Padam Padam Biography

Rocking a repertoire that encompasses French cabaret, klezmer, tango and Tin Pan Alley, Padam Padam (named after an dith Piaf song) should work properly for a sophisticated, continental evening out. Vocalist Lisa Platt has a winking sort of supply that bridges the hole between the eras of the songs' origins and the sensibilities of up to date listeners. The interplay between Kathy Fors' accordion and Barbara Bernstein's viola, with the robust assist of Jaime Leopold's double bass, conveys the pleasure of shared music-making. And, to these ears, it's actually Leopold's personal composition, "Window on Prince Avenue," that is the spotlight of the ensemble's self-launched, self-titled album. Hopefully, the group will continue to synthesize its influences and come up with more unique material. ---JEFF ROSENBERG, WILLAMETTE WEEK.

Padam Padam? Some say it is a slang time period for Paris, some say it's what Edith Piaf sang when she could not remember the lyrics. However based in Portland, Oregon, Padam Padam is a vigorous assortment of devices and vocals, playing music inflected with types from across the world. Padam Padam transports you to cabarets and streets, to the far corners of the world as they play music from Latin America, the European cabaret scene and up to date North America. Our repertoire contains tunes by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Eddie Cantor, Xavier Cugart, Tom Waits, Jacques Brel and even Ms. Piaf herself. Plus some excellent Padam Padam originals.

Singer, Lisa Berkson Platt, is a recovering arts administrator by day and a cheeky cantatriz by night. Educated early on in opera, Lisa quickly gravitated to singing within the smoky underworld of cabarets and nightclubs where she feels at home to this day. A musical sponge, Lisa performs the music of many alternative cultures including Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Portland and Appalachia. Always over prolonged and infrequently creating havoc with her household, Lisa swears that come what may, she's going to by no means hand over "The Band".

Barbara Bernstein, viola, Venezuelan cuatro, guitar, vocals and political conscience, is a musician, composer and audio artist. In 1971 she left the East Coast in search of her muse, which she happily present in Portland, Oregon, and there she has made her home ever since. Educated as a classical violinist, she took up outdated timey fiddling, beginning her excursion into other worlds of music. By the early Eighties she had put down the violin and picked up the viola as her musical horizons broadened into klezmer, jazz and world music. When she isn't playing music she produces public radio documentaries, an occasional video and hosts a weekly environmental show on KBOO-FM.

Jaime Leopold, string bass, guitar, piano, vocals, was born in New York, however came out to Portland at the tender age of four. He studied piano as a child hoping to grow to be a jazz pianist, however was steered to the string bass by a desperate highschool band instructor. It appeared to stick. Moving to San Francisco at seventeen to go to varsity, he fell in with a group of Haight-Ashbury musicians and ultimately joined, toured and made several information as part of Dan Hicks and the Scorching Licks. He returned to Portland in 1978 and has been playing bass, piano and guitar, and composing ever since. Mr. Leopold, a model citizen, now enjoys performing with Padam Padam and composes a rising portion of the band's repertoire. He is also making an attempt to train his canine Lucy to play harmonica. To date, no luck.

Kathy Fors, accordion, melodica, piano and alto horn, has been an accordion fanatic since she was very young. She studied classical piano as a lass, however found the piano troublesome to transport. She picked up (literally) the accordion within the Nineteen Nineties, playing principally folks music from Scandinavia and a few polkas. Now Kathy enjoys playing folks music from world wide---France, Mexico, Germany and the Balkans. Kathy deejays at KBOO-FM Neighborhood Radio in Portland, where she plays music from all around the world. She also plays with the 6-piece Balkan band Kafana Klub. Right now she is lucky enough to hitch in with this candy yet maudlin cabaret quartet -- her coronary heart beats Padam Padam each time she takes the stage.

Padam Padam - Clark Salisbury's musical journey has brought him through folks music, jazz, rock, pop, electronica and experimental music to his present location - world music. When he isn't playing with Padam Padam, he keeps busy with Oregon's Grammy-nominated Center Japanese/World music band, Brothers of the Baladi. Clark has added the oud (Arabic lute) and saz (Turkish stringed instrument) to his repertoire, which includes electric and acoustic guitar, bass and electronics. In addition to the Brothers, he plays with other musical configurations too numerous to mention. Clark can also be a recording engineer, with many award-profitable productions beneath his belt. His technical articles have appeared in Digital Musician and Keyboard journal, among others. [l]