Coming Up

Santa Barbara is fortunate to have some of the hardest working musicians on the scene today! The following musicians are some of the folks who are out every week filling our lives with those sweet sounds.

Rolando Gingras (Fresco Five Points, Wednesdays @ 5:30)

Rolando has recorded with Mark Gordon (The Fifth Dimension) and has toured with Flora Purim and Airto Moreira at the Newport Jazz Festival as well as all over California and New York. He plays multiple wind instruments and specializes in the EVI Wind Synthesizer

Vincent & Vedant (Carlitos, Thursdays @ 6:30; Zaytoon Fridays @ 7:30)

Vincent Zorn’s profound guitar work unites the fire of Rumba Flamenco, sophistication of Jazz, and the relaxed sensuality of Bossa Nova together into a rich and edgy gypsy sound. Self taught from the age of eleven, Vincent has studied in Spain, Turkey, and currently in Mexico.
Vincent has developed his unique right hand percussive technique that uses the sound-board of the guitar as a percussive instrument utilizing various strumming styles, rhythm’s, and taps.
Vedant Koppera is a classically trained violinist under the study of Nan Zhou. He has been playing the violin since he was four years old. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago he regularly performed at school recitals and competed in local music competitions. He first participated in orchestras through the West Suburban Youth Orchestra, later moving on to join the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Vedant moved onto chamber music in his college years at The George Washington University, performing in concerts and also special events. Following this, he formed an original indie-rock band, Tieweb, with Eric Bayles and Justin Fazzari. It was through this experience he developed a passion for improvisation. He has travelled the world, and is currently studying at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Salt Martians (Tupelo Junction, Thursdays @ 5:30)

The Salt Martians are a Santa Barbara-based, all-acoustic bluegrass band. Ken Gaston and Tim Mullins first performed together in the mid-Seventies at the legendary Bluebird Cafe. The newest member, formerly of the Bluegrass Cardinals and the Cache Valley Drifters Tom Lee joins them on string bass, giving the band almost three thousand years of combined playing experience. They are often joined by a rotating cast of fine mandolin and fiddle players, including Mike Mullins, Tom Marton and Mark Olson. Their enthusiasm for playing together and enjoyment of both traditional and contemporary bluegrass music are virulently contagious.

Gilberto Gonzalez (Cava, Thursdays @ 6:30)

Gilberto Gonzalez is a teacher and performer who was influenced by the greats in the techniques of classical, jazz, flamenco, rock, Brazilian, and Cuban music. He has toured internationally with the likes of Mozambique and Perla Balla. He has released two albums, the most recent, Equilibrio, contains original compositions with melodic, classical guitar and mellow Latin jazz.

Dannsair (Dargans, Thursdays  @ 6:30, Sundays, James Joyce @ 6:30)

Dannsair has achieved a depth and clarity in Irish music few expect from these centuries-old tunes. By combining jazz, classical and traditional Irish sensibilities they push the envelope of the sound into completely new territory. The various members of Dannsair have been performing together on and off for seven years. Their styles are incredibly well suited to each other with the emotional Irish melodies melding into jazzy undertones, classical phrasing and danceable rhythms. The orchestrated arrangements of emotional fiddle & flute playing along with the percussion and bass bring a complete and essential sound to this traditional folk music.

Alastair Greene (The James Joyce Thursdays @ 10 pm)

Alastair is best known for his blues-based, soulful, and melodic guitar playing (as well as one of a rare-breed to play slide guitar), Alastair can be heard on CDs by Alan Parsons (2006 Grammy Nominated ‘A Valid Path’); Aynsley Dunbar (2008 SPV Records release ‘Mutiny’); Blues singer, harmonica legend, and former member of WAR, Mitch Kashmar (2005 ‘Wake Up and Worry’ on Delta Groove Records), as well as French Blues Guitarist Franck Golwasser’s 2007 release ‘Bluju.’ Alastair has put out 5 of his own CDs and has also appeared on countless independent CD releases ranging from Blues to Southern Rock. Alastair’s song ‘The Long Way Home’ appeared in a 2007 episode of the TNT hit TV series ‘Saving Grace’.

Téka & New Bossa (Zaytoon, Thursdays @ 7 pm; Cava Fridays & some Saturdays @ 6:30 pm)

Téka is an artist with roots firmly planted in the traditions of Brazilian music… the samba, bossa nova, and choro. Born into a musical family, singing was a natural part of growing up in Brazil. From an early age, she fell under the spell of American Jazz and began soaking up the sounds of Sarah Vaughan, Billy Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Today, her music has become a fusion of the sensual rhythms and harmonies of Brazil with the improvisation of Jazz, which she has coined New Bossa. Guitarist Chris Judge, percussionist/flutist Ruben Martinez and others perform with Téka in New Bossa regularly.

Soul Biscuit (Dargans, First Friday of every month, 10 pm)

SoulBiscuit plays the sweetest Classic Soul and R&B from the ‘60s, Funky ‘70s, and timeless original grooves for SRO all-night dance audiences. Let them take you to the music that makes you feel-so-good-and makes you want to groove!

Jazz at the Neff (Neff Lounge, Ojai Valley Inn, Saturdays 8 pm)

Jazz at the Neff features a treasure trove of jazz musicians from Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. Artists such as Bob Ledner, Brad Rabuchin, Julie Christensen, The Sally Cats, Karen Mack and many others have performed in the beautiful lounge of the Ojai Valley Inn.

Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan, (Sundays, Cold Spring Tavern 1 pm)

Tom and Kenny are two of Santa Barbara’s musical treasures.  These guys put on a great show – fun, personable, and just a little irreverent…. They’ve been bringing their unique blend of guitar and harmonica blues, rags and good time music to widely diverse audiences for more than 27 years. Their live performances include concerts, clubs and festivals all over the world, and they were the only musical act in America to play all four venues of the 1984 Olympic Games. Together and separately they have worked on countless film scores, TV soundtracks, commercials and sessions.  They’ve appeared on television internationally, were featured on the “Levi’s 501 Blues” commercials, have played for audiences of 300 million via Voice of America and are frequent guests of National Public Radio.  Their eight duo albums have garnered much critical acclaim throughout the world, and their music from the film Over The Edge won the duo the prestigious Telly Award in 1994.  Because their music is a blend of American roots styles, they are regulars overseas, drawing rave reviews wherever they go.

Where some of Camerata Pacifica’s programs seek to provoke and challenge its audiences, this is a concert of pleasure and delight. Pianist Warren Jones returns to the Camerata stage to join his colleagues, Adrian Spence, flute; Catherine Leonard & Ara Gregorian, violins; Richard Yongjae O’Neill, viola & Ani Aznavoorian, cello for the conclusion of the ensemble’s season on May 18^th. The tone will be set with the beautiful colors of Duruflé’s Prélude, Récitatif et Variations for Flute, Viola and Piano, Op. 3, which will lead us to the grace of Haydn’s A Major Divertimento for Flute, Violin and Cello, Hob. IV:10. A short interlude with the world premiere of a miniature by Jake Heggie, his Soliloquy for Flute & Piano will take us to the B-flat Major Violin Sonata, K 454 of Mozart — Mozart has become somewhat of a specialty for this duo of Catherine Leonard & Warren Jones. Following intermission, strings and piano join to sweep the Camerata’s season to a gloriously romantic close with César Franck’s Piano Quintet in F minor, M. 7 cameratapacifica.org

The Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus welcomes Grammy award-winning Phoenix Boys Choir Town Choir on May 20^th. Since 1948, the Phoenix Boys Choir has provided top quality music education for boys ages 7-14 and lively entertainment for audiences around the  world. Touring mainly through the neighboring states of Arizona, the Town Choir has also visited Texas, Alabama, Maryland and Georgia. The program will benefit the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus and will be held at the Unitarian Society, donations are welcome. sbchildrenschorus.com

Enjoy nature, music and the opportunity to view and purchase landscape, abstract, portrait, and figurative paintings at the Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE) “Art Along the Creek Art & Music Festival,” May 26^th-May 28^th. Musicians performing include “The Singing Gardener,” Doug Giordani, Glendessary Jam, Larry and the Ocean All-Stars, and The Possums. There will be a special tribute to one of Santa Barbara’s most beloved musicians – the “Pat Milliken Hour” will feature Pat’s music played by his colleagues and friends. SCAPE artists are donating 40% of each sale to support the work of Phoenix of Santa Barbara, a non-profit mental health agency, and its creek-habitat restoration program.

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Dolci will perform on Sunday, May 27th, 3:00 p.m. on the Song Tree Series at the Live Oak Unitarian in Goleta. Viva Knight and Ted Rust regard Dolci, their piano-oboe duo, as the after-careers dessert course (dolci) of their lives.  They started performing together at home concerts for friends in 2009.  Dolci now performs in public under the auspices of chamber music presenters such as the Santa Barbara Music Club, the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society and Chamber Music at St. Andrew’s.  They continue to study the piano-oboe repertoire, with coaching from Gloria Cheng, Tamara Loring and Burke Schuchmann. songtree.org

Here come the Count and Countess Almaviva, Figaro and Susanna. Toss in an amorous teenager, a scheming old maid, a tipsy gardener and a silly young girl, and you have Mozart’s madcap Marriage of Figaro. Opera Santa Barbara presents two performances on March 23^rd and 25^th at the Granada. Filled with mistaken identities and plot twists, Mozart deftly maintains a balance between drama and comedy as the wily Figaro outwits his lecherous master in one “folle journée” – one crazy day! With its brilliant, shimmering score and one breathtaking aria after another, The Marriage of Figaro is Mozart at the height of his genius. These delightful performances will be conducted by Maestro Valéry Ryvkin with Kelly Robinson, stage director. operasb.org

Jazz at the Lobero presents Tierney Sutton, Hubert Laws and Larry Koonse on Friday, March 23^rd at 8 p.m. This charming and unexpected trio features Sutton’s lush vocals with DownBeat’s “flutist of the year,” Hubert Laws, and stellar guitar by Larry Koonse. The combined talent of Sutton, Laws and Koonse represents one of the most creative forces in jazz today, as they explore the interplay between of jazz and chamber music. The inherent intimacy of their blend should make for an unforgettable evening of sonic exploration. Tierney Sutton normally travels with her own stellar band, but this collaboration is one of the most touted trios in jazz today. lobero.com

The Song Tree Series present Grace Fong, piano, with Jacob Braun, cello on Sunday, March 25th, at 3:00 p.m. In December of 2010, pianist Grace Fong accompanied violinist Gilles Apap in a Song Tree concert that they are still talking about.

Praised as “positively magical,” an artist of “rare eloquence and grace,” American pianist Grace Fong has gained critical acclaim for her solo, ensemble, and orchestral performances at major venues in the United States, Canada, and Europe.  She has performed on the BBC, Cleveland’s WCLV-FM 104.9, KUSC 91.5 FM in Los Angeles, the “Emerging Young Artists” series in New York, and “Performance Today” on National Public Radio. A native of Lincoln, Massachusetts, Jacob Braun enjoys a multi-faceted career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.  He has earned praise as one of the most versatile, young cellists of his generation, a cellist with “a distinctly warm…and gorgeous dark tone” (The St. Louis Dispatch).  Mr. Braun has appeared at Wigmore Hall, Jordan Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall as well as successful concert tours to Argentina, Brazil, China, Italy, Korea and The United Kingdom. The duo will perform a program of works by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Korngold , and Piazzolla. songtree.org

CAMA Masterseries presents Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano on Monday, March 26^th at 8 p.m. Widely acclaimed as a key figure in the music of our time and as a uniquely significant interpreter of piano repertoire from every age, Pierre-Laurent Aimard enjoys an internationally celebrated career that transcends traditional boundaries. Performing throughout the world each season with the most significant orchestras and conductors, Aimard has in recent seasons been invited by Carnegie Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus and Cité de la Musique to devise and perform in groundbreaking residencies. Program to include Robert Schumann’s György Kurtág and Claude Debussy’s Préludes (Book II)

Change in Program!! ­ CAMA presents Los Angeles Philharmonic ­ Sunday, October 16, 4 pm, The Granda Theatre

Pianist Yefim Bronfman, who was scheduled to play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic this Sunday, has fractured a finger and been forced to withdraw from the performance. Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 will be replaced by Maurice Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe. The remainder of the program remains unchanged.

Updated program details are available here: http://camasb.org/internationalseries.shtml#laphil

CAMA, Santa Barbara’s oldest arts organization, brings the finest classical musicians from around the globe to Santa Barbara, CA. Now in its 93rd season, CAMA presents an exciting mix of internationally acclaimed orchestras and soloists in two concert series.

An Evening of Music from the Wassoulou Region of Mali, West Africa with Mamadou and Vanessa Sidibe

Winners of several prestigious music awards, Mamadou and Vanessa perform soulful, uplifting rhythms from the historic Wassoulou Region of Mali, believed to be the birthplace of the American Blues. Mamadou Sidibe, master of the traditional kamale ngoni (12 stringed hunters harp), and Vanessa are joined with virtuoso balafon player Balla Kouyate and master of the djembe, Karamba Diabate. Tickets $5 UCSB students/$15 general. Limited seating!

Take advantage of the UCSB MultiCultural Center pre-sale discounts for concerts! Get 20% off general admission with purchase of your tickets by Monday, October 10th or with purchase of the whole concert series by calling A.S. Ticket Office at 805-893-2064 from Monday to Thursday, 10 am – 5 pm or Friday 10 am – 4 pm. No extra charge for phone orders! Tickets already on sale!

An Evening of TurbanGrooves with Live Punjabi Hip Hop and Funk Music by BlackMahal featuring Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti

You’ve heard urban groove music, but chances are that “turban groove” is a new sound to you. That’s what the unique San Francisco-based band BlackMahal calls its blend of hip-hop, funk and Punjabi music. The nine-piece band is fronted by the grey-bearded singer and dhol drummer Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti, known as the godfather of Punjabi-American music, who has performed for nearly every US president since Gerald Ford. Tickets $5 UCSB students/$15 general. Limited seating!

Take advantage of the UCSB MultiCultural Center pre-sale discounts for concerts! Get 20% off of general admission with purchase of your tickets by Monday, October 10^th or with purchase of the whole concert series by calling the A.S Ticket Office at 805-893-2064 from Monday to Thursday, 10 am – 5 pm or Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. No extra charge for telephone orders. Tickets are already on sale!

Outreach program encourages children to embrace opera in an engaging and accessible way!

Santa Barbara, CA, September 27, 2011 – Opera Santa Barbara’s school assembly program, The Opera Lab, will tour local schools (3rd – 6th grades) from October 3 – 14, 2011. This innovative program, designed by OSB’s Artistic Director José Maria Condemi, uses improvisational theatre techniques to engage children in the creation of opera. Five professional musicians (four singers and a pianist) introduce students to the key elements of opera, then work with the students to build their very own opera. The students create the story and direct the action, and the assembly ends with the artists performing the students’ tailor-made opera on the spot.

The program will be touring 20 local schools (two each day), and it is estimated that over 1,400 children will participate. The Opera Lab is made possible by the generous donations of Opera Santa Barbara’s annual “Stand up for Youth” campaign.

For more information and a full schedule of schools/times, please contact Lynttte at 805.898.3890 or info@operasb.org.

The Song Tree Concert Series is proud to announce the appearance at the Song Tree Sunday Afternoon classical music series of violinist Nina Bodnar with pianist Robert Thies on Sunday, September 25th at 3:00 p.m. at the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 820 N. Fairview in Goleta. Tickets are now available for this performance, at $15 apiece for adults and free admission for people under 16. Ms. Bodnar and Mr. Thies will a present an “afternoon of Romance classics.” Works will include the Brahms G Major Sonata, the Chausson Poeme, Gershwin-Heifetz Porgy and Bess selections, a Debussy sonata, and pieces by Kreisler.

Nina Bodnar’s many achievements include several outstanding prizes and an international career including solo appearances with symphony orchestras throughout the world. As a chamber musician, Ms. Bodnar was a regular member of the Santa Fe and “Strings in the Mountains” (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) Chamber Music Festivals for several years, as well as being a guest artist at numerous other chamber music festivals throughout the country. A native of Santa Barbara, Ms. Bodnar served as concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra for several years before being appointed concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin in 1989, a position she held until 1995. Ms. Bodnar currently resides in Santa Barbara and devotes herself to her students. Her beloved teachers were Sybil Maxwell, Zino Francescatti, and Henri Temianka.

A pianist of “unerring, warm-toned refinement, revealing judicious glimmers of power,” [Los Angeles Times] Robert Edward Thies (pronounced “Theece”) first captured worldwide attention in 1995 when he won the Gold Medal at the Second International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia – the only American pianist to win first prize in a Russian piano competition since Van Cliburn’s famed triumph in Moscow in 1958. Mr. Thies enjoys a diverse career as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has already performed forty concerti with orchestras all over the world. His concerts have been broadcast throughout the United States, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Bolivia, Hungary, Mexico, and New Zealand. In Los Angeles, Thies has worked and recorded with many of the top studio musicians and film composers. Mr. Thies makes a home in Los Angeles. His teachers have included Robert Turner and Daniel Pollack, both protégés of the legendary Russian pedagogue Madame Rosina Lhevinne, and the great pianist Josef Lhevinne.

This concert will take place on Sunday, September 25th at 3:00 pm at the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 820 N. Fairview in Goleta. Admission is $15 for adults, and people under 16 are free. Tickets are available in advance by mail (see the web site www.SongTree.org for information), and at Santa Barbara Sheet Music, Folk Mote Music, and Jensen Guitar and Music in Santa Barbara. Tickets will also be sold at the door if not sold out in advance.

Visit the Arts & Letters Cafe at 7 E. Anapamu for Opera Under the Stars on July 28th. The series, which runs every Thursday through September 1st, spolights tremendous vocalists performing everything from Andrew Lloyd Webber through Cole Porter accompanied by a delicious meal from the Arts & Letter Cafe. This Thursday, the final Thursday, features soprano Megan O’Toole  and Eric Carampatan, baritone, performing works by Andrew Lloyd Webber with Opera Under the Stars’ Director and pianist, Renee Hamaty. Two seatings! www.artsandletterscafe.com