Redhouse Jazz

This month at Yoshi's

2006-05-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

There is a strong showing of local artists playing at Yoshi's this month.

A native of Brazil, vocalist Celia Malheiros plays tonight, May 1. I really know nothing about her but I know Mary Fettig is in the band playing flute.

Vocalist Natasha Miller sings from her new CD tomorrow night, Tuesday, with another handful of bay area musicians.

Wednesday brings us the Jon Jang Seven. We saw this group at Monterey last year and I thought they were having more fun then anyone else we watched. Of course friends John Worley and Wayne Wallace will be there on trumpet and trombone.

The Northgate High School Jazz Band performs next Monday, May 15. I'm guessing this is the band from Walnut Creek and not a hundred other Northgate bands I found on Google.

"Pianist, organist, composer and arranger" describes Tammy Hall on her web site. The list of influences and performance experience tells me this will be one fine show. Catch her on May 16.

Rebecca Mauleon has a CD release party on May 17 for Descarga en California. Rebecca always delivers a dynamic and passionate performance.

Opie Bellas vocalises on May 22.

The Mel Martin Quartet plays a Tribute to John Coltrane on May 23.

Get more details from the Yoshi's web site at yoshi's.com

The San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum

2006-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

We visited the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum last week to see the "Harlem of the West" exhibit (More about that in the next post) and discovered this little known resource. The name of the library says it all. It archives information on the history of the performing arts of San Francisco, from circuses to opera, a portion of which is online. You will find performance recordings, photographs and information on individuals, theatres and companies.

They display their collections in a series of galleries using the halls of the 4th floor surrounding the Herbst Theatre. Currently, one hall displays a history of theatre, which I know nothing about. The second hall is dedicated to an exhibition of photographs by Tom Zimberoff of 50 world renowned conductors. These dynamic black and white portraits capture the personalities of both the conductors and the photographer.

Another gallery documents the history of San Francisco in song, displaying original sheet music of any song that uses the city as a theme. The artwork of this old sheet music is captivating.

Gallery I is dedicated to the "Harlem of the West" exhibit (on view until June 10th) and features pictures from the book of the same name, a video and background music documenting the life and times of the people, the architecture and especially the jazz clubs of the post war Fillmore district. See my next post for more on this.

The Library and Museum are well hidden on the 4th floor of the Veteran's building at 401 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco. This is the same building that houses the Herbst Theatre, is next to the Opera House and across the street from City Hall. The old site of Kimball's is a block away (Lori and I had our first date there) as is Max's Opera Cafe and A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books, all favorite places to hang.

Open hours are limited, Wednesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. Check the web site for scheduled closures. If the lobby guard tells you the Library is closed, ignore them and look for yourself. The elevators are the only access to the 4th floor and only one of them may be unlocked to go that high. Try them both.

The Library is non profit and you can leave a donation if you like, but what they appreciate most is if you can contribute something real, from artifacts to identifying the many unknown people and places in their collection of photographs. Check it out, you will be glad you did and while you are there, stick your head in the Green Room on the second floor for a little eye candy. Maybe you've played a wedding there before.

Links:
SFPALM web site
Harlem of the West exhibit

Barry Wood's NAMM 06 Oddities

2006-04-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Unusual instruments seen at the 2006 NAMM show are chronicled at Barry Wood's NAMM '06 Oddities.

A bit of history...
After attending the Winter NAMM show for a number of years I've noticed that the exhibitors seem to fall into two categories: the established company showing their new (and sometimes vaporous) products; and the independent start-up company looking to be noticed by distributors, music stores, potential investors and the music press.

It seems that every year I spent more of my NAMM cruising time checking out the various small companies that all get stashed off in some side room. Many of the products from these companies are never seen the by the mainstream either because their potential market is too small, or most people simply can't figure out what the hell to do with it.

That isn't to say that these products are ill-conceived or poorly executed, it's just that sometimes they're, well, a little odd. This situation made me think that there ought to be a place for people to come marvel and wonder at all of these products, thus, the NAMM Oddities was born. -Barry

Link:

NAMM '06 Oddities

Jazz Camp West 2006

2006-04-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

It is time to sign up for the Jazz Camps again (here is last year's roundup). I just received the brochure for Jazz Camp West 2006 scheduled for June 24 - July 1 and wanted to mention that enrollment is limited. This camp is total immersion, living in cabins in the redwoods for the week with other musicians doing nothing but talking, listening and playing music.

I'll try and gather all the Bay Area camps together in one post again shortly.

Rhythmic Concepts proudly presents the 23rd annual Jazz CampWESTJazz CampWEST is an eight-day jazz immersion program for instrumentalists, vocalists, drummers and dancers held in the beautiful redwoods of La Honda in Northern California. The combination of workshops, personalized instruction, student performances, faculty concerts, late night jams, and beautiful surroundings with new friends and mentors creates an inspiring and memorable week.At Jazz Camp, 45 all-star faculty members and 250 participants of all ages, backgrounds and levels come together for a creative experience that is profoundly rewarding. The majestic setting mixed with musical immersion, inspiration, encouragement and support set the stage for magic at Jazz CampWEST.

Link:

Jazz Camp West 2006 web site

Inside Home Recording

2006-03-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled across the "Inside Home Recording" podcast which explores the world of recording music in your home. The program features James Devon and Paul Garay, two experienced recording musicians who speak casually yet very intelligently about hardware and software used by home recordists.

They dedicate segments to topics such as microphones, I/O devices, ear training, virtual pianos, interviews, reviews, recording techniques and they read and answer email questions. They explain terms without speaking down to their listeners or sacrificing details for commercial or time restraints.

They just began the show in October of last year and have about a dozen podcasts available with 20 to 25 planned for this year, truly a labor of love. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone building any level of home studio, which is very timely for me. I wish I knew more of their background which is something they might want to add to their blog.

You can subscribe and download the programs for free from their website or find them in the podcast section of the ITunes Music store, again, for free. Unbelievable. Thank you guys. Your work is greatly appreciated

Inside Home Recording web site

Robert Ullman

2006-03-30T23:01:00.000-08:00

Not San Francisco and not even jazz but you can view the fun cartoon art of Robert Ullman at http://ullman.lurid.com/index.html.

WorlView Blog

2006-03-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

John Worley has been updating his blog again. He talks in glowing terms about last Tuesday's Foothill College Contemporary Big Band concert in which, I'm told, he had some fine solos and a small rant about the dearth of places that such a heavy band like this has to perform in the bay area.

Scroll down his blog to February 12th to read his (and other's) thoughts about the closing of the BoAs jazz club in Cupertino.

John plays a lot of diverse and interesting bay area gigs and his blog is the place to read about them. Thanks John.

WorlView Blog

Mimi Fox

2006-03-22T22:32:00.000-08:00

Bay Area guitarist Mimi Fox is interviewed for a deservedly flattering article in last Sunday's SF Chronicle's Pink Section. (Photo by Raj Naik) It speaks of her new CD, "Perpetually Hip" and the CD release concert at Yoshi's on March 27th, her experiences with her record label, Favored Nations, her rising status as music educator both at the Jazz School in Berkeley and the New York University's jazz guitar studies program, her upcoming appearance on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz and more.

MIMI FOX plays at 8 and 10 p.m. March 27 at Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $10-$14. (510) 238-9200, www.yoshis.com.
9 p.m. March 31 at E3 Playhouse, 435 Front St., Santa Cruz. $13-$15. (831) 466-9033, www.e3playhouse.com.
7 p.m. April 2 at Little Fox Theatre, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City. $14-$16. (650) 369-4119, www.foxdream.com.

SFGate Pink Section Article
Mimi Fox's web site

Rhoda Scott B3ist in the Bay Area

2006-03-22T22:04:00.000-08:00

I must confess that I do not know jazz organist Rhoda Scott, but then reading the article on her in last Sunday's Pink Section, not many others have heard of her either.

While revered by her B3 peers, Scott is largely unknown in the United States, an unheralded status explained by her almost four-decade residence in Paris. Some high-profile stateside gigs in recent years have helped let American audiences know what they've been missing. Under the auspices of San Jose Hammond B3 maven Pete Fallico, Scott hits Northern California for a series of performances this month, including Thursday and Friday at Jazz at Pearl's, Saturday at Copia in Napa and March 30 at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz. She's working with her regular drummer Lucien Dobat, and will be joined at each concert by Kim Nalley on vocals.

I'm a sucker for jazz organ and I if I can fit her into my schedule, I'll write about it here.

Links:
SFGate Pink Section article
Rhoda Scott's web site
Jazz at Pearls
Copia
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
The Doodlin Lounge

Bay Area Jazz Podcasts

2006-03-14T23:21:00.000-08:00

If you go to the Podcast section of the ITunes Music Store and search for "Jazz" you will find a few free bay area based features.

One is titled "Jazz West Coast" is a video podcast and is "devoted to Jazz education with an emphasis on interviews." 2 interviews are available, an interview by Richard J. Newhouse, creator of JWC with Jazz DJ Arzell Johns and Herb Wong interviewing Bob Dorough.

Also look for "Radio Sausalito's Bay Area Jazz Spotlight" showcasing bay area musical talent and "Radio Sausalito's Brilliant Corners" featuring Poetry and Jazz.

Kitty Margolis on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

2006-03-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

The Bay Area's Kitty Margolis was on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland last week, which I missed. There is a short bio and songs performed on Marian's web site.

Singer Kitty Margolis is a true California girl. Her family has been in the state for four generations, and her formative music experiences were shaped by the musical milieu of San Francisco in the 1960s.

I also found short podcasts of Piano Jazz supplied by NPR, updated on Tuesdays at 5 pm. You can subscribe here.

Links
Piano Jazz on Kitty
Piano Jazz Home
Kitty Margolis
NPR Piano Jazz Podcasts

Miles and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2006-03-12T23:03:00.000-08:00

Miles Davis will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Monday night. There is an audio story on NPR's Morning Edtion with commentary on the web site about 3 albums that spanned the gap between jazz and rock.

When we hear the story of how Davis earned a place in the rock Hall of Fame, we learn something about the way popular music evolved into the songs we hear today. Steve Inskeep talks with music journalist Ashley Kahn, a regular contributor to Morning Edition and one of those who votes on Hall of Fame inductees, about how Davis spanned musical genres.

Links:
NPR's Morning Edition

Blogs are tough work

2006-02-27T20:50:00.000-08:00

It's a lot of work and a labor of love to keep a blog updated. Unfortunately, the reason I have neglected to write is not because there is not much going on, quite the contrary, it is just that my job is eating my time and brain. Please continue to check back as there is plenty to come.

Thanks for your patience,

Stuart

Primary Colors in the Mercury News and at BOAS

2006-01-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

Today's Mercury News has an article/interview about/with the Bay Area jazz duo Primary Colors, Vocalist Nate Pruitt and guitarist Rick Vandivier. Here is an excerpt. (Photography from their CD cover by Mark Howell and Nader Shakernia)

Jazz combo stays flexible
VOCALIST, GUITARIST AT HEART OF PRIMARY COLORS
By Andrew Gilbert
Special to the Mercury News
The best jazz happens through an elaborate process of trial and error in which musicians explore various concepts while searching for an ideal blend of personalities and sounds. That was how guitarist Rick Vandivier and vocalist Nate Pruitt came to create Primary Colors, a flexible jazz combo that performs Saturday at BoAs Club Elite.
"We kind of experimented with different instrumentation, with two guitars or guitar and bass, or full rhythm section,'' Vandivier says. "Not only did we find that most of those things worked; we liked the variety.''

Primary Colors performs Saturday, January 14 at BoAs in Cupertino and March 5 at the Improv in San Jose for the San Jose Jazz Society's Sunday Series.

Links:
Mercury News Article
Primary Colors web site
BoAs Restaurant
San Jose Jazz Society

Noe Valley Music Series

2006-01-08T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Pink Section of today's Chronicle has an article on Larry Kassin's 25 year music series held at the Noe Valley Ministry. (Chronicle photo by Christina Koci Hernandez.)

In the interview, Larry talks of the beginnings, the artists that have started and performed there, his own music and why the series has remained what it is for so long.

With a capacity of 250, Noe Valley Ministry's rectangular, earth-tone sanctuary has played host to a mind-boggling array of artists, including the comedy troupe Culture Clash, accordionist-composer Pauline Oliveros, Warren Zevon, Gamelan Sekar Jaya, guitarist Bill Frisell, oud master Hamza El Din and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser.
While he books numerous out-of-town acts, Kassin takes his responsibility as a community resource seriously, having discovered early on that the space could play a crucial role in an artist's creative life.

NOE VALLEY MUSIC SERIES: Ray Manzarek, Michael McClure and Larry Kassin perform at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at 1021 Sanchez St., San Francisco. $18-$20. (415) 454-5238. www.noevalleymusicseries.com.

Wild Bill Davison Centennial Celebration

2006-01-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

This writing is a little late for today's show at Freight and Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley but it is worth a mention.

Coronetist Wild Bill Davison would have been 100 this year and today's show celebrates his contributions to traditional jazz. Read about this Louis Armstrong contemporary in the links below.

Wild Bill, the man to whom Louis Armstrong once declared, "Bill, if anything ever happens to me, I know you can keep on doing what I'm doing," was born in Ohio on January 5, 1906. He built his career playing in Chicago nightspots during the roaring '20s, and in the '40s and '50s he joined Eddie Condon s famed house band in New York City, where he became known as a commanding front man and a brash, intense lead cornetist. Over the course of a career that spanned seven decades and 21 countries, Wild Bill recorded 800 songs and played with world-class jazz stars like Bix Beiderbecke, Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong. Join some of the Bay Area's top musicians and come swing to a tasty selection of the tunes Wild Bill loved, from impassioned ballads to full-steam-ahead, high-stepping romps.

Links:
Freight and Salvage
Google search for Wild Bill Davison

San Jose Jazz Society Sunday Concert Series

2006-01-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

This Sunday starts the 18th Annual Sunday Concert series presented by the San Jose Jazz Society and runs through March 26. The concerts will change venue this year as the St Claire is undergoing renovation. The new venue, The Improv, located at 62 South 2nd Street in downtown San Jose, will provide better sound and more seating, hopefully making it easier to get tickets.

The 12 concert series celebrates Bay Area musicians in a big way with Mary Stallings, Mark Levine, Kristen Strom, Clairdee and many more.

Links:
San Jose Jazz Society
The Improv

Ahmad Jamal at Yoshi's

2006-01-02T15:08:00.000-08:00

Ahmad Jamal is already in the groove before he ever sits at the piano. The melody may have already come and gone before the song starts. It is not always clear where he is going next, even to the musicians playing with him.

Some of the things that make Ahmad different are the things that make him one of my favorite jazz pianists. Throw in his minor harmonies and his groove potential to round out the package.

You can watch Ahmad conduct his trio this week at Yoshi's, Wednesday through Sunday.

Links:
Yoshi's
Ahmad Jamal

Hot Club of San Francisco

2005-12-28T22:07:00.000-08:00

The Hot Club of San Francisco performs gypsy style jazz in the spirit of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Always upbeat and swinging, I make it a point to see this band when I can.

They perform at Yoshi's, Tuesday, January 3.

Links:
Yoshi's
The Hot Club of San Francisco

David K. Mathews Quartet

2005-12-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

The Bay Area's David K. Mathews Quartet is having a CD release party at Yoshi's on Monday, January 2.

David Mathew on the Hammond B3
Barry Finnerty on guitar
Deszon Claiborne on drums
Mel Martin on saxophone

Links:
Yoshi's
David Mathew

"The Blues" - today's Wikipedia feature article

2005-12-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia had "The Blues" as their featured article on Wednesday. It is an extensive academic but interesting article with links to many blues references, pictures, music clips, web pages and some cool lyrics.

Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
It may be sending you baby, but it's worrying the hell out of me.

The most interesting thing about Wikipedia is anyone can add or edit any information.

Below are links to the Blues article as well as the Jazz article and their listing of Jazz Musicians. Someone needs to add Gene Harris to the list.

Wikipedia Links:
Blues
Jazz
List of Jazz Musicians

Holiday CD releases from Bay Area Jazz Artists

2005-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

JazzWest.com has a list of recent CDs released by several Bay Area jazz artists featuring holiday music.

Link:
Jazzwest.com

Making a living at what you love

2005-12-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting article in Business section of last Sunday's Chronicle that talked about artists learning to be more business savvy, hopefully by not selling out. The idea for many musicians, painters, photographers, whatever, is to be able to perform their talent and make a living at it, it can only help their art and everyone is better for it. The article talks to Bay Area artists and lists some Bay Area educational business resources of which they have taken advantage. Included are 2 in-depth profiles, well, as in-depth as newspapers usually get.

Links:
Artists find that business strategies can help them succeed
Vineyard artist draws on her business savvy
Printmaker turns metal plates into gold

Clairdee Christmas Show at Yoshi's

2005-12-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

The Bay Area's own Clairdee performs what has become an annual event at Yoshi's in Emeryville on Christmas eve.

A party atmosphere surrounds vocalist Clairdee's fourth annual holiday concert at Yoshi's.Ê Adorned with ribbons of jazz, R&B, blues, and Latin jazz, Clairdee interprets classic songs that have been handed down by her favorite composers and lyricists such as Charles Brown, Sammy Cahn, Horace Silver, and Donny Hathaway.Ê Featuring selections from her acclaimed CD, This Christmas, as well as a few new surprises, Clairdee's Christmas is guaranteed to warm even a Grinch's heart and send him dancing into the New Year.
Joining Clairdee are Rich Armstrong on trumpet, percussion and vocals, Ron Belcher on bass, Deszon Claiborne on drums, Ken French and Jon Herbst on piano/keys, John Hoy on guitar and Melecio Magdaluyo on saxophone, flute and clarinet.
Saturday, December 24
8:00pm Show $16
10:00pm Show $8
Links:
Yoshi's
Clairdee's Web site

Jazz Vespers in Danville

2005-12-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

Peace Lutheran Church in Danville holds a jazz concert series, the second Sunday of the month in Danville, CA. An article in today's Chronicle talks with Ed Klitch, who produces the series and flutist John Calloway who performs this Sunday at 5 pm with his band Diaspora, featuring pianist Murray Low, bassist David Belove, drummer David Flores and trumpeter Mike Olmos.

Rather than focusing on material exploring religious themes, jazz vespers services give musicians the opportunity to perform in an environment conducive to intimate, soul-bearing communication.

Future Jazz at Peace concerts include the Dave Rocha Quartet on Jan. 8, the Anton Schwartz Quartet on Feb. 12 and pianist Paul Scheffert's trio on March 12.

Links:
SF Gate article
Jazz at Peace web site
Photo by Amanda Lopez