Randy OxfordFinds Blues Can be Good to the 'Bone

by Rick Nelson

article in the News Tribune, 3/14/2003

So what's a nice, classically trained trombonist doing in a bunch of blues bands? Having a ball, according to Randy Oxford.

Oxford plays with several Northwest blues groups, often as the only horn player, and hosts the popular Wednesday night jam sessions at Jake's Ales, not far from his home in Federal Way.

The former Junkyard Jane member was honored by the Washington Blues Society last year for "Keeping the Blues Alive," and his 2-year-old jam session fills that bill by connecting fine players with good crowds in a no-cover, smoke-free environment. Children can attend until 9 p.m.

"I make it part showcase and part jam," Oxford said. "I feature different Northwest musicians every week in the first part of the jam, and I get to play with the best talents in the Northwest. They all come through Jake's. They all know the jam has a good reputation.

"The other side of it is watching other musicians come in and be able to play and watching them improve over the past two years. And they hook up with musicians and network and form bands. I like that, too."

Last week, Oxford showcased guitarist Pete Pendras, a talented Northwest native who spent several years in Nashville and now lives in Tacoma. Veteran vocalist Valerie Rosa also contributed to a delightful night of music. This coming Wednesday, the special guests will be singer Dan Berlin, guitarist Max Stillings and their new band, Electric Sky Church.

Drummer Andrew Cloutier and bassist Jack Kinney anchor the jams with Oxford, but what about the drop-in players? Do they ever deliver an unpleasant surprise?

"There are times when you just have to ride it out," Oxford said, "but the guys that don't do well seem to know it and don't come back. ... I usually just get experienced players, but I do like to see the beginners come out and get a shot at it."

Musicians need opportunities to learn and grow, and Oxford played with Bill Engelhart for eight years before connecting with Junkyard Jane. "Playing with Bill is where I really learned how to play the blues," he said.

Before moving to the Northwest in 1986, Oxford spent six years in Army bands and "played a lot of big-band jazz gigs" while stationed in Berlin for three years.

"I never thought about getting into the blues until I came to Seattle," he said.

Blues bands sometimes have horn sections, but Junkyard Jane often featured Oxford's 'bone as its only horn. His great sense of tone and stage presence made him a favorite with the band's fans.

"That was the first band where I was the only horn," Oxford said. "That's very unusual. I've only seen it with Elvin Bishop's band. Usually a solo horn is a saxophone, but I can cover the horn duties, and that keeps me working with all kinds of bands."

Indeed it does. Oxford performs with Nicole Fournier & Her 3-Lb. Universe; the Tri-Cities band the Howlers; Fat Cat, an eight-piece horn band from Seattle; and Eric "Two Scoops" Moore's combo.

"And I'm forming a band," Oxford said. "I'm kind of auditioning singers. Partly because of the jam, I get to pick the cream of the crop in players who want to be involved."

Oxford plucked four people out of the cream for Sunday's Blues Vespers show at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The 5 p.m. concert "will be a real gospel blues show," he said, featuring "two great female vocalists."

"Beth Wulf will play the grand piano they have at the church and sing some of her original gospel blues. And Virginia Klemens has a deep, old-time blues voice. She'll be singing some real down-home, back-porch blues."

Joining in will be Jim Wulf (Beth's husband) on drums and vocals, Jerry Lee Davidson on guitar and vocals and Gary Lee Johnson on bass. "That'll be a fun show," Oxford said.

There is no charge at the church, at East 54th and B streets, but donations are accepted.

Green scene: If your idea of celebrating St. Patrick's Day goes beyond wearing a bit of green, where better to indulge than a place called Kellys? Red Kelly will host Monday at his club at 1101 Tacoma Ave. S. with the Swing Reunion big band at 6 p.m. and his Red Kelly & Friends group at 9:30 p.m.

"Drop on by," the jazz veteran said. "There won't be a cover charge, and Swing Reunion is about a 16-piece band."

Southern fried: Tonight's Jazzbones show features the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz & His First House of Polyester Worship, which one reviewer describes as great barrelhouse-piano blues combined with speechifying about "Southern culture, rasslin', double wides, Waffle Houses and right-wing politics."

The Danny Godinez Band will open the 9:15 p.m. show. The cover will be $10 for men, $5 for women.

Half notes: Hell's Kitchen has the AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles and the RC5 tonight. ... Los Orchids & the Valley Girls deliver an eclectic blend of rootsy styles at Jake's Ale's tonight. ... Jazzbones should be packed for Walter "Wolfman" Trout and Ryan Harder on Saturday. The Greta Matassa Quartet will feature Michael Powers on Sunday. ... Butterbean returns to Johnny's Dock on Sunday with Dean Reichert, formerly with the Jeff Lorber Fusion, on guitar. ... Little Bill & Friends will be at the Spar on Sunday. 

Oxford plays with several Northwest blues groups, often as the only horn player, and hosts the popular Wednesday night jam sessions at Jake's Ales, not far from his home in Federal Way. 

The former Junkyard Jane member was honored by the Washington Blues Society last year for "Keeping the Blues Alive," and his 2-year-old jam session fills that bill by connecting fine players with good crowds in a no-cover, smoke-free environment. Children can attend until 9 p.m. 

"I make it part showcase and part jam," Oxford said. "I feature different Northwest musicians every week in the first part of the jam, and I get to play with the best talents in the Northwest. They all come through Jake's. They all know the jam has a good reputation.

"The other side of it is watching other musicians come in and be able to play and watching them improve over the past two years. And they hook up with musicians and network and form bands. I like that, too." 

Last week, Oxford showcased guitarist Pete Pendras, a talented Northwest native who spent several years in Nashville and now lives in Tacoma. Veteran vocalist Valerie Rosa also contributed to a delightful night of music. This coming Wednesday, the special guests will be singer Dan Berlin, guitarist Max Stillings and their new band, Electric Sky Church. 

Drummer Andrew Cloutier and bassist Jack Kinney anchor the jams with Oxford, but what about the drop-in players? Do they ever deliver an unpleasant surprise?

"There are times when you just have to ride it out," Oxford said, "but the guys that don't do well seem to know it and don't come back. ... I usually just get experienced players, but I do like to see the beginners come out and get a shot at it." 

Musicians need opportunities to learn and grow, and Oxford played with Bill Engelhart for eight years before connecting with Junkyard Jane. "Playing with Bill is where I really learned how to play the blues," he said. 

Before moving to the Northwest in 1986, Oxford spent six years in Army bands and "played a lot of big-band jazz gigs" while stationed in Berlin for three years. 

"I never thought about getting into the blues until I came to Seattle," he said. 

Blues bands sometimes have horn sections, but Junkyard Jane often featured Oxford's 'bone as its only horn. His great sense of tone and stage presence made him a favorite with the band's fans. 

"That was the first band where I was the only horn," Oxford said. "That's very unusual. I've only seen it with Elvin Bishop's band. Usually a solo horn is a saxophone, but I can cover the horn duties, and that keeps me working with all kinds of bands." 

Indeed it does. Oxford performs with Nicole Fournier & Her 3-Lb. Universe; the Tri-Cities band the Howlers; Fat Cat, an eight-piece horn band from Seattle; and Eric "Two Scoops" Moore's combo.

"And I'm forming a band," Oxford said. "I'm kind of auditioning singers. Partly because of the jam, I get to pick the cream of the crop in players who want to be involved." 

Oxford plucked four people out of the cream for Sunday's Blues Vespers show at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The 5 p.m. concert "will be a real gospel blues show," he said, featuring "two great female vocalists."

"Beth Wulf will play the grand piano they have at the church and sing some of her original gospel blues. And Virginia Klemens has a deep, old-time blues voice. She'll be singing some real down-home, back-porch blues."

Joining in will be Jim Wulf (Beth's husband) on drums and vocals, Jerry Lee Davidson on guitar and vocals and Gary Lee Johnson on bass. "That'll be a fun show," Oxford said.

There is no charge at the church, at East 54th and B streets, but donations are accepted.

Green scene: If your idea of celebrating St. Patrick's Day goes beyond wearing a bit of green, where better to indulge than a place called Kellys? Red Kelly will host Monday at his club at 1101 Tacoma Ave. S. with the Swing Reunion big band at 6 p.m. and his Red Kelly & Friends group at 9:30 p.m.

"Drop on by," the jazz veteran said. "There won't be a cover charge, and Swing Reunion is about a 16-piece band."

Southern fried: Tonight's Jazzbones show features the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz & His First House of Polyester Worship, which one reviewer describes as great barrelhouse-piano blues combined with speechifying about "Southern culture, rasslin', double wides, Waffle Houses and right-wing politics."

The Danny Godinez Band will open the 9:15 p.m. show. The cover will be $10 for men, $5 for women.

 Half notes: Hell's Kitchen has the AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles and the RC5 tonight. ... Los Orchids & the Valley Girls deliver an eclectic blend of rootsy styles at Jake's Ale's tonight. ... Jazzbones should be packed for Walter "Wolfman" Trout and Ryan Harder on Saturday. The Greta Matassa Quartet will feature Michael Powers on Sunday. ... Butterbean returns to Johnny's Dock on Sunday with Dean Reichert, formerly with the Jeff Lorber Fusion, on guitar. ... Little Bill & Friends will be at the Spar on Sunday.

(Published 12:30AM, March 14th, 2003)