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Entries
Holly Hofmann Wraps Up New Recording
Flutist Holly Hofmann has been doing her thing in San Diego for years now, both as a renowned musician and a concert series curator. Last month, she finished up her latest recording, "Turn Signal" at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo. …
Farewell Florence
I love the story of Gianni Schicchi as presented by Puccini. Throughout the show, Schicchi keeps singing this creepy tune to warn the family of what will happen it they're discovered altering the will. "Farewell, Florence, I wave farewell with …
New Weekly Concerts Debut July 1 at Lafayette Hotel
Live music is returning to one of San Diego’s most iconic music venues, The Lafayette Hotel’s Mississippi Ballroom. Rockin’ the Boulevard is a weekly event that will showcase local acts every Friday night. On hand through July will be a …
Anat Cohen Sells Out Wall St.
Tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Anat Cohen is coming to San Diego on July 1, at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. La Jolla. Unless you've already got your tickets, be advised that the performance is sold out. …
Oh my Beloved Papa
Photo on left: Gianni Schicchi poster At the beginning of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, the Donati family has a problem. Buoso, the wealthy pater-familias has died. The bulk of the inheritance is a house in Florence, the mills in Signa, and …
Privatized Air Tour Recorded For Live Album
Privatized Air is currently on a U.S. tour, including Santa Ana, Monterey, Oakland, SF, Portland, Seattle, Bozeman, Cheyenne, Denver, Albuquerque, El Paso, and Tucson, wrapping up July 9 in Las Vegas. “We’ve been focusing on playing to a wider audience,” …
Summer Jazz Band Camp at UCSD
Summer jazz clinics, or camps, are a staple of sorts for universities that have viable jazz programs. There are also a few privately run institutions, the most well-known being Jamey Aebersold's summer jazz workshops, this year being held at the …
Illness AND Car Crash Delay Heretic CD
Photo on left: Darryn Kelly “I was diagnosed with a polyp on my vocal chords,” says singer/guitarist Darryn Kelly, whose band Heretic had to cancel their recent record release gig at Eleven. “My throat had been sore for a few …
Insanely Beautiful
If I'm listening to the Grieg Piano Concerto, it means I'm also listening to the Schumann. The two almost always go together on recordings. They're both in A minor, and they both have a similar feel even though Schumann wrote …
No Rest For Mark Dresser
Noted contrabassist and UCSD professor Mark Dresser maintains the busiest of schedules. He has several active ensembles including Trio M with pianist Myra Melford and East Coast drummer Matt Wilson, another trio with Melford and trombonist Michael Dessen, a Southern …
R.I.P., Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, Frank Zappa's Discovery
I have dozens of answering-machine messages from Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, onetime Frank Zappa protégé and Doctor Demento perennial. We became friends while he lived at various downtown flophouses in the late '80s and early '90s. Fischer made occasional public …
Cowboys & Aliens: The Song — Local Faved By Film Director Favreau
“We got their attention with our song Cowboys and Aliens,” says singer/songwriter Scott West of landing his first publishing deal with Greenlight 360, a Boston company that specializes in placing music on television and in movies. “As a result, we …
"They Threatened to Ban Me," Says Local Elvis Impersonator
“I was chastised and threatened with being banned from competing in the future by the contest promoter, for allowing my fans to confront the judges,” says Elvis impersonator James Kruk (aka King Kruk), who won fourth place at Pechanga’s Ultimate …
Bringing Sexy Back
It's occurred to me that I have neglected to write about sex and classical music for months now. I've said that if one wants to learn how to kiss, listen to Bruckner's 8th Symphony 3rd movement. Furthermore, this isn't sex …
Celtic Crossroads June 25: Original and Traditional Music
“Celtic Crossroads will probably be my last performance in Southern California until the end of the year,” says Colin Clyne of the June 25 event at Oceanside’s Sunshine Brooks Theatre. Celtic Crossroads, will feature three San Diego based, Celtic influenced …
Thoughts 'Round Midnight - Local Debut 6-18 Tango del Rey
“This show is very comical, and explores those late night thoughts that can keep any of us awake,” says singer/producer Harold Sanditen of his musical show Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, which he’s performed in London, New York, and Chicago. The former …