Writer and critic Tom D’Antoni broke the story today of KMHD Station Manger Doug Sweet’s resignation. Here’s an excerpt from D’Antoni’s blog on LivePDX:

No, I don’t know what’s going to happen or where he’s going. At this point, my views and the views of others should be kept to ourselves. Expect some major moves, though. One connected person referred to the station as a “jazz museum.” Not my show, of course, and not several others. But that person has a point.

Writer Brian Palmer from Stereo Subversion talks to local drummer Drew Shoals about his Diatic Records release “The Greatest Haven’t Been Born Yet.”  Below is a small excerpt. Click here for the interview.

Shoals: Yeah. My album is more in that vein. This is a really great eclectic label. So I put the album out and wrote most of the songs last summer and then recorded it at the end of the summer. So really the whole process was very condensed, it was like a three-month process once I knew that Dusty was backing me in terms of helping me put out. This album he kind of gave me a deadline to work for and a lot of the songs just came out within a few weeks. So it was really exciting. I got to record with a lot of my favorite musicians in town, a lot of younger musicians whose bands I play in, so it was cool to be able to hire them on and play my music and they played beautifully. And the chemistry was already kind of there since I’ve played in a lot of their bands. So overall it was a really fun process. I’m pleased with the product.

Portland-based saxophonist Patrick Lamb has launched his own ticket company, Tickets Oregon.  The company’s goal is to provide tickets for Oregon events while keeping fees reasonable, unlike larger companies like Ticketmaster.  They’ve already made partnerships with some great venues, including Jimmy Mak’s, Skamania Lodge, and especially the 2008 Waterfront Blues Festival.

Visit the Tickets Oregon website to find out more about upcoming events and about getting your event ticketed by the company.

This week’s press release for The Cave:

Wednesday June 11th: NANCY KING INVITATIONAL

This week Nancy invites the clever, intricate, swinging, and still young pianist Dan Gaynor. Dan is also what in baseball would be called “in the hot box”.

Thursday June 12th: ALAN JONES PRESENTS…

If you asked randomly around the world, “who is the greatest musician living in Portland, OR”, it’s quite possible, likely even, that most of the responses would be…Dave Frishberg. It’s worth taking a minute to check out some of the things he’s done over a 40-year career http://www.davefrishberg.net/long_bio.php. He played with Ben Webster! He played with Gene Krupa! He writes and sings hilariously intelligent songs that are very famous…but those songs are for another night. On this night he’ll be playing version of breathtaking piano with Warren Rand. Warren has “Revered Master” status in Portland. He has the biggest, fattest sound you can get on an alto saxophone, has played since it’s inception with the Mel Brown sextet/septet and the Alan Jones Sextet.  He’s played blues for years with Robert Cray and Albert King. Dave Speranza will be playing bass. Dave is playing very, very well, just look at the company he’s keeping. Alan Jones will play drums.

Friday June 13th: ANDREW OLIVER SEXTET

Andrew is a very motivated, prolific and exceptional piano player and composer. One of the leaders in the great movement of young talented musicians in Portland, he brings to his work the experiences of living, studying and playing for 3 years in New Orleans, touring in unusual and interesting places like Poland, Bulgaria and Africa, the ability to speak French and play cello, trumpet and drums.  This is an opportunity to hear a young creative musician on his way up.  Joining Andrew will be Dan Duval, guitar and composition; Mary Sue Tobin, soprano, alto saxophone and clarinet; Willie Matheis, tenor saxophone; Eric Gruber, bass and Kevin Van Geem, drums

Saturday June 14th: DAVID FRIESEN TRIO

David Friesen bass, Randy Porter piano, Alan Jones drums have been playing together for many years, traveled all over the world, recorded 3 internationally acclaimed CD’s, have a virtually telepathic rapport with each other and have never had a rehearsal.

Monday June 16th: INGRID JENSEN QUARTET

Special Note: Next week INGRID JENSEN will dart into Portland to do some work with David Monette on a new trumpet and while she’s here play a rare, secret gig at the cave on MONDAY JUNE 16th with Randy Porter, Dave Speranza and Alan Jones + special guests.  I know, we don’t usually have music on Mondays, but sometimes you have to make exceptions.  This will be a party!

The Cave is located at:

636 SW Jackson St (at the corner of Broadway in the PSU neighborhood). 

OPB’s Art Beat features Patrick Lamb’s Ray Charles Tribute

The Blue Cranes’ newest album, Homing Patterns has a nice review in today’s Oregonian.  Head over to the Blue Cranes website and make sure to catch their CD release party on May 7th at Holocene.

Featuring John Nastos

www.shellyrudolph.com

www.tonystarlight.com

From the AFM99 Musicians Union website:

The Musicians Union, Local 99 is hosting 4 of our esteemed local music writers for an afternoon presentation and Q & A about their jobs, press releases, what they like to see, and how you might help yourself get some press.

Present at the event will be:

Luciana Lopez - Pop Music Critic-Oregonian
Amy McCullough - Music Editor-Willamette Week
Ezra A. Caraeff - Music Editor-Portland Mercury
Barbara Mitchell - Music Critic-Portland Tribune

Saturday, March 29, 2008
2-4 PM
Musicians Union Hall
325 NE 20th Ave
Portland, OR 97232

The event is free to all, though we are suggesting a $5, tax deductible, donation to the Music Education Assistance Project, a non-profit organization that provides support for Public School Music Programs.

For more info, contact the Local at 503-235-8791 or  Bruce Fife