The MYSTERY STEELER from Portland, Oregon

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

If any of you folks are curious about what REAL country-western swing sounded like during its heyday.......during the late 1940's and early 1950's.....

OR, what the great NOEL BOGGS and Joaquin Murphy sounded like............. you should include the CD "STAY OUT LATE", Fate LP5002, with the LUCKY STARS.

I just got my hands on a copy of this fun and musically challenging CD and haven't been able to put it aside since I plugged it into the 'puter.

The STEEL MAN......is caressing a dark Cherry Wood, triple neck Bigsby with pedals, played thro' a weary olde, tweed bare Fender amp. TALK ABOUT authentic SOUND reproduction!!!!! WOW! I can't wait for YOU to hear it.

Overall, the group is really good. But the sounds coming from this steel guitarist are really inspiring. His single string phrasing and tone is so close to the early day Joaquin that it's truly amazing. Then he'll lapse into some full chord work that is reminicent of the great Noel Boggs from the days of Bob Wills.

The way he and the lead guitarist weave in and out of two-guitar harmony riffs and stuff like that is really exciting. No two riffs are the same. They take turns you can't envision until AFTER you hear them. This is REALLY EXCEPTIONAL two-guitar work.

If you're overdosed on all the E9th and C6th speed pickers that can play fast but go nowhere, this fella's single string work will surely charm your musical senses. It's the unexpected in western swing that we've all been hoping would occur one day.
It's here NOW! Don't wait another day to get your copy.

He's a Portland, OR., musician......and what he's done on THIS cd really has me pumped up!!!! For the time being let's refer to him as "the MYSTERY Steeler".
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Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

I assume that is Jeremy Wakefield. Didn't know he was from Portland.

He has been playing publicly for over 10 years that I know of. I have seen him play his Bigsby and a 1960s era Rickenbacker double neck and frankly liked him better on the Rickenbacker, though that may be heresy.

First saw him circa 1996 at the 23 Club in Brisbane CA, and wasn't impressed at all. I assume this was quite early in his career. Saw him again on the Rick around 1999 and was stupefied by how much he had improved. About as close to Joaquin as you are likely to get--the band (Dave Stuckey's group) even did a roaring version of Oklahoma Stomp. After the gig, I asked Jeremy if he was using one of Joaquin's tunings and he said he didn't know. Whatever, it was a great performance (Limehouse Blues, Chinatown, etc).

What I particularly liked is that I could hear the Hawaiian overtones in his playing--as I regularly notice in Joaquin as well.

Ray--he has a solo CD out. Get it.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I'm familiar with the fine player you've mentioned but the "MYSTERY STEELER" is NOT Mr. Wakefield.

He definitely is a PORTLAND, OR, musician at this time, at least.

Any more guesses?

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

Jerry Gleason?

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

Or maybe Todd Clinesmith?

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

this smacks of RUSS BLAKE

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Yes! Indeed, it is RUSS BLAKE.

What a fine steel man.

What a great CD!

Dave Biller · From: Texas, USA

no sir, the steeler with the Lucky Stars is indeed Jeremy Wakefield. Russ is also in the Lucky Stars but he is the guitar player, and a VERY fine one at that! Russ IS also an excellent steel player and he, too, has a Bigsby of his own. yes it's confusing, all these dang guitar players that also play steel!!

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Russ is a great musician and all around nice guy! Very Happy

Had the pleasure of hearing him play and hanging out a bit with him last year!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Well everyone........I guess I committed a cardinal sin of bragging up someone and not knowing what I was talking about.

THANKS for setting me straight. I appreciate it.

WELL, whomever it was that was playing steel on that CD is terrific. The sounds of Joaquin and Noel were evident.

As far as I'm concerned, he was a mystery steeler.

Jeremy Long · From: Nashville, TN

And what mr. Biller didn't mention is that HE TOO is a monster western swing guitar picker!! Check out his work with Wakefield on "The Hot Guitars of Biller and Wakefield". If you liked the Lucky Stars sound, you'll LOVE the instrumentals that these guys do. I got mine on Itunes. Best album i've bought in a long time.

Jeremy

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I'm with Jussi. Mad

Biller plays lead guitar on my Texas Dance Time CD. He's fan-freakin'-tastic. Does he have to take all the steel jobs around here as well? GRRRR....
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Russ Blake is playing next Monday night at Duff's Garage here in Portland, and is indeed the Steel man in the band (even though the listing says "Featuring Russ Blake on slide guitar.").
http://www.duffsgarage.com/

Ray and I used to play at Duffs as a duo.
I learned every song that Ray wanted to do (I was on acoustc guitar and vocals) and did everything in my power to ensure that the audience recognized that Ray was the "Star" on those gigs.

I will probably head down there Monday night.
See you there!
Pete B.

Russ Blake · From: Oregon, USA

Ray, sorry for the confusion. Whenever I hand out that CD I try to mention that I'm NOT the steel player on it. I'm flattered that you thought me capable of that level of playing.

As pointed out, it is Jeremy Wakefield. Let me just say that playing next to him has been truly inspiring, and then the next moment severely discouraging (when it's my turn to solo). I guess that's life.

Dave and Dave- thanks for the kind words. And come up this way soon!

Jussi- I hate guys like that, too.

Ray- thanks for calling attention to the disc and I'm so glad you liked it.

Anthony Locke · From: Texas, USA

J.W. also has a solo C.D. out called "Steel Guitar Caviar." Lot's of swing and jazz tunes. His playing is outstanding on that as well, I highly recommend it!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

On Saturday, I received a call from the U.K. from my good friend and Bigsby player Moe Kabir. As usual, we chatted for over an hour and he played me some of his Joaquin Murphy records. GREAT STUFF!

He also acknowledged that the steel player on the album "STAY OUT LATE" by the Lucky Stars was indeed Jeremy Wakefield of southern California way. He also highly recommended another CD "Steel Guitar Caviar" by Jeremy Wakefield. He couldn't say enough in the way of compliments for this steelman. He also confirmed that Jeremy has two Bigsby and one Rickenbacher steel guitars, not that I doubted any of the above posters, for even a nanno second.

Last night the wife and I dropped into Duff's Garage and took in the sights and sounds of "The BUCKLES", a hot little local c/w group. Always a pleasure to get to hear Harley James on his Emmons but what really gave me some happy vibes (besides a pretty little number in a tight pink sweater!) was the lead guitar exhibition of "MYSTERY MUSICIAN" Russ Blake.
Russ is one fine, creative and solid lead guitar picker, the kind I truly enjoy having the opportunity to share a stage with. I really, really enjoyed hearing you 'pick' Russ and I hope to have that opportunity again, soon.

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