Eugene Women in the Blues hold March 8th Womenspace Benefit at Cozmic

Vipertoons Productions and The Eugene Weekly present Eugene Women in the Blues, a benefit for Womenspace, at Cozmic (199 West 8^th, Eugene, OR.) on International Women’s Day, Saturday, March 8 from 6 - 11 p.m. The benefit will feature Eugene area blues musicians and bands including Deb Cleveland with The Vipers, Gaye Lee Russell, Joanne Broh, Barbara Healy, Lynda Duffy, Darcy Lee Gribble with Heavy Chevy, Matrisha Armitage with Bajuana Tea, the Fiddlin’ Big Sue Band, Janie Smith, and Naomi Debacker.

For more than ten years, powerful, gospel-trained vocalist Deb Cleveland has performed with the no-nonsense, straight-up blues band, The Vipers, including a European tour.  She also performs soulful, swinging, jazzy blues and funk with her own Deb Cleveland Band.

Dynamic singer and charismatic entertainer Gaye Lee Russell performs with the Badass Band.  Joanne Broh sings upbeat blues with some rock for spice and splash of funk with the appropriately named Joanne Broh Band.  Deb Cleveland, Gaye Lee Russell, and Joanne Broh are all previous winners of the Rainy Day Blues Society’s Rooster Award for “Best Female Blues Vocalist.”

Barbara Healy’s soulful vocals and lyrics have ignited West coast stages and radio waves for more than thirty years.  Her fifth CD, Shades of Blues, was released last year with her band, Barbara Healy & Her Groove Too Band.

 

Explosive, sultry vocalist Lynda Duffy performs R & B and blues with the richly blended Americana band Barefoot Leroy.  Darcy Lee Gribble performs with the rockin’ blues and soul band Heavy Chevy.  Matrisha Armitage is one-half of Bajuana Tea, a duo combining old and new school in a way that and captures audiences with creative originals and classic covers.

The Fiddlin’ Big Sue Band, comprised of Sue and Tom Hunnel and Janet Nelson, has been performing their brand of good old time music for more than three decades.  Multi-instrumentalist Janie Smith has performed with numerous area bands over the last 35 years and currently plays saxophone with Heavy Chevy.

Womenspace believes each person has the right to live a life free from violence and fear of abuse. The agency’s mission is to prevent domestic violence in intimate partner relationships in Lane County and support survivors in claiming personal power. One in four women and one in seven men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. Locally, one in three police call outs are domestic violence related. By providing support and resources to survivors of intimate partner violence, educating the community and working together, Womenspace knows we can decrease the rate of domestic violence and create a healthier and safer community for everyone.

Advance tickets for $10 are available at Cozmic, CD World, and House of Records, or online here at cozmicpresents.com.  Tickets at the door are on a sliding scale of $12 to $18 with a suggested admission of $15.  The show runs from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Introducing Gordon Kaswell

Besides being an active Eugene-area music teacher, Gordon Kaswell is a multi-instrumentalist (electric and acoustic guitars, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, hand percussion) in a range of styles (blues, folk, rock, swing). He’s also had success as a songwriter and composer.

Gordon Kaswell has been playing guitar for more than 40 years. He began his musical education as a private student of the piano, and went on to apply the music theory and concepts he learned to the guitar. He performed in clubs in Boston, MA, and Rochester, NY, before moving to Eugene. He performs locally on both guitar and piano, and plays the electric bass guitar, keyboard synth, and hand percussion as well.

At the 2001 Worldfest Film Festival in Houston, Gordon earned a Platinum Award for composing, performing, and recording the world beat musical score for the documentary film, "The Passionate Harvest" (on the subject of international coffee culture and agriculture). "Java Roads" is his soundtrack CD from that film.

 "The Performer," a song he co-authored, has been featured in made-for-TV films on ABC ("A Murderous Affair") and Cinemax ("Desire"), and performed on Saturday Night Live.  The song’s also been covered by several noted jazz singers.  It's featured on "Love is Blue," the 2004 CD release from Blue Note Records jazz singer, Jackie Allen. A member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) since 1988, Gordon also has created custom music for numerous commercial clients, including Symantec, Bellissimo Media, and States Industries.

Since 2007, Gordon has been teaching guitar at The John G. Shedd Institute, where he offers instruction in folk, blues, rock, and swing jazz acoustic and electrical guitar, as well as music theory.

"I give my students the skills and techniques they need to play and enjoy the guitar, while gradually introducing musical concepts that will enable them to understand what they are doing and express themselves creatively in whatever styles and genres they prefer. I believe my teaching style closely matches my performance style which can be summed up as ‘relaxed and personal.' I am here for my students – to help them reach their individual musical goals in a relaxed and supportive environment."

In this video, Kaswell shares what it is like to mature as a musical artist. Also, check out Gordon Kaswell’s Reverbnation page to learn more about his traditional American and British fingerstyle acoustic, rock, classic and contemporary blues, swing jazz, and world beat music.

Vanessa Salvia of the Eugene Weekly offers: “He has built an impressive performing career, but Kaswell is also known among his peers as a talented composer.” 

Introducing Chico Schwall

For the latest installment about Lane Musician Collective members, I'd like to introduce you to Chico Schwall. Folksinger, multi-instrumentalist and songpoet William "Chico" Schwall believes there IS enough to go around and we CAN figure out how to make it work.

Instrumentalist and singer, traditional musician and songwriter, his music is a genre-defying tightrope walk over Folk Music Falls. He has sung at labor rallies, traveled with Northwest Touring Theatre, played in pit bands, done "side man" gigs in the studio and on stage, directed folk music camps for kids and played gigs of every stripe in half a dozen states. 

 

Chico's newest CD, "Then What's It For?" draws on blues, gospel, mountain music, Irish tunes and international acoustic sounds and puts his original songs and tunes among gems and classics from all over.

When he's not traveling, Chico fans the flames of discontent in Eugene, Oregon and teaches Everything with Strings at the Shedd Institute for the Arts.

"When I was a kid at recess time," says Schwall, "I'd go over to the place where the older kids did the high jump and the pole vault in gym class. There were two hollow metal posts set in the ground, with holes drilled in them for the pegs they used to hold the bar at various heights. When the wind blew those posts were like two giant randomly tuned flutes, singing as the wind blew across the holes. I could sit in the sand pit and listen to them until the teacher called me in off the playground. Always changing, always beautiful. I'm surprised everybody wasn't over there listening." 

To see a video of Chico Schwall performing "Mayn Rue Plats,"click here. It was recorded in February 2009 at Folk Alliance, Memphis, Tennessee. Videography is by Tom Weber. And here's Chico singing and playing "What I Know About Love."

Introducing Nancy Hopps

Nancy Hopps has been professionally combining performing arts and healing arts for over 30 years. She is recognized nationally for her award-winning Relax Into Healing series of spoken-word audio recordings. Nancy currently has 11 titles out on the market, which have earned praise from leaders in the field, including Bernie Siegel, MD, and Jack Canfield, of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame. Her CDs (on topics including deep relaxation, sleep, affirmations, childbirth, cancer, surgery and pain) are in widespread use in hospitals and other therapeutic settings. Background music on most of Nancy’s CDs is by local harpist Donna Mast, whose intuitive approach to her music greatly augments the healing aspects of these powerful recordings. For more information, please visit Nancy's website at www.RelaxIntoHealing.com.

In the performing realm, Nancy has been seen on most local stages as an actor/singer over the past few decades. Favorites include title roles in The Decent of Inanna (ECT), Sylvia, The Taming of the Shrew, and the one-woman show, Raw Canvas (LLTC/OCT). She sang for years with the Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble, and various small groups, performing mostly in the folk/jazz realms. She is a member of Fred Crafts’ Radio Redux troupe, with favorite roles as Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life, Ilse in Casablanca, and 13 character voices in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

In early 2014, she is assistant-directing and performing the role of Alta in Julia Cho’s The Language Archive at The Very Little Theater (24th and Hilyard). This unique, award-winning script has been described as “a magically inventive comedy about love and lost languages.” The production only runs through Feb 1st , and tickets are going fast! For tickets or more information please call VLT at 541-344-7751 or click here.

  

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, which is also WORLD SOUND HEALING DAY, Nancy will offer her 7th annual Alchemical Crystal Singing Bowls, Toning & Guided Meditation: A quietly joyful, deeply renewing experience. On this day traditionally devoted to the celebration of Love, join thousands of others around the world in using the power of sound and intention to create love and healing for self and others ... and for our planet.

In an atmosphere of loving Presence, experience Nancy’s inspired guided meditations, the power of intention and toning, combined with the alchemy of 20 Crystal Singing Bowls. 7 to 8:30 PM. Unity of the Valley, 39th & Hilyard. Suggested Donation $15 -$20. (No one turned away.) For more info, call 541-345-9913 or click here.

Wearing yet another hat, Nancy maintains a limited private practice. She intuitively draws from an extensive background in various healing modalities, including sound healing (alchemical crystal singing bowls, toning, etc.) and other forms of energetic healing, therapeutic massage, mindfulness-based meditation, interactive guided imagery, affirmation, cognitive therapy, hypnotherapy, NLP, etc. (Happily, much of the work Nancy does tends to defy labels.) She also practices and teaches Yoga Plus and Edgu.

While acknowledging the value of this eclectic background, she credits her spiritual practice as her most significant “training”, and the incomparable healing power of Love as her most valuable "tool".

When asked “What do you do when you work with people?” Nancy’s response is, “Whatever needs doing."

"Most importantly," she adds, "I offer myself as a Vehicle to guide the client into their own inner knowing. In this place of relaxed clarity, the growth or healing they're seeking occurs in the most appropriate, expedient, elegant, and sometimes seemingly magical ways. I feel deeply honored when I'm able to assist a client in their journey to Self ... witnessing someone remember who they truly are, being in that transcendent place with them, is an indescribable joy."

Introducing Chip Cohen!

During the upcoming year, we'd like to tell you about some of the members of the Lane Musicians Collective. First up is Chip Cohen.

Chip Cohen has been fiddling for audiences across the U.S. since the 1970s. An Oregonian since 1984, he currently plays with the Klezmonauts, the Texas Toasters, and the Bohemian Dub Orchestra.

The Klezmonauts play Klezmer, the exuberant music from the Jewish villages of eastern Europe with diverse roots from ancient Hebrew melodies to fiery Hungarian dances. The Klezmonauts add touches of their own backgrounds in jazz, bluegrass, Indian, African, and classical music, along with a healthy dose of spirited improvisation. Their new CD "Klezmonauts Destroy Tsunami" was recorded live at Tsunami Books in April 2013. 

   
 

The Texas Toasters, a new band on the scene, has been making waves with their renditions of western swing, a fusion of country and swing jazz. Twin steel guitars, six-string guitars, bass, and fiddle keep 'em dancing.

The Bohemian Dub Orchestra is a 30-piece classical orchestra collaborating with popular local band Medium Troy to create a "psychedelic glitch-hop fantasia." They debuted on November 1, 2013 for an enthusiastic audience of 1,000 at the MacDonald Theater.

Chip also plays solo, showcasing his old time fiddling as well as an eclectic mix of Klezmer, Irish, original tunes and spontaneous compositions. He's been opening the first day of Eugene Saturday Market for 20 years running.

Chip is now working on his first music book "Tall Tales and Twin Fiddles," a collection of old time tunes arranged for two fiddles, with bogus history of the music. Sneak previews of the tall tales have elicited some serious belly laughs. Tall Tales and Twin Fiddles will be out in early 2014.

Upcoming shows for Chip include:
December 15, 2013 - Klezmonauts CD release party at Tsunami Books
December 30 - John Prine sing along at Sam Bond's Garage
January 17, 2014 - Texas Toasters at the Axe and Fiddle
January 31- Texas Toaster at Sam Bond's Garage
February 28 - Texas Toasters at Drain Community Center

And of course, catch Chip at the April 5th opening day of Eugene Saturday Market. Contact Chip at drhorsehair [at] yahoo.com

The Lane County Musicians’ Collective

The Lane County Musicians’ Collective is a cooperative sales association of musicians in Lane County, Oregon. Currently we staff a cooperative sales booth each year at Saturday Market’s Holiday Market in November and December. The Holiday Market features handcrafted gifts sold by the artists, an international food court and live music at the Lane County Fairgrounds, 13th & Jefferson, in Eugene, Or.

Any Lane County band, musician, other musical group, or musical producer that has put out a CD, vinyl record, or music video is eligible to participate in the Musicians' Collective. If you are interested in participating, please call Jon Silvermoon at 541-689-3084, Doug Bonham at 870-2924, or Sally Cowan at 935-1956. You can also e-mail us using this contact form.

Lane County Musicians' Collective booth guidelines can be found here.

A partial list of current participants and genres in the Lane County Musicians' Collective includes:

Accordions Anonymous - Accordion
All For A Lark - Renaissance Folk / Christmas Carolers
Americanistan - Belly Dance
Bindaas - Indian
Blue Lotus - Cosmic Original Jam Band
D. B. Bonham - Rock
Dale Bradley - Classical Original Traditional Cello Guitar
Steve Carter - Folk
Chip Cohen - Fiddle and Guitar
Richard Crandell & Tim Danforth - Christmas Guitar
Brian Cutean - Squint Yer Ears Folk
Dianne Dugaw - Folk
Eugene Folklore Society - Folk, “Good Stuff”, various artists
Girl Circus - Rock, Latin, funk, tango, Italian
Glenn Falkenberg - Celtic Harp
Gopal Das - Folk/Bluegrass
Loren Haines - Timeless Thoughtful Healing Music
David Helfand - Celtic, Original Electronic/Acoustic
Todd Johnson - Dijeridu / World Music
Kef - Balkan
Nancy Hopps - Relax into Healing (Spoken Word with Music)
Laura Kemp - Folk-Acoustic
The Klezmonauts - Rockin’ Klezmer
Kudana - African Marimba Music
Don Latarski & Rue de Blues - Blues
Don Latarski - Acoustic guitar
Legendary Eden Express - Country Fried Rockin’ Psychedelia
Halie Loren - Jazz Singer/Songwriter Alternative Pop
Halie Loren & Matt Treder - Jazz, Standards, Holiday
Mike & Carleen McCornack - Children’s Folk
The Moon Box - Ethereal Pop
Motet Singers - Women’s Acapella Choral
Notorious Nobodys - Rock
Edison Oliveira - Brazilian Music
Opal Creek - Bluegrass
Daniel Paul & Glenn Falkenberg - Harp/Dulcimer
Red Pajamas - Folk Rock Originals
Reefer Punks - Rock/R&B
David Rogers - Classical Guitar, Songs of New West
Sharon Rogers - Family Folk Music
Joe Ross - Bluegrass, Children, Classic Jazz & Swing
Joe Ross & Janet Naylor - Celtic
Joe Ross w/ Cold Thunder - Bluegrass
Walker T. Ryan - Blues
Paul Safar - Original Eclectic w/ Folk, Rock, Jazz
Chico Schwall - Original Acoustic
C Schwall, L Danielson, D S Bull - Celtic and Holiday
Sideroads - Original Americana
Skye - Contemporary Celtic Acoustic
The Sugar Beets - Psychedelic Bluegrass Rob Tobias - Folk, Folk-Rock
Mark Vigil - Contemporary Classical
The Vipers Feat. Deb Cleveland - Blues
The Vipers Feat. Eagle Park Slim - Blues
The Vipers w/Henry Vestine - Blues
Voodo Mountain Zydeco - Zydeco
Jeremy Wenger - Acoustic World Transgenre
Zimfest - World Beat

Current products offered by the Lane County Musicians' Collective include:
LANE COUNTY MUSICIANS' COLLECTIVE - COMPACT DISC PRICE LIST
(Artist, Title, Price)
Accordions Anonymous - 12 Steps to Accordion Awareness $15
All For A Lark - All For A Lark $14
All For A Lark - A Christmas Lark $14
Americanistan - Mosaic $12
Americanistan - Live at WOW $12
Americanistan - Journey East $12
Americanistan - Live at Luna $12
Americanistan - Tribalation $12
Jerry Ashford, Beth McNamara, Joe Ross - MoonGlow $15
Bindaas - Raga In The Living Room $10
Blue Lotus - Blue Lotus $10
DB Bonham - Life of Ease $15
Dale Bradley - The Christmas Cello $15
Dale Bradley - Solo $15
Steve Carter - Cascadia's Calling $12
Steve Carter - Before We Say Goodbye $12
Brian Chevalier - Heavy Chevy $10
Chip Cohen - Horsehair $15
Richard Crandell - One on One $15
Richard Crandell - Mbira Magic $15
Richard Crandell - Spring Steel $15
Richard Crandell - On Hill $15
Richard Crandell - Essential Tremor $15
Richard Crandell - Flowers of Our Youth $15
Richard Crandell - High Places $15
Richard Crandell & Tim Danforth - Christmas Unplugged $15
Brian Cutean - Heartearthearth $15
Brian Cutean - Bite Sized Mantra Cards $10
Brian Cutean - Lubricating The Species $15
Brian Cutean - Parakeetfishhead $15
Brian Cutean - Guitarred and Feathered $15
Michael Kevin Daly - Ancestors and Other Relations $15
Michael Kevin Daly - Love Never Walks A Straight Line $15
Dianne Dugaw - Dangerous Examples $10
Dianne Dugaw - The Aunties' Song Kettle$10
Eugene Blues - Eugene Blues Anthology $10
Eugene Folklore Society - Genuine Good Stuff $13
Glenn Falkenberg - Gypsy Traveler Exotica $15
Glenn Falkenberg - Fairy Queen $15
Glenn Falkenberg - Sultry Pastimes $15
Glenn Falkenberg - Distant Lands $15
Glenn Falkenberg - Christmas O'Carol $10
Girl Circus - Baby Blue $12
Girl Circus - Shangrila $12
Girl Circus - In The Pink $12
Gopal Das - Wizard of Moz $10
David Helfand - Callings from the Quiet Grove $15
David Helfand - First Light $15
David Helfand - Cornish Sea $15
David Helfand - Celtic Sampler $12
David Helfand - Memories and Stardust $12
David Helfand - Beyond The Sea of Reeds $15
Lorin Haines - Piano Sojourns $10
Lorin Haines - Forces in Motion $10
Lorin Haines - Dance of the Elephants $10
Nancy Hopps - Relax-Quick! $15
Nancy Hopps - Relaxation/Affirmation Techniques $15
Nancy Hopps - Deep, Healing Sleep $20
Nancy Hopps - Finding The Peaceful Place Within $20
Nancy Hopps - Relaxation for Expectant Mothers $15
Nancy Hopps - Cancer- Embracing the Healing Journey $20
Nancy Hopps - Chemotherapy- A Healing Solution $20
Nancy Hopps - Radiation- Removing the Dross $20
Nancy Hopps - Pain- Softening the Sensations $20
Nancy Hopps - Surgery- Mindful Mending  $20
Nancy Hopps - Healing Affirmations & Harp $20
(Note: Local Harpist, Donna Mast, accompanies on most Nancy Hopps titles!)
Todd Johnson - Dronedance $15
Kef - Kef $15
Laura Kemp - may $13
Laura Kemp - Bodhi Tree $15
Klezmonauts - The Klezmonauts $15
Klezmonauts - Klezmonauts Destroy Tsunami $15
Kudana - Spirit Song (For The Children) $14
Don Latarski - Natural Instincts $12
Don Latarski - Fab 4 on 6 $12
Don Latarski - Fab 4 on 6 (Vol 2) $12
Don Latarski - Guitars on Holiday $12
Don Latarski & Rue de Blues - Eden Hall Sessions $12
Don Latarski & Rue de Blues - Deep Play $12
Don Latarski & Rue de Blues - Rue II $12
Legendary Eden Express - Hodank Hootenanny $10
Halie Loren - They Oughta Write A Song $12
Hailie Loren - After Dark $15
Hailie Loren - Stages (Live 2009) $12
Hailie Loren - Full Circle $12
Mike&Carleen McCornack - High Hopes $15
Mike&Carleen McCornack - A Road To Call Your Own $15
Mike&Carleen McCornack - Live on Earth $15
The Moon Box - 33 Songs $12
Motet Singers - Sing Noel $15
Motet Singers - After Silence $15
Notorious Nobodies - Real World $10
Edson Oliveira - Plays Antonio Carlos Jobim $15
Opal Creek - Opal Creek EP $10
Daniel Paul & Glenn Falkenberg - Between Two Worlds $15
Daniel Paul & Glenn Falkenberg - Rhythm of Paradise $15
Reefer Punks - Play It Loud $15
David Rogers - Encounters on the Western Slope $12
David Rogers - Songs of the New West $12
David Rogers - Transcendent Mountaineer$12
Sharon Rogers - Ear To Ear $12
Sharon Rogers/Chip Cohen - Old Time Music $15
Joe Ross - The Crazy Zoo: An Animal Songfest $12
Joe Ross - Festival Time Again $15
Joe Ross - The Spirit of St. Louis $15
Joe Ross - Bluegrass Alphabet $15
Joe Ross & Janet Naylor - The Harper's Reverie $15
Walker T. Ryan - 13 $15
Paul Safar - Gemini Dreams $8
Paul Safar - Earth Play $12
Paul Safar - Fly On $12
Paul Safar - Inward $9
Paul Safar - The Little City $12
Paul Safar - Front Porch Days $12
Paul Safar - Nisse's Dream $12
Paul Safar - A Quartet in Red, Black, & Blue $12
Paul Safar - Dream a Story $12
Chico Schwall - Cut Off The Line $15
Chico Schwall - Driving By Moonlight $14
Chico Schwall - Then What's It For? $15
Chico Schwall w/L. Danielson, DS B - Since You Asked. . .A Celtic Holiday $15
Sideroads - Destinations $12
Skye - It's About Time $15
Skye - Storm Watch $15
The Sugar Beets - Secret To Happiness $12
The Sugar Beets - Sweet Ride Home $12
Rob Tobias - Constant Rain $12
Rob Tobias & Friends - Bagel Roots & Water Dogs$12
Rob Tobias and Friends - Sparks $15
Rob Tobias and Friends - World In The World $15
Rob Tobias and Friends - By The River $15
Rob Tobias & Northwest Express - The Northwest Express $12
Mark Vigil - In Expression $12
Mark Vigil - In A Wild Garden $12
Mark Vigil - Piano Music $12
The Vipers - Venom $8
The Vipers - Good Times Live! $10
The Vipers Feat. Deb Cleveland - Tickle My Toes $15
Voodoo Mountain Zydeco - Melody and Shine $10
Voodoo Mountain Zydeco - Sugar Skulls $10
Jeremy Wenger - Never Mind The Triangles$15
Zimfest 2000 - Zimfest 2000 $15
Zydeblue - Kick Up Some Heat! $10

Many of these products can also be sampled and bought on-line at CDBABY, AMAZON or directly from the artists. To link to individual artist websites, simply go to the Eugene Saturday Market's musicians page, and you will find most of the links there (or you can always Google their name and/or titles!)
 
If you are interested in participating in the Lane County Musicians' Collective, please call Jon Silvermoon at 541-689-3084, Doug Bonham at 870-2924, or Sally Cowan at 935-1956. You can also e-mail us using this contact form.

For updates to this webpage, contact Joe Ross at rossjoe [at] hotmail [dot] com.