Red Poppy Art House

[DOUBLE BILL] Bastet w/ Blaine Billingsley: Grunge Jazz and Stravinsky-Style Guitar
2016-03-20 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
From grunge jazz to Americana-meets-Stravinsky guitar instrumentals, Bastet and guitarist/composer Blaine Billingsley come together for a special double bill at the Red Poppy Art House.
Led by guitarist Justin Rock, Bastet takes the art of improvisation and the art of the trio to fresh new levels. The group’s chemistry on stage is contagious, and their music creates a thought-provoking and exploratory ambiance as if time is being bent or stretched, like an elastic galaxy, dripping down the wall like melted wax. Fresh off a west coast tour w/ The Madeline Tasquin Trading Company and on the verge of their third full-length studio release, Bastet is artistically potent and brimming with passion.
Featuring:
Justin Rock – guitar
Mike Quigg – drums
Giulio Cetto – bass
Dive into Bastet’s music on Bandcamp and SoundCloud.

Blaine Billingsley is a guitarist and composer originally from Houston, Texas. His rough-hewn approach to American traditional music incorporates the sophistication of Stravinsky with the grit of Mississippi John Hurt. Blaine has played in the Austin music scene with Gary Clark Jr. and local legends like Ephraim Owens, as well as recorded with members of The Bad Plus. His most recent release is 2015’s Sticks, a solo guitar instrumental tour de force comprised of deviant takes on music of the American West.
Featuring:
Blaine Billingsley – guitar
Get a feel for Blaine’s music on Bandcamp and YouTube.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 5:30pm. Show at 6:00pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

The Cressman, Faquini and Kleinmann Trio: Homage to Guinga
2016-03-19 19:30 - 22:00
Paying homage to Brazilian guitarist/composer Guinga, musicians Sandy Cressman, Ian Faquini and Rebecca Kleinmann join together for an intimate evening of passionate and rhythmic music from Brazil. Having had the pleasure of studying with Guinga at California Brazil Camp for a number of years, the performance will feature a selection of his compositions in addition to originals by Faquini and Cressman.
Born in New York City and based in the SF Bay Area, vocalist/composer Sandy Cressman began her career recording and performing with the vocal jazz group Pastiche before focusing on her passion for Brazilian jazz. She has toured the US, Europe and Brazil performing with her group Homenagem Brasileira and collaborating with other Brazilian musicians and Brazilian music specialists. Most recently, Sandy performed as a special guest of SpokFrevo Orquestra on the Main Stage of Carnaval 2015 in Recife, Brazil. She has released two CDs of Brazilian jazz and will be releasing her third, Entre Amigos, in 2016.
Composer, guitarist and vocalist Ian Faquini is the protégé of Guinga, having studied throughout his youth directly with the artist. In 2014, Ian and long-time friend, flutist/vocalist Rebecca Kleinmann, released their first album together titled Brasiliense featuring all original compositions by Faquini. Ian utilizes a wide range of Brazilian rhythms and grooves while grasping strong melodic and harmonic influences from composers such as Guinga, Gershwin, Bach, Ravel, Duke Ellington and Tom Jobim. His brilliant guitar playing is natural, genuine, and inspired by Brazilian rhythms and jazz. Rebecca uses a lush tone palate to interpret Ian’s melodies in a storytelling fashion and improvises fluidly through the rich chord changes.

Featuring:
Sandy Cressman – vocals
Ian Faquini – guitar
Rebecca Kleinmann – flute

Guinga (nee Althier Carlos de Souza Lemos Escobar) was born in Madureira, a neighborhood in the north side of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began composing at age 16 and later began classical guitar studies under Jodacil Damasceno for five years. Guinga worked professionally as a guitarist, accompanying artists such as Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Alaíde Costa, João Nogueira and Cartola. He had many of his songs recorded by musicians like Elis Regina, Michel Legrand, Sergio Mendes, Leila Pinheiro, Chico Buarque, Clara Nunes, Ivan Lins and many others. Revered by critics, Guinga is often considered “the largest and most important composer of Brazil today.”

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Jazz in the Neighborhood Presents: Schimscheimer Family Trio
2016-03-18 20:00 - 22:00
Jazz in the Neighborhood presents The Schimscheimer Family Trio and their new CD release, Broken Home. A creative collaboration with Kasey Knudsen on alto sax, Jon Arkin on drums, and Michael Coleman on keyboards, the trio’s music blends elements of tuneful composition, improvisation, and electro-acoustic manipulations shaped by all. For this event, Ben Goldberg, who plays on the album as well, will make a special guest appearance on Bb and contra-alto clarinets. Selections from the new album, as well as a variety of new and old compositions, are on the program for this kick-off CD release celebration. Broken Home, the trio’s long-awaited second album, was recorded at Figure 8 in Brooklyn, NY and released on Ben Goldberg’s BAG Production record label.
Featuring:
Kasey Knudsen – alto sax
Jon Arkin – drums
Michael Coleman – keyboards
Ben Goldberg – Bb & contra-alto clarinets

Check out the debut album, Family Fun Time, on Bandcamp.
Learn more about Ben Goldberg here.

More on Jazz in the Neighborhood:
Jazz in the Neighborhood‘s mission is to celebrate and invigorate the Bay Area’s rich, musical jazz heritage by creating more opportunities for established local musicians to perform, mentor aspiring players, and share this great American art form with the community. Through collaboration with school music programs and adult big bands, the project enables top-caliber artists to push creative boundaries while helping developing musicians “learn on the bandstand” according to the great jazz tradition. Performances in neighborhood venues not only showcase the wealth of local talent, but also create regular destinations for people to enjoy rich cultural and social experiences where they live.

Admission: $20 / Advance tickets: http://bit.ly/20RdLDb
Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. All ages welcome. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex, Series 4, Discussion 1 w/ Marcus Shelby & Jackie Ramos
2016-03-16 18:00 - 19:45
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the fourth series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on March 16, April 20, May 18, June 8, and July 6. Marcus Shelby and Jackie Ramos return to delve into our justice system, its flaws, and show how music and the arts can be used as agencies for reform and change—both in front and behind bars. These interactive discussions explore the blues, the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, restorative justice, public health, families impacted by incarceration, immigration, and more.
The discussions will feature guest speakers/artists, readings, recorded and live music, poetry, and videos. These events are open to anyone interested in reforming our criminal justice system and understanding how the arts can be part of that process. A special performance by Marcus Shelby and other musicians will close the series in late July.
Series 4 Discussion Schedule:
Mar 16 – Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: A Call for Reform (Guest speakers: Jeff Adachi and Cesar R. Gomez)
Apr 20 – Incarceration and Its Connection to Immigration (Guest speakers TBA)
May 18 – Ending the Death Penalty (Guest speakers TBA)
June 8 – Protecting the Community: Principles and Philosophies of Restorative Justice (Guest speakers TBA)
July 6 – Music and the Arts as Weapons of Critical Resistance (Guest speakers TBA)
The Beyond the Blues series is supported by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

Marcus Shelby is an accomplished teacher, composer, arranger, and bassist who currently lives in San Francisco, California. Shelby was awarded a 2009 Black Metropolis Research Consortium Fellowship in Chicago to conduct research for his commission to compose “Soul of the Movement”—a 12 part musical suite on MLK and the Civil Rights Movement—and received the City Flight Magazine 2005 award as one of the “Top Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area”. As the 1991 winner of the Charles Mingus Scholarship, Shelby’s studies include work under the tutelage of composer James Newton and legendary bassist Charlie Haden. Marcus is also very active in music education and currently teaches at The Community Music Center and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. In addition to leading many of the San Francisco Jazz Festival Family Matinee Concerts, Marcus is the artistic director/leader of The Marcus Shelby Orchestra, the music director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival Freedom Jazz Choir, and an artist-in-residence with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. He is currently working with playwright and actress Anna Deveare Smith on her new work, Pipeline to Prison. In March 2013, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee appointed Shelby to the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Jackie Ramos is a womanist warrior integrating public health with expressive arts to break down walls of oppression and inhumane fear targeted at communities of color. While pursuing a career as a poetess and actress, she has extensive research background in HIV/AIDS and substance use prevention working with people who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Jackie also teaches poetry to the youth at San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall and the Young Women’s Freedom Center. With every breath in her, she will not stop fighting for the people—for their right to shine, live, and thrive.

Admission: $10 suggested donation. Doors at 5:45pm. Discussion at 6:00pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Gari Hegedus & Faisal Zedan: Instruments and Interpretations of Turkish, Arabic & Greek Traditions
2016-03-13 19:30 - 22:00
Multi-instrumentalist Gari Hegedus is joined by master percussionist Faisal Zedan and his ensemble for an evening of instrumental music rooted in Turkish, Arabic and Greek traditions.
Gari Hegedus began devoting his life to music 25 years ago with the study of early European, Celtic and Bretagne music. From there he was led east into the intense practice and performance of Turkish classical and Mevlevi ceremonial music. His repertoire and playing styles span outward from Turkey to Greece and the Arab lands as well as to Iran and India. He plays the oud, violin and saz, and has expressed his talent on many other instruments including the mandocello, sarod and setar. As a composer and musician, Gari utilizes the various Eastern modal systems called maqam and has developed the art of improvisation (taqsim) to a soulful level for which he has become highly recognized.
Born in Lebanon and raised in Syria, Faisal Zedan grew up impassioned with the derbakki (Arabic drum). At the age of 15, after intensive study with a local drummer, Faisal became exposed to a wide repertoire of Arabic classical and contemporary music. Upon arrival in California in 1992, he joined the acclaimed UCLA Near East Music Ensemble directed by Dr. Ali Jihad Racy. Faisal is affiliated with several groups including Kan Zaman, Qadim, Stellamara and Aswat Ensemble. In addition to his collaborations with local and international artists, Faisal has taught at music camps, conducted workshops around the world, and has produced instructional DVDs on derbakki fundamentals and Arabic percussion.
Featuring:
Gari Hegedus – various string instruments
Faisal Zedan – derbakki, riqq, frame drum
Sarah Zita Rosen – duhulla
Michael Huffman – frame drum
Josh Mellinger – riqq

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Will Bernard & Beth Custer: Melodic Chamber Jazz Duets
2016-03-12 19:30 - 22:00
Musicians Will Bernard and Beth Custer come together for an intimate evening of groove-filled duets.
Guitarist Will Bernard is a Grammy-nominated bandleader and founding member of all-star Bay Area jazz conglomerate T.J. Kirk, as well as Galactic drummer Stanton Moore’s rollicking trio. Bernard is a virtuosic performer whose bone-deep, groove-heavy playing was a vital part of Peter Apfelbaum’s Hieroglyphics Ensemble and the guitarist’s own funky quartet, Motherbug. Bernard’s latest Posi-Tone release, Just Like Downtown, is his most audacious to date, featuring originals and covers running the gamut from Richard Rogers to Led Zeppelin.
With a musical palette that seamlessly combines vivid shades of jazz, blues, Afro-Caribbean and contemporary classical music, clarinetist Beth Custer is one of the most vital and productive composers on the Bay Area scene, having recorded over 30 albums with her various ensembles. The New York native first gained attention in the early 1980s composing for Club Foot Orchestra, a San Francisco ensemble known for performing innovative scores for classic silent films. Custer pilots a series of bracing ensembles, including Clarinet Thing, Trance Mission, and Beth Custer Ensemble.
Featuring:
Will Bernard – guitar
Beth Custer – clarinets, vocals

Admission: $20-25. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Jacqui Sutton with the Frontier Jazz String Trio: Jazz and Bluegrass Swing Together
2016-03-11 19:30 - 22:00
Imagine if Billie Holiday, Dolly Parton and Aaron Copland came together to create music for a night. This would be the sound of Jacqui Sutton described by music/arts critic C. Michael Bailey as “where jazz meets the American frontier.” Drawing on over 20 years of musical and stage experience, Jacqui interweaves jazz and bluegrass with orchestral, pop and Americana influences. In her ears, the banjo, mandolin and fiddle continually intermingled with jazz, eventually coalescing into her distinctive frontier jazz sound. She has recently been featured in Chris Becker’s Freedom of Expression: Interviews with Women in Jazz (November 2015), a book discussing the contributions made by women in the jazz world.
*This performance is proudly sponsored by Ifshin Violins.
Featuring:
Jacqui Sutton – vocals
Paul Chester – banjo, guitar
Anthony Sapp – bass
Max Dyer – cello

Follow Jacqui on Facebook.
Learn more about “frontier jazz” here and preview the music here.

“The latest one by Jacqui Sutton, vocalist extraordinaire, is a kind of giant leap forward into a realm of creative Americana. Notes from the Frontier (Toy Blue Typewriter 002) brings together Jacqui’s very fully enacted vocals with the unusual instrumentation and sonic mix of her Frontier Jazz Orchestra—including cello, banjo, electric bass, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, and so forth. … It’s a generally excellent selection of surprises that straddle jazz, roots, country and all kinds of American elements juxtaposed with rather extraordinary arrangements. And a vocal performance by Jacqui that does the same with the vocals that the arrangements do to the instrumental backdrop—she combines ways of singing that extend our heritage and make it very new. It’s the opposite of a ho-hum standards “jazz vocalist” release. It’s vivid, exciting and very innovative.”
– G. Edwards, Grego Applegate Edwards

Admission: $20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

The Mark Growden Quintet: Soulful Chamber Folk
2016-03-05 19:30 - 22:00
For a rare Bay Area performance, Mark Growden and his long-time collaborators bring to the Red Poppy a combination of soulful vocals with elements of chamber, folk, and jazz.
Mark Growden is a composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and the director/founder of The Calling All Choir. Raised in a small mountain community in Northeast California, his work emanates earthy, soulful and poetic tones. Growden has ten years of experience teaching music in schools and currently leads singing workshops across the country. He has devoted his life to making music for other people and to helping other people make music for themselves.
Featuring:
Mark Growden – vocals, saxophones, accordion, banjo, sruti box, bicycle handlebars
Chris Grady – trumpet, cornet
Daniel Wood – cello
Myles Boisen – guitar
Schuyler Karr – upright bass

“Rich, haunting and personal song cycles that incorporate avant-garde, rock, cabaret, blues, country, contemporary classical and Tin Pan Alley.” – Tucson Weekly
Follow Mark on Facebook and YouTube.

Admission: $20-25. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Guarandinga: Latin Afro-Pop: Venezuela to Oakland
2016-03-04 19:30 - 22:00
With a sound described as Latin Afro-Pop, Guarandinga‘s music is propelled by heavy Afro-Caribbean beats from the central coast of Venezuela. The band hails from the San Francisco Bay, integrating these rhythms with the gritty East Bay funk that runs deep from Oakland to Richmond. Fronted by the dynamic and charismatic singer/percussionist Rowan Jimenez, Guarandinga plays high-energy music that is alluring and infectious.
Featuring:
Rowan Jimenez – vocals, cuatro, percussion
Jeremy Allen – bass, vocals, cuatro, percussion
Luis Rodrigues – percussion, vocals
Michael Teixeira – guitar
Kenya Moses – vocals
Brian Andres – drums
Henry Hung – trumpet/synth
Alan Williams – trombone

Follow Guarandinga on Facebook.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Uxía & Narf: A Night of Galician Music
2016-03-03 19:30 - 22:00
Uxía & Narf unite for the first time to present a joint musical project that features reinterpretations of classics, including poems by Rosalía de Castro and García Lorca, original compositions, and adaptations of traditional alalás, the oldest and best-known form of Galician music. Building bridges across cultures through music, they create their respective repertoires after more than 20 years of traveling and exchanging experiences with artists from Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau. The duo unites harmonious vocals and intimate melodies through the shared pursuit of originality and cultural crossroads.
Featuring:
Uxía Domínguez Senlle – vocals, Galician tambourine
Francisco Xavier Pérez Vázquez – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
Preview their music here and here.

Admission: $20-25. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

MoAD Stories Presents: Revolution: Exploring Black Femininity and Empowerment
2016-02-28 15:00 - 17:00
Join MoAD Stories in the exploration of black femininity and empowerment through a short film by a local female filmmaker, followed by an invigorating panel discussion. The journey will bear witness to the history and emerging identities of women artists from MoAD’s current exhibitions, featuring Alison Saar and Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle.
About Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD):
The Museum of the African Diaspora showcases the art, history, and cultural richness that resulted from the migration of people of African descent throughout the world. Through its mission and shared African heritage, MoAD connects all people.

Purchase tickets here ($10 / $11.49 including transaction fee).
Event at 3:00pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Allison Au Quartet: Traditional Jazz in Modern Times
2016-02-27 19:30 - 22:00
The Allison Au Quartet is a Toronto-based contemporary jazz ensemble. Since its formation in 2009, the group has performed at major jazz venues across Canada and have earned a JUNO award nomination for their debut release, The Sky Was Pale Blue, Then Grey. The quartet was also awarded the TD Jazz Fellowship Scholarship (2011), The Alfred and Phyllis Balm Scholarship (2012), and The Margareta and Benno Nigg Scholarship (2013) to conduct artist residencies at the acclaimed Banff Centre. Celebrating the release of their latest album, Forest Grove, the quartet marks their debut performance at the Red Poppy.
Featuring:
Allison Au ‒ saxophone
Todd Pentney ‒ piano
Dan Fortin ‒ bass
Fabio Ragnelli ‒ drums

Learn more about Allison Au here, and follow her on Facebook.
Dive into her music on Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

The Sherri Roberts / Harvie S Quartet w/ Special Guest Sheryl Bailey: Spring is Just Around the Corner
2016-02-26 19:30 - 22:00
A rare live performance of two simpatico artists, Sherri Roberts reunites with longtime collaborator bassist Harvie S to preview songs from their upcoming recording ‒ a jazz tribute to springtime ‒ and to revisit material from their earlier acclaimed CDs. Sherri is heavily influenced by the West Coast cool vocal style of the 50’s, and Harvie first cut his musical teeth on the bandstand with countless East Coast jazz heavyweights ‒ most notably in his longstanding duo project with vocal legend, Sheila Jordan. New York guitarist Sheryl Bailey joins the quartet as a special guest to promote her new album with Harvie, Plucky Strum.
Featuring:
Harvie S – bass
Sherri Roberts – vocals
David Udolf – piano
Akira Tana – drums
Sheryl Bailey – guitar

Vocalist Sherri Roberts has been performing in the Bay Area for over 25 years and has toured jazz venues up and down the West Coast, as well as in New York and London. Locally, she surrounds herself with top Bay Area musicians including husband David Udolf, Bliss Rodriguez, Chris Amberger, Jim Zimmerman, and Akira Tana. Her past recordings with Harvie S have featured such luminaries as Phil Woods, Lew Soloff, Chris Potter, Mark Soskin and Danny Gottlieb.
“Stylistically, Roberts bears a significant resemblance to gin ’n’ satin seductress Julie London. But where London’s voice was distant as a winter moon, Roberts is all dappled sunshine…shimmering…Enchanting” ‒ JazzTimes
Award-winning bassist Harvie S is a veteran of the jazz and Latin music scenes. He has recorded and toured with the cream of the crop: Kenny Baron, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, John Scofield, James Weidman, Pat Martino, Mike Stern and Paul Motian. His decades-long creative partnership with Sheila Joran redefined bass/vocal performance.
“The bassist’s horn-like, bebop-based phrasing is as engaging as it is inventive…utilizing blistering runs, double stops and chords, leaving no doubt about his stature as one of the pre-eminent bass voices in jazz today.” ‒ All About Jazz
Guitarist/composer Sheryl Bailey has toured worldwide with her organ trio, her quartet (featuring Jim Ridl), and The Electric Ladyland Project (featuring Vic Juris). She is a professor at Berklee College of Music and was voted a “Rising Star” in 2013, 2014, and 2015 DownBeat Jazz Critics Poll.
“A sizzling guitar goddess” ‒ All About Jazz
“One of the most compelling tones of her generation” ‒ Guitar Player Magazine

Follow Sherri Roberts on Facebook and YouTube.
Subscribe to Harvie S on Facebook and YouTube.
Watch a video of Harvie and Sheryl performing together here.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Big Strings, Small World: Strings Without Borders - ft. Maria Cleary, Diana Rowan, Winnie Wong & Colm Ó Riain
2016-02-21 19:30 - 22:00
A Welsh harp, an Irish harp, a guzheng and a violin. Four string virtuosos with their hands and feet in multiple worlds come together for an evening of musical exchange. Drawing threads and strings from a rich tapestry of histories and geographies – Chinese, Irish, period, classical, jazz, blues, Middle Eastern, Balkan – Maria Cleary, Diana Rowan, Winnie Wong and Colm Ó Riain, all expert improvisers in their fields, explore our world through music.
Featuring:
Colm Ó Riain – violin
Winnie Wong – guzheng
Diana Rowan – Irish harp, piano
Maria Cleary – Welsh harp
Harpist Maria Cleary is noted for her improvisatory skills and ingenious continuo playing, combined with a particular care to creating a beautiful sound on a perilous instrument. Specializing in historical harps, Maria performs on medieval harps, the Italian arpa doppia, the Spanish arpa de dos ordenes, and the 18th century harpe organisée. She promotes a pedal technique that was exclusively used on harps with a single-action pedal mechanism and has developed several innovative tunings for performing medieval and renaissance music. Maria regularly performs with Davide Monti under the name Arparla, a violin and harp duo specializing in repertoire from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Born in Ireland and raised the child of an Irish diplomat, Diana Rowan has traveled, lived and performed on six continents. As a natural outgrowth of this inspiration, her music interweaves global music, art, spirituality and mythology. Diana is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a PhD in Music Theory (world harp composition techniques), plus an MM in Piano Performance (classical). She presents rave-review workshops, lectures worldwide, and runs Bright Knowledge Academy, an online college for dedicated musicians.
Winnie Wong began her training on the guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither, in 1982 at the age of four and a half under the expertise of guzheng virtuoso, Ms. Weishan Liu. At the age of five, she had her first debut. Throughout her career, she has been invited to perform at various conventions and concerts in Reno, Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Diego, and at concert halls such as Masonic Auditorium, Herbst Theatre, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and Davies Symphony Hall.
Hailed as a “genius fiddler” by Mike Scott of The Waterboys, Irish-born violinist and composer Colm O’Riain is an accomplished improviser in multiple genres. In the USA, which he currently calls home, he has enthralled audiences on stages as diverse as CBGB’s in New York to Fillmore West and Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. He has performed at festivals and venues throughout the world from Alaska to Argentina, Sweden to Vietnam.

Admission: $20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.

*Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door at 7:00pm the day of the event.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Jazz in the Neighborhood Presents: Guarneri Jazz Quartet
2016-02-20 20:00 - 22:00
In partnership with the Red Poppy Art House, Jazz in the Neighborhood presents the Guarneri Jazz Quartet. Led by trumpeter Mario Guarneri, the concert will feature his own works as well as the music of Thelonious Monk. The Bay Area quartet has been performing together since 2000 and has recorded three CDs, which are available on berp.com. Their first album, From My Heart, has been praised by Herb Alpert for its “wonderful sound, great heart and beautiful ideas.”
Featuring:
Mario Guarneri – trumpet
Randy Vincent – guitar
Robb Fisher – bass
Akira Tana – drums

About Mario Guarneri:
The founder of Jazz in the Neighborhood, Mario Guarneri has done everything from playing Dixieland with Louis Armstrong at the age of thirteen to performing in the Los Angeles Philharmonic for fifteen seasons under conductors Zubin Mehta and Carlo Maria Giulini. He was principal trumpet for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a decade, toured Europe with the Los Angeles Brass Quintet, and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and even the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Mario has taught trumpet for more than twenty-five years, including master classes in Asia and Europe, and is currently an instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory. He performs and records regularly with his jazz quartet in the San Francisco area, and has established a worldwide reputation as a creative musician of the highest level.
About Jazz in the Neighborhood:
Jazz in the Neighborhood‘s mission is to celebrate and invigorate the Bay Area’s rich, musical jazz heritage by creating more opportunities for established local musicians to perform, mentor aspiring players, and share this great American art form with the community. Through collaboration with school music programs and adult big bands, the project enables top-caliber artists to push creative boundaries while helping developing musicians “learn on the bandstand” according to the great jazz tradition. Performances in neighborhood venues not only showcase the wealth of local talent, but also create regular destinations for people to enjoy rich cultural and social experiences where they live.

Admission: $18 advance, $20 at the door, $5 students; no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Advance tickets: click here
Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Rob Reich Quintet: Shadowbox: Accordion-Led Evocative Chamber Jazz
2016-02-19 19:30 - 22:00
Accordion player and pianist Rob Reich is quintessentially what makes the San Francisco music scene a vibrant and vital mecca for independent music; he’s become one of its stalwart underground artists. Shadowbox, the musician’s debut album, marks a fully-realized collection of original compositions. The tunes branch off from his work with revered Bay Area ensemble Tin Hat Trio, mixing improvisational romps with refined and melodic ensemble arrangements. Doses of wry humor and elements of spontaneous revelation keep the music characteristically Reich, whose idiosyncratic accordion prowess helps propel the instrument’s modern renaissance.
Featuring:
Rob Reich ‒ accordion, piano
Ila Cantor ‒ guitar
Ben Goldberg ‒ clarinets
Eric Garland ‒ drums
Colin McCuen ‒ bass

“Rob Reich has carved out a niche as a premier avant-roots voice.” … “Like a funhouse mirror, the merriment is refracted in odd, distorting ways, as the band keep the tones sharp and slightly askew. Like the best carnival attractions, it scares you just enough to make you want to visit it again.” …”like Nino Rota writing for a small jazz group.” ‒ JAZZIZ Magazine
“Reich creates soundscapes brimming with half-buried feelings and memories just out of reach.”
‒ Andrew Gilbert, KQED
Follow Rob Reich on Facebook and YouTube.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

[DOUBLE SHOW] Alex Conde: Descarga for Monk: Latin Jazz Thelonious Monk Tribute
2016-02-18 19:00 - 22:00
Spanish pianist Alex Conde finds his own path to the music of the great jazz musician, Thelonious Monk. Named in “Best of 2015” by DownBeat Magazine and All About Jazz Magazine, Conde’s album Descarga for Monk incorporates flamenco, swing and Latin rhythms with unmistakable virtuosity and lyricism.
After graduating at the conservatory of music in Valencia, Spain, Alex Conde came to study at Berklee College in Boston with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, and George Garzone. He has toured around the globe with flamenco companies and has appeared in various jazz festivals. His compositions for flamenco guitar and orchestra have been premiered in Miami with Jose Luis Rodriquez, Federico Britos and Omid Zoufonoun. Additionally, his arrangements on Schubert have been performed at the Symphony Space in NYC.
Featuring:
Alex Conde ‒ piano
John Santos ‒ percussion
Jeff Chambers ‒ bass
Descarga for Monk – “[Conde’s..] the uprising star taps into Monk’s intense but dreamy lyricism on a flamenco tour de force” ‒ Andrew Gilbert, KQED
Follow Alex Conde on Facebook and Twitter.

Admission: $15-20. First show at 7:00pm, second show at 8:30pm. All ages welcome.

*Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door at 6:30pm the day of the event.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Tejido Social / Social Fabric: Exposition on the Mexican Rebozo
2016-02-14 13:00 - 18:00
The project Social Fabric (Tejido Social) presents a small exposition about the Mexican rebozo: an emblematic piece that incorporates technique, culture, time, and ancestral knowledge that stay interlocked like a code within woven fibers. Those that make rebozos not only are determined to maintain the technique, but also confront competition against neo-liberal markets, a government that does not support artistic activity and creation, and violence that impacts Mexico today.
The exposition will have a presentation of different techniques and styles of Mexican rebozos to teach us how to identify its origin and discontinue economic spending on cheap global knock-offs from industrial manufactures.
Entrance is free. Join the event page here!
Schedule:
1:00-2:30pm: Paper Weaving Workshop (ages 5+)
2:30-3:00pm: Presentation/Video
2:00-6:00pm: Mezcal tasting from 5 states producers

Amaranth Quartet: Dichotomies of Love
2016-02-13 19:30 - 22:00
With a love of tackling the string quartet canon and as fierce a passion for discovering newly composed works, Amaranth Quartet was founded in 2013 and proudly calls the Bay Area home. Members Katie von Braun, Abigail Shiman, Erica Zappia, and Helen Newby strive to present classical music to divergent audiences in a variety of locales. Upcoming projects include a residency and performance with the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra as well as appearances on Switchboard Presents and SF Presidio Sessions. Amaranth Quartet is fiscally sponsored by the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music.
Featuring:
Katie von Braun (Amaranth) – violin
Abigail Shiman (Amaranth) – violin
Erica Zappia (Amaranth) – viola
Helen Newby (Amaranth) – cello
Danielle Sampson-Reutter-Harrah – mezzosoprano
Follow Amaranth on Facebook and SoundCloud.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

PC Muñoz: SMASH/HITS - Curated by Derek Lassiter
2016-02-12 19:30 - 22:00
After nearly a decade focusing on producing and playing drums for other artists, Bay Area maverick PC Muñoz returns as a songwriter/leader in 2016, with a new album of original songs, Echo, and a new duo with longtime guitarist/collaborator Marc Weibel. The evening will feature two sets of material ranging from angular, instrumental free-jazz deconstructions (SMASH) to stripped-down pop-influenced songs (HITS).
PC Muñoz is a musician and producer based in San Francisco. His body of work includes recordings across multiple mediums, from Grammy-nominated contemporary classical music to CMJ-charting funk songs to modern dance/multimedia productions. A frequent and enthusiastic collaborator, PC has recorded with rock legend Jackson Browne, dream-pop artist Ingrid Chavez, longtime Kronos Quartet cellist Joan Jeanrenaud, Oakland hip-hop artist Kev Choice, and countless other musicians and recording artists across a wide range of genres. He was a 2015 Dresher Ensemble artist-in-residence in Oakland, CA and a 2013 Loft Literary Center Equilibrium Fellow in Minneapolis, MN.
Featuring:
PC Muñoz – drums, vocals
Marc Weibel – electric guitar

About Derek Lassiter:
Lassiter, a mainstay on the San Francisco arts scene, has received accolades for both his recordings and live performances featuring Bay Area notables such as pianist/composer Tammy Hall, producer/percussionist PC Muñoz, and composer/pianist Art Khu. Lassiter is profiled in Julian C. R. Okwu’s book, Face Forward: Young African American Men in a Critical Age.

“PC Muñoz is an artist that knows no boundaries. His output straddles myriad genres, influences and art forms. From funk to classical, pop to hip-hop, experimental to jazz, globally-renowned artists in all these realms consider Muñoz a first-call percussionist, producer, composer, and songwriter. He’s also an artist with a deep social conscience — one who who uses music to connect cultures and communities together.” – Anil Prasad, Innerviews
Follow PC Muñoz on Facebook.
PC: Lucas Krech

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Moy Eng with Bill Murphy and John Stowell: An Exploration of the Great American Songbook
2016-02-11 19:30 - 22:00
Jazz luminary Miles Davis was asked to describe his music and responded quickly with “call it anything.” Describing a performance by vocalist and composer Moy Eng with her long-time duet partner, guitarist Bill Murphy, and with guitarist John Stowell, one could take the expression a step further. “Call it everything” is an apt description of an evening of song with this trio. An exploration of the Great American Songbook intersects classical lyricism and then winds down through the plains of Africa and fields of the blues to Ellington, Jobim, Led Zeppelin, and Hitchcock.
Featuring:
Moy Eng – vocals
Bill Murphy – guitar
John Stowell – guitar

Moy Eng is a singer and lyricist. Known for her “beautiful and soulful voice,” Moy has been fortunate to have performed with many wonderful artists, including Anthony Brown, Brenda Wong Aoki, Mark Izu, Mas Koga, John-Carlos Perea, Jon Jang, Steve Nakano, Paul Eastburn, and Darrell Green. As a lyricist, she principally collaborates with Grammy Award-nominated composer Wayne Wallace. Known for her visionary ability to identify and support progressive ideas, Moy has over three decades of experience in the philanthropic sector as a grantmaker, consultant and senior manager in areas as diverse as arts, education, renewable energy, lesbian and gay rights, immigrant rights, and international human rights.
Jazz guitarist Bill Murphy plays throughout the Bay Area, honoring the tradition of solo guitar legend Joe Pass. Bill has studied with master guitarists John Stowell, Tuck Andress and Mimi Fox, and works regularly in duos with vocalist Moy Eng as well as performing solo guitar in both jazz and Celtic styles. Featured annually at Burning Man, his art project Your Very Own Theme Music Written Right Here, Right Now shapes original guitar compositions as a gift to passersby while they talk about their lives, dreams and demons.
John Stowell is a jazz guitarist influenced as much by pianists and horn players as he is by guitarists. His original take on harmony, chords, and improvisation sets him apart. Also widely respected as a clinician, John has performed/recorded with Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, George Cables, Dave Leibman, among many others.

Admission: $20-25. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

ARTE by Adrian: Celebrating Dreams, Friends, Poetry, Love - Closing Reception
2016-02-07 13:25 - 16:10
Bay Area artist Adrian Arias presents his latest mixed media works on paper and canvas with themes related to dreams and metamorphosis. Sunday afternoon of February 7th will be dedicated to Silvia Parra, great friend and “comadre” of Adrian, who left this world only a few weeks ago. Silvia and Adrian worked together in the development of games and psycho-magical rituals, as well as in several video-art and art installations in both San Francisco and Mexico. Programming for the afternoon includes LoCura acustiKo, poems by Adrian, his ceviche-poem, and more.
Learn more about the current exhibition here.
About Adrian:
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2000, Adrian Arias is an American-Peruvian prize-winning poet, visual artist, curator and cultural promoter. His visual art, like his poetry, explores the absurd, the sensuality of elements, and the connection between reality and dreams. Arias has participated in international exhibitions, showing his video-installations and visual poetry objects and drawings in Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Peru, and the US.

Admission: Free. Reception at 1:26pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

February 6th MAPP: Stories of Revolt
2016-02-06 15:00 - 22:00
The Red Poppy Art House presents Stories of Revolt, a trans-Bay, interdisciplinary exploration in narratives of belonging and displacement, culturally generative creative practices, and restorative justice. In collaboration with Dance Mission’s annual festival, D.I.R.T. – Dance in Revolt(ing) Times, the Red Poppy will feature original works from music, dance, film and storytelling artists that investigate how image, body and language become tools for transformation in a sacred space.
MAPP Schedule:
3:00-4:00pm: From Azonto to Zouk: Afro-Urban Dance Stories with Nkei Oruche
Presented by Dance Mission Theater’s D.I.R.T. Festival – Featuring a sampler of a few Afro-urban dance styles, Nkei Oruche shares personal narratives as a way to discuss the context of music and dance created by people of African descent in urban settings. (More info below!)
5:00-6:30pm: Classical Revolution
Chamber Music Sight Reading Session
6:30-6:40pm: Anne Carol
Sound Installation – Anne Carol uses simplicity, spaciousness, and beauty to evoke a sense of belonging with her music.
6:45-7:05pm: Valerie Troutt ft. Khalil Anthony
Odd Times JazzSoul Music
7:10-7:40pm: Intricate and Dopey Fresh ft. Amelia Romano
Turf Dancing and Electric Harp Improvisations – Amelia Romano performs fiery world and original works using the electric harp as her vehicle to express new and dynamic perspectives in the changing landscape of her environment.
7:45-8:00pm: Astu
Afro-Electric Soul
8:00-8:10pm: Anne Carol
Sound Installation – Anne Carol uses simplicity, spaciousness, and beauty to evoke a sense of belonging with her music.
8:10-8:30pm: Adrian Arias and Jackie Ramos
Love is Our Revolution: PerfoPoetica – Peeling the layers of love with performative poetry in times of change, metamorphosis and revolution.
8:35-8:45pm: Jason Wyman
The Seedling, A Coming out Fable / Film: Primordial Projections
8:50-9:15pm: Diana Gameros
Songs of Love, Migration and Identity – Through her own compositions and personal story, Diana presents a musical exploration of the hopes, hardships and dreams that drive humans to migrate.
9:20-10:00pm: WolfHawkJaguar ft. Prosperity Movement
Elevated Urban World Lifestyle Music – WolfHawkJaguar stirs the soul with mystic vibrations of prosperity.
Red Poppy Presents at Dance Mission!
3316 24th @ Mission
5:00-5:20pm: Red Poppy Art House Presents: Jackie Ramos, Adrian Arias & Misha Khalikulov
Love is Our Revolution: PerfoPoetica
24th Street Bart @ Mission
5:00-5:30pm: Red Poppy Art House Presents: Intricate and Dopey Fresh ft. Amelia Romano
Turf Dancing and Electric Harp Improvisations

About Nkei Oruche’s From Azonto to Zouk: Afro-Urban Dance Stories
While facilitating participants through high-paced, sensual and back-popping moves from the African-Urban Diaspora, Nkei Oruche will share of her dance journey: from childhood in Nigeria and the United States, to young adulthood in California, and now motherhood in Oakland. Nkei will reveal how soukous, dancehall, Coupe-Decale, hip-hop and the Nigerian pop soundscape play a role in her struggle with cultural identity, body image, and artistic expression. She hopes to use the practices of Afro-Urban dance as a way to help rehabilitate the gory effects of colonialism and displacement on people of African descent.
About Dance Brigade’s Dance Mission Theater & D.I.R.T.:
Residing in the heart of the Mission District of San Francisco, Dance Mission Theater is an artist-driven community facility dedicated to inclusiveness, fairness and justice. Dance Brigade‘s mission is to engage diverse Bay Area communities and artists in the exploration of contemporary social issues by creating, producing, presenting and teaching feminist and multicultural dance/theater. The troupe envisions communities and individuals connected and inspired by dance and engaged in collective action toward creating a more peaceful world.
D.I.R.T., or Dance In Revolt(ing) Times, is a political dance festival. The artist as activist is as old as time and D.I.R.T. presents the work of artists that are addressing local/global challenges through their creative process. There are many ways that an artist may address such challenges – be it from the explicit content of their choreography, to looking at who has a voice, to their process.

About the Artists:
Anne Carol uses simplicity, spaciousness, and beauty to evoke a sense of belonging with her music. Her experiences of nature inspire sounds and songs that speak to the elemental. Light through leaves, a stream’s movements, or the circling of the stars all become compositions, drawing listeners into the landscape with her music.

Bay Area born and bred, jazz and gospel trained, and internationally respected, Valerie Troutt is a musical collagist, borrowing from ancestral centuries of sound, channeling spirits, and delivering the stories of our love, loss and lives. Within this spiritual and social justice-driven performer is a lifelong hunger for craft, connection, and cultural narratives. (PC: James Knox)

Dopey Fresh has been a “T.U.R.F” dancer for 9 years. He found his foundation in a turf group called Unknown Artifacts, and in 2011 he joined the Knuckle Neck Tribe. From battling in dance competitions to performing on BART trains and theatre stages, his dancing is expressed through “inner feeling” and is influenced by various styles, such as capoeira, ballet, b-boying and popping. Dopey Fresh now teaches at city dance studios in San Francisco, spreading the knowledge of turfing and sharing the Bay Area culture.

Amelia Romano takes the path less traveled. A composer and arranger, she draws on life experience and inspiration to inform her work, using the harp as her vehicle of artistic expression. Performing arrangements as dynamic and diverse as Bach to blues and Mexican bolero, she integrates Latin rhythms and personal lyrics to produce an intimate and energizing musical experience.

Jackie Ramos, Womanist Warrior, is committed to the struggle of the people using expressive arts and the pedagogies of science and teaching to transcend the senses while breaking down walls of injustice and fear. Adrian Arias believes in the transformation of reality; his religion is poetry. He believes in the cells, the blood, in the ideas, and believes in the creative power of the community and also in the pleasure to work alone. He believes in the absurd and the power of love.

Co-founder of 14 Black Poppies, Jason Wyman is a life-long educator, writer, performer and learner. His skillful networking, which is rooted in compassion and creativity, has brought over a million dollars of in-kind services and peer-based education to communities across the San Francisco Bay Area with a special emphasis on marginalized communities, youth, seniors and cultural workers.

Diana Gameros is a singer-songwriter and music instructor originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Now living in the Bay Area, Diana has played with many local favorites, including the Oakland East Bay Symphony. In 2013, Diana released her first album, Eterno Retorno, a soulful retrospective of her journey as an immigrant. In October of 2014, she received the Emerging Leader Award from the Chicana/Latina Foundation for her work in music and social justice activism.

Prosperity Movement is music group and a record label of the same name. Created by a talented group of individuals in Oakland, CA, Prosperity Movement seeks to develop, promote and distribute its brand of urban world music. A core member, WolfHawkJaguar is an award-winning filmmaker (Search for the Everlasting Coconut Tree), actor and world-renowned musician. Prosperity Movement will host the first annual Orisa Urban World Festival this March in Oakland, headlined by Bobi Cespedes, Zion Trinity and WolfHawkJaguar.

About the MAPP Program:
Launched in 2003, the Mission Arts & Performance Project (MAPP) is a homegrown bi-monthly, multidisciplinary, intercultural happening that takes place in the Mission District of San Francisco. On the first Saturday of every even month of the year, the MAPP transforms ordinary spaces such as private garages, gardens, living rooms, studios, street corners, and small businesses, into pop-up performance and exhibition sites for a day/night of intimate-scale artistic and cultural exchange among a kaleidoscope of individuals and communities.
To learn more, visit the Poppy webpage and MAPP website.

Admission: Free. Event at 3:00pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Tod Dickow with Charged Particles: A Tribute to Jazz Great Michael Brecker
2016-02-04 19:30 - 22:00
Charged Particles joins tenor saxophonist Tod Dickow in tribute to one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, Michael Brecker. This performance marks the San Francisco premiere for the quartet celebrating Michael Brecker the composer, Brecker the saxophonist, and Brecker the bandleader. The group first performed the tribute concert at THE Jazz Club in Cloverdale, CA to a standing-room-only and standing-ovation audience. Each piece will be preceded by a photo display capturing Michael at the time of the song’s premiere along with a few words detailing Michael’s life then, the significance of the song, the meaning of the title, and the relation of the song to various genres of jazz. Listeners will walk away with a deep understanding of the man, his music and its place in the larger idiom, as well as with smiles after a night of passionate musical energy, interaction, and creativity.
Featuring:
Tod Dickow – tenor saxophone
Murray Low – keyboards
Aaron Germain – acoustic & electric basses
Jon Krosnick – drums

Tod Dickow has been recognized by outstanding soloist awards at Jazz Festivals (Pacific Coast) and was awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award by DownBeat Magazine. He has appeared with numerous celebrated artists in many genres of music, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Jackie & Roy, Harry Connick Jr, Steve Allen, Terry Gibbs, Frank Sinatra Jr., Dave Brubeck, and many more. In addition to leading his own small groups, he leads the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, a great 16-piece big band featuring top players from around the Bay Area.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary next year, Bay Area-based jazz trio Charged Particles has performed at hundreds of festivals, clubs, and theaters around the world. Jazz News Magazine describes the band as “fresh, energized contemporary jazz that showcases the trio’s individual technical mastery as well as a cooperative, refined approach to the art form.” Appearances by Charged Particles include Yoshi’s in San Francisco, Vitello’s in Los Angeles, the Houston International Jazz Festival, the Midwest Jazz Heritage Festival, Trenton Jazz Festival, King Cobra Jazz Festival, among several other venues and events. The trio plays funky Latin jazz, and their original music combines elaborate orchestrations with high-energy and creative solos.

About Michael Brecker:
A beloved innovator on the tenor saxophone, Michael Brecker’s unique voice and approach to the instrument has influenced every performing saxophonist in the music industry today. Winner of 15 Grammy Awards, he was a prolific composer and leader of various bands as well as a guest soloist with many other ensembles. He was awarded some of the highest honors in jazz: an Honorary Doctorate from the Berkeley College of Music and an induction into DownBeat Magazine‘s Hall of Fame. Heard on more than 700 records and at thousands of live concerts world-wide, he was a long-time member of the Saturday Night Live band.
Learn more about the tribute to Michael Brecker here.
Follow Charged Particles on Facebook.

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Janam: Dark Side of Love - Balkan & Appalachian Groove
2016-01-30 19:30 - 22:00
This special reprise of Janam’s 2013 Valentine’s Day show will explore the shadowy side of love with tormented love songs, murder ballads, and more ‒ a perfect tone for a dark midwinter evening.
Integrating funky Balkan rhythms, gritty Appalachian ballads, arresting vocal harmonies and enchanting acoustic textures, the band creates an inspiring musical experience. Janam (a term of endearment) unites some of the Bay Area’s most playful and imaginative devotees of southern Balkan and American roots music. Weaving together folk tunes and their own colorful compositions, they take their audience on a stirring and labyrinthine ride.
Featuring:
Dan Auvil ‒ percussion, vocals
Tom Farris ‒ laouto, guitar
Juliana Graffagna ‒ vocals, accordion
Gari Hegedus ‒ oud, saz, mandocello, mandolin, violin

“An innovative ensemble that explores a dizzying range of styles, from Appalachia and Asia Minor to Eastern Europe. They play swirling, hard-driving music that always seems to end up in unexpected places.” ‒ San Francisco Chronicle
Follow Janam on Facebook.
Dive into their music on YouTube and SoundCloud.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Redwood Tango Ensemble: "Unison" Album Release - Contemporary Tango
2016-01-29 19:30 - 22:00
Celebrating the release of their new album Unison, Redwood Tango Ensemble is joined by the powerful Rafael Delarue / Scott O’Day duo for an opening set of Argentine tango guitar and vocal duets.
Redwood Tango Ensemble is a sextet from Oakland, CA dedicated to both traditional Argentine tango music and original compositions. The ensemble has taken a large step forward with the release of Unison, developing a contemporary and singular voice within the genre. Informed by the creative and wide-reaching contemporary tango composers in Argentina and around the globe, the album includes a striking set of compositions by bandoneonist Charles Gorczynski. The sextet’s arrangements are inspired by the styles of Anibal Troilo, Juan D’Arienzo, Carlos DiSarli, Osvaldo Pugliese, and other master orchestras, which has made Redwood popular among many dance communities in the Bay Area and on tour.

Featuring:
Charles Gorczynski – bandoneón
Kendra Vernon – violin
Celia Harris – violin
Alexander Lazarev – piano
Scott O’Day – guitar
Daniel Fabricant – double bass
Follow Redwood Tango Ensemble on Facebook.

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Paul Psarras: Baroque Spanish and Contemporary Guitar
2016-01-28 19:30 - 22:00
An enthusiast of early and contemporary music alike, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Paul Psarras performs a vast array of genres ranging from classical to Greek folk. In 2012, Paul earned an invitation to the GRAMMY’S with the group El Mundo, and later that year he performed in the San Francisco Opera’s Merola program. His previous performances included an appearance with the San Francisco Symphony and at the Fête de la Musique in Switzerland. As a member of the Pacific Guitar Ensemble, Paul played his composition Alkioni for oud and guitars. As a soloist, he appeared with the Vallejo Symphony and the Bear Valley Orchestra performing the Concierto de Aranjuez.
Featuring:
Paul Psarras – classical guitar

Follow Paul on Facebook and YouTube.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

BOLO: Global Groove
2016-01-24 19:30 - 22:00
Joining together rhythms and instruments from many lands, BOLO uplifts audiences with their sacred folk songs and danceable grooves.
BOLO is comprised of Eliyahu Sills (of Qadim Ensemble), Evan Fraser (of Dirtwire), and Surya Prakasha (of Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers). With elements of jazz and influences from Africa, India, and the Middle East, the trio incorporates a diversity of instrumentation ranging from flutes, strings, and percussion.
Featuring:
Eliyahu Sills – Indian & Middle Eastern flutes (bansuri, ney), bass, oud, vocal
Evan Fraser – ngoni, kalimba, percussion, vocals
Surya Prakasha – drums, harmonium, vocals

Dive into BOLO’s music on Facebook and Bandcamp.
PC: BOLO

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Ben Goldberg / Ila Cantor / Hamir Atwal: Jazz Trio: "No telling what would happen!"
2016-01-23 19:30 - 22:00
Interested in the intersection between jazz and the clarinet, Ben Goldberg explores the rich traditions of the woodwind instrument found in klezmer music. Goldberg is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished clarinetists/composers working in today’s jazz scene. He studied with jazz legends Steve Lacy and Joe Lovano before going on to establish himself as a creative force alongside Bill Frisell, Nels Cline and John Zorn amongst countless others. He will be joined by SF Bay Area drummer Hamir Atwal and guitarist Ila Cantor.
Hamir Atwal is an up-and-coming drummer/composer based around Berkeley, CA. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and has performed with the Glimpse Trio, tUneyArDs, Bill Laswell, and Joe Lovano. He was also a guest clinician/teacher at schools such as Oberlin College, Peabody Conservatory, Stanford University, CalArts, and the California Jazz Conservatory. Atwal is an active endorser of DREAM cymbals.
lla Cantor is a dynamic, award-winning guitarist and composer currently living in Oakland, CA. She has trained in composition and both jazz and classical guitar with the New School University in New York and the Banff Center for the Arts in Alberta, Canada. Additionally, she has worked with renowned Argentine composer/pianist Guillermo Klein and mentors John Scofield, John Abercrombie and Ben Monder. As both a sideman and leader, Cantor has toured internationally throughout the U.S. and Spain. Her first CD, Mother Nebula, was released by Fresh Sound Records in 2006.

Featuring:
Hamir Atwal – drums
Ila Cantor – guitar
Ben Goldberg – clarinet

Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Amy LaCour Trio: Music for the Soul-Searching
2016-01-22 20:10 - 22:00
Oakland-based vocalist Amy LaCour returns to the Red Poppy with cellist Misha Khalikulov and percussionist Josh Mellinger for a night of original material inspired by the American traditions of folk, soul, blues, jazz, and bluegrass. Amy and Misha began collaborating in late 2013 and quickly discovered a musical chemistry. Misha brings years of classical training and improvisational experience to Amy’s blues and folk-based songwriting. The result is a spare and intimate setting that highlights musicianship, voice, and song. Percussionist Josh Mellinger joined in 2015, bringing his knowledge of various musical traditions to round out the trio.
Featuring:
Amy LaCour – vocals
Misha Khalikulov – cello
Josh Mellinger – percussion
“The Oakland resident’s remarkable new EP, “Yes!” offers LaCour’s gorgeously evocative vocals, eloquent lyrics and beautiful, intricate melodies, enhanced by Misha Khalikulov’s incredibly inventive cello lines… The blend holds a special magic.”
– Paul Freeman, Palo Alto Daily News
“If Joni Mitchell is waking up to the sound of a fresh drizzling rain, then LaCour is stepping through the door the moment the sun peeks out. It’s the raw cool of folk warmed with resting embers of soul.”
– John Flynn, Metro Silicon Valley
Follow Amy on Facebook and get a feel for her music on Bandcamp.
Watch a couple of past performances here and here.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:45pm. Show at 8:10pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.
