One Reason That Bluegrass Has Managed to Maintain Its Popularity
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Volume 30 • Number 5 INSIDE THIS ISSUE! September • October Dundee, Oregon: A New Bluegrass Capital The Theory of Bluegrass: What’s in a Chord? Notes from the Front 2010 Sound Advice: Hints and Tips... Oregon Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Expresswww.oregonbluegrass.org Through his banjo-picking-pal, Jon developed a great love for the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, which opened the door to Doc Watson and many other bluegrass and sort-of- Dundee, A new bluegrass Oregon: capital by Claire Levine bluegrass musicians. For the past 15 years, Jon has lived in Yamhill County, where he runs his own welding business. In the last few years, he has begun experimenting with flatpicking leads. “Sometimes I crash and burn, sometimes I make it.” But he never passes up the chance to take a break. “I’m getting better, but nobody’s threatened by me yet. I’ve got a long way to go.” The path to La Sierra While pizza parlors are common locations for bluegrass jams, you don’t hear about many in Mexican restaurants. Here’s how Jon combined bluegrass and burritos. When he first arrived in Oregon, Jon traveled far for a good jam. His first venture was to the Dallas jam. He credits jams in Ken Cartwright’s Salem Jon, Jeff Biglin and Pam Young are regulars on the patio at La Sierra store for introducing him to many of t the last census, Dundee, Oregon particular – a bluegrass community. His his favorite fiddle tunes, like Angelina Awas home to about 2,600 people twice-monthly jam at La Sierra Mexican Baker (also called Angeline the Baker) living in 921 households. The city, grill is just one step in the process. and St. Anne’s Reel. just south of Newberg on Highway “That was a really important time for 99, sits on 1.4 square miles of land. From SoCal to bluegrass my learning and playing. And Ken’s Like so many who didn’t grow up in Dundee is a pipsqueak of a city. great at hosting a jam. But it was just the south, Jon learned about bluegrass too far to travel every week,” after Ken But because of the enthusiasm of in college. A friend turned out to be moved to Stayton. Jon Cooper, the town of Dundee has more to attract people than simply a whiz on the banjo, going from zero Soon after, a Newberg music store being a stop on the way to a winery. to Earl in about six months, while Jon began offering a jam. That’s where Jon Jon is creating community – and in said he “slogged along” on the guitar. continued on page 6 Table of Contents Proud Member of: September / October 2010 • Volume 30 / Number 5 • Newsletter of the Oregon Bluegrass Association • www.oregonbluegrass.org Sept - Oct ThiS IssuE Features 2010 Vol.30 No.5 Cover Story: Oregon Bluegrass Association Dundee, Oregon www.oregonbluegrass.org A new bluegrass capital 1 Bluegrass Express by Claire Levine Bluegrass Express is a bi-monthly newsletter dedicated to informing members of the To Charge or not to Charge Oregon Bluegrass Association about local, The Backbone of Bluegrass 9 regional and national bluegrass issues, events by Joe Mando and opportunities. vs. Why playing Bluegrass Music for free Ken Cartwright - Why playing Bluegrass Music for free is usually a bad idea p.10 Bluegrass Express Staff is usually a bad idea 10 by Ken Cartwright ▪▪ Advertising Christine Palmer | (503) 282-0877 Noes from the Front [email protected] Hello again from Afghanistan! 11 ▪▪ CAlendAr by Zach Driscoll Chip Russell | (503) 239-6599 [email protected] The Theory of Bluegrass ▪▪ Contributing editor Whats in a Cord 20 Claire Levine by Matthew Snook [email protected] ▪▪ Copy editor Columns & Commentary Kathy Boyd [email protected] Membership & Ad Information 4 OBA President’s Letter 5 ▪▪ grAphiC design + lAyout Jana Rocheleau | www.jmrartist.com Sound Advice 8 [email protected] Calendars, Lists & Info ▪▪ publisher And editors Colby Buswell | (503) 334-6806 Radio Time Listings 5 Joe Ross - To Charge or not to Charge p. 9 [email protected] What’s Cookin’? Pull-Out Calendar 12 Christine Palmer | (503) 282-0877 [email protected] Scheduled Jams Around the Northwest 14 ▪▪ WebmAster & Web Content Supporting Performer Directory 22 Tony McCormick | (503) 330-2239 [email protected] The Oregon Bluegrass Association (OBA) PO Box 1115, Portland, OR 97207 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 1982. It’s pur- pose is to promote, encourage, foster and cultivate the preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, support and performance of bluegrass and other closely related music. The Bluegrass Express is printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper. Zach Driscol - Hello from Afghanistan Jon and Jeff Biglin have the brother duet sound going. Oregon Bluegrass Association Board Membership information Advertising The OBA Board of Directors invites Your Express advertising will directly The OBA Board you to join the OBA and to participate reach over 600 households of bluegrass Contact the OBA: 503 321-5077 in its many activities. Our member- enthusiasts while helping OBA to keep www.oregonbluegrass.org ship benefits include a subscription publishing this valuable resource. Tear to the bi •monthly Bluegrass Express, sheets or extra copies of the Express are Officers of the Board frequent mailings about events, and available. We appreciate your support ticket discounts to Northwest bluegrass of the Oregon Bluegrass Association. Chip Russell - President events. Annual membership dues are [email protected] $20 for a General Member, $50 for Submissions Colby Buswell - Vice President Supporting Performers and $100 for [email protected] Please contact Christine Palmer via a Contributing Business Sponsor (see e-mail at [email protected] for David Hausner - Treasurer page 7), as well as other options. To information about placing an ad for [email protected] join, complete the application on the your music related business in the Matt Snook - Membership back cover and mail with your check to: OBA Bluegrass Express. [email protected] Oregon Bluegrass Association, P.O. Box 1115, Portland, OR 97207. Payment Volunteer Coordinator Randy Black Web Site The OBA prefers to receive advertis- ing payment in advance. We would like [email protected] Features include a calendar, excerpts one year contracts six months in ad- from the current issue of the Express, vance, and we will bill for the next six Members at Large and links for local bands. Come visit us months. Fred Coates online! Visit the OBA web page today! [email protected] www.oregonbluegrass.org. Please make checks payable to: Cleve Friedman The Oregon Bluegrass Association, [email protected] Sponsored Jams mail to PO Box 1115, Tony McCormick Portland, Oregon 97207. The OBA sponsors jam sessions in [email protected] Portland, Coburg, Roseburg, as well as Liz Crain Pendleton. Check the Scheduled Jams [email protected], section of this issue for a complete list- Bluegrass Express Advertising Rates ing of these and other jams through- Patty Spencer out Oregon. If you are interested in [email protected] (size) (dimension) (two + issues) organizing an OBA-sponsored jam, Chuck Holloway contact any of the Board members or [email protected] Full Page 8x10” $110.00 $99.00 Express Staff at the phone numbers or Ian Joel e-mail addresses listed on this page and Half Page 8x5’’ $65.00 $58.00 [email protected] on page 3. Quarter Page 35/8x5’’ $45.00 $40.00 Cathy Beach [email protected] 1/2 5/8’’ Articles & Editorial Deadlines Eighth Page 3 x2 $25.00 $20.00 Ernie Connelly The OBA Board invites you to submit Business Card 31/2x2’’ $25.00 $20.00 [email protected] letters, stories, photos and articles to Add 3% for late payment. Larry Wilder the Bluegrass Express. Published files [email protected] remain in our archives and art is re- turned upon request. Deadlines for all Ad Specs: The OBA holds board elections each April as art and copy: November 25th for the individual terms expire. The Board of Direc- January and February issue; January When submitting an advertisement tors invites you to join our monthly meetings. 25th, for the March and April issue; to be in the Bluegrass Express, please We welcome your visit and ideas, opinions and March 25th for the May and June is- be sure the file is black and white, 300 proposals. Or, just come to see what we’re do- sue; May 25th for the July and August dpi, and in either PDF, TIFF, or JPEG ing! We generally meet the second Tuesday of issue; July 25th for the September and format. If you have questions about each month at 7:30 p.m. The location is subject your file, email Christine Palmer at to change. Call us or email any board member October issue; and September 25th for for time, location and directions. the November and December issue. [email protected]. OBA Bluegrass Express - September / October 2010 4 From the President What’s Playing on the Radio? Local Radio Bluegrass and Country Listings. Howdy All Albany/Corvallis-KBOO, Another wonderful summer has come and gone, short though it may have been. Broadcast from Portland, can be heard I don’t know about you, but I sure had a great time this summer at festivals, and at 100.7 FM. See under Portland, below. getting out and meeting folks. I have to give a shout out to John Malloy, and all of Astoria-KMUN, 91.9 FM. the folks that worked so hard to put on the Columbia Gorge Festival. It was a big Some syndicated programming. 503 325-0010. success this year, and was chock full of great music.