JANUARY 2010

ADAM SHULMAN QUINTET: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

Friday, January 1

Billy Strayhorn—the legendary jazz composer, pianist and arranger—is forever associated with his long-time collaboration with Duke Ellington, though the extent of his contribution is often overlooked. Tonight the Adam Shulman Quintet celebrates Strayhorn’s compositional genius and pays tribute to this giant of jazz by dedicating a night of music solely to his music. Though the Quintet’s small group arrangements of works originally written for Duke’s Jazz Orchestra differ from the originals, their re-workings remain true to the original intent in terms of the intricacies of Strayhorn’s harmonic language and the feel and style of the era. 

Erik Jekabson: trumpet

Patrick Wolff: tenor saxophone

John Wiitala: bass

Smith Dobson: drums

Adam Shulman: piano

www.adamshulman.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

MESTIZA: Intersection of Latin Beats & Soul
Saturday, January 2

Inspired by Oakland's rich history of soul, funk and vibrant Latin music, Mestiza is a creative blend of Latin soul, acoustic timba, salsa, bomba and urban beats. The group features the original repertoire of vocalist and percussionist Lina Torio, a founder of bands from the Bay Area to Boston, and currently also playing with Rumbache, La Familia Son, and Aguacero. Lina has worked in both folkloric and contemporary music circles, writing original music across many genres.

Lina Torio: vocals and percussion
Sage Baggott: percussion
Sam Bevan: upright bass
Alejandro Conde: piano

http://myspace.com/mestiza1976music

http://www.mestizamusic.com/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPVeuexqbS8

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

CLASSICAL REVOLUTION Presents SQWONK & BILL WOLTER ENSEMBLE: Bass Clarinet Duo & Electro-Acoustic Chamber Band
Thursday, January 7

The San Francisco-based Sqwonk bass clarinet duo is an adventurous ensemble devoted to exploring the full expressive range of the bass clarinet—from deep resonances to raucous wails. While grounded in the classical tradition, Sqwonk plays music that draws on a wide range of influences, including klezmer, heavy metal, avant-garde improvisation and the blues.

Jeff Anderle: bass clarinet
Jonathan Russell: bass clarinet

www.sqwonk.com

The Bill Wolter Ensemble is an auspicious ensemble of musicians who play Will Wolter’s compositions, originally written for modern dance. Expect stylings of through-composed New Music, art rock, prog, and jazz.

Melody Ferris: vocals
Ivor Holloway: reeds
Charith Premawardhana: viola
Bill Wolter: guitar
Curtis McKinney: bass
Max Stoffregen: piano
Fred Morgan: vibraphone
Jordan Glenn: drumset

www.tribalgenes.com

More than an ensemble, more than a presenting organization, Classical Revolution is a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way live classical music is programmed and heard. The idea which took shape in November of 2006 at Revolution Cafe in San Francisco's Mission District is now represented in more than a dozen cities on three continents. (In the Bay Area alone, they present an average of 15-20 performance events each month.) Residencies are held at Revolution Cafe, SoCha Cafe, Amnesia, Caffe Divino (Sausalito), Bazaar Cafe, and Musical Offering Cafe (Berkeley). Classical Revolution has been featured in publications including San Francisco Classical Voice, SF Weekly, SF Chronicle, Sunset Magazine, SOMA Magazine, Strings Magazine, and The New York Times.

www.classicalrevolution.org

$10 - $20 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.

PETE DEVINE’S JUG BAND: Old-Time Party Music for Hard Times
Friday, January 8

Led by jug master Pete Devine, who earned his old-time music spurs as drummer in the revered ragtime band Bo Grumpus, the agile San Francisco combo Devine’s Jug Band explores a trove of pre-World War II-era songs.

Featuring fiddler/vocalist Mayumi Urgino, guitarist/vocalist Meredith Axelrod and a rotating cast of string experts including Bill Foss and Jacob Groopman on banjo-mandolin, Devine’s Jug Band brings a jolt of contemporary energy to a syncopated program of salty blues, sassy stomps, and raucous rags. Now more relevant than ever, this is party music for hard times!

Devine’s Jug Band gleans its repertoire from the early-20th century, a protean age of American music when performers borrowed liberally across stylistic and racial lines. From Martin’s Melody Makers’ “The Donald Rag” and the Dallas String Band’s “The Dallas Rag” to Will Shade and the Memphis Jug Band’s “Fourth Street Mess Around” and “The Lindberg Hop (Overseas Stomp),” the Devine’s Jug Band pays loving attention to the original recordings, using the vintage jug and string band sound as the foundation for their savvy interpretations.

Pete Devine: jug, vocal, washboard, cheek-o-phone
Meredith Axelrod: guitar, vocal
Morgan Cochneuer: banjolin (banjo-mandolin)
Jacob Groopman: banjolin (banjo-mandolin)
with very special guest Suzy Thompson: violin

“Beautifully … giving homage to a time and place mostly forgotten in American history.”
—California Jug Band Association

www.devinesjugband.com

www.myspace.com/devinesjugband

$10 - $20 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

TITO GONZALEZ Y Su Nuevo Proyecto: A Cornucopia of Cuban Music
Saturday, January 9

Singer and Cuban tres guitar player Heriberto “Tito” Gonzalez is well-known to Red Poppy fans as the leader of the very popular Tito y Su Son de Cuba, a group which plays traditional Cuban son. Tonight Gonzalez unveils his new band, Tito y Su Nuevo Proyecto, a group in the same vein, but with added Cuban and Caribbean dance rhythms—including cumbia, merengue, and boleros, as well as rumba, guaracha, and son montuno.

Before moving to America, Gonzalez played and sang in several classic Cuban bands, including an Arsenio Rodriguez tribute group assembled by Arsenio’s daughter. “Since I was a child I’ve been in music and I’ve always loved it,” he explains. “The music, and especially El Son, is part of my being.”

www.titoysusondecuba.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

MARCUS SHELBY QUARTET Featuring FAYE CAROL: MLK & Jazz—Celebrating the History of Civil Rights Music
Friday, January 15

The Marcus Shelby Quartet, tonight featuring Bay Area legend Faye Carol on vocals, will perform rearrangements and re-orchestrations by Marcus Shelby of music created during the civil rights movement in celebration of the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The group will explore the jazz, freedom songs, spirituals, and blues music that were essential to the success of the movement. The performance will also include an interactive discussion by composer/bassist/lecturer Marcus Shelby about the history of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement in general, and the evolution of spirituals, slave songs, work songs, blues and modern jazz.

The Quartet will also perform original compositions by Shelby which capture the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many important characters who played a critical part in the movement.

Faye Carol: vocals
Howard Wiley: tenor sax, soprano sax
Adam Shulman: piano
Jeff Marrs: drums

“Breathlessly ambitious … As a creator and performer, Shelby is blessed not only with a singular musicality but also with a great sense of history.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

www.marcusshelby.com

$15 - $20 admission. Students with identification: $10.00. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

PERSPECTIVE: The Art of the Duo
Saturday, January 16

Tonight Sarah Jo Zaharako curates a special evening of duo sets composed and performed by some of the Bay Area’s most creative musicians. To start things off, Lila Sklar will debut some of her newest writing for violin, guitar and vocals with Sean Tergis on percussion. Then Lisa Mezzacappa and Rob Ewing will present textural compositions for bass and trombone. And finally, Sarah Jo Zaharako and Eric Perney will conclude the evening with a collaborative set of rare tunes for violin and bass.

Lila Sklar and Sean Tergis currently play music together in Megaband (Balkan-influenced songs by composer and accordion player Dan Cantrell). Tonight’s set features Lila's folk-style “people songs” combining vocals, looped strings, guitar, and featuring captivating rhythms by Sean. Both Lila and Sean have played in numerous Middle Eastern and Balkan bands over the years, and Lila is excited to take this opportunity to branch out, take some risks, and at the same time, simplify.

Lisa Mezzacappa and Rob Ewing began their musical friendship in the Bay Area jazz quartet Married Couple—an intense, exploratory musical collaboration which burned fast and bright from 2002-2004. For their Red Poppy duo debut, they will play original music derived from their various working bands, some new pieces for this duo, and they might even dust off some old Married Couple favorites.

For the past ten years Eric Perney and Sarah Jo Zaharako have been performing and composing together in various groups in the Bay Area. They are founding members of Gojogo, an eclectic ensemble combing the sounds of violin and bass with the percussive traditions of India. Sarah and Eric have created a number of songs over the years that don’t quite fit in any existing ensemble and have hence been rarely performed until tonight.

Lila Sklar: violin, voice, guitar, loops
Sean Tergis: percussion
Lisa Mezzacappa: acoustic bass
Rob Ewing: trombone
Sarah Jo Zaharako: violin
Eric Perney: acoustic bass

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

NEW WEST: Virtuosic Guitarists Combine Jazz w/ Blues, Rock & Folk
Thursday, January 21

Based in Los Angeles and featuring guitarists Perry Smith, John Storie, and Brady Cohan, New West has gained recognition as one of today’s premier guitar ensembles. Their original music adds elements of blues, rock, and folk to a jazz foundation.

By utilizing the differing timbres of acoustic and electric guitar, New West creates a new chamber musical sound that has resulted in critical acclaim for their performances and recordings. Last year they collaborated with renowned jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato and world-class luthier Jeff Traugott to produce their third album, Sleeping Lady.

New West has performed in major venues throughout Canada, Japan, Europe, and the United States. In 2005, they played at the World Exposition in Nagoya, Japan, and in 2007, at the German-American Volksfest in Berlin, Germany. Last August, they performed at the Britt Festival in southern Oregon as the opening act for Diana Krall.

“One of the premier guitar ensembles in the country.”
—Anthony Wilson, guitarist for Diana Krall

“New West is comprised of three of the brightest stars among a new generation of guitarists. I have a feeling that they are just at the beginning of a long and wonderful journey that will bring much joy to the global music community.”
—Larry Koonse, jazz guitarist, California Institute of the Arts Faculty

www.newwestguitar.com

www.myspace.com/newwestguitar

www.youtube.com/newwestguitar

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.

SOUR MASH HUG BAND: Klezmer, Ragtime, Hot Jazz Cabaret
Friday, January 22

The Sour Mash Hug Band is an eclectic, acoustic dance band that plays everything from Romanian dance tunes to Appalachian hymns, klezmer to Harlem swing. They’re perhaps best known for their original tunes reminiscent of Kurt Weill and Danny Elfman.

The Sour Mash Hug Band came together several years ago in Eugene, Oregon, as an old-time group with the classic line-up of clawhammer banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bass. They soon took to the road and travelled by bike, freight train, hitchhiking, and broken down old cars. For the past few years the band has split their time between New Orleans and San Francisco, with a few side-trips to Romania and some touring in-between.

The Sour Mash Hug Band is led by Fiddlin’ Mickey Lee who was brought up in the old-time Ozark tradition. Lee has fiddled his way all around the country with many different bands. He also plays piano, accordion, and guitar, and spends his spare time studying Baroque music and building puppets.

Michael Hays (aka Fiddlin’ Mickey Lee): violin, accordion, resophonic guitar
Shiri Goldsmith: accordion, trombone, uke-banjo
Aaron Goldsmith: gittaron, upright bass
And special guests

“An irresistible mix of old-time, gypsy, bluegrass, jazz, Irish, and ragtime.”
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“Folk Music in the most beautiful sense. They draw from a wide variety of sources, play songs and tunes on an unpredictable lineup of instruments, and make the music their own.”
—Robert Blake, Subdued String Band Festival Program

“A good old-fashioned American act."
—Adam Levine, What's Up Magazine

www.myspace.com/sourmashhugband

$10 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

TESLIM w/ KAILA FLEXER & GARI HEGEDUS: Greek, Turkish & Jewish Music
Saturday, January 23

Teslim (tes-leem), which means both “commit” and “surrender” in Turkish, features two well-known Bay Area musicians: Kaila Flexer on violin and Gari Hegedus on oud, Turkish saz, Greek laouto and other (mostly plucked) stringed instruments. This potent duo performs Greek, Turkish and Sephardic music, much of it original compositions. Both seasoned performers and recording artists, the duo released its debut, self-titled CD in December 2008.

Kaila Flexer: violin
Gari Hegedus: oud, saz and laouto

“Teslim’s Kaila Flexer and Gari Hegedus are, respectively, a violinist and an instrumentalist of bewildering proficiency, including the oud, laouto (an eight-stringed Greek lute), frame drums and viola. Together they make exquisite music, drawing inspiration from Sephardic, Greek and Turkish traditional sources. Their tunes are exotic, and their virtuosity is spellbinding.”
—Billboard Magazine

“Far more than the sum of its parts, ‘Teslim’ features a remarkable multi-instrumental duo that weaves an exquisite aural tapestry from strands of Balkan, Middle and Near Eastern styles, with a repertoire of original compositions and arrangements based mostly on traditional modes and melodies. Rather than trading on exoticism, violin master Kaila Flexer, best known as a leading West Coast proponent of the klezmer revival, and Gari Hegedus, who plays a dazzling menagerie of string instruments, have created an enthralling body of deeply personal music.”
—San Jose Mercury News

www.kailaflexer.com

$15 - $20 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

ALBERT BENICHOU & His French-Boss Nova-Latin-Jazz-Folk Band
Thursday, January 28

A self-taught guitarist from childhood, Albert Benichou’s influences vary widely but include classical French chanteurs such as Georges Brassens and Jacques Brel and guitar maestros such as Marcel Dadi, Baden Powell, Mark Knopfler and Neil Young. Benichou frames his lyrical songs with boss nova, jazz, and Middle Eastern/North African notes. Whether on acoustic or electric instruments, nylon or steel strings, he always leaves the special effects aside to privilege a natural sound.

Albert Benichou: guitar, vocals
Sheldon Brown: saxophone, clarinet
Celso Alberti: drums
Richard Saunders: upright bass

www.albertbenichou.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.

EMPEROR NORTON’S JAZZ BAND: High-Energy Jazz
Friday, January 29

Emperor Norton’s Jazz Band formed two years ago with the goal of recreating the classic sounds of such early jazz luminaries as Louis Armstrong, Bix Bedierbecke, King Oliver, and Jellyroll Morton.

A newcomer who has already attracted the attention of the little-known traditional jazz scene’s old school, Emperor Norton’s Jazz Band is now taking on the task of carrying this wonderful music out of relative obscurity and into the diverse cultural wonderland of San Francisco nightlife. Performances at venues such as Amnesia and Revolution Café have brought crowds to their stompin’ and dancin’ feet.

The band says: “As Emperor Norton himself would have wanted it, there is no particular plan for this evening’s concert. Where will the mood take us? How about a throwback to a Prohibition-era speakeasy? A sing-along spiritual? A New Orleans funeral romp? Just let the music carry you away.”

Will Pratt: tenor banjo
Tom Salvatore: trumpet
Adam Everett: drums
Hudi Brenman: clarinet
Mark DeSimone: trombone
Scot Gorman: tuba

www.myspace.com/emperornortonsjazzband

$10 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

FORRÓ BRAZUCA: Rural Party Music from Brazil
Saturday, January 30

Forró Brazuca plays the sensuous upbeat music of rural northeastern Brazil. Inspired by the music of Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Trio Virgulino and Dominguinhos, Forró Brazuca performs a style of music called forró, a term that encompasses folk and roots music styles such as xote, baião, and rastapé. As Forró Brazuca relies on the accordion and sometimes the fiddle to lead the band, the danceable rhythms that ensue sometimes remind people of zydeco and Cajun, but really, this is Brazilian music at its festive, rollicking best.

Formed by four San Francisco-based Brazilians—each from a different region of Brazil—in early 2007, Forró Brazuca has been bringing its accordion-powered rollicking dance music to venues all across the Bay Area. Bring your dancing shoes and grab a partner—you’ll not want to leave the dance floor!

Mestre Francelino: accordion, lead vocals
Carlos Oliveira: electric bass guitar, vocals
Carlos Baiano: triangle, vocals
Chris Carioca: drums, vocals

www.myspace.com/forrobrazuca

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

FEBRUARY 2010

COLM Ó RIAIN: “Violinist Extraordinaire”
Friday, February 5

Irish-born violinist Colm Ó Riain kicks off his yearlong Artist-in-Residence at the Red Poppy with a show combining the sounds of Ireland with the rhythms and melodies of jazz, blues, gypsy music, klezmer and more. Originally a Western classical musician, Colm has performed in numerous concert halls across Europe, including a spell as Concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Now an accomplished and fiery improviser in many genres, Colm has performed in festivals and venues throughout the world—from Argentina and Brazil to Sweden and Cyprus — while also thrilling audiences across the United States. His CD Bridge Across the Blue, produced with partner-in-crime, poet Pireeni Sundaralingam, features a dazzling array of musicians and poets and was cited by About.com as “one of the Top 7 recordings of poetry and music of all time.” Colm is currently working with his varied band on their debut CD Hy Brassyl, to launch in 2010.

Colm Ó Riain: violin
Burke Trieschmann: guitar, vocals
& special guests

“Ó Riain’s fireworks display of virtuosity easily spans the diverse genres of gypsy, tango, jazz, blues and Irish music all with his characteristic intelligence and pizzazz.”
—The Irish Herald

“A genius fiddler.”
—Mike Scott, The Waterboys

www.colmoriain.com

www.colmoriain.com/colm/video.php?clip=StealthySinners&venue=CafeDuNord

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

MAPP: Mission Arts & Performance Project

Saturday, February 6

The folks at the Red Poppy Art House are proud to participate in the 40th MAPP cultural extravaganza, featuring activities, works, and presentations, by artists and curators spanning India, Ethiopia, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Mali, and the US.

The MAPP is a homegrown bimonthly intercultural multidisciplinary unruly neighborhood cultural happening. It’s not an “art walk” (thank god). Instead, it’s a collage of 10-15 odd spaces transformed into mini-cultural centers, focused on the intimate experiences of culture and people. The charm of the MAPP is that you never know quite what’s going to happen until you get there, so don’t be miffed if you can’t find up-to-date information ahead of time. The point is to arrive, and embrace the adventure. Plus, you’ll get a program (with an actual map) to navigate the event.

Listed below is only the program for the Red Poppy Art House, headed up the Poppy’s 2010 Resident Artists, and the N.I.C.E. Project crew. Be sure to check out all the other spaces in the neighborhood. We don’t even know what they have planned.

By the way, it's FREE.

The Mission Arts & Performance Project:  www.sfmapp.com
The Neighborhood Initiative for Cultural Engagement:  www.theniceproject.com

Poppy MAPP Schedule

Workshops
2:30pm              : Free Salsa Workshop w/ Andrea Cortes-Juarbe
1:00pm-4:00pm  : Free Family Art Activities (Outdoors)
12:30pm-4:30pm: (NICEproject) participatory installation focused on invasive species. Artist: Scott Polach

Exhibition
“El Aeropuerto Arias” : A family of 3 generations of artists from Peru landing together in SF art making. Silkscreens of Luis Arias Vera (b.1932), Photography of Adrian Arias (b.1961) & Prints and Collages of Anais Arias-Aragon (b.1995).

Coversation/Dialog
6:30pm-8:00pm : Join in a discussion on the crossover of art and ecology, hosted by the NICEproject, followed by an informal MAPP tour. (the NICEproject is: Saif Ali, Jayaranjan Anthonypillai, Jen Banta, Michelle K. Lynch, Melita Morales. www.theniceproject.com)

Performances
Hosted by the 2010 Poppy Resident Artists
8:31pm   : On the Griot Trail / Bob Holman and Griot Karamo Susso / Poetry & Kora Music, in English and Manding
9:16pm   : Not Even the San Joaquin / Poetry-Music / Michael Warr, A. Keirbel, T. Brown
9:33pm   : Prasant Radhakrishnan / South Indian Carnatic Solo Performance
10:01pm : Meklit Hadero & Aaron Keirbel / Songs, guitar, drums
10: 37pm: Encuentamiento Story-telling Collective / Bryan Robledo, Pablo Velez
11:07pm : Maria Machetes / Voice, cajon
11:27pm : Johanna Suarez / Voice, guitar, cajon / guest artist: Rosa los Santos & Gary B.

Brunch with KUGELPLEX, featuring JEWLIA EISENBERG and BRUCE BIERMAN: Food! Klezmer! Dancing!
Sunday, February 7

Kugelplex is the West Coast's rockin’est purveyor of klezmer and old-world party music. Formed in 2001, the group plays wild, soulful dance music at concerts and festivals throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Recent highlights include leading the Oakland Symphony and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir in an epic 150-musician nigun (Hebrew for “humming tune”) at the Paramount Theater, as well as a shtetl-blasting 15-piece collaboration with Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Frank London (founder of the Klezmatics).

Kugelplex will be joined by old-world vocalist diva Jewlia Eisenberg and Yiddish-dance maven Bruce Bierman for a wild afternoon of dancing and East-coast-style brunch!

Dan Cantrell: accordion
Marguerite Ostro: violin
David Rosenfeld: mandolin
Eugene Warren: bass
Michael Pinkham: percussion
Jason Ditzian: clarinet

With:

Jewlia Eisenberg: vocals
Bruce Bierman: dance leader
 

www.kugelplex.com

www.youtube.com/kugelplex52

$10 - $20 admission ($20 suggested with meal). Performance/brunch from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

CLASSICAL REVOLUTION Presents: THE MUSICAL ART QUINTET

Thursday, February 11

Comprised of some of San Francisco’s finest young string players, The Musical Art Quintet performs a broad range of music—from classical to contemporary to world music—including pieces written or arranged by members of the Quintet. Performances often feature guest artists and incorporate electronics. Tonight’s concert will include original Latin-inspired music by Sascha Jacobsen, rock arrangements by Charith Premawardhana, and other selections from the contemporary and classical literature.

The group has performed at such Bay Area venues Revolution Cafe and Cafe du Nord.

Anthony Blea: violin

Jory Fankuchen: violin

Charith Premawardhana: viola

Shane Carrasco: cello

Sascha Jacobsen: bass

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjewkeJzk84

More than an ensemble, more than a presenting organization, Classical Revolution is a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way live classical music is programmed and heard. The idea which took shape in November of 2006 at Revolution Cafe in San Francisco’s Mission District is now represented in more than a dozen cities on three continents. (In the Bay Area alone, they present an average of 15-20 performance events each month.) Residencies are held at Revolution Cafe, SoCha Cafe, Amnesia, Caffe Divino (Sausalito), Bazaar Cafe, and Musical Offering Cafe (Berkeley). Classical Revolution has been featured in publications including San Francisco Classical Voice, SF Weekly, SF Chronicle, Sunset Magazine, SOMA Magazine, Strings Magazine, and The New York Times.
 

www.classicalrevolution.org

$8 - $20 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.

WIL BLADES: A Rare Solo Performance
Friday, February 12

Wil Blades (Hammond B-3 organ), a native Chicagoan, has become the Bay Area’s first call organist and is rapidly gaining momentum throughout the world as a top-rate musician. For the past three years, he has been named a “Rising Star” organist in the Downbeat critics poll. While keeping the traditional sounds of Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, and “Groove” Holmes alive, Wil creates a personal, modern sound. He has performed and recorded with John Lee Hooker, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Melvin Sparks, Idris Muhammad, Joe Louis Walker, Don Braden, Donald Harrison, Karl Denson, Will Bernard, Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Betty Joplin, Eddie Marshall, Herbie Lewis, and many others.

For this appearance at the Red Poppy, Wil will perform solo on the Hammond B-3 organ. Much of the performance will be improvised, though it will also include original pieces, songs from the American Songbook, and hymns.

“While B-3 players are already precious few these days, Bay Area jazz fans are lucky to have one as special as Wil Blades.”
—SFJAZZ

"A serious, deeply musical performer who shows considerable promise. A musician who knows what he wants to say and chooses not to overstate it, Blades offered one gleaming solo after another. The organist clearly has a great doing going for him, including a fluid technique and a palpable love for the instrument."
—Chicago Tribune

www.wilblades.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd_EObrPOvQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu4uokcqe3Q

$10 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

KANE MATHIS, ROWAN STORM, PHAEDON SINIS: From West Africa to the Middle East
Saturday, February 13

Tonight’s performance journeys from West Africa to the Middle East with traditional songs, melodies and dazzling improvisation. Rooted in the ancient traditions of Middle Eastern philosophy and poetry, the members of this trio have traveled far and wide in pursuit of their musical ideals.
 
Kane Mathis (21-string African harp, kora, and oud) has spent the last twelve years studying the music of West Africa and the Middle East. Kane has made several trips to the Gambia, West Africa, and Istanbul, Turkey, to study with various musical masters.

http://kanemathis.com

Phaedon Sinis (kanun, kemence) specializes in the performance of Ottoman music. He has traveled extensively in Greece and Turkey to study modal theory and performance with maestros Sokratis Sinopoulos and Dr. Münir Nurettin Beken.

http://amansaki.org
 
Rowan Storm (frame drums, vocals) researches, teaches and performs throughout the Middle East. For six years, Rowan collaborated with Iranian master musician Mohammad Reza Lotfi. Rowan's signature Dayereh Frame Drum is produced by Cooperman Drum Company.

http://rowanstorm.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

THE ROADOILERS & MT. DIABLO STRING BAND: San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival presents an Old-Time Show
Friday, February 19

The San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival, in it's 11th year, is pleased to present an evening of old-time southern mountain music. 

www.sfbluegrass.org

The Roadoilers is an old-time string band whose members have been playing together in one form or another for more than twenty-five years. Old-time songs and fiddle tunes along with rags, jigs, cakewalks and reels make up an exciting and varied repertoire. Members’ past bands include The Arkansas Sheiks, High Country, BonnyDoon Stringband, Fennig’s Allstars, Styx River Ferry, Phantoms of the Opry, Highballers from the Planet Hell, and Boise Deluxe. The Roadoilers also supplied music for the documentary film Klunkerz.

John Pedersen: banjo, fiddle, banjo-mandolin, Irish pipes, vocals
Mike Drayton: fiddle, vocals
Perry Fly: guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals
Chuck Wiley: bass, guitar, mandolin, vocals

www.sonic.net/~mdrayton/roadoilers

Bay Area-locals the Mt. Diablo String Band performs energetic old-time music, featuring inspired fiddle tunes and vocal numbers.

Carl Pagter: vocals, clawhammer banjo

Harry Liedstrand: fiddle

Cindy Liedstrand: guitar

Corbin Pagter: vocals, mandolin

Matt Dudman: string bass

www.myspace.com/mtdiablostringband 

http://pleasantvalleymusic.com/Diablo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgRI0ikfz2E

$10 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

INDRE VISKONTAS & ALLISON LOVEJOY: Post-Valentine’s Day Cabaret
Saturday, February 20

Classically-trained soprano Indre Viskontas joins classical pianist, cabaret performer and composer Allison Lovejoy for an intimate evening of song and music. The program features selections from the cabaret canon, including American composer William Bolcom's sexy, funny and smart songs, and Lovejoy's own compositions. Low on pretension, high on humor, Indre and Allison are the perfect antidote to the late-winter blues.  

Indre Viskontas (soprano) is a versatile and powerful performer, equally at home in contemporary and classical opera. Her stately presence and rich vocal colors are particularly suited for the leading noblewomen in operas from the 18th and 19th centuries, while her intellect, dramatic intensity, curiosity and nuanced acting add depth to contemporary operatic roles. Miss Viskontas performs regularly with opera companies in the Bay Area, and is passionate about making opera accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. 

www.indreviskontas.com

Allison Lovejoy (piano) has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist. Her insightful and passionate performances have received wide acclaim, and her varied repertoire highlights virtuoso works of the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Miss Lovejoy is a faculty member at the Academy of Art University and the Community Music Center, and has held positions at the College of Notre Dame and Foothill College. She has led master classes in the United States, Europe, and Nicaragua, and is dedicated to making music education and live performance available to everyone.

www.allisonlovejoy.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

Prayer Songs Project Presents LIOR TSARFATY & JOSEH GARCIA: Middle Eastern Bossa Nova

Sunday, February 21

Join Lior Tsarfaty and Joseh Garcia for a special musical collaboration where Hebrew poetry, bossa nova, prayer, song and medicine melodies intertwine in the sacred space of art and community.

Including: Michael Knapp, April Taylor, and Naima Grace Shalhoub, Duane Frybarger (piano), Lizae Reyes (harp)

www.myspace.com/josehgarcia

www.myspace.com/liortsar

$20 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.

THE PICKPOCKET ENSEMBLE: Café Music for Dreamers

Friday, February 26

The pickPocket Ensemble makes music at the crossroads. Inspired by global folk and instrumental traditions—from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, from klezmer music to French musette, swing, and even contemporary classical—the pickPocket Ensemble creates haunting, invigorating tunes.

The music of the pickPocket ensemble has been called “soul-wrenching” for its evocative and passionate expressiveness. For its ability to communicate across cultures, they have been called “una banda del pueblo para el pueblo” (Javier Moreno-Pollarolo, San Francisco Tribune).

For this show, the pickPocket Ensemble is presenting music from their recently recorded project Memory, as well as a special set of desert-inspired melodies to move body and soul.

Alisa Rose: violin

Rick Corrigan: accordion and composition

Tim Fox: guitar

Greg Kehret: double bass

Michaelle Goerlitz: percussion

Myra Joy: cello

“Their combined talents generate vivid imagery and infectious tunes that will instantly transport you to Europe’s sidewalk cafés. This group specializes in playful, timeless arrangements that blend the grace and sophistication of the chamber with the colors of the street.”

—World Pulse

“A sublime and nuanced, hip acoustic band!”

—West Coast Live Radio

www.pickpocketensemble.com

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS: Soulful Blues-Groove Party     

Saturday, February 27

NOTE: There will be TWO SHOWS this evening. Please see below.

The California Honeydrops are proud to have won the 2009 SF Weekly award for Best R&B/Soul Band in San Francisco. The group has developed a tremendous following in California, selling out shows at Yoshi’s in Oakland and the Lindy Groove in LA, and performing at the Rawa Blues Festival in Poland to exceptional response. They were also recently nominated by The Blues Foundation for a Blues Music Award for “Best New Artist.”

Formed in November 2007, the California Honeydrops first performed on the streets and in the subways stations in Oakland. Playfully crossing genres from roots and blues to soul and R&B, The California Honeydrops’ sound is tied together by soulful vocal harmonies, colorful shouts from brass and horns, and a funky, good-times New Orleans rhythm section. 

Lech Wierzynski: vocals, guitar, trumpet

Chris Burns: piano

Ben Malament: drums, vocals

Seth Ford-Young: bass, vocals

Johnny Bones: saxophones

Born in Warsaw, Poland, bandleader and front man Lech Wierzynski began playing blues and jazz as a teenager at after-hours jam sessions in Washington, D.C. After studying trumpet with Marcus Belgrave (Ray Charles), Lech continued to develop his career after moving to Oakland. Honing his craft with some of the biggest names in American music—such as Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, and Jackie Payne—Lech has grown equally as a trumpeter, singer and guitarist.

The vibrant rhythm section of The California Honeydrops is fueled by piano veteran Chris Burns (Albert Collins, Freddie Hughes, Maria Muldaur), drummer Ben Malament (Terry Reid, The Marvelettes, The Jelly Roll Souls), and bassist Seth Ford-Young (Tom Waits, Sean Hayes, Beats Antique). Adding an unprecedented energy is saxophonist Johnny Bones (Eddie Palmiere, Nell Carter, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums).

“We were lucky enough to host The California Honeydrops in July. We were astonished by their amazing performance, not to mention attendance. It was a rocking house!”

—Erik Siebert, Yoshi's Jazz Club, Oakland

www.myspace.com/thecaliforniahoneydrops

$10 - $15 admission. TWO SHOWS: 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) and 9:00 p.m.

HEATHER KLEIN’S INEXTINGUISHABLE TRIO: A Classical Yiddish Trio
Sunday, February 28

Heather Klein’s Inextinguishable Trio brings to life Yiddish art songs still relevant today in their focus on compassion, hardship, food, hunger, and humanity. These new and old Yiddish pieces send a vibrant message—whether it relates to a Jewish ghetto or the hardship befallen on today’s hungry and homeless. The Trio will donate 70% of tonight’s proceeds to the San Francisco Food Bank.

Heather Lauren Klein: soprano

Emily Packard; Violinist

Alla Gladysheva: pianist

With guest Marisa Binder: soprano
 

Su-yin Mah’s photographs of San Francisco’s homeless and hungry will be on display throughout the evening.

Heather Lauren Klein (soprano) performs regularly around the Bay Area singing Yiddish classical music and opera. She has performed with Yiddish Folksbine (NYC), The Three Yiddish Divas (Canada), National Jewish Theatre (San Jose), West Bay Opera (Palo Alto), and many festivals locally and internationally. Heather is currently working on her next project, which focuses on Yiddish art songs.

Alla Gladysheva (piano) received her masters degree from the Leningrad Conservatory and then moved to the U.S. in 1995. She is a pianist for the San Francisco Ballet School and is a professor of music theory at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Emily Packard; Violinist, plays in many musical styles including classical, new music, Arabic, folk/ rock and klezmer.  She enjoys collaborating with composers, singers, dancers and multi-media artists.  She is currently a member of experimental folk band Jack O' The Clock, and Arabic Orchestra .
 
The Inextinguishable Trio debut CD Mayn Yiddishe Velt is now available at cdbaby.com.

www.HeatherLKlein.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwReM1eyCFo&feature=PlayList&p=BF73592AB073A66E&index=4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjkbpzi6Vng

$12 - $15 admission. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show at 7:00 pm.