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Harmony Festival
05.21.08
It’s hard to believe that our own homegrown Harmony Festival, which could truly claim the phrase “We were a festival before festivals were cool,” is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. But it’s harder still to fathom that after teaming up last year with mega-promoter Live Nation, a $4.4 billion subsidiary of Clear Channel, and getting the short end of the financial stick, the Harmony Festival was nearly forced to roll back its tie-dyed tents and call it a day.
Instead, festival organizers rolled up their sleeves—and according to reports, mortgaged their homes—to stay above water. The strength of the community surrounding this beloved festival helped Harmony come back bolder than ever this year and nurtured a lineup sure to have dancers twirling so hard they just might lose their solar vegan cookies. Damian Marley, whose Welcome to Jamrock was the biggest reggae album of 2005, competes—wait, this is the Harmony Festival—I mean, cooperates with George Clinton for the big headlining slot, while brilliant lesser-knowns like Lila Downs (above), the Devil Makes Three, Tina Malia, RJD2 and the Goddess Alchemy Project are highlights of two days of global unity and good vibes.
With over 300 vendors and exhibits on spirituality, ecology and sustainability, Harmony was also green before green was cool. This year, the activism is direct: for every ticket sold, a tree will be planted in Africa, and a whopping $20,000 will be donated outright to orphans’ medical care in Ethiopia. Tibetan refugees are among Harmony’s other charitable beneficiaries. Such good causes could have gone ignored considering Harmony’s financial hardship from last year, but that’s just not Harmony’s style, making this year’s festival a resounding triumph of the will and the spirit of giving back. www.harmonyfestival.com
Gabe Meline
When you see dripping-with-diamonds socialites both well- and high-heeled nursing Champagne flutes and cavorting around the dusty infield of a baseball diamond, you know you can only be at one place: the Sonoma Jazz + Festival.
But wait, you ask, how can I perform the addition of the integer of my jazz to the integer of my festival, and what sum might it equal? Fear not, for this is no “new math” equation; the “+” is merely to concede the annual presence of acts in Sonoma outside of the jazz realm. In the past three years, non-jazz acts have included Steve Miller, LeAnn Rimes and Boz Scaggs. This year, May 22&–25, Kool & the Gang and Bonnie Raitt have all true jazz fans riled. Although how fresh would it be if Kool & the Gang brought Howard Wiley to sit in? Or if Raitt actually learned some Wes Montgomery licks and dropped ’em into “I Can’t Make You Love Me”?
On the jazz side, this year’s lineup includes legend Herbie Hancock (above), fresh from winning the world’s most unlikely Album of the Year Grammy award for River: The Joni Letters, and sleepy songstress Diana Krall (see p57). (Tip: come early that night to catch Julian Lage and Taylor Eigsti, who, at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival last year, were the hands-down, most jaw-dropping guitar-piano duo I’ve ever seen).
Another thing—he’s been around here before, but damn if the Rev. Al Green isn’t on a roll. The Reverend doesn’t play long sets, but in addition to hits like “Let’s Stay Together” and “Here I Am,” look out for tracks from his newest album, Lay It Down, which was recorded with ?uestlove from the Roots. Original mixes of the album contain Wu-Tang samples, which would probably be lost on the average Sonoma crowd (last year, to praise Tony Bennett, many concert-goers hoisted their canes in the air—I guess that’s close to puttin’ your hands in the air) but will help give Green yet another comeback in an unbelievable career.
But the true wonder of Sonoma Jazz + is the balance of atmosphere: it’s in an outdoor tent and yet it still feels elegant. Upscale food and drink booths abound, there’s a ritzy-ditzy VIP area, but still, everyone waits their turn in line for the Port-a-Pottys. Crazy! www.sonomajazz.org.
Gabe Meline
The first woman to walk by in one merely looked brave. After all, it was brightly colored, oversized and required a certain confident sway of the hips to carry off. The second woman to walk by in one looked more regular, the eye having adjusted to the bright hue and the large shape. The third woman to walk by in one looked flat-out great. The fourth, spectacular. By the time the 10th woman walked by wearing an oversized straw hat with a massive upturned brim in a fabulous jewel tone, I was sick with desire. Must. Have. Hat! A green one was duly procured and on the first sustained wearing, dyed my forehead a bird-of-paradise yellow that resisted two showers.
Such is the force of the Russian River Blues Festival that a day begun with an all-wheat breakfast (toast followed by beer), and otherwise consumed with floating in the Russian River, reading through the Sunday paper and browsing for oversized hats while great music wails is almost mythic in warm summer memory.
This year, June 14&–15, promises to be just as story-worthy with outstanding headliners that mark the range from way famous (Jonny Lang) to should be famous (Earl Thomas). Shemekia Copeland is above. Now in its second year under Omega Productions since Lupe de Leon sold the event, the Russian River Blues Fest promises to be exactly as it’s always been: hot, hot and hotter. Baby, you’ll need a hat. www.russianriverfestivals.com
Gretchen Giles
We’re always hepped to learn about anything that happens in the Napa Valley that isn’t solely about putting stuff in your mouth. And so it was that when notice of the first annual Napa Valley Art Festival was announced for May 31, we jumped. The brainchild of Connolly Ranch director Bob Pallas, this new festival, a juried exhibition devoted to representational painting, showcases some 300 works by 42 artists to raise funds for the Napa Land Trust, of which Connolly Ranch is a unique part.
“Leadership Napa Valley did a feasibility study and concluded that the valley could support an art festival,” Pallas explains. “The Auction Napa Valley used to include artwork but they decided to focus more on the wine, and that left a hole. The Napa Valley Land Trust always includes art in its auction and they let me curate it last year. We netted $22,000 as opposed to the usual amount, around $9,000.”
Pallas chuckles. “I thought to myself, I’m on to something with this kind of art.”
“This kind of art” is specifically pictures of things. Pallas went to Sonoma’s Keith Wicks, the founder of the weeklong Sonoma Plein Air festival, to get advice and direction. Using Wicks’ list and placing calls for entries in national magazines, Pallas received over 110 submissions for the 42 spots he had available, including interest from artists as far away as Massachusetts and Hawaii. Juried by Jean Stern, executive director of the Irvine Museum, Peter Trippi, editor of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, and artist Kevin Macpherson, the festival has set standards so high that even Pallas’ wife, painter Kristine Pallas, had to submit through official channels. “She got in,” he says with a relieved laugh. “Imagine if she hadn’t!”
The Napa Valley Art Festival is slated for Saturday, May 31, at COPIA. 500 First St., Napa. 10am to 4pm. Free.
Gretchen Giles
Every year, thousands of fans from the North Bay and beyond flock to the hills, ranches, forests and meadows of California for some of the largest festivals in the state. These ain’t no casual, drop-in-and-see-the-headliner shows; you gotta be dedicated to camp out for days on end at these suckers. The payoff is an experience like no other among the most beautiful surroundings Northern California has to offer.
After an ugly legal battle too long to accurately get into here, the long-running Reggae on the River festival has become Reggae Rising (Aug. 1&–3), a name change that caused rumor and confusion last year for many fans. But everything about the booking seems to be the same. New upstarts like Collie Buddz alongside veterans like Don Carlos and Julian Marley; Sizzla (pictured) continues his festival rounds; UB40’s in the mix for some reason; and be sure to catch Gentleman, the unlikely German reggae singer who sings in patois.
The magic of the Kate Wolf Festival (June 27&–29) is in the deterioration of the wall between performer and audience; one might swap songs with Greg Brown around the fire, one might light one up with Jackson Browne late at night. Because the festival exists to honor Kate Wolf, there’s a shared spirit of camaraderie, but the booking, always inspired, is the real reason to attend. This year boasts newcomers Los Lobos and Ani DiFranco alongside crowd favorites Greg Brown, David Lindley, John Gorka, the Wailin’ Jennys and the Waifs.
The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (June 20&–22)lays it heavy on the reggae every year at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville, prompting the need for a Rastafarian-Boontling anthem called, say, “I Onna Bucky Walter to Jah.” Strangely, no one has stepped up to the plate. Morgan Heritage, Buju Banton, Midnite and the Wailing Souls top the reggae side this year, while California residents the English Beat, Markus James and perennial favorite Michael Franti round out the “world” side. www.snwmf.com.
Though it’s less likely to attract beanies and spliffs, the Mendocino Music Festival (July 12&–26) has been running for over 20 years bringing classical and folk music to the coastal town. Set in a tent overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this year’s festival features the Hot Club of San Francisco, Jesse Winchester, The Marriage of Figaro and much more. Of special note is “Degenerate Music,” a revue of post&–WW I Jewish music filled with doom and banished from Germany by Hitler. www.mendocinomusic.com.
Fun times in the summertime!
Gabe Meline
Jazz Journey
The book of photographs opens to a shot of a young girl without shoes, lounging in the grass at the 1969 Monterey Jazz Festival. Looking closely, it’s clear that the girl in the photo is a young Jessica Felix, listening to Miles Davis on a summer’s day.
Almost three decades later, not much has changed. On a recent hot May afternoon, Felix, barefoot, sits on the floor of her Healdsburg living room—but instead of being in the audience, she’s behind the scenes, checking the incoming email on her laptop. “Someone just spent $640 on tickets!” she says. “Great!”
Felix is in “command central” for her 10-years-and-running Healdsburg Jazz Festival, where the décor is as busy and varied as a Sonny Rollins solo: a Gretsch drum kit sits in one corner, an original pressing of Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington in another. Kitchenware competes for space with sculptures, cassette tapes, firewood, magazines, percussion instruments and 30 shelves crammed with CDs. Photos of such jazz luminaries as Billie Holiday, Johnny Hodges and Rahsaan Roland Kirk look down from every available wall space.
This is a real jazz fan’s house, and Felix, founder and director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, is perhaps one of the most passionate supporters of the genre in the entire Bay Area. In a sea of phony-baloney festivals nationwide which prop up fading icons of pop and rock yet siphon from the cultural cachet the term “jazz” confers, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is an island of taste and vitality for true jazz lovers. This year’s festivities, running May 30&–June 8, mark the 10th anniversary of Felix’s creation, and to celebrate, she’s booked an incredible lineup featuring greats like Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, Charlie Haden, Cedar Walton, Charles Lloyd and Don Byron.
Felix throws Byron’s Bug Music on the player, curls up on her couch and talks about the life of a jazz promoter. “There are a lot of people who don’t understand jazz,” she says, “I guess ’cause it’s not easy, toe-tapping background music. But it’s a great art form that has expression and feeling and so much emotion. It can take you somewhere, it can transplant your feelings. Most music is, you know—can you dance to it or not dance to it? Can you sing along to it? Jazz takes you on a journey.”
Felix first fell in love with the genre right out of high school through Charles Lloyd’s Forest Flower, which, she says, “really took me to the other side.” She played the album every single morning for a year. Living in Los Angeles, she made some like-minded friends, and they’d go out to places like the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach or Shelly’s Manne Hole to expand their musical horizons.
After moving to the East Bay, she put on the annual Eddie Moore Jazz Festival at the old Yoshi’s and presented one-of-a-kind jazz concerts in her Piedmont home for 10 years. It’s the stuff that urban legends are made of. Giants like Michel Petrucciani, Dave Holland and Pharaoh Sanders played in the living room while Felix cooked for everybody in the kitchen. “We had almost a hundred people crammed in there,” she says, recalling the magic of the performances in the restored Victorian. “When you have a grand piano and the music’s right there, there’s nothing better than that moment!”
In 1995, Felix moved to Healdsburg—then a sleepy, semi-rural town with more John Deere fans than John Coltrane fans—to work as a jeweler and store owner. Something about the wine country atmosphere beckoned jazz, she says, and she decided to put on a show at a small coffee shop with famed pianist George Cables. The night sold out, and Felix started planning her first festival soon after with three giants from the Blue Note era of jazz: vibist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Cedar Walton and a towering drummer who would come to represent both the triumph and tragedy of the festival, Billy Higgins.
“Billy was so much the spirit of the festival,” Felix says. “He was constantly reaching out to children and the community.” With an amazing career, premiering with Ornette Coleman’s original quartet and drumming on Lee Morgan’s most famous records, Higgins was to headline the 2001 Healdsburg festival when a long battle with liver disease finally overtook him. Shattered, Felix nonetheless rearranged the year’s lineup as a tribute; the festival’s finale featured a half-dozen drummers honoring Higgins.
The hospitality and intimacy of Felix’s Oakland house shows is an underpinning of the Healdsburg Festival, where artists lodge at guest houses and big-name concerts are presented in small-town venues. Many of the musicians bring their families, stay for days on end, and hate to leave. “When Roy Haynes left, he said it’s the best he’s ever been treated,” Felix says of the most-recorded drummer in jazz. “To me, that was a sad statement. There are even people who ask me, ‘Why do you treat them so well?’
“Them“—she sneers at the term. “Who are ‘them’? I wish I could convey how important it is that these great artists get the respect they need.”
Felix naturally finds it hard to name her personal highlights over the last 10 years. “Billy Higgins playing solo was amazing,” she says. “Abbey Lincoln, I just love Abbey Lincoln. Roy Haynes. Of course, always having Charles Lloyd. I just can’t pick a favorite. Every year, there are great moments.”
For every big headliner at the festival—McCoy Tyner being a standout—there are a dozen lesser-knowns that Felix has struggled to promote in a county where the only “jazz” station plays smooth jazz. “I like a lot of creative, edgy jazz,” she explains. “I haven’t even brought one of my favorite bands, which is Trio 3, with Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille. But I have to be careful, because this area doesn’t know how to listen to that kind of music that well.”
That may be changing. By bringing jazz to a worldwide audience, Louis Armstrong earned the nickname “Ambassador Satch,” and in the past 10 years, Healdsburg Jazz Festival ticket sales have steadily grown as more people recognize what Congress recognized in 1987—that jazz is a brilliant, thriving art form and a unifying force borne from American soil.
But don’t be too quick to dub Felix “the Ambassadress,” no matter how fitting the title may be. She’s already got her own nickname, emblazoned on her license plate: “JAZZICA.”
As this year’s festival nears, Felix hasn’t been sleeping much. Her mind races from one logistical concern to the next, and raising money to continue the festival remains her biggest obstacle. “Everybody comes to Healdsburg thinking that they can start something and that there’s all this money here,” she says, “but it’s not that easy.” She’d love to continue for another 10 years, but her back is giving out and she needs the rest. “Physically,” she says, “I don’t know if I could make it.”
At the same time, Felix truly is the face of the festival; at almost every show, she announces the musicians like they were old friends. Many of them are old friends. Asked if she’d ever consider handing off the festival to anyone else, she’s hesitant. “I’m just a fan who loves the music,” she insists. “I never was that great an organizer, but all of a sudden, I’ve become the organizer! I was always the one who wanted to be the flaky one.”
Of course, Felix is anything but flaky, checking her email during the interview, looking at ticket sales and coordinating promotions. But her face lights up the most when chatting about musicians, and she reflexively shakes her foot in time to Bug Music.
“I always feel like we’ve not only had great music,” Felix says, “but we’ve had so much love. That’s the only word I can use—love. It’s a wonderful feeling of being together. It makes the music greater. You can feel it.”
The Healdsburg Jazz Festival runs May 30&–June 8 in various venues throughout Healdsburg. For details, see www.healdsburgjazzfestival.com.
Mondovinter
Some years ago at the newspaper where I then worked, the receptionist, who was all of 19, assured a group of us that she knew all about fine wine. “I only drink Robert Mondavi,” she qualified, with a flip of her hair, “Opus One. It’s the best.” This anecdote is what came to my mind this week as news outlets reported that the Napa Valley vintner died on Friday, May 16. It’s illustrative of just how Mondavi’s name had become to California wine as, say, Cadillac once was to automotive transport. And “the best” is exactly what the hard-nosed vintner was ever striving for.
When Disneyland looked for a partner to add some wine country class to the new Disneyland California in 2000, it looked to the Robert Mondavi Corporation. The thrill ride with the mouse lasted less than a year, but the venture points up another aspect of Mondavi’s legacy: he was a great popularizer of varietal wine.
We do now, but it has not always been taken for granted that bottles of California wine stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of Europe. Half a lifetime ago, $80 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was not the run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fact that it is today. The Napa Valley in the 1930s was a land of concrete vats and redwood tanks when Robert Mondavi began working there after Prohibition. No whiz kid, he was already pushing 50 by the time he toured the great vineyards of Europe. When he sought to move the family business into a new era, melding European traditions with industrial-scale, modern winemaking, he ran into conflict with his brother Peter. After some famous fisticuffs and a lengthy legal saga, Robert Mondavi split off to build his own mission-style winery, and the rest is history.
Through deft use of technical innovations and the marketing of pedigreed varietal wines to a quality-conscious public, Mondavi grew a wine empire. By 2004, the documentary film Mondovino cast the upstart of the 1960s in the role of corporate baddie. A wine magazine article that I coincidentally received in the mail at the end of last week celebrates Napa’s bold vintners of 1968. It barely mentions Mondavi. Certainly, there were many others, as well as those winemakers who trained at “Mondavi University,” as his winery was called, and gained fame on their own (at the 1976 Paris tasting, for instance). In later years, the Mondavi name was being traded on to move a river of mid- and bottom-shelf product, Coastal and Woodbridge. Mondavi, in fact, criticized what he saw as the dilution of his wine.
Ultimately, it’s more realistic to talk about the diffusion of Mondavi’s approach to wine. Who adopted some of the time-honored European traditions of winemaking to California-sized production of scale, so that more than the few could enjoy the fermented fruits of innovation, and how ubiquitous are some of these methods throughout California, and the world?
From nurturing a generation of winemakers to generous funding of educational and artistic venues in the Napa Valley and UC Davis, the empire that Mondavi created reaches much further than any that he could ever own. And whether we reach for a bottle with his iconic Mission-style label on shelves high or low, is hardly relevant to this legacy now.
Even as the world notes his passing, Mondavi has perhaps managed to convey one last great advertisement for the benefits of a life lived with California wine—he was 94.
Tortured Freedom
05.21.08
Though located in Cuba, our Guantanamo detention camps are profoundly and entirely American, the fruits of an America that should never have come into being. With one tumbling crash we—once a leading light of justice, freedom and human rights—have flushed humane treatment of others straight down the toilet.
Witness our hysterical fear-jerk following the attacks of 9-11. In an instant, we forgot who we were and what we stood for. Practices for which we sent others to prison and even to the gallows were suddenly deemed legal and necessary interrogation techniques. So-called enemy combatants, many of them entirely innocent civilians sold to our military by profiteering Afghan headhunters, found themselves hooded and shackled on flights half a planet from home. A novel creation fabricated by administration apologists like UC Berkeley’s John Yoo, enemy combatants were stripped of all rights and legal standing. Guilty or not, charged with crimes or no, adult or mere child—hundreds were stripped of the writ of habeas corpus and subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques,” otherwise known as torture.
But out of darkness there often comes art. Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom, tells the documented stories of five Gitmo detainees using their own words from letters and interviews to create a theatrical interpretation of terrorism. Co-written by Guardian foreign correspondent Victoria Brittan and novelist Gillian Slovos, Honor Bound premiered in London, but has since drawn rave reviews in major cities across America. In part benefiting Sonoma County Veterans for Peace, this local production is directed by Chris Ginesi and depicts our nation’s “war” on terrorism.
Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom comes to Santa Rosa’s Glaser Center for a three performances only, Saturday&–Sunday, May 24&–25. Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday, 8pm. $10. 707.568.5381.
Museums and gallery notes.
Reviews of new book releases.
Reviews and previews of new plays, operas and symphony performances.
Reviews and previews of new dance performances and events.
Art of Purpose
05.21.08
Not many remember that Winston Churchill was a damned good painter. Though he didn’t pick up the brush until he was 41 years old, he completed some 500 paintings over the course of his life. Churchill is known to have said that when he got to heaven, he meant to spend “a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject.”
Getting to the bottom of the subject would indeed take the millennia, but for the one single short life they have here, a surprising number of people have decided to do it like the statesman did, one canvas at a time. Many of those participating in the 14th annual Art at the Source open studio event slated for western Sonoma County May 31&–June 1 and 7&–8, have never held high office, been PM or, indeed, defeated Hitler. Rather, they’ve made their quick swivel on Earth rich by pursuing art as a full-time profession.
Art as an actual profession, one almost as grave as Churchill’s day job, is generally pooh-poohed by the mainstream. But a serious profession it is, and in 2006, the nonpartisan Urban Institute compiled a report on what artists need to survive and why it might be worthwhile to help provide them with such. The report’s abstract calmly states that health coverage, housing and studio space are among a professional artist’s biggest obstacles, adding, “Compounding these material problems is the fact that the public often views the profession of ‘artist’ as not serious. The way artists earn a living may seem frivolous, and artists are often seen as indulging in their own passions and desires which bear no relation to the everyday experiences of most workers.”
Not that this seems to daunt anyone. In response to a poll of Art at the Source artists organized by Graton painter Janet Moore, some 43 percent of the 111 respondents said that being an artist was their only career. Yes, the poll’s guidelines allowed them to have had more humble jobs within the fine arts and to take time off for family, but almost half have never done anything else. Thirty-one percent became professional artists after pursuing other careers, and 26 percent of the respondents have slung the odd plate of hash or pounded many hot days’ worth of nails, taking non-art jobs to pay for the milk.
From those in the middle category who came to the art profession after a different career, their previous jobs are as various as having done groundbreaking work studying the ship-ballast water transport of nonnative fish to formerly being a software entrepreneur to giving up a lucrative magazine publishing gig to being a material-science engineer to teaching 20 years at high school to having the de rigueur desk job in arts administration.
With open studios exploding with color in the summer, we offer a short roundup of voices as Art at the Source painters express the feeling:
[U]nexpectedly, out of the blue, my only brother passed away and . . . my life shattered.
I had been painting for eight years and even opened a successful gallery in Freestone [the Gatehouse Gallery], but after I lost my brother, I knew I had to paint full-time. “If not now, when?” was the mantra. And I have never looked back. Not once. This is it for me, although I joke about going to law school or starting a career in aluminum-siding installation. Painting is my joy. All the experiences I have had contribute to my work. Instead of “climbing the ladder of success”, I prefer to make a wild and colorful tapestry with my life.—Janet Moore
I was a late bloomer to art. I started painting at age 50 after selling my software company. I graduated from Stanford with a masters in statistics and have worked as an expert witness, loan-portfolio analyst, inventor, software entrepreneur . . . and, most recently, philanthropist.—Jim March
I have been an artist since I was six years old when I discovered I loved coloring almost anything. . . . Using abstract expression as my method, I allow the image to come alive and through my energetic and visual responses, it takes form and comes to completion.—Suzanne Jacquot
When I had the opportunity to take art classes as a child I did, but as far as a career, I was going to be a doctor or a lawyer. When I got to college, I took two non-majors art courses to fulfill my general education requirement in my sophomore year. Ceramics unexpectedly became my passion and, much to the dismay of my family, I changed my major to art with an emphasis in ceramics. In order to marry what I love to do with something that would financially support me, I spent an additional year in college and received my teaching credential. . . . My paintings capture and “rescue” moments in time. We all live in such a fast-paced existence that I hope my paintings create an opportunity for viewers to slow down for a moment, spend some time and explore.—Sally Baker
Art in the ‘Open’
While the Marin County Arts Council just concluded its countywide official open studios tour, the independent Pt. Reyes Open Studios is slated for this weekend, Saturday&–Sunday, May 24&–26, from 11am to 5pm. Call or see website for map. For details, call 415.456.2382 or visit www.pointreyesart.com.
Looking north, the Sixth Annual Anderson Valley Open Studios tour also takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, at various locations along Highway 128 in southern Mendocino County. Studios are open from 11am to 5pm each day. For details, go to www.gomendo.com or call 707.895.3093.
Art at the Source, an open studios event sponsored by the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and focusing on artists based in western Sonoma County and featuring those mentioned in this article, runs May 31&–June 1 and June 7&–8. The preview exhibit runs through June 8 at the center, 6780 Depot St., Sebastopol. For details, go to www.sebarts.org or call 707.829.4797.
The Arts Council of Napa Valley presents its open studios the last two weekends of September, Sept. 20&–21 and 27&–28. For the first time this year, the event is juried, which has brought the number of artists down slightly but brings the level of the work up hugely. A preview exhibition is planned at Mumm Napa Cuvée Aug. 22&–Sept. 6, with a meet-the-artists reception slated for Sept. 5. 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford, 707.967.7740. While the jury selection process is over, questions may be directed to Kathy Lund, kl***@***********os.com or 707.257.7016.
Sonoma County’s ARTrails celebrates its 23rd year Oct. 11&–12 and 18&–19 with 144 artists participating in a juried show that opens with a reception on Sept. 27 at the Arts Council Gallery, 404 Mendocino Avenue, Suite C, Santa Rosa. On Oct. 5, the Graton Gallery complements the tour with its own opening at 9048 Graton Road, Graton. For details, go to www.artrails.org or call the Arts Council at 707.579.2787.
Museums and gallery notes.
Reviews of new book releases.
Reviews and previews of new plays, operas and symphony performances.
Reviews and previews of new dance performances and events.
Sixty-Eight Up
05.21.08
This summer, America’s film directors say in chorus: We wish it was 1968.
We miss the space program: There are three feature-length animated films, ‘WALL-E’ (June 27), ‘Space Chimps’ (July 18) and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (Aug. 22).
We miss Indian swamis: Mike Myers is the outrageously accented ‘Love Guru’ (June 20).
We miss Playboy magazine: Anna Faris as ‘The House Bunny’ (Aug. 22).
We miss marijuana: The Judd Apatow/David Gordon Green pot-heist comedy ‘Pineapple Express’ (Aug. 8).
We miss Vietnam: ‘Tropic Thunder’
(Aug. 15) has a cast of buffoons trying to make a bigger Vietnam movie than Apocalypse Now. Ben Stiller and Jack Black team with Robert Downey Jr. as an Australian actor who undergoes a John Howard Griffin&–style skin-darkening. We apparently miss blackface, too.
We miss the TV shows we used to watch, especially the ones about wacky spies: Adam Sandler’s dialect comedy ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ (June 6) and ‘Get Smart’ with Steve Carell channeling Don Adams (June 20).
We miss superheroes, or shit—any heroes: The most zeitgeist-heavy summer release of them all is ‘The Dark Knight’ (July 18), a revival of that caped hero of ’68 (“There must be some way out of here, said the joker to the thief”). Here, Batman (Christian Bale) is hunted by the Gotham City police department and attacked by the Joker (the late Heath Ledger). When things aren’t blowing up, Batman shows off his usual moment of Hamletesque wrestling in the face of duty.
The rest of the scad of superhero movies are slightly less metacritical, although wartime metaphors abound. ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (May 22) sees our hero setting a deluded U.S. military back on track. Just as Iron Man satirizes the weapons trade, so the Edward Nortonized ‘The Incredible Hulk’ (June 13) has the green-eyed monster about to be pressed into khaki by Gen. Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt). Our secret weapon against demon terrorists is Hellboy, who turns up in ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ (July 11). Guillermo del Toro directs the tandoori-colored hero.
‘Hancock’ (July 2) unveils Will Smith as an arrogant superhero who tries to reform, a little, with the help of Charlize Theron. ‘Wanted’ (June 27), based on a graphic-novel series written by Mark Millar, deals with a sect of superassassins (including Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie) whose motives aren’t as clear as they seem. ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (June 6) is full of computer-animated Hong Kongisms, so it counts as a kind of superhero movie.
We miss psychedelics: ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’ (May 16) wraps its Christian fairyland in a story about the Blitz of World War II. Let’s also note the highly psychedelic Spike Jonez/David Fincher presentation of Tarsem Singh’s ‘The Fall’ (May 30), which mixes up a cast of whirling dervishes and Charles Darwin, as related by an English (-speaking) patient languishing in a Southern California hospital.
Even one of the summer’s few romances, ‘Elsa & Fred’ (July 11), concerns an Argentinean lady’s obsession with La Dolce Vita. Hou Hsiao-hsien’s ‘Flight of the Red Balloon’ (May 16) paraphrases a famous 1956 French children’s film. And as a kind of commentary on how a film becomes a legend, ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (Aug. 15) arrives. Dispensing at last with the troublesome humans, George Lucas goes animated, apparently using a cast of Zwinkies.
We miss TV, part two: There are the further adventures of that quartet of cougars in ‘Sex and the City’ (May 30), while ‘Bangkok Dangerous’ (Aug. 22) stars Nicolas Cage in an American remake of a bucket of Thai mayhem by the Pang Brothers. ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’ (July 25) finds the producers evidently wanting to believe that David Duchovny is not box-office poison, and ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (Aug. 1) brings back Brendan Fraser to duel with the mummy of a Chinese emperor.
We miss knowing how it all turns out: The pants are recaptured in ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2’ (Aug. 8). ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D’ (July 11) has Brendan Fraser retracing the steps of Arne Saknussemm. ‘The Strangers’ (May 30) stars Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler in a motiveless home-invasion shocker. As the ads say, based on a true story. The true story is that there’s a place called France, where they made a movie called Ils, remade as a film called The Strangers.
And the summer’s most prestigious sequel, ‘Hamlet 2’ (Aug. 22), gives us a new view of that trash-talking but lovable Danish college student, in the context of a Tucson tale told by an idiot (Steve Coogan). (Mentioning students means mentioning the comedy ‘College,’ which should make Animal House look like Hamlet 1.)
We miss today: A few films even dare to engage with 2008. For example: there’s a must-see study of some of those dispossessed by the Three Gorges Dam, ‘Up the Yangtze’ (June 13). Fatih Akin’s ‘The Edge of Heaven’ (July 11) concerns cross-cultural tensions between Turkey and Germany in a feature film by the director of Head-On. ‘Brick Lane’ (June 27) has similar cultural head-butting when a Bangladeshi girl moves to east London for an arranged marriage.
Alan Ball’s ‘Towelhead’ (Aug. 15) follows a young Lebanese girl caught between American racism and Arab tradition. It’s not to be confused, but it will be anyway, with ‘Baghead’ (Aug. 1), the Duplass brothers’ no-budget romance featuring mumblecore sweetheart Greta Gerwig. In ‘Alexandra’ (May 30), Alexander Sokurov (Russian Ark) views the Chechnyan conflict through the eyes of a Russian grandmother.
We miss laughing: There’s one nonescapist comedy this season, ‘Swing Vote’ (Aug. 1), which concerns a New Mexican schlub (Kevin Costner) who gets to decide the presidential election. ‘Meet Dave’ (July 11) stars Eddie Murphy as the humanoid vessel for a team of miniaturized aliens. ‘Mamma Mia!’ (July 18) is the monster hit ABBA musical with Meryl Streep revealing to her daughter (Amanda Seyfried) which of three men sired her. (The preceding sentence is an example of fair and balanced journalism, as it does not describe listening to ABBA as like having warm mayonnaise funneled into the ears.)
‘The Accidental Husband’ (Aug. 22) features Uma Thurman as a Dr. Laura type who discovers she’s been married for years. Steve Conrad’s ‘The Promotion’ (June 13) teams John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott as rivals at a Chicago supermarket. The Sundance hit ‘The Wackness’ (July 3) concerns love and angst in Rudy Giuliani’s New York.
‘The Rocker’ (Aug. 1) tries to promote Rainn Wilson to the front line as an aging rock drummer who tries to glom onto his own nephew’s band. ‘Choke’ (Aug. 1) has Angelica Huston as a senile mom kept by a desperate son who works days as a historical re-enactor. ‘Step Brothers’ (July 25) teams John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell as a pair of lazy louts who are forcibly related by marriage.
We would never have missed this in 1968: The newest genre is tween interest. After the mammoth gross of the Hannah Montana concert movie, expect this category to grow over the years. ‘Kit Kittredge: American Girl’ (July 2) has Patricia (I Have Heard the Mermaids Singing) Rozema directing Abigail Breslin. ‘Wild Child’ (Aug. 22) has Nancy Drew‘s Emma Roberts as a crazy 16-year-old who gets shipped off to a British boarding school. ‘American Teen’ (Aug. 1) is a much-praised vérité documentary about a year in the life of an Indiana high school.
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Grave Dancer Boogie
05.21.08
When a billionaire calling himself “the Grave Dancer” pumps fifty grand into a California state proposition, you’ve gotta ask yourself, just whose grave is he planning to dance on next? Meet Proposition 98’s poster boy, real estate and media magnate Sam Zell. His bottom-feeding Equity LifeStyle Properties, based in Chicago, has grown into one of our nation’s largest rental property owners.
San Rafael’s embattled Contempo Marin Mobile Park is one of Zell’s 28 California holdings. Contempo homeowners already face Zell’s enormous rental hikes and pit bull legal assaults. Should Zell and his Proposition 98 compatriots prevail, all California rent controls and key renter-eviction protections will be gutted via voter-approved state constitutional amendment. Expect Zell and his ilk to then dance uncontested—trebling rents, evicting tenants and condo-converting mobile home parks and apartment buildings throughout California. Look for fixed-income seniors like Rohnert Park’s Len Carlson to suffer what he calls “economic eviction [with] no where else to go.” Residents who can’t afford obscene rent hikes fear they’ll be pitching tents under bridges.
Threats of Midas rents for modest housing are reason enough to vote down Proposition 98, but reasons to outright defeat it abound. Proposition 98’s primary mouthpiece is the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. You may recall Jarvis as the papa of Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes some 30 years ago. According to HJTA, Proposition 98 is designed to protect eminent-domain takings of “our homes, family farms, mom-and-pop small businesses [in order] to build a sports stadium, big-box chain store or hotel.”
Jon Coupal, president of HJTA, says, “The core of our initiative is the eminent domain reform.” If that’s so, then why has three quarters of the $4.5 million raised to promote Proposition 98 come from apartment-complex and mobile-home-park owners whose number one aim is to permanently eliminate all rent-control legislation, state, county and municipal?
The Howard Jarvis people employ creatively faulty logic hoping to convince voters that Proposition 98 is all about plugging the funnel of wealth flowing from the pockets of small landowners into those of fat cat developers abetted by corrupt officials using eminent domain. And yet Proposition 98 is backed by big money all the way. Supporters include the California Association of Realtors, the Apartment Owner Association of California and both the California Republican Party and the California Republican Taxpayers Association. Local backers include the Sonoma County Land Rights Coalition and Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association.
Proposition 98 will hinder the development and expansion of essential state and community resources, services and infrastructure works.
Consider scenarios in which a landowner holds every legal advantage. Water works projects, schools, roads and other pieces of essential public infrastructure may be prevented from being built or improved. Picture landowners trumping environmental regulations, thus affecting the lives of everyone in their community. Proposition 98 supporters say government agencies will still claim properties through eminent domain, though no doubt at considerably enhanced prices. Opponents insist property owners will demand unreasonable recompense, thus holding communities in dire need as economic hostages.
Proposition 99, 98’s head-on competition, is less toxic and boasts a broad coalition of more than 200 organizations ranging across the political divide. It’s somehow made bedfellows with both labor and business, environmentalists and government agencies, as well as uncountable Democrats and one square-jawed Republican governor.
While Proposition 98 dramatically shifts power to private land and building owners, Proposition 99 provides reasonable accommodation and a fair return for properties taken through eminent domain. Proposition 99 fills the vacuum left by our present dearth of protections afforded California’s private property owners. Proposition 99 isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t place an economic gun to our head like 98 most assuredly will.
In fact, Proposition 99 was conceived to run right at Proposition 98. If both propositions receive more than 50 percent voter approval, the one garnering the most votes will prevail. If only one receives the requisite 50 percent, that proposition becomes state law. Of course, it’s possible neither will achieve a majority threshold, in which case nothing changes.
With such consequential issues as eminent domain and rent control bundled together, it’s a shame these propositions aren’t on the General Election ballot in November. Being in a primary means receiving notice from far fewer voters. It also means every vote counts for more.
Here’s a whiff of what Proposition 98 proponent Sam Zell served up at the Milken Institute Global Conference in L.A. a few weeks ago. “This country,” the multibillionaire charged, “needs a cleansing. We need to clean out all those people who never should have bought in the first place, and not give them sympathy.”
How’d you like a newly unregulated and decidedly unsympathetic Sam Zell doing the Chi-town Hustle atop your home sweet home?
Vote NO on Proposition 98 and YES on Proposition 99.
Hot Summer List
05.21.08
Compiled by Suzanne Daly, Gretchen Giles and Beth Hall
May
DjangoFest Mill Valley The great French-Belgian-Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt gets a three-day blowout of fans and players presenting concerts, workshops and, yes, “djam” sessions to honor his spirit and inimitable sound. Highlights include the Hot Club of San Francisco (May 29), 3 Leg Torso (May 30) and the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet (May 31). May 29&–31 at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre. 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. $35&–$195. 415.383.9600.
Healdsburg Jazz Festival Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a vast assortment of performances. www healdsburgjazzfestival.org. See p25.
Paramount’s LaserSpectacular Ten thousand watts of concert-quality sound and Floyd. Dude! May 31 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. 8pm. $20&–$40; ages eight and over. 707.944.1300.
Art at the Source Artists in western Sonoma County open their studios to the public during two weekends: May 31&–June 1 and June 7&–8. www.artatthesource.org. See p28.
Crosby, Stills & Nash Their first tour together since 2005, the old guys can still rock, and lawd knows Steven Stills is worth the ticket alone on May 31 at the Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $39&–$149. 707.546.3600.
June
Larkspur Flower & Food Fest Local gardeners bring their best flora to show off to the community at the 18th annual celebration of good things to look at and good things to eat. June 1 from 11am on Magnolia Avenue, downtown Larkspur. 415.383.3470.
Gabriel Iglesias This comic insists on being known as “fluffy guy” and his fans surely understand why. Fluffy G. on June 3 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $30&–$50. 707.944.1300.
Auction Napa Valley Having raised more than $60 million for local nonprofits since its inception in 1981, Auction Napa Valley is a crazy big way for wine lovers and deep pockets to enjoy a 30-mile-long block party. The event will be held June 5&–8 this year and features all of the many different kinds of fun that regular attendees count on. The main event is slated for June 7 at Meadowood and features Jay Leno. www.napavintners.com.
Bucky! Hailed as the Leonardo da Vinci of the 20th century, R. Buckminster Fuller is reinvigorated through a montage of video, sound, poetry and plain old-fashioned acting by Joe Spano in this one-man show on June 6 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. 8pm. $35. 707.226.7372.
Harmony Festival Celebrating its 30th anniversary as an evolutionary, green music festival, this year’s Harmony Fest brings a smokin’ lineup. June 6&–8, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $30&–$130. www.harmonyfestival.com.
The Temptations & the Four Tops The Temps and the Tops live on to perform their timeless hits and vocal harmonies, and are “not simply surviving, but thriving.” Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$85. 707.546.3600.
Marin Home Show & Benefit Jazz Fest Eco-friendly alternatives for home and garden await at this year’s Marin Home Show from over 350 different vendors. Stay for a showcase of music including Rex Allen’s swing Express (June 7) and Pride & Joy (June 8), as well as bands from Marin high schools competing. June 7&–8 from 10am. Marin Civic Center Exhibit Hall and Fairgrounds, San Rafael. Tickets $8 for two days. 415.499.6900. www.marinhomeshow.com.
Beerfest Eat, drink, be merry and support an excellent cause as the 17th annual Beerfest to benefit Face to Face. Tickets include all food and beer tastings, and we’re talking gourmet sausages, oysters, tri-tip and even toffee. The French-Gypsy-funk of Dgiin adds spice for the ears. June 7 from 1pm to 5pm. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $35&–$40; over 21 only. 707.546.3600.
Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music Two-day live music fest celebrates its silver anniversary with area crafters, good things to eat and drink, and live music on two stages. Musical highlights include Bonnie Hayes (June 7) and the English Beat followed by the Mother Hips (June 8). Children’s area complete with petting zoo, bounce house and pony and train rides. Saturday&–Sunday, June 7&–8, from 10am. Old Town Novato, on Grant, between Redwood Boulevard and Seventh Street. Free. 415.897.1164.
Orchestra Baobab African popsters tour to support their newest release, Made in Dakar, exploring both the roots of African music as well as its very 21st-century sound. June 11 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. $35. 707.226.7372.
Film Night in the Park Lie out under the stars and enjoy family-friendly movies with a picnic dinner. Beginning on June 13 in Fairfax with a screening of The Water Horse, the nights travel around the Bay Area, also screening in Mill Valley, San Anselmo, San Rafael and San Geronimo. Films run through Sept. 27 in San Anselmo and screen at 8pm. $3&–$6 donation requested. 415.4534333. www.filmnight.org.
Paula West Jazz chanteuse performs cabaret standards as well as drawing from Robert Zimmerman and Declan MacManus in a velvet night of sound. June 13 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. $40&–$45. 707.226.7372.
14th Annual Pride Comedy Night Featuring the riotous humor of comedian Susan Westenhoefer, with special guest Ali Mafi at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts on June 14. Dancing and music in the lobby by the Sapphire Lounge follows the show, which partially benefits Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $25&–$35. 707.546.3600.
‘Defending the Caveman’ Rob Becker’s anthropological investigation into the Western male psyche continues to charm and delight, returning just in time for Father’s Day on June 14 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $25&–$55; 16 and over. 707.944.1300.
Cotati Jazz Festival The fest salutes swing music with five swing bands in just about every venue downtown Cotati has to offer. This year, 50 percent of all net profits will be presented to the Rancho Cotati Music Boosters to support local kids’ music programs. For the fourth year, this all-day event is entirely free and encompasses every musical and nonmusical venue in downtown Cotati. Performers booked for La Plaza park include Stompy Jones, Swing Fever and others. Check individual venues for their bookings. June 14, from noon to midnight. www.cotatijazz.com.
Fairfax Festival Never one to say no to a party, Fairfax celebrates its 31st festival, a gentle riot of live music, great food and nice folks. This year, the Mother Truckers (June 14), and Big Brother and the Holding Company (June 15) rock the stage. Many local artists appear both days. Parade, 10am on June 15. Festival, June 14&–15 from 11am. Downtown Fairfax. 415.485.5699.
Marin Art Festival “The lawn party for the arts” features over 250 artists by the Lagoon in the Marin Civic Center and includes international food, live music, fine wine and brews, and the ubiquitous more. Food offerings travel the globe. June 14&–15, from 10am. $10; under 14, free. Lagoon Park, at the Marin Center, Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.388.0151.
Italian Street Painting Festival Some 60,000 people come to downtown San Rafael to marvel at this celebration featuring hundreds of madonnari—or street painters—using the pavement as their canvas. June 14&–15, 9am to 7pm, Fifth Avenue and A Street in downtown San Rafael. Free. www.youthinarts.org.
Russian River Blues Festival The Blues Festival hasn’t lost its momentum as it nears its 13th year, featuring headliners Jonny Lang and Earl Thomas (June 14) and Los Lonely Boys (June 15), as well as such notables as the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Coco Montoya and others June 14&–15, from 10am. On Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville. $45&–$180; 10 and under, free. 707.869.1595.
Sonoma Lavender Festival Lavender gets into everything, including the brownies, at this annual festival, held on a working lavender farm ordinarily not open to the public. June 14&–15, from 10 am to 4pm. Inside the Chateau St. Jean Winery, Highway 12 in Kenwood. $5, parking. Cooking demos, $20 donation. To reserve, call 707.523.4411, ext. 1. www.sonomalavender.com.
Teddy Geiger OK, we’ll bite. He’s a teenage prodigy who’s been composing for two instruments since he was eight. He was “discovered” when attempting to be placed on In Search of the New Partridge Family, God bless him, he’s in the newest Christina Applegate vehicle and your tween still can’t get in to see him. Hilary McRae and Scott Harris open on June 14 at the Mystic Theatre. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. $20&–$22; 16 and over. 707.765.2121.
Earth, Wind & Fire Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees light the stage with their Beyond the Elements Tour on June 17. After 38 years together, EW&F burn on. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$99. 707.546.3600.
Travis Tritt Pull on some boots and ride out The Storm, Tritt’s newest collection of songs blending country with R&B on June 18. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$85. 707.546.3600.
Sonoma-Marin Fair When the world’s ugliest dogs appear and 100 tons of metal collide in the destruction derby, that’s how you know it’s summer, as the Sonoma-Marin Fair kicks things off on June 18 with every fair trope from baked goods to livestock shows. Entertainers include Smash Mouth (June 20), country diva Terri Clark (June 19), Bay Area music scene fixture Tower of Power (June 18) and Train lead singer Pat Monahan (June 21). Look for New Wave faves the Motels to finish things off (June 22). Sonoma-Marin Fair, Petaluma Fairgrounds, Two blocks west of East Washington Exit, Petaluma. Noon to midnight. $8&–$14; under three, free. 707.283.3247.
Rodney Strong Concert Series The 18th annual KJZY Summer Concert Series, set in the sunny grasslands behind the Rodney Strong winery, kicks off with Brian Culbertson’s Funk Experience and Jonathan Butler (June 21). Next up is Fourplay, with Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, Harvey Mason (July 5), then Chris Botti (Aug. 2), Michael McDonald (Aug. 17) and ending with Rick Braun and Richard Elliot’s RnR Tour (Sept. 27). Rodney Strong Vineyards, 11455 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. Doors generally open around 2pm. $40&–$95. 707.869.1595.
Jonathan Poretz This hep cat channels Old Blue Eyes like it’s 1962 and the rest of the Pack are slugging it down backstage at the Sands. Backed up by a 12-piece orchestra and appropriately preceded by a comedian, Poretz promises a cheddary slice of pop culcha. June 21 at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley. $25&–$35. 415.383.9600.
Indigo Girls Do fans in Napa Valley tumble all over each other like drunken kittens, kissing and licking indiscriminately, when Amy and Emily play there, like the fans at the Greek Theater do? Such burning questions are guaranteed to be answered when our favorite duo of fabulous songstresses descend on June 24 at the Lincoln Theater. Brandi Carlile performs the special guest role. 100 California Drive, Yountville. $50&–$75. 707.944.1300.
James Cotton Harp master Cotton enters his 64th year of performing with inimitable style and wearing his many Grammys well. June 27 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. $30&–$35. 707.226.7372.
Jefferson Starship The rockship lands for a three-night gig at the Sweetwater Station featuring a different theme every night, in addition to performances from the Ship’s latest disc, Tree of Liberty. June 27&–29. June 27 is slated to find Darby Gould assisting Paul Kantner’s in his “sci-fi rock ‘n’ roll music night”; June 28 finds the dawgman himself, David Grisman, on able assist; and the last night is still in TBA mode. Sweetwater Station, 500 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. $60 a night or $200 for all three. 415.924.6107.
San Anselmo Art & Wine Festival Over 50,000 folks converge on downtown San Anselmo each year—hungry, thirsty, craft-starved folks. As usual, a section of the fest will be devoted to cooking and home and landscape design, and will include demonstrations, displays and hands-on projects. June 28&–29. San Anselmo Avenue between Bolinas and Tamalpais streets. 10am&–6pm. Free. 415.454.2510.
Summer Nights Osher Marin JCC makes a hot summer buzz featuring the David Grisman Quintet (June 21), African music by the Nigerian Brothers and the Kusun Ensemble (June 28), Tito y Su Son de Cuba (July 12), Sambaguru featuring Katia Moraes (July 19), Brass Menazeri (July 26), and Gena Delafose and French Rockin Boogie (Aug. 2). Swig Field, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. $20&–$30; students, half off. 415.444.8000. www.marinjcc.org.
Mill Valley Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting Some 70 vintners from our wine country, as well as from Europe and the Pacific Northwest, and some 30 food providers converge on the parking lot behind the Depot Bookstore to pour out and serve up the good stuff. June 22 from 1pm. Lytton Square, Sunnyside and Miller avenues, Mill Valley. $40&–$50. 415.388.9700.
Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival A fantastic lineup hails this festival’s 13th year honoring the work of the late singer-songwriter Kate Wolf. Artist highlights include performances by the Ani DiFranco Band, Greg Brown, Los Lobos, the Waifs, the Taj Mahal Trio, the Keb’ Mo’ Band, and much more. Plan to camp. June 27&–29. Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Full festival pass, including three nights camping, is $150; $160 at the door. Daily tickets available. Under six, free. 707.823.1511. www.cumuluspresents.com.
Napa Valley Comedy Night Now in its sixth year benefiting the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the North Bay, Pahlmeyer Winery’s compendium of the Bay Area’s brightest comedy stars gets its souk on with a “Moroccan Madness” theme that will find guests eating with their fingers, ogling belly dancers and, of course, laughing along. June 28 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. 6:30pm; $45&–$75. 707.226.7372.
July
Marin County Fair “Going Green” is the theme of the 63rd Marin County Fair, showcasing cutting-edge efforts in sustainability and environmental activism, with environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo and Earthcapades, an environmental vaudeville show. As always, the music and the fine art are stellar, and fireworks end every night. Look for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (July 2), Steel Pulse (July 3), the Tommy Castro Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (July 4), WAR and America (July 5), and Elvin Bishop and Los Lobos (July 6). July 2&–July 6. Marin County Fairgrounds, adjacent to the Marin Center, Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $12&–$14; under four, free; July 2, 12 and under, free. 415.499.6400.
Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Music Festival The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (July 5) kick off the annual summer fest, held outdoors on the lawn behind the winery, the first year Mr. Mondavi will not be in attendance. Look for Dave Koz with special guest Dave Benoit (July 12), Tiempo Libre (July 19) Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (July 26), and UB40 (Aug. 2). All shows at 7pm. $55&–$200. Highway 29, Oakville. 888.RMWJAZZ.
Billy Bob Thornton You hated him when he had Angelina’s icky blood around his neck. You loved him when he was the North Pole’s nastiest man. Now there’s every indication that you might even like him when he opens his mouth to sing. He appears with the Boxmasters, a self-described “lounge-approved” creation. It’s worth 25 bucks just for the gape on July 11 at the Mystic Theatre. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.765.2121.
Battling Breast Cancer Brewfest Slake a thirst to do good while enjoying great suds from all over Northern California. Live music, good eats and a bike auction complete the afternoon. July 12 from noon to 5pm. Larkspur Landing Courtyard, outside of Marin Brewing co., 1809 Larkspur Landing, Larkspur. $20&–$25. 415.461.4677.
Third Annual Festival del Sole The festival is back with a flourish July 12&–20. The slate runs from famed violinists Joshua Bell and Dmitry Sitkovetsky, French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and 13-year-old piano prodigy Conrad Teo, and much, much more. Free community concerts, visual arts exhibits and family events abound. For complete details, go to www.festivaldelsole.com.
Green Music Festival Summer Season Local artists flock back to the Green Music Festival July 11&–20 with seven concerts total, and a talk by former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown (July 15) to boot. Among the highlights are the famed jazz band Jackie Ryan Trio (July 12), the Grammy-nominated, 45-member choral group Pacific Mozart Ensemble (July 16) and cabaret genius Wesla Whitfield (July 19). Evert B. Person Theater, SSU, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. $12&–$24. 877.778.3378.
George Winston The New Age pianist is interested in larger themes these days, and so performs mainly in benefit for others, this concert being no exception, as it benefits the area food bank. His range and stylistic adaptability are worth the price of a can of food alone. July 18 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. 8pm. $35; bring canned food. 707.226.7372.
Tom Jones The Welshman often draped in women’s thrown panties swings through Marin to do that amazing training thing that allows him to run the lines of “It’s Not Unusual” so fluently—and perhaps even perform other wonders. July 18 at the Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $40&–$95. 415.499.6800.
George Lopez Mexican-American comedian and TV star makes a two-night stand riffing on his culture and tearing America a new one. July 18&–19 at the Wells Fargo Center. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$65. 707.546.3600.
Old Grove Festival With Armstrong Redwoods apparently safe from the governor’s budget knife, the State Parks again present this fest, now in its third year in the 21st century (this is a revival of a great idea from the 1940s). The summer kicks off with a classical Mexican group, La Catrina Quartet (July 19), and a local variety show starting the evening. Next up is the 20-piece Junius Courtney Big Band, with more local talent (Aug. 16). The Sun Kings Beatles tribute and another variety show (Sept.12) and a staging of the Sonoma County Rep’s Taming of the Shrew (Sept. 13) close the summer. Armstrong Redwoods SRA Forest Theater. $25&–$40. 707.869.9403.
Catalan Festival The fastest trip to Barcelona possible, this annual festival features live flamenco guitarists and dancers, the winery’s own sparkling wine and tastings from many Spanish-influenced eateries, along with cooking demonstrations. July 19&–20, 11am&–4pm. Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, 23555 Carneros Hwy., Sonoma. $37&–$45; under five, free. 707.933.1999. www.gloriaferrer.com.
Sonoma County Fair Going for small-town patriotism, the fair runs July 22&–Aug. 4 this year with the theme Star-Spangled Celebration, offering more horse racing, rodeos, destruction derbies, Elvis Day and plenty of live music. Look for Heidi Newfield and Freestyle MX (July 22), Batalai de los Bandas (July 25) and the always popular Blues Fest (July 26). “Red, White and Blooms” is the flower-show theme, kicking off with a preview on July 20. www.sonomacountyfair.com.
Wine Country Film Festival Running July 22&–Aug. 3, the festival presents features, documentaries, shorts and animation in six categories. www.winecountryfilmfest.com.
Lucky Stars The cream of Bay Area diva jazz converge for one night and even let a man tag along. Denise Perrier, Kim Nalley, Lavay Smith and Spencer Day appear at this fabulous night devoted to the voice as an instrument. No one who saw him open for Rufus Wainwright has forgotten Day. Mark it as one of the top gigs of the summer. July 27 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $20&–$100. 707.944.1300.
The Money Conversation Performance artist Sara Juli hands out her entire life savings in cash to the audience as she measures self-worth with investment. Whether you keep the money or not is up to your own moral code. July 29 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. $35. 707.226.7372.
Buddy Guy & George Thorogood The man who taught Hendrix to play returns for another night of ace guitar. Opener George “Bad to the Bone” Thorogood continues to hail his band as the world’s best “bar band,” and that makes this a night. Check it July 30 at the Marin Center. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $39&–$75. 415.499.6800.
Lyle Lovett Touring to support his new album, It’s Not Big, It’s Large, the adorable, darling and talented Mr. Lovett fills the room in a big way with his eclectic mix of country, Americana, big band and gospel. July 30 at the Wells Fargo Center, 50 mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$85. 707.546.3600.
August
Sara Evans One of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful humans, country music’s female vocalist of the year and able to hold her own on Dancing with the Stars? Goodness, this girl’s got it going on. Aug. 1 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $59&–$79. 707.944.1300.
Reggae Rising Begun as the replacement concert for the annual Reggae on the River fest, Rising has come into its own. Aug. 1&–3. Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp, north of Piercy, Humboldt. $175, three-day pass; $60&–$145, three-day camping; $300, RV camping. www.reggaerising.com.
The Beach Boys Amid discussion about whether this is the first or second time the Boys have made the Santa Rosa scene, we relax in the good vibrations. Aug. 2 at the Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. $15&–$89. 707.546.3600.
Carrera de San Rafael Downtown San Rafael is transformed into a bike racetrack as pros take over the main downtown streets. Aug. 9. Race takes over Fourth, A, D and Fifth streets. Free. www.carrerasanrafael.com.
San Rafael Food & Wine Festival The Mission City of Marin plays host to the San Rafael Food and Wine Festival this August at Falkirk Cultural Center. Regional wineries will be there as well as the local brew folks and plenty of food purveyors. What would wine be without art and music? A lonely drunk, indeed. Plan for Aug. 16, from 11am to 5pm, at the Falkirk Cultural Center,1408 Mission Ave., San Rafael. $15, five tastes. 415.456.6455.
Pete Escovedo & Sons Papa doesn’t have a brand new band, but he’s sure got a hot one. Grammy winner Escovedo brings sons on for a percussion fest sure to get toes tapping. Aug. 16 at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. $35. 707.226.7372.
Solar & Good Living Festival Now in its 13th year, SolFest combines fun with being eco-friendly. Saturday night’s Moondance is always a freaky pleasure. Aug. 16&–17, 10am. Real Goods Solar Living Institute, Hopland. $25&–$45. 707.744.2017. www.solfest.org.
Donna Summer Disco lives and it’s live. Summer makes a summer tour to support her new disc, Crayons, but promises to play from her lamé-tinged songbook as well. Aug. 17 at the Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15&–$95. 707.546.3600.
Schulz Museum Anniversary Sparky’s place turns six and celebrates with free evening admission and ice cream cake for all. Aug. 19, from 5pm to 8pm. 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. www.schulzmuseum.org.
Diamond Rio With 13 Grammy nominations and crazy amount of wins from the Country Music Association, the boys sing from a set list that includes “Meet in the Middle” and “I Believe.” Aug. 20 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $49&–$69. 707.944.1300.
Taste of Railroad Square Don’t lick that brick! Rather, get tastes from the several restaurants in the old town area to benefit the Sixth Street Playhouse. Aug. 23, from noon to 4pm. $35&–$114; discount tickets available before July 1. 707.523.4187.
Edible Gardens COPIA’s fifth annual festival of all the many good things that grow from the ground features cooking demos, live music, an artists’ marketplace and kids’ activities. Saturday, go Cajun with the Wild Catahoulas and Zydeco Flames; Sunday, feel it in the hips with Le Jazz Hot and Pride & Joy. Aug. 23&–24, from 11am. COPIA, 500 First St., Napa. $10&–$15. 707.259.1600. www.copia.org.
Seafood Art & Wine Festival Bodega Bay celebrates for the 14th time with seafood deluxe and music. This event showcases the best of California’s wineries and breweries, artists and craftspeople and benefits Stewards of the Coasts and Redwoods and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department. Aug. 23&–24 from 10am to 6pm. Watts Ranch, 16855 Bodega Hwy., just east of the town of Bodega. $8&–$10; under 12, free. No dogs this year. 707.824.8717. www.winecountryfestivals.com.
Cotati Accordion Festival The Golden State Accordion Club kicks off this year’s two-day tribute to the squeezebox. Featured acts on Saturday include the Great Morgani, the Golden State Accordion Club Band, the Hurricane, Amber Lee and the Anomalies, Dick Contino, Grammy-nominated Polka Freakout, Vagabond Opera and Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers. On Sunday, look for the Golden State Accordion Club Band, Mike Moratta, the Georges Lammam Ensemble, Joe Domitrowich, Dick Contino, the Polka Freakout, Vagabond Opera and Limpopo. Aug. 23&–34 from 9:30am to 10pm. La Plaza Park, Cotati. $15&–$25; children under 15 free. 707.664.0444. www.cotatifest.com.
Sonoma County Showcase of Wine & Food Three-day foodie lovefest features the Taste of Sonoma County (Aug. 30) at MacMurray Ranch, various winery lunches and dinners (Aug. 29), and 16th Annual Sonoma Valley Wine Auction (Aug. 31). $75&–$6,500. For details, go to www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com.
Voices of Latin Rock Members of such hit-making bands as Malo, Pablo Cruise, War, Sly and the Family Stone join Jorge Santana for a night of blistering fusion. Aug. 30 at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. $40&–$60. 707.944.1300.
Healdsburg Jazz Festival Picks
I’ve had quite a few people ask me for recommendations on the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and what I’ve found is that most people in the world are interested in jazz but simply uninformed. There’s no better place to brush up on your jazz than this year’s festival, which, as I’ve mentioned before, is a grand slam as far as festival booking goes. Every show’s a winner, but here’s a quick run-down of the shows that I personally am planning on attending; keep in mind that everyone has their own idea of what’s cool and what blows.
First of all, any newcomer to jazz is virtually required to see Mark Cantor’s Jazz Night at the Movies (June 1 at 7:30pm, Raven Theater). The impact of Cantor’s amazing collection of 16mm jazz reels (he’s got over 5,000 at this point) is incredible, providing a cinematic history of live jazz from almost every era. Cantor’s personal introductions provide connect-the-dots context, and every single clip is moving in its own way; either hilarious, like Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang trading call-and-response eights, or downright poignant, like Billie Holiday singing “My Man” from a 1950s television special. Plus it’s only $10!
I’m stoked on finally seeing Charles Lloyd (May 31 at 7:30pm, Jackson Theater), who’s been making interesting records on ECM lately with a great group. He’s got this really great pianist, Jason Moran, and an excellent, rock-solid drummer in the form of Eric Harland. He’s getting older, but he’s an innovator from within, and those people never run out of ideas, regardless of age. Charles Lloyd was lucky enough to be booked onto Fillmore shows in the late ’60s by Bill Graham, and his searing solos fit in nicely with the psychedelic scene in San Francisco; if you’re looking for envelope-pushing jazz, check this one out.
The show I can fully recommend to everyone—and especially those with kids—is the suave-lookin’ guy pictured above, clarinetist Don Byron (June 2 at 1pm and 7pm, Raven Theater), whose Ivey Divey was my #1 jazz album of 2004. Combining klezmer, jazz, and classical styles, in a word, Byron’s music is fun. The show he’ll be presenting is great: old Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes cartoons get projected on the Raven Theater’s screen while his group plays music from his 1996 album, Bug Music. Both Raymond Scott—whose music will be represented in great supply—and Byron have that element of surprise that kids love, but he’s innovative enough (and has a great band, with Billy Hart on drums) to appeal to anyone. It’s $25, but bring a kid and it’s only $15 for the both of you!
One of my all-time favorite jazz musicians is Eric Dolphy, who played the saxophone, bass clarinet, and flute like no one else who walked the planet. He died in 1964, but his music was so great that it takes two people to resurrect it properly: saxophonist and clarinetist Bennie Maupin and flutist James Newton (June 6 at 8pm, Raven Theater). Maupin played on Miles Davis‘ Bitches Brew, and most people only know Newton from his highly publicized Supreme Court case with the Beastie Boys over sampling rights (“Pass the Mic”—the Beasties won). Newton is a hell of a flute player, on par with Dolphy and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and he and Maupin have unearthed some sheet music that Dolphy left behind. It’ll be out there, but in the best sense—Dolphy never wanked for wanking’s sake—making this the show I’m probably most excited about.
How can you go wrong with the lineup for ‘A Night in the Country‘ (June 7 at 7:30pm, Raven Theater)? Charlie Haden is one of jazz’s most intuitive bassists, having helmed the Ornette Coleman quartet, the Liberation Music Orchestra, and the Quartet West (he’s also a great interview). Kenny Barron is the one pianist that no one I know hates, and saxophone superstar Joshua Redman is going to thrive in this setting. Also on the bill is Julian Lage, who I cannot say enough good things about (and that’s not just because I sold him his copy of Everybody Digs Bill Evans when he was 12). Simply put, Lage is a miracle, a supremely talented guitar player with gallons of taste. He’ll be playing with monster bassist Ray Drummond to boot!
Jazz has always been nighttime music to me, but if you can hang with the sunny outdoors at a winery, then by all means, go see Bobby Hutcherson (June 8 at 3pm, Rodney Strong Vineyards). Always terrific, Hutcherson is also a complete crowd-pleaser, hovering over his vibes and making wild body movements as he plays. He’s played on some seminal albums, including Dolphy’s Out to Lunch, and he was the saving grace of Freddie Hubbard’s disastrous performance last month at Yoshi’s. Also on the bill is Cedar Walton, who played on the John Coltrane album Giant Steps, and Craig Handy, an outstanding tenor player from Berkeley who always blows me away.
The complete Healdsburg Jazz Festival lineup is here. Say whassup if you see me around.
Harmony Festival
05.21.08It's hard to believe that our own homegrown Harmony Festival, which could truly claim the phrase "We were a festival before festivals were cool," is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. But it's harder still to fathom that after teaming up last year with mega-promoter Live Nation, a $4.4 billion subsidiary of Clear Channel, and getting the short end...
Jazz Journey
The book of photographs opens to a shot of a young girl without shoes, lounging in the grass at the 1969 Monterey Jazz Festival. Looking closely, it's clear that the girl in the photo is a young Jessica Felix, listening to Miles Davis on a summer's day. Almost three decades later, not much has changed. On a recent hot...
Tortured Freedom
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Art of Purpose
05.21.08Not many remember that Winston Churchill was a damned good painter. Though he didn't pick up the brush until he was 41 years old, he completed some 500 paintings over the course of his life. Churchill is known to have said that when he got to heaven, he meant to spend "a considerable portion of my first million years...
Sixty-Eight Up
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Grave Dancer Boogie
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Hot Summer List
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Healdsburg Jazz Festival Picks
I've had quite a few people ask me for recommendations on the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and what I've found is that most people in the world are interested in jazz but simply uninformed. There's no better place to brush up on your jazz than this year's festival, which, as I've mentioned before, is a grand slam as far as...
