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Jazz Hall of Fame presents Janet Rutland

Staff Report

Janet Rutland will bring her one-woman show Mercer & More to the Depot Sun, Aug. 9 at 5p.m. as part of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Wild Women of Oklahoma Jazz Concert Series.

Rutland’s show features Johnny Mercer standards such as “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” and others.

Those performing with Rutland include Spencer Sutton on piano, Tony Yohe, on drums, Rutland’s sons Nathan Eicher, on bass, and Isaac Eicher on mandolin, as well as special guest performers, pianist Rick Fortner and vocalist Larry Cochran.

Come early as there will be a pre-show set at 4:30p.m.

The Jazz Depot is located at 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), with parking available on 1st Street and the GC Lot.

There is free parking in the GC Lot, which is across from the Jazz Hall.

Tickets for this event are $15 adults, $10 seniors, jazz hall members and college students, and $5 for students over 12. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

To make reservations, contact the Jazz Hall at 918-281-8609.

Not just an urban legend

Ernie Osborn

A Tulsa Today Special Review

“You may want to call up the babysitter and tell her you will be a little late getting home tonight.”

Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist Keith Urban shouts into the microphone, “Cause we aren’t going anywhere!”  A bold statement, but one that he easily lived up to.

The Escape Together Tour rolled into Tulsa on Friday night and entertained a full capacity crowd at the BOK center.
The night was kicked off by multi-platinum artist Sugarland, an Atlanta based duo that burst onto the scene a few years back and has been lighting up stages and Billboard charts ever since.

Lead Singer Jennifer Nettles has an amazing voice. With a deep southern draw and jaw dropping range, her voice was made for country music.

Her vocals shined with song such as: “Baby Girl,” “Everyday America,” and “Something More,” which were all huge hit singles.

She has a way with complex notes that she makes sound easy.  Very smooth and polished.

Stand out number of the night for Sugarland had to be “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” a song written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.

Nettles sang duet with Bon Jovi on the CMT Crossroads, Bon Jovi/Sugarland episode.  What made this song such a hit on this night was that someone did their homework and went out and got some great video footage from around Tulsa and incorporated it into the song backdrop.

The Golden Driller, Drillers Stadium, Cain’s, Blue Doom district, as well as many other notable Tulsa landmarks were all on display and were met with very enthusiastic screams and shouts.

It was a very high energy, new country show that had the audience primed and ready for the main event.

Nettles and Guitarist Kristian Bush are full of life and work very well together on stage.  It’s easy to see why this relatively new group has fast become a huge draw and fan favorite.

After a brief intermission, the stage was transformed. Shrouded with a black curtain, the lights went out and the crowd readied themselves for the man they had come to see.

Lighting behind the curtain began to shine and shapes of band members were visible through the curtain–images that met with an eruption from the throngs of people in attendance.

Guitar chords struck, drum beats hit, bass lines plucked and off we went. Curtain drops and the frenzy begins.

Urban appeared on the stage with blistering guitar licks and walked straight down the runway to a microphone that has risen from under the stage.

From the first word of the opener “I’d Hit the Ground Runnin’” it was a night of singing along.

The crowd, which for obvious reasons, was mostly female based.  They were easily wrapped around Urban’s finger from the word go.

Although, I must admit, I am a Keith Urban fan because of his amazing guitar work and stellar songwriting–both of which have earned him much praise and awards in the music industry.

From last night’s performance, it’s easy to see that Urban is right at home onstage and behind a guitar.  He delivers on all levels.

He was all smiles and laughs most of the night and he took the time to greet the BOK from top to bottom.

He spoke directly to those in the 3 deck, lower bowl and floor.  He even joked with the people in the suites, “Thank you for having us to play before thee.”

KU’s stage was set up in a way that allowed him to move from side to side, while he sang to the crowd.  Mic’s were set up everywhere, allowing him to entertain everyone.

The sides of the stage were adorned with ramps that led down onto the floor which he and his band made much use of–they all came into the audience to mingle and to showcase their playing.

At one point, Urban came down the ramp and began walking around the floor playing guitar. When he reached an area back by the sound booth, he stood on an island stage at the back of the room and shouted’ “Who has the good seats now!”

While he sat there and played “Making Memories of Us” and other songs, he slowly made his way back to the main stage for more upbeat songs, such as: “Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Me,” “Better Half” and “You Look Good In My Shirt,” the latter of which he again left the stage and showed up in the middle of the crowd in the lower bowl, where the crowd was singing along with the chorus of “Shirt.”

Keith has a fun time onstage and interacts with the audience in a way that draws them in and makes them a part of his show.

He’s the same way with his band members, too.  He gave each of them a chance to showcase their talents and singing abilities.

After playing a long list of hit songs that were met with great reaction, Urban stopped the show to tell us that “Since he was in Oklahoma, he had worked out a tune that we may like.”

That being said, he brought Sugarland back to the stage to help him out with a spot on the cover of “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma.”  (See bottom of article to hear last night’s performance.)

As the show started to close, the humble and obviously grounded Urban took the time to say to those in attendance, “We [Sugarland also] know how hard it is during these hard economic times, and it means so much to us that you still come out to see us. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.”

Two encores followed, “Tonight I Wanna Cry” and “Better Life” both of which had a “we don’t want to go” kind of feel.

“Better Life” was stretched out with a long guitar solo and much playing to the crowd as well as a shower of neon colored confetti shot on either side of the stage.

The night was well worth the price of a ticket and then some.  Combined, the two acts played for nearly three hours.  It was a great way to spend a Friday night.

About the writer:
Ernie Osborn is a California transplant that has been around the music business much of his life. He has been in bands and currently plays guitar/sings when called upon to do so.

Photo credits: Ernie Osborn

Hear last night’s performance of "You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma," at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwcNaYYKRHM

Last Updated ( Monday, 10 August 2009 )

Officials seek resolution on cross-border trucking

Tracy Crain

WASHINGTON – The Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs is endorsing a letter sent to President Obama by a bipartisan group of former U.S. Cabinet members and U.S. Ambassadors to Mexico that urged him to resolve the cross-border trucking dispute.

Alliance Executive Director Steve Mulder said: "Every day this issue goes unresolved, more and more good paying American jobs are put in jeopardy.

The administration has talked about finding solutions but now it’s time to put their words into action. We hope the President will take advantage of his upcoming meetings in Mexico and urge a swift resolution." The letter sent to Obama, co-signed by former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills, former Ambassadors to Mexico James Jones, Jeffrey Davidow and Tony Garza,and former Commerce Secretaries Norman Mineta and Carlos Gutierrez, said that "without prompt resolution of this 14-year-old dispute our nation will needlessly suffer.
U.S. companies, farmers and workers will continue to be hit by Mexico’s $2.4 billion of retaliatory tariffs on manufactured and agriculture goods – the last thing the United States needs as our unemployment rate approaches 10%."

The Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs, which represents more than 150 U.S. companies and associations, said it was "concerned about the adverse impact to the U.S. economy stemming from a failure to resolve the longstanding trucking dispute."

To illustrate its case, the alliance examined how one participant, Appleton Papers, of Appleton, Wis., was affected. Appleton Paper is the biggest supplier of carbonless paper to Mexico.

Kent Willetts, vice president of marketing and strategy for Appleton Papers said the 10 percent tariffs on U.S. carbonless paper sold into Mexico has put Appleton at a significant competitive disadvantage because carbonless products from Asia and Europe are not subject to such a duty, the news release stated.

"Given the state of the U.S. economy, these tariffs come at the worst possible time for our company and thousands of our employees," Willetts said. "Appleton is a 100 percent employee-owned company that has a very dedicated, hardworking workforce. Together, we are doing everything we can to remain competitive in these challenging economic times. But these tariffs are causing us to reduce work hours, and wages and jobs for our employees. Over the long term the impact of the tariffs will erode the value of our company stock in which most of our employees have invested for their retirement."

—

The membership includes these associations: American Apparel & Footwear Association, American Association of Exporters & Importers, American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, American Chemistry Council, American Cotton Shippers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Frozen Food Institute, American Home Appliance Manufacturers Association, American Institute for International Steel;

American Meat Institute, American Nursery & Landscape Association, American Peanut Council, American Peanut Product Manufacturers, American Peanuts Shellers Association, American Seed Trade Association, American Soybean Association, American Trucking Associations, Apricot Producers of California, Association of Equipment Manufacturers;

California Cherry Export Association, California Agriculture Issues Forum, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Fig Advisory Board, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, California League of Food Processors, California Pear Advisory Board, California Strawberry Commission, California Table Grape Commission, California Tomato Growers Association;

Consumer Electronics Association, Corn Refiners Association, Distilled Spirits Council, Emergency Committee for American Trade, Fashion Accessories Shippers Association, Fertilizer Institute, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties;

International Dairy Foods Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Grower’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Christmas Tree Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives…

National Electrical Manufacturers Association; National Foreign Trade Council, National Grain and Feed Association, National Grange, National Milk Producers Federation, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Potato Council, National Renderers Association, National Sorghum Producers; National Turkey Federation, Nisei Farmers League, North American Equipment Dealers Association, North American Millers’ Association, North American Export Grain Association, Northwest Horticultural Council, Ohio Alliance for International Trade, Oregon Association of Nurseries, Personal Care Products Council, Pet Food Institute;

Popcorn Institute, Produce Marketing Association, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Texas Vegetable Association, United Egg Association, United Egg Producers, United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, United States Council for International Business, United States Dry Bean Council, U.S. Apple Association; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Grains Council, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Premium Beef, U.S. Rice Federation, U.S. Rice Producers Association,

U.S. Wheat Associates, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, USA Rice Federation, Ventura County Agricultural Association; Washington State Council for International Trade, Western Growers Association, Western United Dairymen, Wine Institute.

Company membership includes: Altria, ALTICOR, Appleton Paper, Archer Daniels Midland, Blue Diamond Growers, Bunge, Business Roundtable, Campbell Soup Co., Cargill Inc., Caterpillar, Chiquita Brands, Commodity Markets Council, ConAgra Foods, Continental Express, Cornerstone Government Affairs, CropLife America, DHL Express USA, Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock, Free Trade Alliance, General Electric, General Mills, Glanbia Foods, Herbalife International of America, Hershey, Hormel Foods, Jefferson Waterman International, Jochum Shore & Trossevin, JR Simplot Co., Kraft Foods, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Magination

Consulting International, Manatt Phillips, Mars, Mary Kay, McAllister & Quinn, National Beef Packing Co., Ocean Spray Cranberries, P&G, Panasonic Corporation of North America, PepsiCo, Plastic Express, Schering-Plough, Seaboard Foods, Smithfield Foods, STR, TBM Carriers, TechAmerica, Truss World, Tyson Foods, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Unilever, Viagen, Wal-Mart Stores, and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.

Personal Income Growth Report

Staff Report

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis has issued the following news release:

Personal income growth slowed in 2008 in most of the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Personal income growth slowed in 322 MSAs, increased in 42, and remained unchanged in 2 MSAs. On average, MSA personal income grew 3.3 percent in 2008, down from 6.0 percent in 2007.

Personal income fell in five MSAs in 2008. In four of these areas (Dalton, Georgia; Monroe, Michigan; Elkhart, Indiana; and Kokomo, Indiana), manufacturing compensation was the major contributor to the decline.

Personal income also fell in Gulfport, Mississippi. The decline in Gulfport is accounted for by a tapering off in federal payments to rebuild residences destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina. (The initiation of those federal payments made Gulfport the fastest growing MSA in 2007.)

Four of the five slowest-growing large MSAs – those with populations of at least one million – were in the Sunbelt: San Jose, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Tampa, Florida. Detroit, Michigan completes the group of five.

Although these MSAs sustained large declines in compensation in 2008, total personal income in each area was able to increase because of growth in other components of personal income, namely transfer receipts and property income.

Like the slowest growing of the small MSAs, manufacturing accounted for the weakness in San Jose and Detroit. In contrast, construction accounted for the weakness in Phoenix, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

The fastest growing MSAs in 2008 benefited from the high oil prices of the first half of the year (Midland, Texas; Odessa, Texas; and Grand Junction, Colorado) or from the military’s Grow the Force initiative (Jacksonville, North Carolina; Manhattan, Kansas; and Hinesville, Georgia).

Personal income grew 9 percent or more in these MSAs. All are relatively small, with populations less than 200 thousand.

Five of the six fastest-growing large MSAs were in Texas and Oklahoma.

Oil and gas extraction (mining) or construction, made important contributions to growth in four of these metropolitan areas: Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. Austin, state capital of Texas, had relatively strong growth in the state and local government and professional services industries without the declines in retailing and construction that are hurting many other MSAs.

St. Louis, which ranked third among the fastest growing large MSAs, owed its strong performance to severance pay and other types of compensation associated with a recent business acquisition.

Per capita personal income. Per capita personal income growth rates ranged from 12.0 percent in Hinesville, Georgia to -3.7 percent in Gulfport, Mississippi. Per capita personal income growth is a measure which highlights differences in economic conditions across MSAs by removing the effect of differential population growth rates.

The labor market conditions already described account for many of the MSAs at either end of the growth rate range. In addition, the two Alaskan MSAs, Fairbanks and Anchorage, had relatively high per capita income growth because of the 98 percent increase in the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend to $3,269 per person. (A portion of oil lease rents and royalties received by the state are deposited in this fund).

Furthermore, since the income tax rebates authorized by the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 were targeted toward lower income families, the contribution of these rebates to per capita personal income growth varied inversely with MSAs’ per capita incomes.

For example, the rebate contributed 1.7 percentage points to personal income growth in McAllen Texas in 2008 (the MSA with the lowest per capita income in the nation) but only 0.1 percentage point to growth in Bridgeport, Connecticut (with the nation’s highest per capita income).

Definitions

Personal income is the income received by all persons from all sources. Personal income is the sum of net earnings by place of residence, rental income of persons, personal dividend income, personal interest income, and personal current transfer receipts.

Net earnings is earnings by place of work (the sum of wage and salary disbursements, supplements to wages and salaries, and proprietors’ income) less contributions for government social insurance, plus an adjustment to convert earnings by place of work to a place-of-residence basis.

Personal income is measured before the deduction of personal income taxes and other personal taxes and is reported in current dollars (no adjustment is made for price changes).

Per capita personal income is calculated as the personal income of the residents of a given area divided by the resident population of the area. In computing per capita personal income, BEA uses the Census Bureau’s annual midyear population estimates.

The metropolitan area definitions used by BEA for its entire series of personal income estimates are the county-based definitions developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for federal statistical purposes and last updated in November 2008.

OMB’s general concept of a metropolitan area is that of a geographic area consisting of a large population nucleus together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with the nucleus. Personal income and per capita personal income estimates for the 366 metropolitan areas are shown in Table 1.

Tables omitted. (The complete tables can be viewed at: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/mpi/2009/mpi0809.htm)

 

Don’t Stop Believin’ in Rock in America

Ernie Osborn

A Tulsa Today Special Review

Monsters of 80’s rock rolled into the BOK Center Wednesday night to a crowd that ranged from 6 – 60 years old.

Journey and Night Ranger, two heavy weight acts known for hard rocking anthems as well as amazing power ballads set the stage on fire with blistering sets that had eyes widened and jaws dropped.

Night Ranger opened up the night with a hard-edged offering that could only be described as amazing.

From the opening song “This Boy Needs to Rock,” it was clear that this veteran band has not lost a step in its 25 plus years.
They put together a superb live show that included all the Night Ranger hits and a few cool cover tunes thrown in for good measure.

During the break of “This Boy” they launched into the Deep Purple hit “Highway Star” which erupted fans.

Lead Singer/Bassist Jack Blades was as rowdy as ever and roamed the stage with swagger and attitude, taking the time to speak to the crowd and to have fun with his band mates.

Lead Guitarist Brad Gillis tore up the stage with amazing licks and solos that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Drummer/Singer Kelley Keagey shined on his signature songs “Sister Christian” and “Sentimental Street,”  taking time away from the drum kit to walk around and interact with the audience.

These are guys that love what they do and have a great time doing it.

Blades spoke to the less than capacity crowd saying, “Our friends at KMOD asked if we were going to do any Damn Yankees songs tonight.

So, for them, here is a Damn Yankees song!”

This led into “Coming of Age” a huge hit in the early 90’s off the self-titled album featuring guitar legend Ted Nugent.

Blades also added, “Ted told me to say “Hi” to all the hunters here in Oklahoma!”

Another stand out of NR was after the song “Secret of My Success.”

The band stated that “every band worth its salt has a “Na, Na” song–which led into several songs that included the “Na, Na’s”  including a Bryan Adams staple and what Blades mentioned was one of the best, “Hey Jude.”

Finishing their set with “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” Blades again had the audience in a frenzy with his movements and shouts of, “Let the world know that we still rock in America!”

After a short intermission, the lights went out and silhouettes came onto the stage showing that Journey had indeed arrived and were ready to take their place and keep the party going.

Neal Schon started into a solo that seemed a little odd to start the show with but was met with great reaction.

That gave way to the now infamous synth riff of “Separate Ways (World’s Apart)”  emerging from behind Jonathan Cain’s keyboard/piano set up as he strutted out with new Lead Singer Arnel Pineda, with Cain stating, “The thrilla’ from Manila!”

From the first note, he sounded very similar to former singer Steve Perry.

This kid has some serious energy and put everything he had into this show.

Like a pinball, he shot all over the stage, leaping and crouching and playing to the crowd like he had been doing it for many, many years.

This reviewer has seen the classic Journey line up before, once in 1982 and again in 1987.

Honestly, at times, this current lineup had me asking, “Steve who?”

All of the Journey hits that have now become classics where done with a new passion and energy thanks to Pineda.

Along with the old stuff, they also did new tunes from the multi-platinum selling disc “Revelation” that had a classic feel with a new edge to them.

Quintessential favorites “Open Arms” and “Faithfully” had those in attendance on their feet singing along.

It was very cool to hear the voices even over the music at times.

The band was recently honored for having the “Most Downloaded Song,” which is their infamous tune, Don’t Stop Believin’"

Congrats boys, well deserved and hard earned!

Without a doubt, this is a band that is still in its prime.

They put on a heavy show that takes you on roller coaster ride from hard driving rock to the now legendary power ballad made famous by bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon and Styx.

As I was heading out of the arena, I overheard one show-goer say, “This was the show that Aerosmith should have done.”

True, it was a great concert that pulled no punches and never went over the top trying to reach for past greatness.

These two bands are very comfortable in their skin.

After several years and albums, this show proves why they are still forces in the music industry.

About the writer:
Ernie Osborn is a California transplant that has been around the music business much of his life. He has been in bands and currently plays guitar/sings when called upon to do so.