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Entries
Joshua White Quintet featuring Hugh Ragin July 11 @ Dizzy's
White's quintet draws players from LA and Colorado.
Joshua White Quintet gigs are always something to look forward to, and the July 11 hit at Dizzy's has been circled on my calendar for months. White's got a new version of the Quintet cued up for this performance -- …
Bringing Kaos to the Media: Tom Romano Plans His Own Comeback
'Kaos Cut Loose in San Diego' hopes to expand on Kaos Tom's past romance with local rockers
“I’m getting ready to gear back up. I want to do this.” Kaos Kut Loose in San Diego is what Tom Romano, aka Kaos Tom is planning to launch. He explains how this will be different than what he's done …
Chris Carpenter releases solo debut: Up All Night
Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. His band includes Roni Lee, Jamie Shadowlight and Haley Allen.
Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, Up All Night, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. While Carpenter has self released various tracks in the past, these recordings are his first …
Night of the Cookers at Dizzy's
Gilbert Castellanos and Brian Lynch locked into a friendly trumpet "cutting-contest" that raised the roof in the Pacific Beach venue. Special guest Charles McPherson blew it completely off.
Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos brought fellow horn-man Brian Lynch into town on July 7, for Night of the Cookers, Vol. III, alongside an LA rhythm section of Katie Thiroux on bass, Dan Schnelle on drums, with Mikan Zlatkovich on piano, and …
A Tale of Two Interrobangs
Proggy instrumental quarter celebrates sophomore album at Tin Can Ale House in Bankers Hill.
Not unlike the archaic piece of punctuation from which they take their name, Interrobang invites both excitement and intrigue on their second full-length, A Tale of Two Interrobangs. The instrumental quartet (make click here to read about a house party …
World Cup of Composers: more Italians
Verdi squashes Monteverdi in the most lopsided match thus far.
Since we’ve got Puccini done, let’s look at the other two important Italian verismo composers Mascagni and Leoncavallo. Mascagni has Cavalleria Rusticana and L’amico Fritz. L’amico Fritz only has traction because of the fantastic recording with a young Pavarotti and …
Gary Hoey shares his stage and his rig with a teen guitar shredder
"Even in the eigth grade, I blew most everybody away." -- Matt Holmen
Years ago, while interviewing blues guitarist Walter Trout in the minutes before his set at a Street Scene concert, we talked about the rising youth factor in blues music, about the sudden crop of dazzlingly competent kids with electric guitars. …
Lambesis posts (then removes) first public statement RE murder for hire
Accused metal frontman discusses his Christianity and "What I Can Talk About"
As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis posted a blog on his Tumblr page over the weekend addressing his arrest for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill his wife. The blog, titled "What I Can Talk About," was taken …
Earl Thomas and Friends Raise the Roof at the Belly Up Tavern
On July 7 Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, featured performances from 15 different artists, including Earl Thomas, Rockola, Joey Harris, Sara Petite, Gregory Page, Lisa Sanders and Eve Selis.
On July 7 the Belly Up Tavern was the site of Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum. The event was organized by blues singer Earl Thomas, with proceeds going to the Blues Foundation, …
Bop Moderno fills the Back Room
An inspired combination of local jazz heavyweights.
The San Diego jazz all-star aggregation known as Bop Moderno took the stage in The Back Room at 98 Bottles like conquering heroes and proceeded to lay it down for a sold-out house of enthusiastic supporters on July 6 -- …
World Cup of Composers: Italians
Puccini, Rossini, and Vivaldi headline the opening day of the Italian campaign.
With Cavalleria Rusticana still fresh, let’s get the Italian competition started for the World Cup of Composers. The first pairing is Vivaldi versus Pergolesi. Both these composers were prolific but ended up being “one hit wonders”. Pergolesi was an important …
Ben Schachter's Occidentia live in Pacific Beach
Boasting an unusual sonic lineup, Occidentia reached for different sounds.
Tenor saxophonist Ben Schachter isn't just an excellent improviser -- he's also quite the conceptualist, a fact very much in evidence throughout his July 5 concert at Dizzy's leading a band he calls Occidentia. Featuring Dave Marr on acoustic bass, …
Jazz trifecta weekend
There's something for just about every musical taste happening.
The holiday weekend is looking busy for jazz fans, with excellent shows on the 5th, 6th and 7th. Ben Schachter's Occidentia: July 5 Schachter has been turning heads ever since he arrived last year from Philadelphia with his big tone, …
Cavalleria gives hope and coupons
The Pacific Lyric Association production had a fresh approach and the cookie coupons.
Let’s talk a little bit about the Cavalleria Rusticana I went to on June 30th in Poway. You could feel the love in this production. While the singing was inconsistent from time to time, the dedication was at a hundred …
"The Wrecking Crew" documentary: one day only
Two screenings of this film about legendary LA studio musicians happen on July 20, at the Saville Theatre at City College, courtesy KSDS Jazz 88.
Music fans of all stripes (especially those who can remember the 1960s), have an incredible opportunity coming their way: on July 20, KSDS Jazz 88 presents 2 showings of The Wrecking Crew, a new documentary film by Danny Tedesco about …
The touch of a master: Mike Wofford live in La Jolla
Everything Wofford plays has a purity of expression.
Piano master Mike Wofford has lived such a storybook career that it's easy to get lost in the long maze of his past accomplishments and forget about what a vital force he is right now. Fortunately, Dan Atkinson and the …
World Cup of Composers: The Italians
The Italian composers are ready to lock "horns".
With the French we had a robust 19th Century presence in their first round of the World Cup of Composers. Now we move to the Italians. While the Italians were certainly vigorous in the 19th Century, it was the Italian …
Sweet Cheeks finds new home at Bar Dynamite
Future Wife biweekly jamdown puts the smooth on Mission Hills.
After a brief hiatus following their departure from El Dorado, Sweet Cheeks is back and ready to love you down at their new home, Bar Dynamite (1808 W Washington Street – Mission Hills) starting Sunday, June 30. Every Sunday through …
Cavalleria Rusitcana in Poway
A production of this famous Italian opera with local singers.
Cavalleria Rusticana is, note for note--start to finish, the most beautiful opera ever written. Lohengrin and Butterfly give it a push but Cav manages to be lyrically dramatic in a manner unique unto itself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FLbTIzHD9A Why bring it up during …
White Quartet live at the Museum of Art
This is a great space to catch creative music.
San Diego piano virtuoso Joshua White continues to evolve at a dizzying pace, well evidenced by his debut performance at the Museum of Art on June 27, with a quartet featuring saxophonist Ben Schachter, LA bassist Hamilton Price and drummer …