Doors at 6:00pm | Show at 7:00pm
All ages are welcome.
Free parking is available in the lot across the street until full.
CLIFFORD SMITH
Clifford Smith, born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area, began his musical ‘pilgrimage’ in the 1960’s with an elementary school education of ‘all things percussion’ which included drums and mallet instruments. By high school, he had progressed to professional performances for pay, on Drum-kit, Guitar, Hand- drums, and Harmonica. This cumulative experience, coupled with 60’s cultural influences like multiple underground newspapers, and the many ‘elective’ high school classes he attended, including multiple poetry and writing courses, and the History of American Jazz, was preparing him for an artistic existence that would include Composition, songwriting, and performance; a viable career in music.
By age 18, playing around the San Francisco bay area, Cliff got his first chance of ‘performance above and beyond the bar circuit’ when his band opened for the tremendously popular, “Larry Graham & Graham Central Station”. That was a life- altering moment, a catalyst of sorts, that would help propel Cliff forward through the next few decades, touring/performing, and living in 14 states around the country. His earlier experiences included performing as a ‘supporting musician’ for artists like: Buc Trent; Don Lee; both artists from the syndicated TV show HEE- HAW; Jerry Jeff Walker; Freddy Fender; The Tubes; and The Wray Brothers, (early Colin Raye). Cliff also garnered many opportunities to be an ‘opener’ for national touring acts including Richard Elliot, Greg Allman Tour, Elvin Bishop, Head East, Greg Kihn, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Tony Carey, Dan Hicks, The Association, Ed Bruce, and Con Hunley.
Cliff’s journey, has included playing venues like large concert arena’s, festivals and fairs, high end hotels, resorts, and casinos, cruise ships, pit orchestras for national- touring, and local theatre productions, and well over two decades of working dozens of recording studio projects as an independent artist, including local TV and Radio commercials. Cliff is also no stranger to the academic world, having worked for years as an accompanist for numerous university classes for modern dance, as well as African and Latin dance classes, and including Children’s Dance Theatre, where he worked closely with internationally acclaimed choreographer/African musicologist Chuck Davis with the Kennedy Center. Over the last 20 years, the study and performance of Music Therapy has demanded much of Cliff’s time.
CHUK BARBER
Chuk Barber has been a musician, a deep thinker and a leader for change, the majority of his 72 years in existence. He raised a fist at the Famous March on Washington in 1963 with Martin Luther King at age 12. He started playing drums at age 11 with Louie Bellson was his first drum teacher and later, Hal Blaine because of his father's connections and relations with Jazz Legends as a Pullman Car Porter out of New York City’s Penn Station. He created his first group at age 14.
At age 35, he and his family created Casa Samba, one of the first Brazilian Samba Schools established in the US. He traveled abroad with the National Brazilian Soccer Team with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the late 90's as part of their accompanying 50-member Samba School Band.
Continuing to sing, learn and play all manner of hand percussion & drums while living in New Orleans, Chuk has played with The Neville Bros', Dr. John, Bill Summers, Bonnie Raitt, and Olodum and Sergio Mendez, Steel Pulse, until 1996 when he was asked to play percussion for the Lowrider Band, the Multi-Platinum Recording Artists formerly known worldwide as the band WAR.*
He’s an award winning teacher of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean Music from New Orleans, Louisiana to Portland, Oregon. He is an Author (Endangered Species) and a Playwright (Dear Xango)
In the late eighties, Chuk worked with Tim Wise and others at Tulane University to derail David Duke’s bid for President and to remove Confederate Antebellum Traditions still in place at that same university.
A tireless fighter for Justice and Equally for his people and others and all people of Color!
Chuk Barber has a voice and he stands up and lets it be heard.
RENATO CARANTO
Renato Caranto arrived in the U.S. from his native Philippines and toured the West Coast for over a decade with a Top 40 band. He settled in Portland, Oregon in 1992 and began playing the kind of music he loves: blues, soul and jazz. Gradually Renato became more well known throughout the region appearing with top Portland players such as Mel Brown, Ron Steen, Tom Grant, Dan Balmer, Louis “King Louie” Pain, LaRhonda Steele, Norman Sylvester, Linda Hornbuckle, Michael Allen Harrison, and so many others. Later he earned international attention while recording and touring with Grammy-winning artist Esperanza Spalding and the late, great Merle Haggard.
Renato is an in-demand recording artist with contributions to more than 100 recorded projects for himself and others. He has performed at all the popular venues and major music events in the area including the Waterfront Blues Festival, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival and more than 20 years at the long-famed Jimmy Maks club with the Mel Brown B3 Organ Group. His soulful playing and remarkable versatility have also earned him significant recognition with a lifetime achievement award from the Cascade Blues Association and an induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
SAM ARNOLD
Sam Arnold is a native Oregonian and has been active in performing and teaching in the Portland music scene for over a decade. Sam studied music at Portland State University where he received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education (Hons). He is an active freelance performer and recording artist, and a private teacher and clinician for the Portland Public School District. He has played and toured with groups and artists such as Celisse, Ron Artis II, Quadeca, Stelth Ulvang (The Lumineers), Y La Bamba, Brian Jackson, Darrell Grant, Mike Phillips, greaterkind, Mae.Sun, Quickly Quickly, LaRhonda Steele, Haley Johnsen, Reva Devito, Mbrascatu, The Eugene Ballet/Orchestra Next, and Portland Summerfest Opera. Sam proudly endorses MTD basses, and Bartolini Pickups.
ALBERTO POMAR
Alberto Pomar is a world class guitar player. He began playing in the Philippines before traveling the globe, sharing his guitar styling and lightening speed licks with music fans in Germany, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Guam.
Alberto worked with the best top 40 bands in California before moving to the Pacific NW. It is here that he teamed with Manilla Vanilla and since 2010 with Taska and The Party Band, bringing his music mastery in all styles of music.
ED PIERCE
Ed Pierce grew up in Northern California, and started playing drums at the age of 11. After graduating from Humboldt State University in the late 90's with a degree in music, he relocated to Portland, Oregon, and became an active member of the city's music scene.
Some of the bands he has played with include those of Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, Terry Robb, DK Stewart, Johnny Martin, Geno Michaels, Roger Woods, and Rae Gordon.
Currently Ed plays with Tall Static, The Joanne Broh Band, and The Ellen Whyte Band, among others.
MICHAEL METZ
Michael has performed with several of the area's favorite bands such as The Andy Stokes Band, Calvin Walker, Soul Vaccination, and 5 Guys Name Moe, along with opening for national acts such as SWV (Sisters with Voices).
In addition to being in demand for solo piano and Jazz performances, Michael can be seen frequently performing at clubs, festivals, and casinos throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Michael’s proudest achievement, is following his first passion of teaching music and technology to thousands of children in a career that lasted for over 34 years with the Beaverton and Portland Public School systems!
MARK STEELE
With over thirty years experience playing piano professionally, Mark Steele has developed an expressive and diverse style. After studying Performance and Composition in Long Beach CA, he relocated to Portland where he has resided since the late 80s. While in California, Mark had the honor of performing with such luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Ronnie Laws, and Micheal Sembello.
While in the Northwest, Mark has worked in several genres with artists like LaRhonda Steele, Obo Addy, Liv Warfield and others too numerous to mention, in venues from theaters and festivals to churches and private events.
Mark has recorded with LaRhonda Steele (Artistic Differences) as well as contributing cameos to (Yes Please, Spirit of Freedom, My Soul Song).
Mark is currently Musical Director for Portland Interfaith Gospel choir and works with LaRhonda Steele.
LaRhonda Steele
LaRhonda Is a 2021 Inductee into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and was awarded the Cascade Blues Association's award in 2018. She is the choir director for the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir and leader of the LaRhonda Steele Band. She also works as a vocal coach. She graduated from NE High School, Oklahoma City, OK and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in business and finance.
She is married to Mark Steele.
TASKA BARLOW
Taska began playing for audiences at the early age of 6. She has traveled extensively with her bands The Hometown Stars, Sassy and The Outlaws, State and County Fairs, Nevada casinos, Arizona winter resorts, from Texas to to Alaska and on Norwegian Cruise Lines. She was awarded a trophy by actress Cyd Charise for Pacific NW Entertainer of The Year. While living in the songwriter market in Nashville for 18 months she appeared on Nashville Now and Hee Haw and penned the album 'Nashville to Nome.' She loves producing shows and when possible letting the 'under-served shine!'