4-6 olives Let's talk ingredients first, there are some choices that really impact the quality of your drink. As I don't have a liquor sponsor, I can only say, choose your favorite brand. While we tried a number of combinations, we always preferred the dry vermouth over the sweet. However, let your palette be the judge. Some perfer to keep their Martini's, all gin. By all means, keep it gin. We did most of our variations with Vodka. Yum. Olive brine - we use the juice that comes with the olives. We prefer queen, green garlic olives (stuffed or not) for olives and juice. However, if you REALLY like this recipie you can go to http://www.garliclady.com/ and get a GREAT olive brine mixer. (Olives sold separately) Fill your martini glass with ice and water to chill it. In a shaker with ice (a few cubes is fine, more is better) add vodka and olive brine, shake vigorously until well-chilled. Empty martini glass of ice and water, add vermouth - splash it around the glass and add vodka from shaker. Garnish with 2-3 olives and have my trio over for a house concert! Enjoy! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Editorial
We're moving the editorial to the blog. Here's a sample: You’ve got to get this new record by folk godfather (and Victory contributor) Dick Weissman. It’s a double album: Disc one is all lively and inventive banjo instrumentals that muscle up right alongside Pete Wernick’s and Tony Trischka’s similar releases this year. Weissman’s a little different, playing open-backed from deep within the folk roots, growing up and into jazz and classical branches, where the others are climbing in off the bluegrass limb. Weissman also plays a mean guitar, and with it in hand reveals a Southwestern trope. http://petersonentertainment.blogspot.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art of Curing Cancer Benefit
Crush is located at 1412 SE Morrison, Portland, OR. Please RSVP to anglemurph@yahoo.com and please try and come out for this special event. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
revies of a CD i'm on
From Victory Music Review
You’ve got to get this new record by folk godfather (and Victory contributor) Dick Weissman. It’s a double album: Disc one is all lively and inventive banjo instrumentals that muscle up right alongside Pete Wernick’s and Tony Trischka’s similar releases this year. Weissman’s a little different, playing open-backed from deep within the folk roots, growing up and into jazz and classical branches, where the others are climbing in off the bluegrass limb. Weissman also plays a mean guitar, and with it in hand reveals a Southwestern trope. The middle tracks of the instrumental CD are a marvelous suite of blues. A fascinating feature on both discs is the inclusion of a concluding track of Dick discussing the songs. Well, he is a professor, you know! The second disc is the “folk song” album, and good gracious, he leaves his contemporaries, and those who’ve come since, in the dust with his wicked wit, his perfect song construction, and his always-surprising arrangements. He goes from the bedrock (“One Big Union”) to the breathtaking (on “So Much Dylan” he both yanks Zimmy’s chain and spoofs how far Muzak – and we – can go) in a single bound. Weissman’s in fine voice, but he cheerfully cedes the mic to Tom May, Mary Flower, and Anne Weiss on selected tunes. Through the magic of overdubbing, he plays most of the instruments (and he uses a delightful variety) but is otherwise backed by the similarly multifaceted Chico Schwall and Noah Peterson. This is certainly one of the Don’t Miss albums of ‘08; you can catch Dick live in Seattle after the new year, too.
From "The Oregonian"
After seeing Dick Weissman
perform at the Portland Songwriters Association Best Songwriter Finals in 2007, I wrote "folk icon and banjoist Dick Weissman, looking like he stepped off the set of 'A Mighty Wind,' performed one of the most entertaining songs of the evening, a North African slide banjo tune." Little did I know how right-on I was. Turns out, the mythical trio in the spoof film "A Mighty Wind," known as the Folksmen, bear resemblance to the Journeymen, a band Weissman was in along with John (the Mamas and the Papas) Phillips and Scott McKenzie. The Journeymen are best known for "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)."
Over coffee last week, Weissman laughed at my line. "I loved the movie," he said. "I don't have a lot of nostalgia for the '60s. What I did then is what I did then and what I do now is what I do now." Fair enough. What Weissman does now includes writing a new book, his 16th. Weissman was born in Philadelphia, migrated to New York City, then Denver, and ended up in Portland in 2005.
On Saturday, he's introducing a new double-CD set, "Four Directions," at Artichoke Music in Portland. There's an instrumental CD, mostly Weissman playing his signature banjo, the banjeaurine (smaller and tuned higher than the standard banjo), and guitar -- solo, overdubbed
and aided by sidemen Chico Schwall and Noah Peterson. The companion CD is all songs.
He admits, "I can't sing ballads." He brought in Mary Flower, Anne Weiss and Tom May for those. Weissman brings his perspective as a participant and observer in the entire life of the "folk revival" from the late 1950s on to his song "So Much Dylan," a send-up of Dylan's early rock band and a comment on the current Dylan proliferation. "I was in New York when Dylan came there. I tried to produce it like his early folk-rock. The band isn't quite together. I had more fun doing that than I've had in the studio maybe ever." And that's quite an "ever." Weissman has played on hundreds of studio sessions, written film scores, even produced an Archie Shepp album.
Weissman's banjo playing is melodic, more like Bela Fleck than Earl Scruggs, although Weissman was playing that way before Fleck was born. "I like playing slowly and quietly, which most banjo players just don't do," Weiss said.
You’ve got to get this new record by folk godfather (and Victory contributor) Dick Weissman. It’s a double album: Disc one is all lively and inventive banjo instrumentals that muscle up right alongside Pete Wernick’s and Tony Trischka’s similar releases this year. Weissman’s a little different, playing open-backed from deep within the folk roots, growing up and into jazz and classical branches, where the others are climbing in off the bluegrass limb. Weissman also plays a mean guitar, and with it in hand reveals a Southwestern trope. The middle tracks of the instrumental CD are a marvelous suite of blues. A fascinating feature on both discs is the inclusion of a concluding track of Dick discussing the songs. Well, he is a professor, you know! The second disc is the “folk song” album, and good gracious, he leaves his contemporaries, and those who’ve come since, in the dust with his wicked wit, his perfect song construction, and his always-surprising arrangements. He goes from the bedrock (“One Big Union”) to the breathtaking (on “So Much Dylan” he both yanks Zimmy’s chain and spoofs how far Muzak – and we – can go) in a single bound. Weissman’s in fine voice, but he cheerfully cedes the mic to Tom May, Mary Flower, and Anne Weiss on selected tunes. Through the magic of overdubbing, he plays most of the instruments (and he uses a delightful variety) but is otherwise backed by the similarly multifaceted Chico Schwall and Noah Peterson. This is certainly one of the Don’t Miss albums of ‘08; you can catch Dick live in Seattle after the new year, too.
From "The Oregonian"
After seeing Dick Weissman
perform at the Portland Songwriters Association Best Songwriter Finals in 2007, I wrote "folk icon and banjoist Dick Weissman, looking like he stepped off the set of 'A Mighty Wind,' performed one of the most entertaining songs of the evening, a North African slide banjo tune." Little did I know how right-on I was. Turns out, the mythical trio in the spoof film "A Mighty Wind," known as the Folksmen, bear resemblance to the Journeymen, a band Weissman was in along with John (the Mamas and the Papas) Phillips and Scott McKenzie. The Journeymen are best known for "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)."
Over coffee last week, Weissman laughed at my line. "I loved the movie," he said. "I don't have a lot of nostalgia for the '60s. What I did then is what I did then and what I do now is what I do now." Fair enough. What Weissman does now includes writing a new book, his 16th. Weissman was born in Philadelphia, migrated to New York City, then Denver, and ended up in Portland in 2005.
On Saturday, he's introducing a new double-CD set, "Four Directions," at Artichoke Music in Portland. There's an instrumental CD, mostly Weissman playing his signature banjo, the banjeaurine (smaller and tuned higher than the standard banjo), and guitar -- solo, overdubbed
and aided by sidemen Chico Schwall and Noah Peterson. The companion CD is all songs.
He admits, "I can't sing ballads." He brought in Mary Flower, Anne Weiss and Tom May for those. Weissman brings his perspective as a participant and observer in the entire life of the "folk revival" from the late 1950s on to his song "So Much Dylan," a send-up of Dylan's early rock band and a comment on the current Dylan proliferation. "I was in New York when Dylan came there. I tried to produce it like his early folk-rock. The band isn't quite together. I had more fun doing that than I've had in the studio maybe ever." And that's quite an "ever." Weissman has played on hundreds of studio sessions, written film scores, even produced an Archie Shepp album.
Weissman's banjo playing is melodic, more like Bela Fleck than Earl Scruggs, although Weissman was playing that way before Fleck was born. "I like playing slowly and quietly, which most banjo players just don't do," Weiss said.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Marriage
I've just had the pleasure of celebrating my 1st year of marriage. As I look back on what can only be described as a one-year honeymoon, all I can say is I hope the next year is as good as this one was.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Politics
What a month! Our first Black President and a scandal in Portland.
Let's talk about our new President, briefly. For those under 40 I don't think we really care about race as much as the media says we do. Obama won for a variety of reasons, let me list a few: he is believable, ethical character, easy to identify with, he is inclusive ("we" not "I"), and he's not John McCain. Obama's campaign was right, this election was about change. Everbody wanted it, everybody needed it. As soon as Obama beat Clinton for the nod, I knew it was over. This war has ripped a lot of dirty politicians out of Washington, it has changed the mood of America. Let's roll with Obama for awhile. I'm willing to try it. He's doing things different! Better... well, time will tell. Either way, he has y support. There is a new generation coming to power. Let's hope they do a better job then their predecessors. And let's do our part by paying closer attention.
---
For those outside Portland let me catch you up, our new mayer Sam Adams (the first openly gay man of a large American city) lied about having sex with a male interm. Sam was 42, the intern was 18. He then conspired with the intern to lie to help him cover up deed so he could win the mayoral election. At the same time was maligning the accuser's reputation for spreading false (actually TRUE) rumors about Sam having sex with his intern and mentee.
Here's my beef: the tabloid media in Portland and bloggers are making this a gay issue saying things like "It's not of our business who he has sex with," "this is because people don't want a gay mayor" and lots of other things are have nothing to do with this. Let me remind them that Sam Adams is the first elected OPENLY GAY mayor of a large American City. Everyone knew he is gay. Adams won so big in the primary that he won the election without a need for a fall election, as an openly gay candidate. Clearly him being gay isn't the issue.
The issue is this: Him 42, his INTERN and person he was MENTORING was 18 (although he admits to kissing him in City Hall when the boy was underage), he lied about having sex with him, he conspired to cover it up by making this boy lie about it, slandered others who told the truth so he could win office. Oh yeah... and on Jan 30th the news broke that Mayor Adams was having sex with him while he was underage. If that's true, he's a rapist. How is this clown going to deal with Portland's problems? People are dying in the streets with the worst gang violence this city has seen since before I came here in 1994 and the mayor is missing work. RESIGN. It's time. Come clean and quit. We're tired of it, we're tired of this kind of evil from our leaders, we're tired of you. For ONCE in your life, do the right thing.
Let's talk about our new President, briefly. For those under 40 I don't think we really care about race as much as the media says we do. Obama won for a variety of reasons, let me list a few: he is believable, ethical character, easy to identify with, he is inclusive ("we" not "I"), and he's not John McCain. Obama's campaign was right, this election was about change. Everbody wanted it, everybody needed it. As soon as Obama beat Clinton for the nod, I knew it was over. This war has ripped a lot of dirty politicians out of Washington, it has changed the mood of America. Let's roll with Obama for awhile. I'm willing to try it. He's doing things different! Better... well, time will tell. Either way, he has y support. There is a new generation coming to power. Let's hope they do a better job then their predecessors. And let's do our part by paying closer attention.
---
For those outside Portland let me catch you up, our new mayer Sam Adams (the first openly gay man of a large American city) lied about having sex with a male interm. Sam was 42, the intern was 18. He then conspired with the intern to lie to help him cover up deed so he could win the mayoral election. At the same time was maligning the accuser's reputation for spreading false (actually TRUE) rumors about Sam having sex with his intern and mentee.
Here's my beef: the tabloid media in Portland and bloggers are making this a gay issue saying things like "It's not of our business who he has sex with," "this is because people don't want a gay mayor" and lots of other things are have nothing to do with this. Let me remind them that Sam Adams is the first elected OPENLY GAY mayor of a large American City. Everyone knew he is gay. Adams won so big in the primary that he won the election without a need for a fall election, as an openly gay candidate. Clearly him being gay isn't the issue.
The issue is this: Him 42, his INTERN and person he was MENTORING was 18 (although he admits to kissing him in City Hall when the boy was underage), he lied about having sex with him, he conspired to cover it up by making this boy lie about it, slandered others who told the truth so he could win office. Oh yeah... and on Jan 30th the news broke that Mayor Adams was having sex with him while he was underage. If that's true, he's a rapist. How is this clown going to deal with Portland's problems? People are dying in the streets with the worst gang violence this city has seen since before I came here in 1994 and the mayor is missing work. RESIGN. It's time. Come clean and quit. We're tired of it, we're tired of this kind of evil from our leaders, we're tired of you. For ONCE in your life, do the right thing.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Times Gone By
Earlier this week, I was contacted by an old Marine buddy of mine. I tried contacting this guy once, maybe 10 years ago. But I haven't heard from him in easily 15 years. I always considered myself a Marine's Marine. Tough, Ruthless, Fit, Mean... but this guy was really a Marine to be emulated. He looked out for his troops, shielded them from the wrath of superiors, took more crap from the underlings than he ever should have, positive attitude, cheerful, trustworthy, honorable, fearless. Turns out, as he's watching President Obama's inauguration, he sees a guy we both served with in 29 Palms. William Brown, the Drum Major of "The President's Own" in D.C. He sends him an email and starts contacting the crew that served at that station.
I've been hooking up with old comrades all this week. It's been great. These are men and women I would still die for. These Marines were great to serve with. Our particular situation at the time was pretty rough, and our duty wasn't easy. 29 Palms was a hard place to be. Our "band hall" was an abandoned tank shed in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
For me, it seems like life began in boot camp. Anything before that is very disconnected for me, high school is a blur, growing up with my brothers is there, but vivid memory as for who I am really starts with The Marines. The memories that are flooding my mind are endless and I find myself bursting out with laughter unable to explain myself to my wife. Some things just don't translate. And since her dad and brother are former military, she understands.
I have forgotten how much I loved being a Marine and how much I still love my fellow Marines.
Chapa - thank you for the email. I'm looking forward to chatting with more comrades from those days. Semper Fi Dogs! Can't wait to catch up!
I've been hooking up with old comrades all this week. It's been great. These are men and women I would still die for. These Marines were great to serve with. Our particular situation at the time was pretty rough, and our duty wasn't easy. 29 Palms was a hard place to be. Our "band hall" was an abandoned tank shed in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
For me, it seems like life began in boot camp. Anything before that is very disconnected for me, high school is a blur, growing up with my brothers is there, but vivid memory as for who I am really starts with The Marines. The memories that are flooding my mind are endless and I find myself bursting out with laughter unable to explain myself to my wife. Some things just don't translate. And since her dad and brother are former military, she understands.
I have forgotten how much I loved being a Marine and how much I still love my fellow Marines.
Chapa - thank you for the email. I'm looking forward to chatting with more comrades from those days. Semper Fi Dogs! Can't wait to catch up!
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