Thu, 10/20/2016 - 1:57 pm
Steve DeAngelo with Harborside (nation’s largest licensed pot dispensary, which serves 108,000 patients in Oakland, CA) will be answering questions as the opening act.  Lorin Rowan will be sitting in and other VERY special guests.
 
Every guest will get a rock poster by Alexandra Fischer commemorating the event and they’ll also get a great many Pro-Pot Poster
 
Sweetwater Music Hall
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: $10-$15
Ticket Link: http://ticketf.ly/2epgfHg
Ages: All

Moonalice was the brainchild of the great producer, T Bone Burnett in 2007 because he wanted to create a band with a San Francisco 60’s sound. Moonalice plays mostly original material mixed with some covers, and during their extended freeform jams the band moves as one, drawing from many musical genres honed from years of experience playing with various major acts.

MOONALICE Band members:

Barry Sless: lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass (Phil Lesh & Friends, David Nelson Band, Kingfish, Cowboy Jazz)

Pete Sears: bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals (Doobie Decibel System, Sam Gopal Dream, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, original Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Peter Rowan, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh & Friends, Steve Kimock, David Nelson, John Lee Hooker and more).

Roger McNamee: rhythm and lead guitar, bass, vocals (Doobie Decibel System (DDS) Duo with Jason Crosby and Doobie Decibel System (DDS) Band with Jason Crosby, Pete Sears, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz and Jay Lane. Plus Guff, The Engineers, Random Axes, Flying Other Brothers)

John Molo: drums, vocals (Bruce Hornsby & The Range, John Fogerty, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Other Ones). 

With special guest:

Big Steve Parish: Manager, Road Scholar, Medicine Man, Story Teller. (Grateful Dead family member and co-founder of Jerry Garcia Band).

Moonalice’s hit single "It's 4:20 Somewhere" has been downloaded over 4.6 million times. You can download it at http://www.moonalice.com/song/its-420-somewhere

Moonalice now has a radio station of its own. Find Moonalice Radio on moonalice.com/moonaliceradio. You’ll find all the band members sharing stories and playing a wide variety of their favorite music – classic rock, reggae, Americana, oldies, blues, soul and jam bands. Plus Moongirl, 420 news, storyteller/medicine man Big Steve Parish, the Doobie Decibel System, and TheHash.org, with DJ Ben Fong-Torres every weekend.

Videos are available on moonalice.com and every show poster (each with a unique legend) can be viewed at moonaliceposters.com

Fri, 05/18/2018 - 4:40 pm

Stroll Down Penny Lane is a live concert of songs by the most iconic songwriter of our time. The music is embellished with stories, evocative images, a musical education of sorts, and animation. Stroll Down Penny Lane will play at the historic and elegant Bellevue Club on Lake Merritt.

While flying across the world, unraveling knots of white collar crime at the highest echelons, Prof. Stompensplatt, obsessed with Paul McCartney and in need of a diversion, went deep down the rabbit hole, seeking everything he could find about his idol.

Four years in the making, Stroll Down Penny Lane is the fruit of that obsession. Equipped only with a vision, a bunch of guitars, and a voice uncannily like McCartney’s, Prof. Stompensplatt set out to create a show to share. He assembled an outstanding band of musicians, an animator, and a video artist to create a unique concert experience. The show illuminates the creative process, musical tricks of the trade, the social climate of the times and McCartney himself. Running through it all is the sheer enjoyment of the music.

Says Prof. Stompensplatt, "What I know for a fact, is that our test audiences have found this show to be deeply moving. How do I know this? One example of this is seeing the guitar tech (for Neil Young) wipe a tear from his eye, as he sits there watching and listening -- because he is so moved. And then, in another test, you see a burly cinematographer, unabashedly, do the same - at the very same juncture. From this, we know we have something special."

Billy Cohen, of Labyrinth Management and Bill Graham Presents said to Joe Anastasi after a Stroll Down Penny Lane performance, "your voice has an uncanny resemblance to Paul's.”  “He has a nice sounding voice, and has captured Paul’s performance style here very well,” states Dan Krimm, of Marin Arts and Culture. “This band is tight,” has observed Joey Swales, sound engineer for Cal Performances.

Stroll Down Penny Lane line up: - Joe Anastasi aka Prof. Stompensplatt (lead vocals and  rhythm guitar), Winter ( lead guitar and vocals) and Mike Sugar (bassist, electric cellist, melodica, synthesizer, and vocals) and Mark Abbott (drums and vocals).

Professor Stompensplatt

Prof. Stompensplatt is the nom de plume of the producer/writer and lead singer/rhythm guitarist …he is also Joe Anastasi, a forensic accountant who resides in Piedmont, CA. His passion has been applying his forensic investigating skills to the music of Paul McCartney. Stroll Down Penny Lane is the result of Joe’s painstaking research, and the application of his writing abilities – using animation and other film devices – to explore what makes these songs so special.

Professor Stompensplatt is also the narrator in an upcoming series of children’s books, which take as their inspiration the animation imagery developed for this show. The first book is “Professor Stompensplatt’s: The Little Devil in Michelle,” which explores the inspiration for Paul’s song, Michelle – with a plot twist at the end.

Winter

Winter is a revered guitar player and the senior sound engineer at EMB Studios.

Originally from Kassel, Germany and he was first going to be a drummer, but then, when he was 12, he heard a boy in his building play Smoke on the Water on guitar, and from that point on, guitar playing was his passion.  Winter has produced and performed on numerous albums, and some career highlights include playing guitar for Blondie’s current album, Ghosts of Download (2014) and recording drums for Paul Bostaph (Slayer, Testament). He has also worked with Dwayne Wiggins (Toni Tony Tone), Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish), Bill Ortiz (Santana), Sonja Drakulich (Stellamara), Amelia Hogan, and Jessica Star, among many others.

Winter has also worked on over 35 films, as both location sound mixer and sound editor. He is known for his dubious jokes, silly hats, and piratical demeanor.

Mike Sugar

Sugar has been bassist, guitarist, drummer, vocalist, keyboardist and digital effects provider/programmer for a wide variety of artists on stage and in the studio. He has recorded and produced genres from vocal jazz to screaming punk, Brazilian percussion to blues, hard rock to strumming singer/songwriters, ambient groove to aggressive electronica.

The DIY approach on his solo CDs is well-balanced by countless sideman gigs and sessions, collaborations and all out jamming. Born in New Orleans, an obsessive curiosity for music and instruments led Sugar to study basses, guitars, classical music, jazz, modern composition and music technology. In his formative years Sugar co-founded the band Jambay and hit the road. They played venues all over the states, giving rise to numerous bootleg tapes still circulating today. Jambay released albums, composed for film, and were the subject of a documentary DVD chronicling their tireless output. They also toured as Ken Kesey’s house band/opening act for his stage play “Twister”. Between gigs and sessions Sugar continues producing and composing for his own recording and performing projects.

Mark Abbott

Mark Abbott, Stroll Down Penny Lane’s drummer, almost never made it as a drummer. Mark’s right thumb was accidentally severed during a production of Hair at the University of California, East Bay. Surgeons successfully reattached the thumb using microscopes and laser technologies. He returned to the set bandaged and continued drumming in this musical production—using one hand. This set of circumstances impressed several other performers, leading to Mark’s inclusion in the formation of the band, Box Set. The band’s 1994 debut album was critically acclaimed by Billboard. In 1995, the band was named “Group of the Year” by the National Academy of Songwriters. Two years later, the band collected two “Bammies” (California Music Awards) for their critically-acclaimed third album. The band scored a deal with Capricorn/Polygram to release their 1998 album with producer Joe Chicarelli (producer for Tori Amos, American Music Club, and Frank Zappa, among others).

Mark’s drumming has been featured in DRUM Magazine. He has toured the country with Box Set several times (performing in every state except North Dakota) and the band sold out the historic Fillmore West three times.

Mark has recorded in some of the finest studios in the country. He has also been turfed out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for having: a) stepped over the rope, and b) proceeding to play on the Led Zeppelin drum kit, belonging to John Bonham. The physical ejection has left Mark undaunted, and unmarked.

About The Bellevue Club

Oakland’s unique private club overlooking the birds and boats at Lake Merritt. A premier social and fitness club in a stunning Beaux Arts building...now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bellevue Club is a non-profit and well known as a private social and fitness club with a variety of well-appointed rooms for businesses, visitors, celebrants and an ideal location for weddings. The Club’s delightful overnight guest rooms overlooking scenic Lake Merritt provide bed and breakfast comfort with on-site parking. http://www.bellevueoakland.com

What:  Stroll Down Penny Lane tribute to Paul McCartney

When:  Friday and Saturday, July 6 & 7, 2018 at 8pm

Where: The Bellevue Club - 525 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610-5096

510-451-1000.  Next to Lake Merritt.  Early bird parking available.

Tickets:  GA $38 – VIP $85 (special seating, complimentary drink, snacks, and meet & greet with the band).

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stroll-down-penny-lane-the-ultimate-paul-mccartney-experience-tickets-44931554489

Sat, 10/12/2019 - 11:33 am

The Novato Theater Company’s second show of its 100th season is Sweeney Todd, a co-production with Theatre-at-Large. This musical thriller, opening on October 25 and running until November 17, is directed by Kim Bromley and Bruce Vieira with musical direction by Judy Wiesen and choreography and movement by Marilyn Izdebski.

The musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler is based on the 1973 play Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond.

Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Olivier Award for Best New Musical.  It has since had numerous revivals as well as a film adaptation.

What Sondheim thought of as "a small horror piece" eventually became a colossal portrait of the Industrial Revolution in the hands of director Hal Prince.  At first, Prince was not interested in directing the show; to him it was just another melodrama, not very experimental structurally. Then he discovered a metaphor which expanded the story into an essay on the human condition.

“There would have been screams and yells but I wouldn't have given a damn. Because it is an opera. A modern American opera."

Schuyler Chapin, former GM of the Metropolitan Opera

Fri, 10/25/2019 - 8:49 am

Music City Hit Factory Groundbreaking Block Party – a fun free community event for musicians and music-lovers co-presented by The Lower Polk Community Benefit District. Founder Rudy Colombini and Ben Fong-Torres will introduce the Hit Factory's dazzling new amenities and facilities scheduled to open in 2020. Enjoy Bands and Community Speakers plus food and beverage vendors. Musical entertainment provided by Rudy Colombini Band, Thank You, Come Again, The Fixins, Mint, Larkin Street Youth Singers and The Fluorescents. Please join us on Sunday, November 10, 2019 from 1pm to 7pm. 99 Fern Alley (off Polk between Sutter and Bush Streets.

Sunday, November 10, 2019 (1pm -7pm) - 99 Fern Alley (off Polk between Street and Bush Streets), SF - Free Community Event. musiccityhitfactory.org

Cost: Free – All Ages

Cost: Free RSVP by clicking HERE

Sat, 06/11/2022 - 8:05 am

Spirit Hustler is modern classic rock from the Bay Area born of an acoustic heart and layered with cosmic electricity. Its self-titled debut (released online 05/22/22) puts a fresh spin on the traditional album with a distinct opener and closer on each side, but rather than an overwrought “concept” album,” this is an album with a creative concept—a Theatre of the Mind in two acts. Imaginative songs are mini-movies inspired by actual experiences and rendered into animated audio art.

Spirit Hustler will perform on June 24 at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. Doors at 8pm and show at 9pm. | GET TICKETS HERE

Other gigs include High Sierra Music Festival, July 1-3 (Quincy, CA), Sunshine of Love Festival, August 20 (Santa Cruz, CA) & Burning Man, Labor Day Weekend (Black Rock City, NV)

Originating with the epic space-rock opener “The Spirit of ’69,” the listener goes on a hero’s journey while “Circlin’ the Sun.” The hero encounters the enchanting “Angels of Summertime,” makes a “Devil Deal” with a succubus at Burning Man, and wanders the high desert via “Mine is a Gypsy Soul” before ultimately reckoning with the “Spirit of the Beast.”

Wow, this is a masterpiece! Perfect, honest, unaffected psychedelic folk-rock vocals and the lyrics to match. A real modern San Francisco album.” Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, Black Crowes)

Listen to the album on your favorite streaming platform.

Songs:

1)     The Spirit of ’69 - Watch the incredible video!  

2)     Gratitude Raga

3)     Circlin’ the Sun - Listen to the latest single

4)     Angels of Summertime

5)     Devil Deal (feat. Jetta Cole)

6)     Hard-Fought Magic

7)     Honey Moon (feat. James Nash)

8)     WhiteOut (Jimmy Leslie solo acoustic)

9)     Mine is a Gypsy Soul (feat. Jetta Cole and Jason Crosby)

10)  Spirit of the Beast

Jimmy Leslie is the writer and star of Spirit Hustler’s sonic cinema. A fixture on the Bay Area music scene, Leslie’s eclectic resume is insightful. He is internationally respected as the Frets Editor at Guitar Player, and the two instrumentals on Spirit Hustler showcase his “freehand” percussive fingerstyle. He uses Spirit Hustler examples to school readers on his highly original approach to Writing and Recording Acoustic Rock in the magazine’s June, July, and August issues.

He’s interviewed everyone from Carlos Santana to Jack White, and coordinated GP Presents events ranging from Paco de Lucia to Buddy Guy. Jimmy has shared stages with Tab Benoit, Luther Dickinson, Sonny Landreth, and Devon Allman. Leslie co-founded the Star City and Guitarfish Music Festivals and authored the eco-musical Guitarfish Adventures. Leslie’s solo records Surfin’ the Swamp and Dance Until Forever featuring players from Galactic and the Honey Island Swamp Band, respectively.

Spirit Hustler album cameos include strings by Jason Crosby (Jackson Browne), mandolin by James Nash (The Waybacks), guitar from Eric McFadden (P-Funk), keyboards by Alex Jordan (Midnight North), and backing vocals and acoustic guitar courtesy of champion Christie Lenée. Tahoe diva Jetta Cole delivers a Grammy-worthy vocal on “Gypsy Soul” and plays the she-demon to perfection on “Devil Deal.” The core band’s beating heart is drummer Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & the JGB). Steven La Bella provides funky, melodic bass while slide guitar ace Jules Leyhe provides laser lead lines that compliment Leslie’s open-tuned acoustic in an unexplored yet hauntingly familiar fashion.

Spirit Hustler was recorded at Lucky Recording in Brisbane, CA, where the Go Go’s recently cut “Club Zero.” Producer Mikel Ross has worked extensively with Corrosion of Conformity. Butch Vig disciple Travis Kasperbauer engineered and mixed. Grammy-winner Jake Eckert and Jeff Watkins mastered the album, and both are New Orleans Suspects. The artwork comes courtesy of Alan Forbes (Black Crowes). Considering all talents, Leslie adopted the moniker Spirit Hustler, emerging from the pandemic era like a butterfly from a cocoon.

Leyhe cuts the best blues-slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman.” —Premier Guitar

 “Oh yeah, I dig this. Tasty A.F. I really love it.” —Devon Allman

Totally dig it! Epic and trippy with tons of cool sounds that make the stories speak. Love the slide work, very lyrical. ‘Angels of Summertime’ kept playing in my head for days. I liked the power in sections too.”  —Sonny Landreth (John Hiatt, Dr. John, Eric Clapton)

Sweetwater Music Hall Release Celebration on June 24 featuring Pamela Parker & James Nash

Spirit Hustler represents a modern perspective on classic Bay Area rock, and Jimmy Leslie embodies the imaginative essence of artists such as Michael Hedges, Santana, and the Grateful Dead. Bob Weir is an owner at the Sweetwater Music Hall, where Leslie has history. He was onstage with Shana Morrison (Van’s daughter) on the very last night at the original Sweetwater location. He debuted the full Spirit Hustler show at the new location almost exactly a decade later, and the group is back to celebrate the release of the debut album, now available on all digital platforms as well as on CD and heavyweight vinyl.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 9:25 am

Spirit Hustler is modern classic rock from the Bay Area born of an acoustic heart and layered with cosmic electricity. Its debut (released online 05/22/22) puts a fresh spin on the traditional album with a distinct opener and closer on each side, but rather than an overwrought “concept” album,” this is an album with a creative concept—a Theatre of the Mind in two acts. Imaginative songs are mini-movies inspired by actual experiences and rendered into animated audio art.

Spirit Hustler with opening band, The Silk Road Truckers will be performing on Friday, July 29 at The Chapel in San Francisco, California. Doors at 7:30pm and show at 8:30pm. All Ages

Other Spirit Hustler gigs include High Sierra Music Festival, July 1-3 (Quincy, CA), Sunshine of Love Festival, August 20 (Santa Cruz, CA) & Burning Man, September 1 (Black Rock City, NV).

Originating with the epic space-rock opener “The Spirit of ’69,” the listener goes on a hero’s journey while “Circlin’ the Sun.” The hero encounters the enchanting “Angels of Summertime,” makes a “Devil Deal” with a succubus at Burning Man and wanders the high desert via “Mine is a Gypsy Soul” before ultimately reckoning with the “Spirit of the Beast.”

Listen to the album on your favorite streaming platform.

Songs:

1)     The Spirit of ’69 - Watch the incredible video!  

2)     Gratitude Raga

3)     Circlin’ the Sun - Listen to the latest single

4)     Angels of Summertime

5)     Devil Deal (feat. Jetta Cole)

6)     Hard-Fought Magic

7)     Honey Moon (feat. James Nash)

8)     WhiteOut (Jimmy Leslie solo acoustic)

9)     Mine is a Gypsy Soul (feat. Jetta Cole and Jason Crosby)

10)  Spirit of the Beast

Jimmy Leslie is the writer and star of Spirit Hustler’s sonic cinema. A fixture on the Bay Area music scene, Leslie’s eclectic resume is insightful. He is internationally respected as the Frets Editor at Guitar Player, and the two instrumentals on Spirit Hustler showcase his “freehand” percussive fingerstyle. He uses Spirit Hustler examples to school readers on his highly original approach to Writing and Recording Acoustic Rock in Guitar Player magazine’s June, July, and August issues.

Leslie’s interviewed various types of musicians, from Carlos Santana to Jack White, and coordinated GP Presents events ranging from Paco de Lucia to Buddy Guy. Jimmy has shared stages with Tab Benoit, Luther Dickinson, Sonny Landreth, and Devon Allman. Leslie co-founded the Star City and Guitarfish Music Festivals, and authored the eco-musical Guitarfish Adventures. Leslie’s solo records Surfin’ the Swamp and Dance Until Forever feature players from Galactic and the Honey Island Swamp Band, respectively.

Spirit Hustler album cameos include strings by Jason Crosby (John McLaughlin), mandolin by James Nash (The Waybacks), guitar from Eric McFadden (P-Funk), keyboards by Alex Jordan (Midnight North) and backing vocals and acoustic guitar courtesy of champion Christie Lenée. Tahoe diva Jetta Cole delivers a Grammy-worthy vocal on “Gypsy Soul” and plays the she-demon to perfection on “Devil Deal.” The core band’s beating heart is drummer Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & the JGB). Steven La Bella provides funky, melodic bass while slide guitar ace Jules Leyhe provides Allman-esque laser lead lines that compliment Leslie’s open-tuned acoustic in unexplored yet hauntingly familiar fashion.

Spirit Hustler was recorded at Lucky Recording in Brisbane, CA, where the Go Go’s recently cut “Club Zero.” Producer Mikel Ross has worked extensively with Corrosion of Conformity. Butch Vig disciple Travis Kasperbauer engineered and mixed. Grammy-winner Jake Eckert and Jeff Watkins mastered the album, and both are New Orleans Suspects. Artwork comes courtesy of Alan Forbes (Black Crowes logo). Considering all talents, Leslie adopted the moniker Spirit Hustler, emerging from the pandemic era like a butterfly from a cocoon.

“Wow, this is a masterpiece! Perfect, honest, unaffected psychedelic folk-rock vocals and the lyrics to match. A real modern San Francisco album.” Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, Black Crowes)

 “Oh yeah, I dig this. Tasty A.F. I really love it.” —Devon Allman

“Totally dig it! Epic and trippy with tons of cool sounds that make the stories speak. Love the slide work, very lyrical. ‘Angels of Summertime’ kept playing in my head for days. I liked the power in sections too.”  —Sonny Landreth (John Hiatt, Dr. John, Eric Clapton)

Special Chapel Show Details

The Spirit Hustler show plays out theatrically as well, and for this special Guitar Player Presents album release celebration at The Chapel on July 29 Spirit Hustler will bring a extraordinary lineup featuring guest diva Pamela Parker, mandolin master James Nash, keyboardist Alex Jordan plus extra groovy stage production. The opening band is the Silk Road Truckers. Born in the basement of a Haight St commune in 2015, Colton Shrier leads five partially housebroken mother truckers bringing feel good originals, psychedelic riffs and frontline style. Silkroadtruckers.com

This promises to be a peak experience during what’s shaping up to be the second coming of the Summer of Love in the City by the Bay. Join Spirit Hustler and guests at The Chapel for an existential evening!

Fri, 01/06/2023 - 2:10 pm

Award-winning singer/songwriter/voice coach Essence Goldman, founder of the newly formed not-for-profit organization, Believe Music Heals, will be making music healing programs available to those experiencing hardship and distress as well as those with chronic and terminal illness starting in early 2023.

After life-altering projects unfolded when two of her voice students became aware of their terminal illnesses, Essence guided their focus to music as a means of self-expression and healing. She witnessed powerful personal transformations when these individuals turned their attention toward creativity and music instead of their hardships. The joy and healing derived through these projects became life-defining not only for the students but for Essence as well.

“I could see that music became an anchor point in their lives and I felt compelled to become involved and guide them with their transformation. I saw that music was allowing them to turn fear and pain into creativity and expression, and the quality of their lives improved dramatically.”

Ari Gold of Essence and Bernie Dalton

Two powerful albums were born: “Connection,” by Bernie Dalton, currently in development as the feature film “Bernie and The Believers,” and “Beckoning,” by John Brody, scheduled for release in 2023.

Essence explains why she founded Believe Music Heals, “My dad gave me a journal and a Walkman as a child while I was experiencing emotional distress during my parents' divorce. I started writing and diving into listening to music religiously. That is how I learned that transformation was possible through self-expression and music.”
Believe Music Heals is a program of MarinLink, an incubator and fiscal sponsor for community-based projects inspired by social entrepreneurs to generate positive change in the arts, community, education, environment, and health. Please donate online or send donations to: MarinLink, 5800 Northgate Drive #250, San Rafael CA 94903.

Believe Music Heals will use music as a vehicle to:

•    Help people to focus on creativity and self-expression during times of distress and hardship.

•    Empower people to tell their story and a means to share their legacy.

•    Bring people together to enhance communication and connection while building community.

•    Reimagining palliative and self-care.

•    Assisting in pain management.

•    Providing a vehicle to rekindle memories and make new ones.

•    Easing anxiety, depression and fear.

•    Lifting spirits and adding a new perspective to life.

•    Help to process, navigate and transform heartbreak, grief, complex emotions.

•    Support individuals in becoming active participants in their well-being by focusing on their unique strengths instead of their limitations.

Target demographics are people with:

•    Terminal Illness

•    Autism

•    Dementia

•    Alzheimer’s

•    Trauma

•    Depression

•    Anxiety

•    Chronic Illness

•    Chronic Pain

•    A Handicap

•    Veterans with  PTSD

•    Youth At Risk

•    Minors in Foster Care

•    Incarcerated

•    Elderly

Believe Music Heals programs offer the opportunity for participants to:

•    Write and Record a Song Solo

•    Write and Record a Song with Full Band and Production

•    Write and Record an Album (Solo or with Full Band and Production)

•    Create a Live Musical Performance

•    Develop a Musical Repertoire

•    One-on-One Songwriting Coaching

•    One-on-One Voice Lessons

•    One-on-One Guitar / Piano / Bass / Drum / String Instrument Lessons

•    Music Rejuvenation Therapy

•    Customized Guided Songwriting / Rehearsing / Woodshedding

Potential health benefits of music:

•    Lowers heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol in their body

•    Activates brain function by promoting the repair of motor and neural systems helping the recovery of stroke patients

•    Reduces symptoms of depression

•    Improves memory

•    Helps to minimize dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cardiac conditions

•    Aids in substance abuse, pain management, and healing from injuries/surgery

•    Eases anxiety and fear and improve self-esteem and mood

Thu, 03/09/2023 - 12:53 pm

Scottish fiddle great Alasdair Fraser leads the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers in a celebration of traditional music from Scotland and beyond in a series of three high-energy, exciting concerts in the Bay Area and Carmel. One hundred-plus players on stage give full orchestral life to the irresistibly melodic and rhythmic dance tunes, marches, and slow airs of the Highlands. The repertoire features age-old works and newly written ones, all rooted in the traditions not only of Scotland but also Cape Breton, France, Spain, and Scandinavia. It’s a fun and mighty musical experience that has audiences dancing in their seats (and possibly in the aisles).

The players

Alasdair Fraser is one of the greatest exemplars of the Scottish fiddle music tradition, whose warmly expressive playing, mastery of his instrument, and deep understanding of the genre has inspired generations of musicians on both sides of the Atlantic.

Born in Clackmannan in 1955, Alasdair began taking classical violin lessons at the age of eight, enduring much teasing from schoolmates at a time when carrying a fiddle case around was considered far from cool. Driven by the love of the instrument and the tunes he heard at home, he persevered, and the musical journey was underway.

In his teens, Alasdair played with dance bands and began gathering the compositions of great fiddling forebears including Niel and Nathaniel Gow, William Marshall, and James Scott Skinner. He went on to win – twice – the Scottish National Fiddle Championship and continued playing even as his studies led to work as a petrophysicist with British Petroleum, which took him to California in 1981.

A few years later, Alasdair realized that he was in the wrong job and went on to follow his passion for music. The journey led him to teaching as well as performing. He is the founder and director of the Valley of the Moon fiddle camp, fiddle courses on the Isle of Skye and in Spain, and Sierra Fiddle Camp, near his home in California.

Alasdair’s musical partnerships include duos with pianist Paul Machlis and guitarist Tony McManus, and his acclaimed band Skyedance. He has also guested with The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Itzhak Perlman, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and appeared on innumerable television broadcasts. He and his fiddle have also been featured in numerous movie and television productions, from Ken Burns documentaries to Titanic, The Last of the Mohicans, and Treasure Planet.

Since 2003 Alasdair has partnered with cellist Natalie Haas, restoring to contemporary prominence “the wee fiddle and big fiddle” partnership that flourished in 18th-century Scotland. Their debut album, Fire and Grace, was voted Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2004.

The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers formed in 1986 around a nucleus of musicians passionate to learn the joyous and moving traditional music of Scotland and now has a membership numbering more than 200. It is a decisively inclusive group with members who play not only fiddle but cello, bass, guitar, percussion, and piano–and the occasional flute, harmonica, and, in one case, the musical saw.

A core group of members has remained from the beginning, while new players, often in their teens or younger, join every year. The “fiddle club,” as longtime members call it, offers instrumentalists of all levels and every age to play with and learn from each other. A significant number of young players have gone on to study at Juilliard, Berklee, and other renowned music conservatories, and have established themselves in professional careers. But they always consider the Fiddlers to be their musical family.

The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers meet monthly to play their favorite tunes and learn new ones. Their repertoire over the years has expanded to include the music of Brittany, Galicia, Scandinavia, and America while remaining firmly anchored in the Scottish fiddle forms of dance, pipe tunes, and song.

The highlight of the Fiddlers’ year comes each spring when, under Alasdair Fraser’s direction, the group rehearses for and presents a three-concert series in the greater Bay Area.

Friday, May 19, 8 pm

Freight & Salvage

2020 Addison St. Berkeley 94704

510-644-2020

Tickets, $24-$28: thefreight.org

Saturday, May 20, 7 pm

Spangenberg Theater in Palo Alto

780 Arastradero Road Palo Alto CA 94306  

650-354-8220

Tickets $25-$28: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/browse.html

Sunday, May 21, 3 pm

Carmel Center for the Performing Arts at Carmel High School

3600 Ocean Ave Carmel-By-The-Sea CA 93923

317-843-3800

Tickets $27-$32: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/browse.html

Fri, 04/28/2023 - 11:02 am

Bay Philharmonic (formerly Fremont Symphony) presents Bay Phil Plays Beethoven on June 3 and 4 in Union City. The two high-energy performances will feature internationally award-winning pianist, improviser, and composer Charlie Albright, visionary conductor Jung-Ho Pak, along with the highly entertaining 50-piece Bay Philharmonic. Tickets are $35 to $67 and are available on the Bay Philharmonic website, bayphil.org.

Concertgoers will enjoy an energetic evening listening to the passionate sounds of Beethoven. Artistic Director/Conductor Jung-Ho Pak will lead the Bay Philharmonic in two of Beethoven’s most beloved works—the rhythmically exciting “Seventh Symphony” and the virtuosic “Third Piano Concerto.” Guest soloist Charlie Albright promises to create dazzling moments on the spot—just like Beethoven did. Together, Pak and Albright explore the limitless possibilities and timeless relevance of music that remains very much alive today. Pak says, “this is not a symphony concert, we’re throwing a party and a rock show all in one!”

The Philadelphia Inquirer says Charlie Albright brings “the art of classical music improvisation to a new level,” and the Washington Post says that he is “among the most gifted musicians of his generation.” Described by The New York Times as a conductor who "radiates enthusiasm," Jung-Ho Pak is known for his unique approach and vision for symphonic music. In concert, Albright, Pak, and the Bay Philharmonic will deliver a truly imaginative, unusually entertaining, and highly energetic show.

Bay Philharmonic (formerly Fremont Symphony) presents Bay Phil Plays Beethoven on June 3 at 7:30 p.m. and June 4 at 3:00 p.m. at the newly renovated, state-of-the-art James Logan High School Performing Arts Center in Union City. The two performances will feature internationally award-winning pianist, improviser, and composer Charlie Albright, visionary conductor Jung-Ho Pak, along with the highly entertaining 50-piece Bay Philharmonic. Tickets are $35 to $67 and are available on the Bay Philharmonic website, bayphil.org.  

 When:        June 3–4, 2023
 
                   Saturday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.
                   Sunday, June 4, 3:00 p.m.

 Where:       James Logan High School Performing Arts Center
                   1800 H Street, Union City, CA 94587
                   *Newly renovated, state-of-the-art

Tickets/info:       Please visit BayPhil.org

 Who:          Charlie Albright, internationally award-winning pianist, improviser, and composer
                   Jung-Ho Pak, Artistic Director/Conductor, Bay Philharmonic
                   Barett Hoover, Executive Director, Bay Philharmonic
 
About Bay Philharmonic:

For the past 56 years, Bay Philharmonic has served the Bay Area as the Fremont Symphony. The Bay Philharmonic has a unique mission. With much beauty and joy, their goal is to present the most imaginative and unusually entertaining shows. They believe that their audience is the primary reason they exist and want to always exceed their expectations.

The word “Philharmonic” means the "love of harmony," which means they are a source of wonderful sounds and diverse co-existence.

Under the leadership of newly appointed Executive Director Barett Hoover and Artistic Director Jung-Ho Pak, the Bay Philharmonic begins a new era of arts and entertainment experiences for all audiences. Hoover joined the organization in July of 2022. Before his work with the Bay Philharmonic, Hoover held a leadership position as General Manager with Chamber Music Hawaii, and with the Leeward Theatre and Hawaii Opera Theatre.

About Charlie Albright:

Internationally award-winning pianist, improviser, and composer Charlie Albright brings music to everyone, uniquely connecting with audiences like no other through his music, speaking, and making concerts fun.

Hailed as “among the most gifted musicians of his generation” with a “dazzling natural keyboard affinity” who “made quite an impression” by the Washington Post, American pianist//improviser/composer Charlie Albright has been praised for his “jaw-dropping technique and virtuosity meshed with a distinctive musicality” by The New York Times, and his “extravagance that had showmanship but never felt cheap” with his “ease and smoothness that refuses to airbrush the music, but animates it from within” by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and Gilmore Young Artist Award, Albright won the Ruhr Klavier Festival Young Artist Award presented by Marc-André Hamelin (Germany) and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  In addition to performing, Albright is sought after as a speaker, masterclass instructor, teacher, and competition judge.  His debut commercial recording, Vivace, has sold thousands of copies worldwide and the first two parts of a 3-part Schubert Series of live, all-Schubert recordings was released in 2017 and 2020. Charlie Albright breaks the "classical" rules of music by connecting with audiences like no other. Through his music, speaking, and unique improvisations that bring music to life, he crosses all genres...and makes it fun.

About Jung-Ho Pak:

Described by The New York Times as a conductor who "radiates enthusiasm" and the Los Angeles Times as "a real grabber," Jung-Ho Pak is known for his unique approach and vision for symphonic music. Jung-Ho leads the Bay Philharmonic as its newest Artist Director and Conductor, bringing over 35 years of experience conducting acclaimed professional and conservatory orchestras around the world.

Since 2006, Jung-Ho has been Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cape Symphony in Massachusetts, having previously held the position of Artist Director with Orchestra Nova, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and the San Diego Symphony, an organization he guided from bankruptcy to financial success.

He has acted as Music Director with the University of Southern California (USC), San Francisco Conservatory of Music, U.C. Berkeley, Disney Young Musicians Symphony, the Debut Orchestra (Los Angeles), Colburn Chamber Orchestra, and Diablo Ballet, as well as Director of Orchestras and Music Director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Guest conducting has taken him around the globe, leading groups in Europe, Russia, South America, and Asia.

Jung-Ho is a frequent speaker on television and radio, including TED Talks and National Public Radio, and appears as a clinician and conductor at major music festivals nationwide.

Wed, 03/20/2024 - 5:35 pm

This May, prepare to be whisked away on an unparalleled musical odyssey with The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, under the luminous leadership of the legendary Scots fiddler, Alasdair Fraser. This captivating concert series will present an enchanting evening filled with the heart-stirring melodies of the Celtic tradition, brought to life by over 65 virtuosic musicians from the Bay Area. With performances on fiddles, cellos, drums, piano, and more, each concert promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates the rich tapestry of Scottish music.

Performance Schedule:

    May 17th, 7 PM at Veterans Memorial Theatre, Davis
    May 18th, 7 PM at Glaser Center, Santa Rosa
    May 19th, 1 PM at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

The ensemble, led by the incomparable Alasdair Fraser, will journey through an expansive repertoire that spans the globe—from the rugged highlands of Scotland to the spirited melodies of Brittany, Galicia, Scandinavia, and Cape Breton. Fraser, a renowned figure in Scotland’s fiddle-playing tradition, infuses each performance with his profound musical insight and virtuosic flair, ensuring a show that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Featured Musicians:

    Alasdair Fraser, the guiding star of the ensemble, whose fiddle has enchanted audiences worldwide, from intimate Scottish glens to the grandeur of international film soundtracks.
    Barbara MacDonald Magone, a piano virtuoso whose roots in Cape Breton's rich musical heritage imbue her performances with depth and dynamism.
    Pate Thomson and Judy Thomson, the heart of the Scottish Fiddlers, whose contributions on the fiddle and piano, respectively, anchor the group’s spirited performances.
    Caroline McCaskey, a multi-talented musician whose command of the fiddle, cello, and musical saw has earned her national and international acclaim.
    Renata Bratt, a cellist whose eclectic style bridges classical, jazz, and folk music traditions, enriching the ensemble’s sound.
    Rob Godfrey, whose vocals and fiddle playing bring the poignant beauty of Gaelic songs to life, adding a soulful dimension to the concerts.

About The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers:

Formed in 1986, The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers is a vibrant community of musicians dedicated to celebrating and preserving the rich tradition of Scottish music. With a membership of around 200, the group embraces a wide array of musical backgrounds and instruments, creating a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere. The ensemble's repertoire, while deeply rooted in Scottish fiddle music, also explores the musical traditions of other cultures, reflecting the diverse influences that have shaped the Celtic musical landscape.

Ticket Information:

    Veterans Memorial Theatre, Davis: Tickets range from $32-$35; children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. For tickets, visit sffiddles.org.
    The Glaser Center, Santa Rosa: Tickets range from $32-$35; children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. For tickets, visit sffiddles.org.
    Freight & Salvage, Berkeley: Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For tickets, visit thefreight.org.

For more information about The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers and their upcoming concerts, please visit https://sffiddles.org/. Join us for a celebration of music and community that promises to uplift, inspire, and transport you across the rich landscapes of Celtic tradition.