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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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): […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
This session provides an overview of local institutional funders of the arts and tips for approaching them. How does one identify opportunities for support? What makes an application more competitive than others? What else does one need to consider? Katie shares her insights from both sides of the grants process in this increasingly challenging landscape […]
For the release of her latest EP, Angel No More, Bay Area chanteuse and pianist Rachel Efron brings to the Red Poppy a special evening of music and art. Transforming the space into a virtual music box, with Efron and bassist Aaron Germain at its heart, the audience members will be transported to an alternate reality set […]
