Beyond the Pale: New Acoustic Klezmer & Balkan Music

Beyond the Pale is one of Canada's most innovative and exciting acoustic roots ensembles. Klezmer and Balkan styles serve as the point of departure for their sound, which is shaped by everything from jazz and classical music to bluegrass and reggae.   FEATURING: Dejan Badnjar - accordion Aleksandar Gajic - violin Bret Higgins - bass Eric Stein - mandolin Martin van de Ven - clarinet   ABOUT THE ARTIST: With stellar musicianship, distinctive songcraft, and exuberant energy, Be...
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Yuri Liberzon: Guitar Concert ft. Works by Bach, Piazzolla & More

Currently recording an album of Bach's music, classical guitarist Yuri Liberzon comes to the Red Poppy to perform some of his works originally written for solo violin.   FEATURING: Yuri Liberzon - solo guitar   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Yuri Liberzon is a Russian-Israeli internationally acclaimed concert classical guitarist and recording artist. Born in Novosibirsk, Russia, and raised in Israel, Liberzon has been recognized for his impressive technical ability and musicality. Based on hi...
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Huarango: Contemporary Afro-Peruvian Music

Huarango is a contemporary proposal of Afro-Peruvian music, with influences of classical music and jazz, anchored in the strong presence of Afro-Peruvian percussion such as cajón cajita and quijada de burro (donkey’s jawbone).   FEATURING: Pierr Padilla ​(Peru) - performer Javier Trujillo ​(Peru) - guitar Kyla Danysh ​(USA) - violin Pedro Rosales ​(Peru) - percussion   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Huarango is a new musical project born in the city of Oakland, California, based in Afro-Pe...
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RagaMenco: Exploring India, Gypsy Music & Flamenco

RagaMenco represents the synthesis of ancient traditions that have been linked by human and cultural migration through the centuries⁠. A collaboration of Spanish and Indian musicians from the Bay Area, RagaMenco explores exciting new territories by combining haunting Indian melodies with exciting gypsy, flamenco, and jazz traditions from Spain. Come hear ancient traditions from the Old World finding a new voice in California.   FEATURING: Javier Jiménez – guitar Luis Jiménez – cajón Sa...
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Norberto Guerra: Cuban Music & Flamenco Guitar

Cuban-born flamenco guitarist Norberto Guerra presents a wide range of classical, flamenco, and original pieces. This project ranges from work with Acituna sin Hueso and Rainer Mariño in Cuba to work composed in Memphis, Chicago, and San Francisco.   FEATURING: Norberto Guerra - classical & flamenco guitar   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Norberto Guerra is a Cuban musician, composer, and producer. Equipped with the classical and flamenco guitar as his primary instrument, his solo work blend...
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Nicole Takesono & Sharon Wayne: Journey to the Iberian Peninsula

Join mezzo-soprano Nicole Takesono in collaboration with guitarist Sharon Wayne for an evening in exploration of classical Spanish songs, traditional Portuguese fado, classical guitar repertoire, and traditional Hawaiian tunes.   FEATURING: Nicole Takesono - mezzo-soprano Sharon Wayne - guitar   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Originally from Hawaii, mezzo-soprano Nicole Takesono has been praised for her sweet, warm voice and dedication to character. She has performed roles with San Francisc...
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Benji & Rita: Brazilian, Jazz & Classical Traditions

Brazilian music has a keen ability to tie the magical and surreal with the grounded and historical. New York-based composer Benji Kaplan and Brazilian singer-songwriter Rita Figueiredo pick up that vibrating, multicolored thread and weave it into fantastical new portraits of Brazil and New York on Benji & Rita, their album-length debut as a duo. Cinematic and refined, Benji & Rita channels the scents and sounds, the flora and fauna of the couple’s homelands, drawing on everything from samba and ...
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Sibarg Ensemble: An Evening of Iranian & Jazz Improvisation

Sibarg Ensemble explores creative intercultural music by combining the sounds of traditional Iranian melodies and jazz. Through original compositions, arrangements of classical and folk songs, and structured improvisations, the members draw on their own distinct musical backgrounds while creating a dialogue with one another. With each performance, Sibarg sets out to create a sense of unity and peace while facilitating multiculturalism.   FEATURING: Hesam Abedini - vocals Sara Saberi - o...
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Brooklyn Raga Massive: A Night of Terry Riley & Raga-Inspired Music

Brooklyn Raga Massive draws inspiration from Terry Riley, himself a practitioner of Indian classical music for some years, beginning with their performance and recording of Riley's seminal composition "In C.” For this evening, BRM presents Indian classical music, original works inspired by the master, and a sneak peak at a new work in progress composed by Riley exclusively for BRM.   FEATURING: Sameer Gupta - tabla, drumset Neel Murgai - sitar Arun Ramamurthy - violin Trina Basu - vio...
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Vince Delgado’s Mid-East Tapestry Ensemble: Middle Eastern Classical & Folk Melodies

Vince Delgado’s Mid-East Tapestry Ensemble plays a diverse array of classical, urban, and folk music from the Arabic-speaking countries, as well as Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and Persian traditions along with original compositions. In a time when there is so much negative perception about the Middle East, the ensemble believes that the aesthetics and variety of these cultures would be of interest to American audiences. There is much beautiful music to be heard from these countries that have been ...
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Arpege Band w/ Behfar Bahadoran: Persian Classical Music (ONE SHOW)

PLEASE NOTE, THE SECOND SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door for the 7:00-9:30pm (6:30pm doors) show. Please arrive when doors open the day of the event to purchase tickets. Arpege is an attempt to bridge Persian traditional music and modern life. It combines contrasting elements of exhilaration and sorrow, cognizance and ignorance, dynamics and statics, rhythms and free forms, and harmony and monophony to create a modern musical struct...
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Motoshi Kosako and Luminance: An Evening of Jazz Harp & Improvisation

Luminance celebrates the intersection of jazz, classical, and folk repertoire, bringing musical creativity to an unlikely instrument combination. Also sharing the stage, Motoshi Kosako performs improvisation, jazz, and original compositions in conversation with innovative fret-less bassist Michael Manring.   FEATURING: Amelia Romano - electric lever harp Matt Ebisuzaki - trumpet Motoshi Kosako - pedal harp Michael Manring - fret-less bass   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Formed in the Mis...
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Lara Solnicki ft. Jeremy Siskind: Poetic Art Songs

Lara Solnicki makes her Red Poppy debut in a program featuring new music from her soon-to-be-released album, The One and the Other—a cinematic, creative music project produced by multi-award-winning Canadian musician and composer Jonathan Goldsmith. The concert also includes music from her sophomore release, Whose Shadow?, tunes from the Great American Songbook, as well as free improvisation. Solnicki is joined by pianist, composer, and arranger Jeremy Siskind—winner of the 2012 Nottingham Inter...
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Ian Maksin ft. Morgan Maudière: Songs of the Vagabond Cello (TWO SHOWS)

SECOND SHOW ADDED! Advance tickets are now available online for the 8:45pm show. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door for both the 7:00pm (6:30pm doors) and 8:45pm (8:30pm doors) shows. Please arrive when doors open the day of the event. Internationally acclaimed cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin is back in Bay Area with his freshest original compositions and latest acquisitions from his world travels—from the Balkans to Lake Baikal and from th...
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Will Bernard & Beth Custer: Original Chamber Jazz

Originally from Berkeley, Will Bernard is now a renowned New York guitarist. He joins San Francisco treasure Beth Custer in performance of original compositions ranging in styles from funky blues, to plaintive contemporary classical, to rollicking jazz. Always soulful and in synch, this duo has been playing together since they met in the 1980's.   FEATURING: Will Bernard - guitars Beth Custer - clarinets, vocals   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Grammy-nominated guitarist Will Bernard has pe...
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Antonio Feula Jazz Trio: Modern/Funk Jazz

Antonio Feula Jazz Trio performs songs from its latest modern jazz album, Joint Path, and from the upcoming funk jazz album. With influences ranging from bebop, blues, and funk to classical music, the group’s original compositions have already impressed varying audiences, with people commenting on the catchy yet sophisticated nature of the music. Genuine improvisation and amazing interplay are also strong points of the trio.   FEATURING: Ian McArdle - keyboard Mike Quigg - drums Antoni...
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Daniel Fabricant Trio / StringQuake: Melodic French Jazz & Improvisations

Daniel Fabricant Trio joins forces with StringQuake for an evening of melodic French jazz, electrifying improvisations, and unusual meters.   FEATURING: Daniel Fabricant Trio Daniel Fabricant - bass Aaron Kierbel - drums TBD - piano StringQuake Amelia Romano - electric harp Misha Khalikulov - cello Josh Mellinger - cajón, tabla, frame drum   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Daniel Fabricant is a versatile bassist, playing both upright and electric, that can adapt to a wide range of mu...
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RagaMenco: A Musical Journey from India to Spain

Javier and Luis Jiménez, founders of the acoustic global music septet Barrio Manouche, present new project RagaMenco along with Mallar Bhattacharya, Nilan Chaudhuri, and Satish Pillai. The group has been working together on the great adventure of blending Indian classical music with flamenco grooves and melodies. They will perform original arrangements influenced by ragas with an improvisational jazz approach.   FEATURING: Devi SenGupta – vocals Mallar Bhattacharya – sarode Javier Jimé...
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Will Brahm + Homenaje: An Homage to Music Around the World

Led by guitarist Will Brahm, Homenaje—meaning "tribute" in Spanish—pays homage to the support and unity of various types of music and cultures from all around the world. With roots in jazz, Cuban, African, Venezuelan, Israeli, and classical music, the group strives to bring different people together through their original songs.   FEATURING: Will Brahm - guitar Chris Wabich - drums/percussion Ross Shodek - bass Dina Zarif - vocals   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Born in Portland, Oregon,...
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Georgy Gusev & Jacopo Giacopuzzi: Musical Review of Russia Through the Revolution

Cellist Georgy Gusev and pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi present an unstoppable force in the world of classical music. True models of complete 21st century musicians, both Gusev and Giacopuzzi draw on an exceptional cultural heritage.   FEATURING: Georgy Gusev - cello Jacopo Giacopuzzi - piano   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: A graduate of the famed Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, Georgy Gusev moved to Italy to study with Giovanni Sollima and earn his Master of Cello at Accademia Nazionale...
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Sayat Nvaq Ensemble: Troubadour & Village Music of Eastern Armenia

Sayat Nvaq Ensemble is a San Francisco Bay Area group that delves into the rich traditions of Eastern Armenian music. The group draws its inspiration equally from the two main pillars of Armenian secular music: the classical troubadour poet traditions of the Ashougs and Gousans—such as Sayat Nova, Ashot, Djivani, and Sheram—as well as the popular regional village music found throughout the countryside. Sayat Nvaq Ensemble invites audiences, both old and new, to share its deep appreciation of thi...
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Petros Klampanis Trio: Mediterranean Jazz

Bassist and composer Petros Klampanis is curious in his approach, always seeking distinctive ways to integrate elements from multiple genres ranging from classical music to pop.   FEATURING: Petros Klampanis - bass Julian Shore - piano Ofri Nehemya - drums   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Named a “bass ace” by Bass Player Magazine, NYC-based Petros Klampanis grew up in Greece surrounded by the confluence of Mediterranean and Balkan folk music. His varied musical life journey brings “aggress...
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RDL+: Modern Original Jazz – Album Release Concert

RDL+ presents the album release performance of Pacific Voyage. In the spirit of adventure, this live performance album captures it all. From placid waters to raging seas, Pacific Voyage sails the oceans in a vessel of original composition, powered by the raw emotions of the improvisation trio.   FEATURING: Ruthie Dineen - piano Doug Lee - bass Luis Salcedo - guitar Steve Weems - drums   ABOUT THE ARTIST: RDL+ has been in existence since 2009 in various formations, composing an...
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Bamdad Ensemble: Iranian Traditional & Kurdish Music

Bamdad Ensemble (bâmdâd meaning “dawn”) is orchestrated based on Iranian traditional instruments with an aim to promote and introduce Iranian classical music. Beside this goal, Bamdad also pays special attention to the diverse folk music of Iran practiced in its vast landscape, as well as the rich melodies of Khorasan and Kurdistan.   FEATURING: Farzin Dehghani - kamanche Golnaz Khazei - percussion Sirvan Manhoobi - oud, shoorangiz Azadeh Farpoor - vocals Siavash Rezvan Behbahani - v...
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Thomas Strønen’s Time is a Blind Guide: Norwegian Chamber Jazz Ensemble

Thomas Strønen presents the second recording for Ecm Records with his chamber ensemble Time is a Blind Guide. Influenced by jazz and contemporary classical music, the ensemble’s sound and style prize timbre, silence, and harmonic evolution in a variety of ways. Introspective yet not indulgent, Time is a Blind Guide reflects the development of a spectacular group of improvisers.   FEATURING: Thomas Strønen - drums Håkon Aase - violin Leo Svensson Sander - cello Mats Eilertsen - bass A...
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The Danny Green Trio: Jazz, Classical & Brazilian Elements

Pianist and composer Danny Green tours the Bay Area with his virtuosic trio to present original music from their latest album, One Day It Will, as well as their own take on jazz standards. From melodic, reflective ballads to energetic, playful grooves, the trio's brilliance shines through the entire night.   FEATURING: Danny Green - keys Justin Grinnell - bass Julien Cantelm - drums   ABOUT THE ARTIST: A rising force on the jazz scene, Danny Green has distinguished himself with...
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Madelina y Los Carpinteros w/ Wentworth-Romero Duo: A Celebration of Latin-American Roots

An evening of folk-inspired Latin American music of resistance and joy, Madelina y Los Carpinteros, plus special guest Tito Guerra, present traditional and original music from Chile, Argentina, the Andes Region, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Madelina y Los Carpinteros is a multicultural Latin American ensemble following the tradition of Nueva Canción and Nueva Trova, movements that came out of the Americas' liberation struggles to freshly embody the folk roots with an enriched l...
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Jacob Szekely Trio: Indie Chamber Jazz

As a composer and improvisor, Jacob Szekely has recreated a revolution by definitively expanding the sonic culture of the cello into the world of contemporary jazz. The trio's influences range from classical, jazz, funk, rock, as well as Indian music. Their sound is highly complex, rhythmically and harmonically, while always grooving and with an unfailing sense of melody.   FEATURING: Jacob Szekely - cello Dennis Hamm - piano, keyboard Gene Coye - drums   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Born...
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Matt Renzi’s Arm-Sized Legging: Original Jazz & Contemporary Classical

Arm-Sized Legging is a project consisting of woodwinds, cello, bass, and drums, playing a repertoire of all original compositions. The music explores textures and colors, as well as the various sonorities of the distinct instrumentation. Although many parts are written out, there is also plenty of room for improvisation; the group makes use of both free-form and traditional song forms to use as the basis of collective soloing. The addition of the cello to the standard jazz-saxophone trio adds a ...
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Portrait Maker + Girl Swallows Nightingale: Chamber Music for Improvisers

Roger Kim’s Portrait Maker is a new kind of chamber music that combines elements of jazz, classical, and folk music in a highly personal and organic way. Writing for plucked and bowed string instruments, woodwinds, flute, voices, and sparse percussion and piano, the young guitarist makes his mark as a promising composer with a wonderful sense for unusual orchestration and timbres, musical economy, harmonic richness, melodic beauty, and improvisational creativity. Girl Swallows Nightingale opens ...
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