Monday night...March 26, 2012... the night that we knew was coming for the last six months or more and now it was upon us. It was the final performance for SoulMates at the Candlelight Cafe and Bar on 5th Avenue in Portland.

The building had been erected in the 1940's and it has been home to live music seven nights a week since it's establishment. Mr. Joe Shore bought the place in 1984 and renamed it the Candlelight. It has been a Portland fixture for eight decades and with its present name for 28 years. Some of the staff have been there for almost all of those 28 years.

Mr. Shore is a good guy and is respected by all. He must be a good employer because once someone joins his staff, they never want to leave. Ironically, Monday was Mr. Shore's 62nd birthday with SoulMates and audience singing him best wishes and cheering his health. He has promised to re-open at a new location but the deal has not been finalized. And with that hole torn in the universe last week... who knows? (see last week's blog for the reference)

The place was full before the music even began. That was an early indicator of the importance of the night; everyone wanted to be here for every moment. So many faces from so many Monday nights over the last 18 months since SoulMates played the first notes on what has become sacred ground. I use the word sacred intentionally and without apology because the Candlelight has received the heart-warming good feelings from so many musicians and audiences since the 1940's. It has become a place of pilgimage for the faithful.

Sure enough, there at the bar was everyone's favorite pilgrim Lance Giles who makes the sojourn from Seattle every week possible. Near him was TJ Johnson who has not missed a single Monday that I can remember. TJ is a good-humored and kind man who will give a friendly wave across the crowded bar if he cannot get to you through the crowd.

Arriving early also were Michael and Theresa G, the recruiters. They have brought more people to hear SoulMates than any one else in the place. They are warm and they are open... if you can get past Mikey's merciless puns.

Michael Magaurn was there with a camera man from his company, Magaurn Video Media, to record some of the final moments for history. It was Michael who had produced the DVD SoulMates: Live and In Living Color which has been sold at recent SoulMates performances. He has known Jay "Bird" Koder since the Bird was a hatchling and neither one of them are willing to say exactly how long that has been.

Drummist Reinhardt Melz had his sister in the audience, telling those at her table about listening to Reinhardt practice for 10 hours a day when he was young. But she was clearly proud of her baby brother as she watched him beat the living daylights out of his drum kit.

Bob was denied his usual seat up front, so he kindly and patiently waited in the back for someone to clear out. Nobody did. While Toray resumed his place on the dance floor, as he has done every week. Randy Corby--who says that if Lance is SoulMates Number One fan, then she is Number Two--also took her regular seat at the high bench near the bar.

Jonah Kobayashi and Monica Miller had long ago moved their Sunday night "date night" to Monday nights just to be at the Candlelight and hear the music of SoulMates. Jonah and Monica are a couple in a million.

Later, after finishing his own gig at El Gaucho, we were joined by Toshi Onizuka, Portland's favorite flamenco guitarist. Watching Toshi watch Jay "Bird" is always a treat. Toshi has referred to the "Bird" as his god.

Tim was missing and we looked anxiously for him.

Also missing was John Paul Jones. He has known the "Bird" for many years and became acquainted with him after moving from Seattle to take care of his mother. Now his mother is almost 100 years old and John Paul is almost 80 himself.

Of Jay "Bird" he says, "When I first saw him, I was amazed. He was magical. The quickest fingers I have ever seen. Not only is he the best guitarist I have ever seen, Jay "Bird" Koder is one of the good guys. Now he has this band with two other good guys." And this is why the place is full with all good people. Like attracts like.

So most everyone was in their usual places - except for poor, displaced Bob - and SoulMates took their places with the Bird promising to rock the night away.

The opening instrumental brought to the dance floor one of the dancers from early 2011 who had disappeared for whatever reason but had returned for a last night of dancing to SoulMates music at the Candlelight. It was fitting that she was at one point joined by a tiny dancer who has become a Monday night regular in recent months. The first and the last.

That opening number featured a rousing drum solo by Reinhardt Melz who has been called the first-call drummer for Portland musicians. This does not say enough of Reinhardt and I can never say enough about him but I will say this. I have been amazed by seeing Buddy Rich in concert. I have enjoyed seeing Lenny White and Steve Gadd and Roy Haynes. I have watched in awe to see Bill Bruford and Terry Bozzio and Pat Mastelotto. But I have never been as emotionally moved by a drummer like I have when watching Reinhardt Melz. There is something deep and penetrating in the way he plays. He is my favorite.

We were taken "down to New Orleans" with Down By the Riverside. Even the dancers stopped dancing while watching  SoulMates perform. After the song, Jay "Bird" took the mic to point out Reinhardt and to say "Ladies and Gentleman, this is a bitter-sweet night for us. This the final night at the Candlelight for us. Joe and I figured that I have been here since the 80's and we love the Candlelight and everything it represents. Joe Shore has kept this party going for years and years and years. We love Joe and we appreciate all he has done for music in Portland." He called for Joe Shore to come up but Joe disappeared into the kitchen. Mr. Shore does not require attention. He pays attention.

The band then launched into a SoulMates original composition called Her Twisted Mind. Toshi Onizuka has another name for it but we won't tell that here. It contains a great line: "I laid hands on the forbidden and now I reap what I have sown. My only defense is my humanity." Jarrod the theologian.

Bird introduced the next tune as featuring Reinhardt "Nose" Melz and Jarrod sent the song out to Mikey G who had requested it before the show even started. The song is the Donny Hathaway classic Valdez in the Country. It is only fitting to tell why Reinhardt is called "Nose." After all, he doesn't have a large nose, so the reference is not immediately apparent.

According to the Bird, Reinhardt started playing professionally when he was about 14 years old and Bird got him some of his first gigs. But young Reinhardt was plagued with allergies, so that and his age brought on the nickname "Snot-nosed kid" which was later shortened to just "Nose."

Valdez in the Country is one of those great moments in any SoulMates performance when all three musicians just turn it loose. Bird's guitar just sings and Reinhardt is amazing. But if you can listen behind them, Jarrod Lawson is playing some brilliant keyboards.

Stay was the next selection and Michael Magaurn confessed his love for this song, particularly the chord changes. Lance yelled out "Play it, Jay!" during the guitar solo. Jarrod 's vocals were full of longing and he pushed the vocals to the limit. Even this early in the night, it became clear that Jarrod was going to leave it all on stage. He held nothing back for this final night.

When the song was over, Jarrod said "You mean the world to us. We love ya'll." Bird added "We love you, Candlelight!"

Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover is played in no way like Paul Simon imagined it and thank goodness for that. Although Reinhardt keeps the original drum pattern, the vocals and guitar are a grand departure. Bird's guitar solo turned into some kind of Scheherazade send-up with the song ending as a samba, of all things.

At this point, I began to look at the familiar faces and to watch how they were taking in the final night. Bob was his ever-cool self but he had moved to the dance-floor from his exile in the back of the room. The tiny dancer had taken her seat and did not dance again for the rest of the night. It was like she was going to spend her energy on listening to every single note. Lance was grinning and occasionally calling out approval. Chieko was thinking back to how life had changed since we first heard our SoulMates and how these guys kept us going through some very difficult times.

Kelly, Reinhardt's sister, commented on the vast difference in ages among the audience members and Michael Magaurn added at how the crowd was so diverse in their backgrounds. And the music meant something different to everyone.

Man 4 U remains an audience favorite. Again the dancers stopped dancing just to take it all in and the long-absent dancer just leaned against the wall with her hand on her heart. Such a moving gesture and so expressive of what she must have been feeling so deep inside.  I wish that I had gotten her name but she always disappeared into the night without a word.

Now, I love Bill Withers and always have. But when SoulMates perform Lovely Day, it makes me forget about Withers' version. It seems like it must have some meaning for Reinhardt, as well. A few weeks ago, Jarrod had forgotten the opening line and turned to Reinhardt who promptly provided the line. On this night, Jarrod missed his cue which brought on an open-mouthed laugh from "Nose." During the chorus, however, Reinhardt could be seen singing along. I loved it. The audience was invited to join the chorus, something that would happen over and over again.

The first set ended with Can't Hide Love. I don't know what it was but there was a different smile on Jay "Bird" Koder's face during his guitar solo on this song. He was smiling but there seemed a bit of a sadness. Who would not understand? He has played this venue since Mr. Shore bought the place. It has been a home for his music since the mid-80's. Sure musicians are always moving to the next place but that must be what makes this such a special place for those musicians who have called this home.

As the song and set ended, Bird pointed out Reinhardt Melz with "Give it up for Reinhardt Melz!" Then, of Jarrod, he pointed and said "Ladies and Gents, everything he touches turns to soul...Jarrod Lawson!" To which Jarrod responded, "The incomparable Jay "Bird" Koder!" Then Bird closed out the first set with the familiar words, "Thank you so much. God bless your hearts. We appreciate you. We're gonna join you for some cocktails and then we'll be back for some craziness."

The first song of the second set was A Song for You. The last lines are:
I love you in a place where there's no space or time.
I love you for in my life. You are a friend of mine.
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together.
We were alone and I was singing this song for you.
We were alone and I was singing this song for you.

How appropriate and how heart-breaking. The Candlelight was that place where there was no space or time and SoulMates sang their song for us.


Lance got his wish with the next song She's Right (And I'm Wrong) and then Chieko got to hear her favorite, Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me Off My Feet. 

At this point, it was clear that tears were starting to flow. This was a song that was almost a weekly go-to song and this was the last time to hear it here. Bird's guitar solo was strikingly beautiful. Melodic and moving. It's one of those songs that you don't want to end and it came on a night that we didn't want to end.

As fitting as ever could be, Arietta Ward joined the trio for two songs in the second set. Jarrod said "We can't have our last night at the Candlelight without Etta." Then Jarrod said to her, "You know that you are a SoulMate, don't you?"

Arietta spoke personally of the Candlelight, "I got in trouble here. I got put out of the house here. My mama was here and Papa Johnny. He's gone now. So much a part of my life and I'm gonna miss it."

Then she took off on Fly Like an Eagle. After singing the lyrics, she began improvising with  
"Candlelight you are going but you leave so many babies behind you.
You were a candle in the cold. I'm gonna miss you. Yes, I will.
I would to thank you my beloved SoulMates. I appreicate you in so many ways.
I don't think you understand how much I love you. Yes, I do.
Anytime I have had an ache in my heart, I could always come to you and make everything all right.
Can I keep singing into the future? Time keeps slipping into my future.
Where am I going to go? I'm going to fly an eagle."

It was personal. Arietta is a person who is at home in the spirit and in the world at the same moment. She takes off into the most heart-wrenching improvs while keeping complete awareness of her surroundings. This was particularly in evidence when she was off in the spirit but Reinhardt changed up the rhythm and she spun around to look at him with a grin but immediately resumed where she had left off. Oh, yeah. She's a SoulMate.

They immediately went into If You Want Me to Stay. Again, so fitting.
When you see me again / I hope that you have been / The kind of person that / you really are now
I'll be so good / I wish I could / Get the message over / to you now

While Jarrod was playing and Arietta was singing, Jay "Bird" began taking pictures of the audience. Maybe that was what hit me the most--seeing Jay "Bird" taking his own memories with him. The place really was closing.

Let me be honest. It is difficult to even continue writing this. Maybe it is because I know that when I click save and publish, then the Candlelight is really gone. It must seem silly to you. But when catastrophe after catastrophe struck my wife and I, we could come to the Candlelight and survive for at least one more week. When her heart was breaking, Chieko would hear Jarrod's voice singing in her head. If we could just get to the Candlelight, we would find the love and energy we needed to push through. All we had was each other...and our SoulMates.

All Day Sucker was the last song of the second set. They just set the sky on fire with it. It was a hot conclusion. The audience cheered and SoulMates cheered the audience. And everybody cheered Rhonda behind the bar.

In a once in blue moon move, an encore was added. How nice to end Monday nights at the Candlelight with Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye. The man who defined soul music for so many was fittingly the last composer heard. Bird's guitar sang while Jarrod intoned "We're all sensitive people / With so much to give."

And give they have and will continue to give. SoulMates will continue on at Blue Diamond for April and after that? Maybe Joe Shore will have the Candlelight II opened soon. But saying goodbye to this Candlelight is so difficult. There were so many faces and so many names. I am truly sorry to those whose names I have not included. I would have named you all if only I knew all the names.

I am sitting here with my fingers poised above the keyboard.

Goodbye, Candleight Cafe and Bar.... Save and Publish.

Saturday night, March 24, 2012, saw SoulMates in the fabled Star Theater on 6th Avenue in Portland. Robert Glasper Experience was in town, brought by Soul'd Out Productions, and SoulMates were the Special Guests for the evening.

It was SoulMates minus Reinhardt Melz. Chris Matthews sat behind the drum kit for the night and carried on remarkably. Not only did he take on the daunting task of substituting for the 8-armed deity named Reinhardt but he did it while battling a flu.

While at the sound check, Matthews began to shiver which alternated to feverish sweats while racked with bodyaches. This guy is a true musician following the dictum that "the show must go on."

The Star Theater is a great place for an evening of fun and music. It was built as a playhouse in 1911 which became a movie house then a burlesque house. The owner was a burlesque dancer named Candee Renee who later moved to Seattle and ran for city government. She was found dead in her bathtub. According to Toby, the current bouncer at the Star, her ghost still haunts the place. He tells good stories. One day, I will do a whole piece on the story.

But SoulMates kept ghosts in their places on Saturday night or, at least, any noise they made was drowned out by the cheering audience. Beginning with Cruisin' and on to George Gershwin's Summertime, the listeners grew more and more responsive to what SoulMates poured out to them. At the conclusion of Summertime, one guy looked at another and said incredulously, "Who are these guys???"

This wasn't the home turf of the Candlelight Cafe, so many in the audience were getting their first SoulMates treatment. A couple of old rock n' rollers hooped it up for Fly Like an Eagle and the women in the audienced shrieked for the Soulmates original Man 4 U.

"These guys are in Portland??"

"Do they play someplace regularly?"

"They are tight! How long have they been playing together?"

"That's Jay "Bird" Koder up there??!!"

These were the questions repeatedly asked by members of the audience. SoulMates have been continually referred to as the favorite band of Portland musicians but music listeners and not just musicians are starting to get acquainted. And it is about time.

Monday night was the penultimate performance of the SoulMates at the Candlelight Cafe on SW 5th Street in Portland. There is only one more Monday night to go before the wrecking ball destroys what has been a West Coast landmark since the late 1930's. Soon to be in the location, a new stop on Portland's Tri-Met Light Rail line. Ahhh, "imminent domain."

With all of that in the future, it was nowhere to be found in the present. There was no feeling of gloom or sadness in the air. Quite the opposite. There was celebration in the air. There was excitement. But it was something different for everyone.

The SoulMates hit the ground running. The usual instrumental opening was like a meteor shower; something to see wherever you looked into the Candlelight sky. Jay "Bird" Koder launched into an early and impressive guitar solo. Keyboardist Jarrod Lawson kept looking over in admiration and played a brilliant solo himself at his turn. Then Reinhardt Melz entered with a blistering drum solo and when all was finished Kris Magaurn smiled brightly and exclaimed, "And this is the first song!"

They came out breathing fire and why not? They had not performed together in two weeks. The week's rest was apparent to all as the SoulMates burned the night away. That burning took all shapes and expressions.

It burned in the light of birthday candles for Lance Giles, everyone's favorite Seattle sojourner who makes the 2 1/2 hour trip to Portland just to see his SoulMates. He got birthday wish after birthday wish granted and granted again. Bird sent out three songs in honor of Lance, and the SoulMates granted an extended encore request from Lance in the form of She's Right (and I'm Wrong, one of his favorites.

As I have said before, everyone calls Lance the Number One Fan of the SoulMates. And he is a huge fan. We are all huge fans of the SoulMates, but it is fair to say that we are also fans of Lance Giles. He is a kind man and a gentle man. He makes room for others and simply enjoys the presence of those who share a love for this remarkable trio. He hugs like he means it. He is not false and he makes you glad to be around him. Happy Birthday, Lance.

But celebration was not the only interpretation of the night. Sweet Monica Miller, the theologian-in-residence at the Candlelight came back to the table after the SoulMates had played their own composition Fly Away and said, "Travis! You know what this is? This is a revival!"

And she was right. In the face of demise, in the shadow of termination, there was that feeling of jubilation. Even the set selection set that mood. From the high-energy first number to the tonality of the second, a movement was established. By the third song, it was scratchy then growling. It was down-right dirty. The song was another original number called French Quarter and I once described it as slow-dancing with a toothless, old voodoo queen. Intoxicating and nasty.

This was followed by the soaring and uplifting and refreshing Fly Away. So smooth and satisfying. Bird strolled through the audience like Jesus walking among the multitudes, handing out forgiveness and free healthcare. Wait... what?

The follow-up was another instrumental (the fifth straight such) and it was punctuated by drummist Reinhardt's punch and counter-punch with Jarrod's keys. It reminded me of Muhammad Ali's "shoe shine" combination; a rapid-fire series of punches that worked the opponent's body from waist to ribs. Devastating.

This was Monica's revival-- punishing body blows against sadness and despair and the feeling that the SoulMates were looking out for you in the best possible way. Soul chasing the blues away. Oh, yeah. It was a revival.

And it was a reunion. Not only was Lance in attendance, and Monica and her man Jonah, and Michael and Theresa G, and Michael and Kris Magaurn, and Barney and Kasandra Early and all the rest. But Miss Connie Koder and daughter Michelle were there as was the Bird's sister, Deedee. In fact, it was Deedee who received the dedication for the above-mentioned Fly Away.

Without announcing the song Man 4 U, Jay "Bird" simply said "This one goes out to Connie." The audience cheered at the opening chords because the regulars all know that this song was written for Connie and it is a delight to see it played to her. In the following number, Bird walked back to where Connie was sitting to give a little wolf-call with his guitar. Cheers again.

For Michelle, who was there with her boyfriend, Bird pointed to her and said, "This is for YOU." The song... Can't Hide Love. Apparently, she decided to take the song's advice and she took her boyfirend out to the dance-floor. Sweet.

All this was in the first set.

After the break, Chris Matthews sat in on drums for a number and later the trio was joined by Arietta Ward. Tim came up to her as she took the stage and kissed her on the cheek. He was mirroring what everyone feels when she joins in. J.D. came out from behind the bar at Jimmy Mak's jazz club to see the second set, as he always does. A lover of great music, J.D. expressed the thrill at seeing Arietta play with the SoulMates. One of the songs she performed with them was Fly Like an Eagle and after Bird's solo shredding, Arietta shook her head and said "I get all discombobulated when you do something like that."

It was a night of triumph and sheer joy in the face of an ending. But possibilities present themselves when respect and joy and a will for love are the crowning virtues of any family. As one young woman told Bird at the end of the evening, "Your guitar tore a hole in the universe." If there is a new hole in the universe, anything can happen. Just step in...

I had invited a new friend to join us at the Candlelight on Monday. I had spoken highly of the SoulMates, of course, and told him that this was THE band to see in Portland or anywhere. I don't think Marvin was entirely convinced... until he had listened to them for all of three minutes.

He had brought along his pal Victor and they both got to meet Jay "Bird" Koder before the show started. They liked Bird right away, but everybody likes Bird because he is the most likeable guy ever.

The SoulMates jumped right into it with an original SoulMates composition and Marvin and Victor were hooked.  After all, the first number featured a raucous drum solo with wailing guitar work and gliding keys. It was a great start and they never looked back. "Right out of the gate!" Marvin shouted.

Starting then and then throughout the night, Marvin would just say, "Man, Travis...!" It was the kind of tone when one feels like they have been sandbagged. He later told me that I had not said nearly enough about these guys. I told him that I didn't want to oversell them but he said "I have travelled everywhere and these guys...I just have never...I mean, these guys are it!"

And so they are. From the opening to the next instrumental wherein Jarrod Lawson captivated the audience with nice keyboard features while Reinhardt Melz had this power groove going and the Bird showed some of the bluesiest guitar of the night, the SoulMates just kept turning up the heat.

They stayed right in that groove into Valdez in the Country, a Donny Hathaway song that will undoubtedly be part of the Bobby Womack - Donny Hathaway Tribute at Jimmy Mak's on Friday, April 20th--a night you don't want to miss. Why? Because the SoulMates know how to treat Donny Hathaway and Valdez in the Country is excellent proof of that. All three of the SoulMates were playing with big grins and not just because the world's worst dancers were on the floor.

Below is the Donny Hathaway original version followed by a cover by George Benson and Carlos Santana.

Now as good as both of those may seem--and indeed they are great--theSoulMates offer up their own sweet, sexy, soul version that just moves past what has gone before. Bird takes the simple chord changes and weaves a sonic tapestry that will have Donny Hathaway looking to shake Bird's hand come resurrection day!

A brand new SoulMates original was presented entitled Her Twisted Mind. It was so brand new, in fact, that it had never even been rehearsed before they played it live and in front of an audience. Composed by Jay "Bird" Koder and Jarrod Lawson, it was an amazing song, as any SoulMates aficionado would expect.

During the song, one guy leaned toward me and said, "That is a great bass line but I don't see the bass! Who's on the bass?" I told him that it was Jarrod playing a kicking bass on the keyboard. The guy shook his head and said, "Oh, man. Just when I thought these guys couldn't impress me any more than they already have..."

When the song concluded, Bird said "That was a brand new song. Welcome to the SoulMates rehearsal." From there into a well-rehearsed and well-loved original by Jarrod Lawson entitled "Everything is Clear." Sweetness.

The SoulMates Number One fan is Lance from Seattle. He drives down from Seattle just to hear his SoulMates on Monday and drives home right after. In appreciation, the SoulMates sent out two songs to Lance and they were winners. The audience cheered the songs and cheered Lance, as well. It's not just the band who are his soulmates.

Late in the night, the singers in the house began coming to the front. Michael Angela and Kelly Shannon joined in the first and second sets after Arietta Ward had wowed the audience with the SoulMates + Etta version of Fly Like an Eagle.

This was only after she had been spotted coming in the front door and was passing the bar. Bird called her up front but she had to excuse herself for a moment first. Very delicately done until Jarrod says, "Where you going? Oh! You gotta go to the bathroom?" Right into the mic he says this, bringing a rebuke from Reinhardt who chided, "Geez! Why don't you just tell everybody???"

But Etta onstage with the SoulMates made everyone forget where she had been. All anyone cared about was what she was doing right then and right there. Marvin exclaimed, "Man, Travis.... this is a down home concert!"

And there was more... Jay "Bird" Koder's own composition Man 4 U came soon after and was followed by Jarrod's own Everything I Need.  By this time, Marvin and Victor had both bought copies of SoulMates; Live and In Living Color to carry home with them.

Unfortunately for them, they had to head home before the last song of the night which was yet another unrehearsed SoulMates original. I think it was even untitled.

When the night was done, seven out of the eighteen songs performed were composed by the SoulMates. As much as I love hearing the SoulMates treatments of Stevie Wonder and the others, it is the emerging body of work from the hearts, minds and pens of Bird, Jarrod and Reinhardt that makes me pray at night for a CD to be released by the SoulMates. Lance would want to include Good Day, Bad Day and Tim would want to include All Day Sucker while Chieko would love to hear Sukiyaki and I'll beg for Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing but I think we would all agree that it is those SoulMates originals that we really want to hear. Because it is not just their voice and instruments that we hear in those songs but it is also their message, their music, their heart. And that stuff is pure sweet, sexy, soul.