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Happy Birthday, Carmen!!!!

Carmen Bradford

Happy Birthday, Carmen Bradford!

I have been following vocalist Carmen Bradford since the early 1990’s and love her dearly. I finally got to hear her live in concert a couple of years ago with the Count Basie Orchestra at Yoshi’s. When she stepped on the stage it was electrifying and when she sang, it brought me to tears which I will rarely admit…lol! She has the voice of an angel.

Carmen has sung with the Count Basie Orchestra since the 80’s and has the distinct honor of being the last vocalist Mr. Basie selected for the band before his passing.

The photo above is from her performance with the Count Basie Orchestra at Yoshi’s last October. I look forward to hearing her live in concert again soon.

Love you, Carmen!!!!

Jul 19, 2020 | Categories:Uncategorized | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

What’s going on!!!!

Monterey Jazz Festival 2019

Jimmy Lyon’s Arena Stage

What’s going on, good people!!!! Our world is a mess right now and hopefully it will get better if we all work together. I have not written you in a while but you are always with me.

The above photo is very special to me. I was on the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena stage at Monterey Jazz Festival 62 last September. I was a staff photographer on the last day of the festival. I got to see all the happenings on the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena stage before the curtain opens. I learned that you mostly stay out of the way of the stage manager because there are so many moving part behind the scenes, that you could get trampled if you are in the wrong place. It was so thrilling being up there and i hope to have that opportunity again. Below is my view of the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena before all the magic happened.

I first attended the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2002 and have not this missed a festival rain or shine since then. However, this year will be different due to the pandemic. i will be viewing the festival online and there will be great music to enjoy. I promise to post photos from last year’s festival in the near future.

I miss live music and seeing and hearing my musician friends in person. It is so easy to take all of that for granted.

That’s all I have for the moment. Please be good to yourselves and one another.

Jul 18, 2020 | Categories:Festivals, Jazz Clubs & Events, Monterey Jazz Festival, Music News/Info, Musicians, Photography, Singers | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most – James Knox

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Per Wikipedia, “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” (1955) is a popular song with lyrics by Fran Landesman, set to music by Tommy Wolf. The title is a jazz rendition of the opening line of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, “April is the cruelest month”. I first heard Patti Austin sing this wonderful song on The Real Me album in 1988 and instantly fell in love with it. I have since heard delightful renditions from Ella, Sarah, Betty and Carmen (McRae and Lundy.)

I selected this song as my solo tune for Faye Carol’s School of the Getdown for May 2016. This really needs to be visual so you can see me tossing my phone across the room when I no longer needed it for the words.

You can learn more about the School of the Getdown, here. Classes will be starting on Wednesday, July 6 and held for the following three Wednesdays.

Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most [ 9:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jun 30, 2016 | Categories:I Sing Too, Music News/Info, Podcasts, Singers | Tags: , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Friends of Golden Gate Library present their 25th Year of Jazz on Sundays Series

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The Friends of Golden Gate Library present their 25th year of Jazz on Sundays at Golden Gate Library, 5606 San Pablo Avenue Oakland. Concerts are every Sunday through August 30.

July 12, 2015
Robert Stewart

July 19, 2015
Rhonda Benin

July 26, 2015
Calvin Keys

August 2, 2015
Kenny Washington

August 9, 2015
Yancy Taylor

August 16, 2015
The Bryant Bolling Quartet (Mr. “B”)

August 23, 2015 *
Junius Courtney Big Band (“In the Park”)
*This performance will held at:
Doyle/Hollis Park – 61st Street between Hollis and Doyle Streets

August 30, 2015
Denise Perrier

Featured Artist 3:00PM – 4:00PM.
History of Jazz with Randy Moore 4:30PM – 5:00PM
Open Jam Session 5:00PM – 6:00PM

Jul 03, 2015 | Categories:Festivals, Friends of Golden Gate Library, Groovin' Around The Bay, Music News/Info, Musicians, Photography, Singers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Temescal Street Fair Oakland – Sunday, July 5 – 12 – 6pm

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Jul 02, 2015 | Categories:Community, Family, Festivals, Groovin' Around The Bay, Oakland, Photography | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

Fillmore Jazz Festival 2015 – July 4 and 5

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Two great days of music, art, and family fun in the Fillmore District. See you there!

Fillmore Jazz Festival Schedule

Downloadable Entertainment Schedule

Poster Credit: Craig Frazier Studio

Jul 01, 2015 | Categories:Festivals, Fillmore Jazz Festival, Groovin' Around The Bay, Music News/Info, Photography | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Night with the Divas & Dons – A Benefit for Black Coalition on AIDS and Rafiki Wellness Program – 11/16

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Night with the Divas & Dons
A Benefit for Black Coalition on AIDS and its Rafiki Wellness Program
Sunday, November 16, 2014
4-7 PM
BCA/Rafiki Wellness Building
601 Cesar Chavez Street (between 3rd Street and Pier 80)
San Francisco, CA

Musical guests for the evening include Dee Spencer, Tiffany Austin, Noah Griffin, Derek Lassiter, Valerie Troutt, Terrie Odabi and a special guest vocalist!! It is going to be a wonderful evening of music for a great cause.

For more information, www.bcoa.org.

For tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/902920

Nov 12, 2014 | Categories:Community, Music News/Info, Music Reviews, Musicians, Singers | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Cécile McLorin Salvant @ The Addition (formerly Yoshi’s SF) tonight and tomorrow!

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The wait is over. I had the pleasure of hearing Cécile McLorin Salvant at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival and she was absolutely mesmerizing. It was mentioned that she would be playing in the Bay Area in November and I got very excited. Her run started last night and she will be playing at 8pm tonight and tomorrow at The Addition (formerly Yoshi’s SF.) See you there!!!

Nov 11, 2014 | Categories:Music News/Info, Musicians, Singers, The Addition | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Friends of Golden Gate Library Presents Jazz on Sundays Series 2014

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The Friends of Golden Gate Library Presents Jazz on Sundays 2014 at Golden Gate Library, 5606 San Pablo Avenue Oakland. Concerts are every Sunday through August 31.

Featured Artist 3:00PM – 4:00PM.
History of Jazz with Randy Moore 4:30PM – 5:00PM
Open Jam Session 5:00PM – 6:00PM

August 3, 2014 – Rhonda Benin & Quartet
August 10, 2014 – Nicolas Bearde & Trio
August 17, 2014 – Terrence Brewer & Group
August 24, 2014 – Junius Courtney Big Band (“In The Park”)*
August 31, 2014 – Ed Reed & Group

*August 24 performance will be held at:

Doyle/Hollis Park
61st Street between Hollis and Doyle Streets

Aug 01, 2014 | Categories:Friends of Golden Gate Library, Music News/Info, Oakland, Photography | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

The Capture of Life: Absent from Color – July 4 – 26, 2014 – Joyce Gordon Gallery

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The Capture of Life: Absent from Color
When: July 4 – July 26, 2014
Preview: Thursday, July 3rd 6-8pm
Opening Reception: First Friday, July 4th 6-9pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, July 19th 1-3pm

Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Photographers: Susan Bradley, Christine Chorney, Diallo Mwathi Jeffrey, James Knox, Toby Kahn, Carl W. Lantz, William Van Meter, Carl Posey, TaSin Sabir, Jonathan Taylor

Joyce Gordon Gallery – presents “The Capture of Life: Absent from Color”, a group exhibit of black and white photography, capturing various aspects of life with close attention to composition, light, and perspective of subject, stylized in a timeless monochromatic art form.

In this exhibit, “The Capture of Life: Absence from Color, a group of photographers use conventional and non-conventional techniques of black and white photography through subjects such as still life, lifestyle, fashion, portrait, landscapes, street photography and more. The goal of this exhibit is to bring about a similar birth to then Oakland, California’s Group f/64 with a more universal interest in both the classic and contemporary aesthetics culminating in colorless images to produce a colorful response.

Joyce Gordon Gallery is a commercial fine art gallery located in the downtown district of Oakland California. It exhibits art that reflects the social and cultural diversity of the Bay Area and international artists.

Jul 01, 2014 | Categories:Community, Exhibits, Oakland, Photography | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

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