Category Archives: Music

Editor’s Pick: Charles Lloyd & Friends

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Charles Lloyd, courtesy of the Lobero Theatre

Jazz at the Lobero presents Charles Lloyd & Friends Featuring Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland.

Tenor giant Charles Lloyd brings together his favorite musical partners, including members of his New Quartet and guitar luminary Bill Frisell. Saxophonist Lloyd’s supreme improvisational talents and passion for cross-pollinating jazz with rock established him as one of the key figures in the development of fusion and world music. “Every Lloyd concert is unique. And this one, with special guests Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz, was a striking display of contemporary jazz improvisation at its finest” (International Review of Music). April 28 at Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., 805/963-0761, lobero.com.

–Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Spring 2015. 

 

Editor’s Pick: Three Women and the Truth

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Three Women and the Truth, courtesy of the Lobero Theatre

Three Women and the Truth

Three women, three guitars and the words, music and hard-won wisdom from three lifetimes spent in pursuit of the song. Award-winning female songwriters Mary Gauthier, Eliza Gilkyson and Gretchen Peters balance personal tales with classic underpinnings, which hint at the evocative idea that all our lives are full of events and incidents that touch on the mythic and the timeless. Feb. 20, 8 p.m. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. 805/963-0761, lobero.com.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Winter 2014/15.

Celebrate Family Holiday Movie Weekend at the Granada Theatre

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Granada Holiday Movie Weekend

Enjoy the magic of the holidays at The Granada Theatre’s Family Holiday Movie Weekend on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14!  In addition to screening holiday movie favorites with the only 4K cinema projection system in the region, Santa Claus will make a special visit to The Granada Theatre to greet children, and there will be special seasonal musical performances by local school and musical groups including Montecito Union Elementary, La Colina Junior High, San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara High School and local public elementary school students from the Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) program.

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, December 13

11 a.m. Music by Montecito Union Elementary

Movies: Merry Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda

noon to 1:30 p.m.   Meet Santa Claus!

3 p.m. Music by San Marcos High School Madcappella Choir

Movie: White Christmas

7 p.m. Music by La Colina Junior High Outburst Choir

Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Sunday, December 14

11 a.m. to noon Meet Santa Claus!

noon Music by Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) group Pacific Choir

Movie: Miracle On 34th Street

5 p.m. Music by Santa Barbara High School Madrigals Choir

Movie: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

General Admission tickets are just $5 and include open seating. Reserved seating in the Loge is available for $10 per ticket. Click here to purchase tickets for each music and movie performance, or by calling The Granada Theatre’s Box Office at 805/899-2222.  The Granada is located at 1214 State St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 10, 2014.

Lobero LIVE presents Dave Rawlings Machine on 10/5 + Mary Chapin Carpenter on 10/10

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Dave Rawlings Machine, courtesy Lobero Theatre

Dave Rawlings Machine, courtesy Lobero Theatre

Lobero LIVE has two terrific concerts in October.

First up, on October 5, the rock and bluegrass supergroup, Dave Rawlings Machine takes the stage at a special 7 p.m. performance. Rawlings is an award-winning guitar player, singer, songwriter, and producer best known for his work with Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show and Ryan Adams.

Later on that week is an intimate evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter on October 10 at 8 p.m. Over the course of her career, Carpenter has sold over 13 million records. With hits like “Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five GRAMMY® Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards and two Academy of Country Music awards for her vocals. Her songs speak to the most personal of life’s details and the most universal.

The Lobero Theatre is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

Mary Chapin Carpenter, courtesy Lobero Theatre

Mary Chapin Carpenter, courtesy Lobero Theatre

 

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on October 3, 2014.

Mary Chapin Carpenter Comes to the Lobero

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Mary Chapin Carpenter, courtesy Lobero Theatre

Mary Chapin Carpenter, courtesy Lobero Theatre

Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and 2012 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mary Chapin Carpenter embarks on a unique series of intimate, acoustic performances this fall.

Lucky for us, this includes a stop at the Lobero Theatre on October 10 at 8 p.m.

The tour marks Carpenter’s return to singing both timeless hits and deep cuts from her expansive and beloved 13-album catalog after performing with orchestras in early 2014. Carpenter will be joined on stage by longtime friends Jon Carroll (piano) and John Doyle (guitars, bouzouki).

Carpenter has spent the past year performing alongside world-renowned orchestras since the release of her debut orchestral album, Songs From the Movie (Zoë /Rounder), which was conducted and arranged by six-time Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza. Carpenter’s world debut orchestral concert took place on January 24 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In March, she performed two milestone concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Mendoza, and was joined by special guests Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Douglas, Tift Merritt and Aoife O’Donovan.

Over the course of her career, Carpenter has sold over 13 million records. With hits like “Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards and two Academy of Country Music awards for her vocals. Her songs speak to the most personal of life’s details and the most universal.

The Lobero is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on September 30, 2014.

The Return of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, courtesy photo

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, courtesy photo

Get ready to swing, jive with the hepcats and toe tap your way to a really fun evening when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy returns to The Granada Theatre on Saturday, October 4 at 8 p.m.

Believe it or not, 2014 marks the 21st anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s arrival onto the music scene from their native Ventura. In their early years, they reminded the world—during the grunge era—that it was still cool to swing, big band style. Several of their songs were featured in the film Swingers, which also made household names out of then unknowns Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed during the halftime show of the Super Bowl, and to sold out crowds at the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Lincoln Center and Constitution Hall to name a few. The band often plays more than 150 shows a year and has appeared as special guests with many of the great American symphony orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets range  are available through The Granada Theatre’s Box Office. For more information, click here or call the Box Office at 805/899-2222. The theater is located at 1214 State St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on September 29, 2014.

Film of 1964 Rock ‘n Roll “T.A.M.I. SHOW” Benefit for Plaza Playhouse Theater in Carpinteria

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James Brown and Mick Jagger, courtesy photo

James Brown and Mick Jagger, courtesy photo

Classic rock lovers, are you ready to rock out like it’s 1964? Then, make plans to be at the Plaza Playhouse in Carpinteria for a rare public screening of one of the greatest rock and roll shows you’ve never seen from 1964.  The T.A.M.I. Show features performances from James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes and The Beach Boys to name a few.

TAMIshowPOSTERPlaying one night only Saturday, August 23 at 7:15 p.m., this one-time only presentation of the “T.A.M.I. Show” will serve as a fundraiser for the non-profit theater, which is on track to purchase a new, much wider screen for the venue.  It will be 20’x12’ and allow for the showing of many of the great wide screen classics of the past 60 years as well as contemporary films.

Steve Binder, the producer/director, will be on hand to introduce the film and will stay for a Q&A after the film.  (Running time 100 minutes). He will have copies of his book for sale as well.

Tickets are $20 each and available for purchase at plazatheatercarpinteria.com. Doors open at 6:30pm and tickets (if available) can be purchased at the box office the night of the show. Located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave. the theatre is wheelchair accessible.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on August 21, 2014.

Pickle Room News

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The Pickle Room's Clay Lovejoy (photo by Leslie Dinaberg)

The Pickle Room’s Clay Lovejoy (photo by Leslie Dinaberg)

We’re big fans of the Pickle Room around here. Did you know that the John Schnackenberg and Cougar Estrada play live jazz the third Saturday of each month at Lovejoy’s Pickle Room? There’s no cover charge, and they play from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

Try the Mai Tai or the Moscow Mule along with the Chinese/Deli Reuben Egg Roll (sounds weird but trust us, it’s amazing!) and the delicious fried rice.

The Pickle Room's Reuben Egg Roll (courtesy photo)

The Pickle Room’s Reuben Egg Roll (courtesy photo)

Lovejoy’s Pickle Room is located at 126 E. Canon Perdido St.

Right next door the sister restaurant Three Pickles Deli has a new incarnation at night. It transforms into a sushi bar Tsukemono (which we hear means “pickled things” in Japanese). Open after 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, you can eat in the sushi bar, or they’ll bring your favorite sushi to you at the Pickle Room.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on August 12, 2014.

Don’t Miss Fiesta’s Wildest Party

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Celebracion de la DignatariosAs longtime locals know, Celebración de Los Dignatarios—Fiesta’s wildest party at the Santa Barbara Zoo—is the hot place to dance the night away alongside lions, snow leopards, elephants and elected officials!

With live entertainment, dancing to King Bee (a personal favorite), mariachis, margaritas and tempting treats from more than 20 local restaurants, not to mention loads of lovely señors and señoritas in beautiful costumes, this is without a doubt one of the best places for party animals to strut their stuff.

Need further convincing? Celebración de Los Dignatarios is also a joint fundraiser for Old Spanish Days and Santa Barbara Zoo. And it’s this Thursday night, July 31, from 5–10 p.m. Santa Barbara Zoo, 500 Niños Dr. 805/962-8101, oldspanishdays-fiesta.org.

Courtesy of Old Spanish Days

Courtesy of Old Spanish Days

Buy tickets at local Albertsons, at the Santa Barbara Zoo or online.

You can park at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort and catch the Dignatarios shuttle in the parking lot.

Hope to see you there!

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 30, 2014.

Music Academy of the West Presents “Carmen” in Honor of Opera Great Marilyn Horne

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Music Academy of the West "Carmen," photo by David Bazemore.

Music Academy of the West “Carmen,” photo by David Bazemore.

 The Music Academy of the West will present a new, fully staged production of Georges Bizet’s timeless opera Carmen in honor of celebrated mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne’s 80th birthday at Santa Barbara’s historic Granada Theatre. Directed by David Paul and conducted by James Gaffigan, the performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 3.

In addition to Music Academy Voice and Instrumental Fellows, the Academy’s production will feature dancers from Santa Barbara’s State Street Ballet, choreography by William Soleau, and a chorus that includes local children.

For tickets and information, call 805.969.8787 or visit musicacademy.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 28, 2014.