Lance is one of the faithful followers who sacrifices more than most of us in our weekly hajj to the Candlelight to see The SoulMates. Lance travels the greatest distance every week, coming from Seattle to Portland almost every Monday.

The SoulMates play two sets every week; from 9.30-11.30 pm and 12.00-2.00 am. Both shows are hot and staying for the two sets is highly recommended.

Last week, Lance had chosen to take the train down to Portland from Seattle. As he sat next to my wife and me, he talked about the advantage of the train over the car trip: relax, take a nap, read... My wife and I agreed that it sounded like the best choice when one can afford it.

The three of us had stayed through the first set and were about 4 songs into the second when Lance announced that he had to leave to catch his return train home. Before The SoulMates started the next song, Lance stood up and began to head for the door with a good-bye wave to the band and Rhonda behind the bar. As he reached the door, Jarrod started in on Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson- "Baby, Let's cruise away from here... Don't be confused, the way is clear..." From the doorway we could hear Lance. "Oh, hell no! I can't leave during this!" He came right back to the table beside us and dropped back into his seat, saying "I guess I'm gonna miss my train but it's worth it!"

That is the effect of The SoulMates on us all. Miss your train. Miss your sleep. Do not miss the music emanating from The Candlelight from 9.30 pm to 2.00 am every Monday. You'll miss your soul, mate.

As Jaybird always says, “We’re gonna join you for some cocktails then be back after a break.”

And so will I…


© copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

For most of my life I have been a great and devoted admirer of the music of YES and King Crimson, The Beatles and The Left Banke, The Four Tops and Stevie Wonder, Sibelius and Schubert, and the Holy Trinity of Jazz: Monk, Miles and Trane. But never-and I mean never-have I ever been moved like The SoulMates move me. The sound they create is emotional. It is creative. It is healing. And it makes you want to...SHOUT. Kick your heels up and SHOUT. Throw your hands up and SHOUT. Throw you head back and... you get the idea.

This Monday night was no exception. Even after Jaybird and Reinhardt had been in Japan touring with Gino Vanelli, even after the jet lag, even after missing two weeks of playing together, The SoulMates pick us up where they left us off; in the middle of musical paradise.

Everyone wants to join in. Paul Creaton joins Jarrod on vocals one night, the incomparable Mel Brown shows up to watch Reinhardt another Monday night, George Mitchell shows up to revel in Jaybird's own virtuosity or it could be like last night when Liv Warfield (http://www.livwarfieldmusic.com) joined Jarrod. Ms. Warfield has toured with Prince and is well aware of the power of soul. As she writes about Jarrod on her twitter entry: "Yaw betta wake up. He is the truth!"

As she sang with Jarrod last night, she admitted to the crowd "I have to just watch Jarrod. I am such a Jarrod groupie!" Jarrod responded, "I am your groupie--let's get it straight!" She sang for a bit with him and then sat on the floor behind Jarrod in what he called "the Gandhi pose."

Luminaries from the music world shoot by like comets to hear The SoulMates perform. However, there are some of us who are locked in orbit in this star system.

One of my favorites is Tim. He always shows up after the show is well underway and he drags up a chair to sit directly in front of the band or sometimes right in front of Reinhardt. Last night, he arrives and pulls his chair in front of Jarrod and reaches across the keyboard and raps knuckles with Jarrod in the middle of a Stevie Wonder tune. He takes the music seriously and he furrows his brow as he bobs and sways to the music; he has to. We all do. This is the effect of the sound that The SoulMates create.

There are so many of us who are caught in their gravity and we'll look at more later. But...

As Jaybird always says, “We’re gonna join you for some cocktails then be back after a break.”

And so will I…


© copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Every Monday night at 9 pm, the Candlelight Café and Bar is the place to be in Portland…or anywhere! Located at 2032 Southwest 5th Avenue, there is so much to experience here.

There is a crowd of regulars who assemble at the appointed times to find their favorite spots for the night’s festivities. Some arrive early to have a late dinner and others arrive as work and family concerns will allow.

However, at 9 pm all other concerns begin to fade as the SoulMates begin to prepare to deliver the best entertainment in Portland. Jarrod has usually been playing pool to get loose. How pool loosens up a keyboard player and vocalist is anyone’s guess. Jaybird will slide in the side door with his guitar and gear and graciously greet some of the early arrivers. Reinhardt will bustle in last, lugging his drums and other percussives (“More cowbell!”) and hurriedly set up. Maybe it will be Jans on the congas tonight or perhaps it will be the great Bobby Torres (he played with Joe Cocker, Spooky Tooth and Tom Jones among many others) who will play opposite Reinhardt or it could be the trio this evening.

Rhonda serves up the drinks and the best fish ‘n chips in the West and doesn’t stop serving until the night is done. She has managed to learn how step around customers and musicians alike with the grace of … well, probably Gale Sayers… because she has to move fast and keep from getting knocked down!

Finally, at 9.35 pm Jaybird Koder will welcome the Monday night crowd and the heavens open up and music descends!

And what divine music it is…

As Jaybird always says, “We’re gonna join you for some cocktails then be back after a break.”

And so will I…



© copyright 2011. All rights reserved.