It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to Belinda Underwood. She is an accomplished Jazz bassist and singer, having played with many major cats in Portland, Los Angles and New York, and with two well-received albums. Her latest, Greenspace features Benny Green, Nancy King, Pink Martini members Phil Baker and Martin Zarzar. On Uncurling, she performs with John Gross, Dan Balmer, David Friesen, Airto Moreira, Clay Giberson, Phil Baker, Martin Zarzar, Chad Wagner, and Jason Levis. That isn’t the half of it. Before her sister Melissa moved from Portland to Los Angeles, she performed regularly with Belinda as “Beliss.” The “folksy, bluesey sister band” as she calls it recorded three albums. Not done yet. She has been a dancer her whole life, specializing in Middle-Eastern Dance. She maintains a regular schedule of belly-dance performances. Along the same lines, she also plays bass with Negara who bill themselves at “Pan-Mediterranean World-Beatnik. (Belinda's note : I've danced Mid-Eastern for 8 years and jazz, ballet, tap, etc since childhood) Still more. There’s the matter of the bass ukulele. Let’s let her tell you. We talked at Touche between sets playing bass with Kelley Shannon and Laura Cunnard. (click here for video interview) Her “Green Girls” show with Rachael Rice and Alexa Wiley is Friday, September 2, · 8-10pm, Jade Lounge, $5 suggested donation. She says you’ll find, “Tales of love, sustainability, peace, the Earth, animals, aliens, trees, granny’s rights and hope for humanity.” |
