Rae Gordon Band

Wrong Kind of Love

Independent

Rae Gordon’s debut album “Blue Lemonade” landed in the top ten on the Billboard Blues Chart in 2013. She followed-up with “Dirty Flowers” in 2016. In January of 2017 “Rae Gordon & the Backseat Drivers” finished third in the band competition at the International Blues Challenge. Gordon’s last recording “Better Than I Was”, released later that year won Portland’s Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award for both “Best Northwest Recording” and “Best Contempoary Blues Act”. Gordon was also named the CBA’s “Best Female Vocalist” five times.

The Rae Gordon Band includes the multi-octave vocalist Gordon; Producer Kivett Bednar, guitar and vocals; Musical Director Pat McDougal, keyboards; the horn section of Scott Franklin, saxophone, and Allan Kalik, trumpet and horn arrangements; Joseph Conrad, bass; and Ed Pierce, drums. Nine of the songs are written by McDougall, three with Gordon. So this is a full band effort.

McDougal’s organ and the horns open “Comin’ Back For More” and vocalist Gordon immediately impresses as Bednar rips a guitar solo.  Kalik’s impressive horn arrangement begins “Don’t Look Now”, with another great vocal from Gordon and the band chiming in on the chorus, before McDougal takes over with a piano solo. “How You Gonna’” is a poignant ballad with the lyric “how you gonna tell me, tell me, you’re not comin’ home” as McDougal switches back to organ.

Bednar’s rhythm guitar and the punchy horns power “Might As Well Be You” with a great sax solo from Franklin and the rhythm section’s strong foundation. “Sea of Blue” written by Rod Furlott is another great performance this time with an extended solo from guitarist Bednar. The “Wrong Kind of Love” features a dramatic intro from the band, a commanding vocal from Gordon, a great horn arrangement, Pierce’s big beats and another impressive guitar solo.

“How Much I Love You So” is dedicated to Elizabeth, The WIFE of Pat McDougal. “Got To Have You” from Gordon and McDougal features Kalik on trumpet. “Last Call” features the lyric “its last call for alcohol and its last call for you too”, and great soloing from both members of the horn section.   The closer “Get Right with The World” features another outstanding performance from Gordon and the band.

This award winning Contemporary Blues Band shows why they have become the Pacific Northwest’s festival favorite. See them as often as possible.

Richard Ludmerer