Category Archives: Music

Opa! Santa Barbara Greek Festival Time!

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Santa Barbara Greek Festival, Photograph by Nell Campbell

Santa Barbara Greek Festival, Photograph by Nell Campbell

Go Greek for the weekend of July 26–27 at the Santa Barbara Greek Festival.

Baklava, gyros and moussaka galore! This delicious annual event showcases the best bounty from Greece, including the sights, sounds and tastes of the Mediterranean land. The notes of the bouzouki coupled with the alluring performers dancing throughout the park bring you right into Greek culture.

There’s even free shuttle service from the parking lot of Sansum Clinic at 1317 W. Pueblo St. to take you to the festivities at Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar Ave. The event is Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

For more information call 805/683-4492,  or visit santabarbaragreekfestival.com.

 

Click here to read a 2012 feature about the Santa Barbara Greek Festival by Cheri Rae.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 22, 2014.

Marilyn Horne Named “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days”

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Marilyn Horne, courtesy photo

Marilyn Horne, courtesy photo

Viva la Fiesta and Viva la Diva!

This summer, The Music Academy of the West presents the 2014 Carmen Celebration; a special series of events in honor of the legendary opera singer Marilyn Horne’s 80th birthday. As part of this series, the Music Academy has partnered with Old Spanish Days to celebrate Horne, director of the Music Academy’s voice program, in conjunction with her 80th birthday, and recognize her with the official title, “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days.”

On July 23, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., the Music Academy hosts a special private event to commemorate this occasion. The program includes performances from the Music Academy’s production of Bizet’s Carmen and the 2014 Spirit of the Fiesta. (The Music Academy will present a new, fully staged production of Carmen, directed by David Paul, conducted by James Gaffigan, and featuring State Street Ballet dancers at Santa Barbara’s Granada Theatre on August 1 and 3.)

“Marilyn Horne embodies the very spirit of our extraordinary performing arts & cultural community in Santa Barbara, and Old Spanish Days is the perfect partner to help us commemorate our Carmen Celebration in honor of her 80th birthday,” says Scott Reed, president of the Music Academy of the West. “We are thrilled to bestow this honor upon a legend, and true legacy of the Music Academy of the West.”

This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Fiesta Historical Parade, one of the largest equestrian parades in the United States, which will take place on August 1. As part of the Carmen Celebration festivities, during the parade Horne will ride in an antique carriage sponsored by the Music Academy’s presenting sponsor, Montecito Bank & Trust.

The Granada Theatre will also commemorate the honor of Marilyn Horne’s title “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days” on the theatre’s marquee.

Horne has long been recognized as one of the most influential artists to portray Carmen. Her first major professional engagement was in 1954, when she dubbed the singing voice of Dorothy Dandridge in the film Carmen Jones. Horne went on to sing the title role in Bizet’s Carmen to open the Metropolitan Opera’s 1972-73 season, which featured Leonard Bernstein as conductor, and earned a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1974. Horne’s distinguished career has garnered her numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Gramophone magazine. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1995, received the National Medal of Arts in 1992, and has been inducted into the American Classical Music and Hollywood Bowl halls of fame. Among her worldwide prizes are the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from France’s Ministry of Culture. She was named a National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors recipient in 2009.

Horne, who attended the Music Academy in 1953, has been a member of the Music Academy faculty since 1995, and has directed the Academy’s renowned Voice Program since 1997.

Please also note these upcoming performances.
• Opera Covers Performance in Lehmann Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:15 p.m.
• Carmen Opera Performances, Friday, August 1 and Sunday, August 3
• Vocal Masterclass with Marilyn Horne, Wednesday, August 6

For more information, visit musicacademy.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on July 22, 2014.

Local Music Spotlight: Vincent & Vedant

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Vincent & Vedant, courtesy photo

Vincent & Vedant, courtesy photo

Want to travel to exotic places without leaving Santa Barbara? Every Friday evening at Zaytoon (209 E. Canon Perdido St.) guitar and violin duo Vincent & Vedant create a mesmerizing and unique gypsy sound on the restaurant’s lovely outdoor patio.

The combination of percussive flamenco guitar and classically trained, haunting violin music pairs beautifully with Zaytoon’s fresh and tasty Lebanese cuisine. The place is truly a hidden oasis right here in downtown Santa Barbara.

Locals Vincent Zorn & Vedant Koppera have been wowing audiences at local festivals, weddings, and parties for the past few years. In fact, just this week you can hear them at the Pugaritaville benefit for Central Coast Pug Rescue on July 19, as well as opening for Benise at the Granada Theatre on July 20.

For more information click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 15, 2014.

Jazz at the Lobero presents The Spring Quartet With Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding & Leo Genovese

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Esperanza Spalding, photo by Takuo Sato, courtesy Lobero

Esperanza Spalding, photo by Takuo Sato, courtesy Lobero

The first event of the Jazz at the Lobero 2014 series is a star-studded turn by The Spring Quartet, featuring legendary jazz musicians Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding and Leo Genovese performing together at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.,  on Tuesday, February 18 at 8 p.m.

Jack DeJohnette is one of the most respected drummers on the planet and an NEA Jazz Master. He has been, in constant demand as a drummer, bandleader, and sideman for over five decades.

GRAMMY award winning saxophone giant Joe Lovano has been hailed by the New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history;” distinguishing himself as a prescient force in the arena of creative music.

Bassist/vocalist/composer Esperanza Spalding was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2011 when she received the unprecedented GRAMMY for Best New Artist–the first time in history that a jazz musician has won the award.

The amazing Argentinean pianist Leo Genovese, member of Spalding’s Chamber Music Society and Radio Music Society tours, and long-time cohort, rounds out the all-star frontline.

Tickets for Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding and Leo Genovese are on sale now at Lobero.com and at the Lobero Box office by calling 805/963.0761.

Next up in the Jazz at the Lobero Series is Pat Metheny Unity Band on February 26, followed by a celebration 60 years in the making with the Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60 on March 14, followed by An Evening with Branford Marsalis on May 7.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on February 17, 2014.

Santa Barbara’s Teen Stars Shine at The Granada on Feb. 8

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2014 Teen Star Santa Barbara Finalists

2014 Teen Star Santa Barbara Finalists

Congratulations to the Teen Star Santa Barbara 2014 finalists:

Jason Paras — Dos Pueblos High School
Karlie Mack — San Marcos High School
Zoë Lynn Burritt — Cabrillo High School
Nathaniel Neumann — Dos Pueblos High School
Grant Bower — Santa Barbara High School
Mary-Grace Langhorne — Goleta Valley Junior High School
Brandi Rose Lentini — Santa Barbara High School
Luana Psaros — Dos Pueblos High School
Sulema Mejia — Pioneer Valley High School
Dylan Ortega — Santa Ynez High School

And the 2014 alternates:
Olivia Huffman — Solvang School
Sydney Shalhoob — La Colina Junior High School

They will perform in the final competition on Saturday, February 8 at The Granada at 7 p.m. (1214 State St.).

The way the finals work is that each of the final contestants performs a song of their choice in the first round. Voting by text message, the audience selects their top choices and the celebrity judges (Catherine Remak of KLITE 101.7, casting director Wendy Kurtzman and record producer Randy Spendlove) choose theirs; then votes are combined for a second round.

After the second round, text voting occurs again by the audience and the winner is determined!

Along with the prestigious title, contestants have the chance to follow in the footsteps of previous winners like 2013 champ Allie Nixon, who is currently working with her celebrity mentor JR Richards on an album to be released this spring. Here’s one of her songs, which has been featured on the CW network:

The winner’s prize package also includes a $1,000 scholarship, opportunity to record  in a world-class studio, radio and TV appearances, plus being the opening act performer at a number of local events.

Here’s a great video that gives an overview of the program.

For more information regarding Teen Star Santa Barbara, click here.

The Teen Star Santa Barbara program was established in 2010 to give our youth an outlet to showcase their talent in a healthy environment and provide long lasting benefits for our community and our students as well as enhance opportunities for their futures. Proceeds from this event are donated to performing arts programs in Santa Barbara County Schools.

To purchase tickets click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

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

Widespread Panic comes to the Arlington April 3

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Widespread Panic, courtesy photo

Widespread Panic, courtesy photo

Tickets are now on sale for alternative rock band Widespread Panic. The oft-touring American band will play at the Arlington Theatre  (1317 State St.) on April 3 at 8 p.m.

Since their inception in Athens, Georgia, in 1986, Widespread Panic has risen to elite status among American jam bands. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. Michael Houser and George McConnell have also played lead guitar for the band.

For more information or to purchase tickets click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on January 24, 2014.

Sings Like Hell is Back at the Lobero With Series #34

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Sings Like HellThe Devil Is Back at the Historic Lobero Theatre and better than ever with a terrific line-up of Sings Like Hell shows coming this season.

First up is JIMMER (Yes, from the Rave-Ups!)+ JUDE JOHNSTONE on Saturday, January 25 at 8 p.m. “F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that there are no second acts in American lives. He would have changed his mind if he knew the story of Jimmer Podrasky,” says Sings Like Hell’s Peggie Jones. “Jimmer, a former punk and closeted John Prine fan, emerged from Carnegie Mellon and promptly formed The Rave-Ups with his old college pals. A natural lyricist armed with a literary sense of irony, The Rave-Ups made quick work of Pittsburg and blasted their way onto the national scene…where the music industry (Epic) promptly released two of the best albums of that decade. Then Jimmer vanished. Well, sort of. He raised his beautiful son Chance as a single father. His first album in 23 years, The Would-Be Plans is Podrasky’s strongest work to date. Flanked by a powerhouse band and showcasing his sardonic, dangerously sharp wit, this is a staggering return to form.”

As for Jude Johnstone, “she had her career launched by Clarence Clemons, furthered by T-Bone Burnett and Leonard Cohen, and has had her songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood and Jennifer Warnes (list not complete!). But there is nothing like hearing her slink around her own lyrics herself, with a soulful, melodic grace and artful simplicity that is uniquely her very own.”

Next up is An Entire Evening of JACK SHIT + Special Guests on Sunday, February 16. As Jones says, “Jack Shit is the ultimate in-crowd event. This band is so full of shit, it spills out into the audience. Seriously, go the website and follow the links…it stinks so good! Davey Faragher, Val McCallum and Pete Thomas form the backbone…but you can expect a bunch of their shitty friends (there’s free beer for the band).”

Third in the series is THE WATKINS FAMILY HOUR featuring Sara & Sean Watkins + Special Guests on Friday, March 21. “Sings Like Hell favorites Sean & Sara Watkins have been at the Lobero many times,” says Jones. “T-Bone Burnett brought them for Down From The Mountain, they are part of Works Progress Administration, and of course we loved them with Nickel Creek. The Watkins Family Hour is a regular feature at Largo and McCabes in Los Angeles and now they are coming back in all their low-key, artistically superb glory to charm the Hell out of, well, Hell.”

ARIANA GILLIS + Special Guest are next up, on Saturday, April 19. Rock ‘n roll writer Dave Marsh, admits to being Ariana Gillis’s biggest fan. He played the track “John and the Monster” on his Sirius XM radio show and the first caller was Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist and songwriting partner. Later on his own show, Taupin had this to say, “I’m staggered by how good she is. There is not much that impresses me these days…but I can honestly say she’s the single most exciting thing I’ve heard in a long time.” Not bad for a 21 year old from Niagara, Ontario!

SATURDAY, May 3 is a MYSTERY DATE. We’ll keep you posted.

Then on Saturday, June 28 they’ll have CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS WITH STRINGS. “Chuck Prophet is singularly creative, deafeningly original and helms one of the very best bands in American rock’n’roll today. We would be stupid not to present him as often as possible,” says Jones. “This is an entire evening of Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, recreating the Great American Music Hall drop-dead sold-out concerts, with a string section. Brace yourself.”

All shows start at 8 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. (805/963-0761), with a reception with the artists following each show.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on January 19, 2014.

Lobero LIVE presents Dawes with special guest Blake Mills

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The wait is almost over: the Lobero Theatre will be re-opening in December 2013 after completion of Encore: Lobero preservation work! Kicking off the Lobero LIVE Encore Season is a performance by California-based roots rock band, Dawes, and special guest Blake Mills on December 11.

While the city of Los Angeles has been both an inspiration and a home to the four members of Dawes, they found themselves traveling East last fall to record their third album, Stories Don’t End, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with newly enlisted producer Jacquire King. Stories Don’t End spotlights the group’s maturing skills as arrangers, performers and interpreters who shape the raw material supplied by chief songwriter and lead vocalist Taylor Goldsmith into an artfully concise and increasingly soulful sound. Opener Blake Mills has already stacked up a career’s worth of gigs as a session and touring guitarist, playing with a diverse array of musicians that span from Lucinda Williams to Fiona Apple. His flawless technique, uncanny confidence, and unique interpretation of every piece of music he touches has turned Mills into one of the most in-demand players in the music business.

Tickets for Dawes with special guest Blake Mills are on sale now at Lobero.com.


—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on November 17, 2013.

Jazz at the Lobero announces the Encore Season Lineup

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The folks at the Lobero have been hard at work preserving and enhancing Santa Barbara’s home for great jazz, and can’t wait to welcome guests back to a refreshed, and even more intimate, Lobero Theatre for an unforgettable series. The Lobero’s new seats offer more legroom and better sight lines than ever before. Plus, improved airflow and enlarged restrooms guarantee this will be the most comfortable Jazz at the Lobero season yet.

Starting things off on February 18 is a ferociously talented quartet featuring Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Grammy darling Esperanza Spalding and Leo Genovese as “The Spring Quartet.” On March 14, celebrate 60 memorable years of the Newport Jazz Festival; headlined by Anat Cohen, Karrin Allyson and other treasured alum. To close out the series, they’ll bring you an evening with Branford Marsalis and his brilliant quartet on May 7.

Jazz at the Lobero Series Tickets are on sale now, Single tickets will be available November 30. Series subscribers enjoy 20% off single ticket prices, and are the first to know about new events. Jazz VIP ticketholders can also look forward to exclusive receptions with complimentary appetizers and cocktails before each performance.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine on November 16, 2013.

New Season of “Met: Live” Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts in Hahn Hall

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The Music Academy of the West has begun its season of high-definition screenings from ten Metropolitan Opera productions screening simulcasts in Hahn Hall, with Eugene Onegin,  which will screen again at 2 pm on Sunday, October 27.

According to a release from the Music Academy, “since its Moscow premiere in 1879, Tchaikovsky’s fateful romance based on Alexander Pushkin’s verse novel of the same name has endeared itself to opera lovers the world over. Conducted by Russian maestro Valery Gergiev and directed by Fiona Shaw, Deborah Warner’s new production stars soprano standout Anna Netrebko—opening her third consecutive Met season—in her company role debut as Tatiana, the naïve, love-struck heroine. Mariusz Kwiecien portrays the imperious title character, in a much-admired interpretation he has sung in many of the world’s leading opera houses, and Piotr Beczala reprises his acclaimed performance as Onegin’s friend-turned-rival, Lenski. Set in the late 19th century and capturing the splendor and passion of Tchaikovsky’s lyric opera, Warner’s production moves episodically from farmhouse to ballroom, with a powerful snowstorm providing the dramatic setting for the finale.”


The 2013-14 season of “Met: Live in HD” screenings at Hahn Hall will continue with Shostakovich’s The Nose (October 26 and November 24), Puccini’s Tosca (November 23 and December 15), Verdi’s Falstaff (December 14 and February 9), Dvořák’s Rusalka (February 8 and March 2), Borodin’s Prince Igor (March 1 and 16), Massenet’s Werther (March 15 and April 6), Puccini’s La Bohème (April 5 and 27), Mozart’s Così fan tutte starring Music Academy alumnae Isabel Leonard (’05) and Susanna Phillips (’02 and ’03) – (April 26 and May 11), and Rossini’s La cenerentola – starring Academy alumnus Juan Diego Flórez (’95) – (May 10 and 18).
Unlike previous seasons, the Music Academy will screen encores on Sunday afternoons following each subsequent opera’s live Saturday simulcast. Complete “Live in HD” schedule information is available online at www.musicacademy.org.Single tickets may be ordered online at musicacademy.org or by calling 805/969-8787.  Free parking is available on the Music Academy campus.
Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine.