Tim "Papa Salty" McAllister, guitar and vocals
His voice is rich and can growl like gravel from the deep south or croon as sweet as a Georgia peach. He favors semi-hollow body guitars for their big "woody" sound, and prefers vintage Fender amps for their smoky tone. Simple and passionate. Excitement and economy. One great note can be worth more than a hundred.
A Portland native, Tim jumped into music full time after high school and played professionally most of the 80's. He achieved moderate success as his band sold over 25,000 records and he produced a number of projects for major labels including MCA, Sony and IRS. He put his instrument down in 1989 to return to college and get a job in computers. He struck good fortune in the internet gold rush of the late nineties and found himself able to return to the music he so loved. At the same time, he started having throat trouble and lost the ability to sing. A benign tumor was eventually found, and after a few years of healing, he slowly found his voice again.
Around this time, his son won a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD from a local radio station. Tim listened with interest, hearing an underlying emotion he had never noticed. This CD lead to finding Albert King, and after hearing Albert's trademark string bending, Tim picked up a guitar after a 12 year hiatus, and never looked back. Within 6 months, he put a blues band together and begged the Cascade Bar and Grill to let them play on Wednesday nights.
The band played the Cascade every Wed night for two and a half years, and has gone on to play the biggest clubs and festivals in the Portland area. He is a regular guest host (in regular rotation with Lloyd Jones, DK Stewart and others) at Oregons largest blues jam at the Trails End Sunday night jam.
Papa Salty has developed a distinctive style of old school swing and jump blues with a modern edge. Come out and see what people are talking about.
Recognition
- 2006 Muddy Nomination "Best Contemporary Blues Band"
- 2006 Muddy Nomination "Best Male Vocals"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Contemporary Blues Band"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Album (Swing it Big!)"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Male Vocals"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Electric Guitar"
- 2004 Muddy Nomination "Back what you believe"
Quotes
"a magician of the six string guitar and inspired songwriter, he amazes us with his command and knowledge of the blues"
Blues and Co Magazine, France, March 2006
"impressively confident and personality-laden vocals and guitar" Blues Revue, USA
"What a great voice! My throat gets sore just listening to you growl!"
Kevin Cronin, lead vocalist REO Speedwagon
"a master guitarist but never showing off"
Glosem Bluesa, Poland
"Tim McAllister has a splendid voice, extremely well suited for R&B"
MazzMusikas, Belgium
" (Papa) is an entertainer, musician, performer and MC all rolled into one.
He presents a commanding and captivating personality onstage.
His playing is crisp, tight and completely captures the truth of the music.
And, if you listen close you can hear echoes of the blues fathers that went before him."
Kurt Johnson, CBA Bluesnotes, Nov 2004
Julian Brogi, drums
Born and raised in London England, Julian fell in love with the American blues and jazz music forms. He followed that love to the states to play music full time, landing first in Atlanta Georgia, and not being able to bear the heat, ended up in the Pacific Northwest.
Julian found work in Portland with great players like Robbie Laws, and a long term stint with Franco and the Stingers. He and Tim meet when playing together in a pickup band at the Blues By the Sea fesitival in 2002. The following year Julian played a few weekend gigs with Papa Salty and decided to join up permanent the summer of 2003, only missing the occasional gig when he travels back home to London.
Julian is equally capable with sticks or brushes, supporting it all by leaning hard into some hard swinging jump blues or laying back with the brushes on a dark, smoky, laid back groove.
His "big british blues approach" to drums brings the edge to Papa Salty's unique sound. Come and see why Julian Brogi was nominated for a Muddy Award for Best Drums by the CBA members.
"(Julian) lays the foundation with a bed of groove tinged with a touch of rock & roll". Blues and Co magazine, France, March 2006
Kevin LaBaron, saxophone
Kevin spent many years working with the fabulous Paulette Davis until her untimely death, and following that with the Sonny Hess power band. He stopped by to see Papa Salty one night, sat in for a few songs, and everyone knew the fit was perfect.
Kevin brings his love of old blues, swing and soul to the band. LaBaron was referred to by another publication as one of the highlights of the Waterfront Blues Festival a couple years ago. Listen to him play and it's easy to see why. His sax lines duck, turn, and spin taking the listener on a swinging roller coaster ride. Loaded with definite jazz tendencies, and that old school T-Bone Walker and BB King tone that Papa loves!
Kevin is from Jamestown NY, which by the way, is also the birthplace of Lucille Ball and the Crescent Wrench. Now you know...
Kevin LaBaron was nominated by the CBA members for the "Best Horns" Muddy Award in Sept 2005.
Recognition
- 2006 Muddy Nomination "Best Contemporary Blues Band"
- 2006 Muddy Nomination "Best Horns"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Contemporary Blues Band"
- 2005 Muddy Nomination "Best Horns"
Quotes
"(LaBaron is) a remarkable saxophonist and true alter ego of the guitarist, who lends richness and swing". Blues and Co magazine, France, March 2006
"(LaBaron delivers) wild, jazz inflected sax".
Blues in Britain, UK
"Perfectly matching Tim's guitar is Kevin LaBaron,
pulling out masterful honking saxophone licks that make the music swing naturally".
Greg Johnson, CBA Bluesnotes
"...LaBaron's bobbin' and weavin' sax riffs and solo that were just like Muhammed Ali,
"floatin' like a butterfly and stingin' like a bee'"
Kurt Johnson, CBA Bluesnotes, Nov 2004
Dan Davis, upright bass
Soon after joining the band, Kevin started telling Tim stories of a bass player he had know for over 15 years. "He's crazy man, but he's a killer player and it just might work" Kevin would say. So one cold night in January 2005, Dan was booked for a gig at a tiny little club on 82nd street in Portland. And as they say, the rest was history...
Yep - Dan is a wild man, but he's also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. And he is a killer bass player. His musical theory knowledge is extremely deep, he excels and is in constant demand as a jazz and swing upright bass.
Playing with Papa Salty, you'll find him slapping and swinging hard with a huge grin on his face. Davis was nominated for a Muddy Award in the "Best Bass" category by the CBA membership in Sept 2005.
a big thanks to previous players...
We've had some of Portland finest artists play with us, here are a few of them...
Jim Solberg, upright bass
Jim Solberg is a stellar musician and widely recognized as one of Portland's best bass players. His background includes long stints with some of Portlands most famous artists including Lloyd Jones and Jim Mesi. Solberg has a wonderful voice and you often find him singing a few songs with the band when he plays. Jim focuses on working with Julian to lay a strong foundation, and together they create a swing that can't be denied! But this cat can cook! We'll let Jim go on a bass solo and the crowd will go wild.
Jim recorded the Swing it Big! album with us.
Dean Mueller, upright bass
Between Aug 2004 and January 2005 you'd often find Dean Mueller on stage with his upright bass. Dean stills plays with us on occassion.
Dean is originally from the city of blues, Chicago, and had played electric bass since he was a kid. He picked up the upright bass just a few years ago, and Papa has put his talent to good use. He is aggresive and simple in his approach, and swings as hard as a monkey.
When not playing with the band, Dean prowls the clubs of Portland playing at the Trails End or Duffs jam, or working on his own music in his rock band Black Tangerine.
Thanks to Chris Fanning for lending his vocal talents as a backup singer to the “Swing it Big!” album along with playing the bass with us on live gigs. We have had some great saxophone players with us in the past. Scott Franklin, who spent over ten years with Johnny Limbo and the Lug Nuts, Pete Moss, winner of several Muddy awards for best horns, Drew Baird, who can blow the hardest gutbucket blues you've ever heard, and Jim Miller who in addition to the tenor sax, brings his clarinet and harmonica to thrill the audience.
From Baton Rouge, George Edmonston laid down swinging swampy low end for us for six months. Fred Garner played bass with us for six months before moving back to California. Our beloved piano player Doug Markwell, who may someday yet return. Lynn Ann Hyde spent two months with us at our weekly Cascade Bar and Grill gig. Steve Ward, Boyd Martin, Johnnie Corrie, John DiMartino, and Hank Reed have all spent time sharing the stage with us. Thank you!