Balmer grooves Black Butte Ranch

The Dan Balmer Group performed at Black Butte Ranch's outdoor "venue with a view" on Friday.

Balmer's display of virtuosity with his guitar, evidenced why he was the first guitarist and youngest inductee into the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame.

Balmer opened the show with "Becoming Became," the title track from his first solo CD recorded in 1989. As he eased into the show, Balmer took time to talk to the audience and share stories of how much he enjoyed spending his youth vacationing in Camp Sherman at a house his parents owned and how excited he was to be playing at the Ranch after having played in Bend on different occasions.

He then told a little story about his mom before playing a song dedicated to his mother called "Momsong."

The 17-song set included many originals spanning Balmer's nearly 30-year career including "Knowhere To Go," "The Sea, The Sea," and "The Hard Way," in addition to collaborations with several of the artists Balmer has played with over the years. The song "Istanbul" was inspired by Balmer's touring with well-known jazz singer Diane Schuur.

The warm evening and unmatched view provided a beautiful backdrop for the concert. The expectant crowd enjoyed the open lawn seating and as one person commented, "there's not a bad seat in the house."

In fact, when other members of the band had an opportunity to solo, the audience could often find Balmer turning around, taking long glances at the mountains seeming to enjoy the majestic view.

"Not long ago," he commented, "we played Moab in Utah; heck, we could have just played here".

Balmer's wit and ease with his audience was apparent when at one point Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" could be heard from the wedding reception at the Lodge.

"I think I hear Pretty Woman," Balmer said as he and the band broke into an impromptu version of the Roy Orbison song. Balmer also noticed a young man in a suit, who in hearing Balmer play, chose to leave the reception.

Balmer, who is also a music professor at Lewis & Clark College, gave the audience a personal lesson in contemporary jazz guitar playing. His smooth, impeccable playing affirmed what many already knew; this man is a master of his craft.

Ranch official Katie Williams commented, "I've been a jazz fan for a long time and have heard Dan Balmer recordings but this is the first time I've had a chance to see him play, and he really is a world class jazz guitarist."

Balmer played two sets and in closing the second set he played "Groove for Grover," a tribute to jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., who died of a massive heart attack at the age of 56 in 1999.

This was the first concert in the summer series "Live At The Ranch." For information visit blackbutteranch.com.