By September 3, 2016 Read More →

Jazz&BluesView


Blues&JazzView
What’s new with Jazz and the Blues News?

If you luv music you’re gonna love this
By Eric Benson

Well alright, sending these kids back to school, check. Take your last stab at a proper summer vacation, check. Sow your seeds for your fall garden, check. Clean out your gutters, and batten down the hatches in case it rains! And, oh yes of course, pray for rain! When time permits venture out to check out the arts in our part of the country, they say we are on the list of desirable places to live, but let me tell you, I’m from Berzerkely originally and I love Modesto! Plenty of nice folks, art, music, and a culture that is family friendly and affordable, count your blessings folks.

Speaking of a Hoe-down, the mighty Izzy Alvarado of the Bourbon Street Blues Band is celebrating his birthday at the Barkin’ Dog Grill Friday Sept 2nd with his band. And Mr. Izzy and company asked me to invite all musicians and friends to come down and jam with the band. Izzy is a down at home blues playin’ Bass player and singer, so come on down, give him some love from 7 to 10 PM for dancing and listening.

Blue Monday Party & Invitational Jam returns to the Barkin’ Dog Grill this Sept 12th with Ultra Lounge, special guest and return of the big, bad Barry Finnerty, jazz virtuoso guitar player, singer, and front man. Barry has played with Tower of Power, Miles Davis, the Brecker Brothers, the Crusaders, BB King, Jaco Patorious and many others. He will be playing Jazz, R & B, Funk, some Doors tunes, Stones, so come on down! The band is a super group of all the best players in the area with 7-piece house Band hosting. The Blue Monday Band features: lead vocalist, guitar and bass player Dave Sousa, Johnny Valdes guitar, Tim Allen bass, vocals, Dave Hawks on drums, Eric Benson & Pat Governor for keys, and horn section: Andrew Rosenblum Sax, trumpet, and Jamie Dubberly trombone. The band plays Jazz, R & B, Funk, Latin, Rock, and a little of everything else with special guests sitting in for dancing and listening. Show from 7 to 10 PM with food and drink available in an all age venue. Call the Dog for reservations: 572-2341. If you play, come on down and sit in with the best musicians in the area, it’s gonna’ be smoking!

Griswold returns to the scene at Lucca Winery in Ripon. He’s bringing in the last show of the season, “The Women of Brazil,” with food, wine tasting, and art exhibition. In the Band: Fabiana Passoni vocals, Stephanie Ozer keys, Ruth Ahlers Sax, Ani Hart and Jorge Alabe percussion, Randy Tico Bass, with opener Jessie Hendricks Spanish guitar at 5:30. Doors at 5:00 with Art exhibition, wine tasting, bar and food by Modesto’s own Christopher Bonera. John has been getting a great crowd of hundreds of folks listening and dancing. Tickets: WWW.red-tie.org, call John if questions: (209) 543-4261

The Gallo Center for the Arts for the month of Sept: 9th Sheila Escovedo formerly of Prince, 10th picnic at the pops with MSO, the music of Michael Jackson, 18th Guitar Army with Robben Ford, Lee Roy Parnell, and Joe Robinson, 21st the MONKEES!, 24th the Guess Who, 30th Paul Revere’s Raiders. “People say you Monkey around.. but I’m just tryin to be friendly to put anybody down”, yeah my pic.

SAVE THE DATE: Friday Sept 9th the Mistlin Gallery hosts their fun-raiser Gala with plenty of art, food, drink and entertainment. One of my favorite vocalists Gloria Scott will be singer with local all-star band with Tim Allen Bass, vocals, Ian Stambaugh drums, Andrew Rosenblum guitar and horns. Gloria sang with Ike and Tina Turner, Sly & the Family Stone, she is the real deal! Tickets are 30 dollars and go to a great cause of sponsoring the Gallery so come on out! The event runs from 6:00 to 9:30. Tickets call the Gallery for ticket info.

Come back out for third Thursday Art Walk 5 to 9:00 PM for some great art, and music in the downtown!
.Lowdown on the jam session in the downtown: Barkin’ Dog Thursday night jazz jams with Dave Dow, Queen Bean Sundays open mike night also in an all age environment.

Remember please support our local live venue’s for live music and the arts. So take some time out to hear some live music and the arts of our own town as well this month, think globally and act locally.

All the best, peace out! Eric Benson, cell 209- 918-7033.

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