Red Poppy Art House

Afro Cuban Jazz Cartel
2014-05-24 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Celebrate Carnaval with Latin Jazz and Spoken Word
This night is presented as part of Carnaval San Francisco, the largest multi-cultural celebration on the West Coast. The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel will feature music from their 2013 release, “San Francisco”, an homage to San Francisco’s rich Latin musical heritage that boasts innovative arrangements and novel rhythmic grooves. The result is a fiery creation that reflects the melting pot identity of Latin-Jazz’s African, Caribbean and North American roots. The Cartel will be complemented by the “Nuyorican” – a New Yorker and Puerto Rican – soul and blues infused poetry of Sandra Garcia Rivera.

The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel is:
Brian Andres – drumkit
Javier Cabanillas – congas and percussion
Alex Conde – piano
Aaron Germain – bass
Henry Hung – trumpet
Check out the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel online.
Join the official event on Facebook.
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

(CANCELLED) A Potent Mix of Love & Grace
2014-05-28 19:30 - 22:00
Sorry for any inconvenience, A Potent Mix of Love & Grace is cancelled for this date.
Sri & Vibha are two designers who grew up in India with families that loved and obsessed over chai. After a desperate search of something similar in America, the two finally decided the only way to replicate the chai experience was to brew their own. And they did just that, pairing it with some of their favorite activities and sharing this experience with their friends. Tonight, come enjoy live music with a cup of chai!
Visit Sri & Vibha’s website here.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

iiii
2014-05-29 19:30 - 22:00
iiii, which Anthony Dean-Harris, Editor in Chief of nextbop.com recently reviewed as “a group of pure radiance,” mixes jazz training with pop and R&B influences to forge a new and captivating sound. In 2013, iiii recorded and released its self-titled debut album of original songs. The group —Laila M. Smith, Paul Bloom, Connor Schultze, and Jeremy Dutton — also released an EP, “Run iiii Cover,” which includes versions of songs by Marvin Gaye and Al Green. Originally from the East Coast the members met in college; in addition to performing and recording, the group works together to share its love for music by giving workshops, clinics, and presentations to educate.

Laila Smith – vocals
Paul Bloom – piano
Connor Schultze – bass
Jeremy Dutton – drums

“breezy, jazzy and fun” – Jake Reed (The Deli Magazine New England)

Get a feel for iiii’s unique sounds, and check out their website.
Also scope out iiii’s Facebook and attend the Poppy’s Facebook invite as well!

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

My Pet Dragon
2014-05-30 19:30 - 22:00
Frequently hailed by critics and fans for their songwriting and live performances, My Pet Dragon features husband-wife duo, Todd Michaelsen & Reena Shah, from Brooklyn. Their melodic and occasionally anthemic songs are uniquely presented using a variety of looping instruments, vocals, and beats. The duo collaborated on writing the original music score and voice overs for the award-winning animated feature film, “Sita Sings the Blues,” by Nina Paley. My Pet Dragon offers upbeat melodies and cheerful lyrics, evoking clear skies and sunny days!
Visit My Pet Dragon’s website here.
Join the official Facebook event here.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Jeff Denson Trio
2014-05-31 19:30 - 22:00
An embrace of traditional Jazz and new innovations
As one of jazz’s premier bassists Jeff Denson is always looking for situations that allow for maximum creative freedom, like his long-running gig with alto sax legend Lee Konitz, or the collective trio Minsarah. One of his two new duo albums, “I’ll Fly Away” which he worked on with Joshua White, who he met in 2005 studying at UC San Diego, showcases his virtuosity and exquisite musicality while providing a fascinating window into his vast range as an improviser. Joining Joshua White and Jeff Denson will be Jon Arkin, a Berkeley based drummer/percussionist who is also an active music educator as a faculty member for the Berkeley Jazzschool and the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Jeff Denson – double bass & vocals
Joshua White – piano
Jon Arkin – drums

“Never satisfied to merely accept the role of a session player and with a forward thinking vision to expand his horizons as a leader, Jeff Denson is quickly moving up the improvisational food chain as one of the preeminent bassists in world.” –Brent Black – Bop-N-Jazz www.criticaljazz.com

For more information about the Jeff Denson Trio see their website and visit the Poppy FB event to RSVP.
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30. Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Amy Denio with OU
2014-06-06 19:30 - 22:00
Mediterranean Songs by Sardinian composer Ersilia Prosperi
OU and Amy Denio bring you a Mediterranean joyride of vivacious original songs by Sardinian composer Ersilia Prosperi: Folk jazz with fiercely funky rhythms ~ topped with lush vocals sung by all 7 in Sardinian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and English! Instrumentation includes piano, drums, bass, saxophones, clarinet, flugelhorn, ukelele and more! A rare night with a eclectic and wonderful ensemble!
Amy Denio – multi-instrumentalist, voice
Ersilia Prosperi – trumpet, composer, arranger
Sabrina Coda – alto & soprano sax, voiceMartina Fadda – voice
Luca Venitucci – piano, hammond B3 organ, Fender Rhodes, voice
Claudio Mosconi – electric bass, voice
Cristian Fe Fabritiis – drums, vibraphone, glockenspiel, voice
oumusic.org and on Facebook
amydenio.com and Amy Denio on BandCamp

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

MAPP (Mission Arts Performance Project)
2014-06-07 13:00 - 22:00
Since 2003, Mission Arts and Performance Project (MAPP) has produced 63 neighborhood pop-up art happenings of intimate spaces, all without ever formalizing into a non-profit organization, seeking funding, nor establishing a formal staff structure. Across these 10 years, the MAPP has featured thousands of artists, helping to cross-pollinate ideas and launch careers of artists engaged in social issues. It is a kind of otherworldly art walk, not centered on commercial corridors but within intimate spaces where the magic of genuine connectivity transpires among people across communities and art forms.
MAPP stands as a testament to the possibility of horizontal organizing among artists intent on building social fabric within our respective communities, as much to celebrate diversity and creativity as to counter the erosion of these qualities that occurs when development displaces artists and minority communities alike.
MAPP Website
Always free and open to all ages!

MAPP schedule at the Red Poppy Art House

In Dedication To Alex Nieto

On Friday evening, March 21, 2014, Alejandro “Alex” Nieto, 28 years old, was shot at over fourteen times and killed by the San Francisco Police Department, on Bernal Hill Park, without justification.

DAYTIME FAMILY MAPP ACTIVITIES
1PM-4PM
Puppetry and family painting activities with Sofia Elias and the Family Art crew

ON EXHIBITION

Installation “Home/Studio: Eviction Scene Investigation” by Yolanda M. Lopez and Adriana Camarena
Paintings by Paz de la Calzada, Alberto Toscano, and Todd Thomas Brown.

PRESENTATIONS & PERFORMANCE

6:00PM: Informal presentation and conversation with writer/installation artist Adriana Camarena
7:01PM: Adapted dance/theater excerpt from Teobi’s Dreaming, with Kenya Moses, Todd Thomas Brown, and Camille Mai
7:30ish: Poetry Michael Warr
7:51PM: Poetry D. Scott Miller of AfroSurreal
8:16PM: Music/Song by Amy LaCour
8:42PM: “November 2007”: butoh inspired experimental dance by Iu-Hui Chua
8:56PM: “Makrú Duet”, Martina Castro & Raúl Vargas
9:27PM: Vocalist Tiffany Austin with pianist Casey Mattson, Jazz & Creole

Chutzpah!: The Musical by Rainbow Geffner
2014-06-12 19:30 - 22:00
Original script reading
A San Francisco Premier: A fundraiser against domestic violence

Rainbow Geffner has performed original theatrical works ensembles like A Travelling Jewish Theater, Teatro Kismet O.P.E.R.A, Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, and Touchstone Theatre. Her writing credits include a solo show called Emily: On Clerical Errors and Destiny and Tales From the Tub which she wrote, directed and produced in 2008.
Her latest work, Chutzpah!, is an irreverent musical comedy about a Jewish girl from Long Island who runs away from home and gets a job at a Manhattan deli. No sooner does she learn the difference between a kishka and a tuches that she discovers the deli is a front for a burlesque club run by Orthodox Jews! Will she make it as a burlesque dancer? Will she make it with the club’s DJ? Will she reconcile with her family? Or will her idea to use her father’s new polysaccharide as a tool for sexual liberation be the answer to a repressed society’s dysfunctionality? A smart and funny look at modern Jewish values and the sexual hypocrisies behind the traditions, come and join us for a preview through an original script reading.
www.rainbowgeffner.com
Join the official Facebook event

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

La Familia Peña-Govea
2014-06-13 19:30 - 22:00
Dance to cumbia, merengue, ranchera, valse, danzone and more!
La Familia Peña-Govea is a band of four family members who have played music together for three decades. They have lovingly shared their music at countless weddings, baptisms, festivals, and birthdays, both locally in the Bay Area and beyond, as well as more formal venues like Davies Symphony Hall. They share their music with the simple intention of bringing people together and making them smile and dance. La Familia Peña-Govea brought this spirit to San Quentin State Prison and AIDS ward patients at Laguna Honda Hospital. Come join them for a night of festivity and dance!
Miguel Govea – accordion, trumpet, vocals, bass
Susan Peña – guitar, vocals
Rene Peña-Govea – accordion, bass, vocals
Cecilia Peña-Govea – guira, trumpet, cajon
Sergio Duran – congas/percussion, vocals

“A cultural force in the Bay Area” (Jesse “Chuy” Varela, Latin Beat Magazine)

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Ensemble Mik Nawooj
2014-06-14 19:30 - 22:00
Ensemble Mik Nawooj returns to the Red Poppy to present C.R.E.A.M., Shame on a Nigga and Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing ta Fuck Wit from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Gin & Juice from Doggystyle. This concert continues their Artist Residency in which EMN will do a partial premiere of a 6 piece commission for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. EMN music director, composer, and pianist JooWan Kim will re-imagine 6 classic hip-hop songs from 1993 for YBCA’s “Clas/sick Hiphop II: 93’ Til” celebration in November. EMN will also present original music from their upcoming first studio album.
JooWan Kim – Music Director, Composition, Piano
Do D.A.T. & Sandman – MCs & Lyricists
Lauren Woody – Soprano
Carmen Lemoine – Flute
Nick Litwin – Clarinet
Michele Walther – Violin
Gabriel Beistline – Cello
James Schulz – Bass
Louie Flores Jr.- Drums
“Whoever said that chamber music couldn’t be hip obviously haven’t heard of Ensemble Mik Nawooj.” – NPR

Tiffany Austin who is also a artists in residence at the Red Poppy will open for EMN, providing a brief taste of her show at the Red Poppy upcoming on August 24, 2014. Vocalist, composer, and Los Angeles native, Tiffany possesses a soulful and subtle delivery, has graced the stages of SFJAZZ, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
Get a pre-show taste of Ensemble Mik Nawooj, as well as Tiffany

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Stringquake & Amy LaCour EP Release with Misha Khalikulov
2014-06-19 19:30 - 22:00
Soulful Folk And A Boundary Melting Trio
An internationally recognized trio, StringQuake pushes musical boundaries with its dynamic arrangements and unique harp/percussion/cello instrumentation. The trio has toured Mexico and performed extensively in the Bay Area, releasing their first album, “Take 15,” in summer 2013. Nourished by the musical traditions of the Americas, Greece, Africa, India, and Europe, StringQuake’s original repertoire is served with a copious amount of improvisation and unusual rhythms that will leave listeners clamoring for more.
Amelia Romano – electric lever harp
Misha Khalikulov – cello
Josh Mellinger – percussion

Vocalist Amy LaCour celebrates the release of her new EP, “Yes!,” in collaboration with Bay Area cellist Misha Khalikulov. The duo began performing in late 2013, quickly discovering a musical chemistry. Khalikulov brings years of classical training and improvisational experience to Amy’s folk and blues-based songwriting, creating a spare and intimate setting that highlights musicianship, voice, and song.
Amy LaCour – vocals
Misha Khalikulov – cello
Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

The Arsonists and The Jon Hatamiya Quintet
2014-06-20 19:30 - 22:00
A Night of Fervent (Post) Jazz
Describing themselves as a “post-jazz shred fest” with promised results of “ecstatic eardrum immolation”, the Arsonists’ energy and intensity are immediately clear in both mentality and performance. Melding East Coast jazz conservatory training with an open minded and passionate approach to composition, they fuse together a diverse array of influences including contemporary jazz, neo-Caribbean dancehall, and funk-metal grooves. The unified sound emerging from these disparate influences is at once idiosyncratic and organic, and above all extremely powerful.
Patrick Bartley – Alto Saxophone, and Nintendo DS
Xavier Del Castillo – Tenor Saxophone
Julian Garvue – Piano and Keyboard
Mat Muntz – Double Bass
Max Holmberg – Drums
Sharing the night, Northern California native and New York based trombonist/composer Jon Hatamiya leads his quintet featuring some of the finest up-and-coming instrumentalists of Sacramento and the Bay Area. Emphasizing original compositions, strong musical interaction, and heavy grooves, Hatamiya and his quintet mix jazz with rock and electronica for a high energy musical experience.

Jon Hatamiya – Trombone
Lucas Del Calvo – Guitar
Nick Lamb – Piano/Keys
Andy McCauley – Acoustic/Electric Bass
Colin McDaniel – Drums
Check out the Arsonists’ newly released album “The Red Planet”
Check out more performances by Jon Hatamiya.
Join the event on Facebook.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Antique’s Worksuite and Antique Naked Soul
2014-06-21 16:30 - 22:00
A Beatbox-sing soul revival
Come explore your personal potential to be an influence as an artist or educator in Antique’s Worksuite and stay for a live performance by Antique Naked Soul’s LIVE beatbox-sing soul!
Oakland Indie Award and Oaktown Music Festival nominee Candice “Antique” Wicks is the Founder and President of Antique Music, a music edu-tainment company encompassing her work as an educator, with collaborative music projects. Antique is the lead singer of an all-vocal beat-boxing band called Antique Naked Soul (ANS) with renown beat-boxer Tommy “Soulati” Shepherd and two singers, Jayme Brown and N’gala McCoy. As artist and educator, Antique has led personal and professional development workshops for educators all over the world. Her “worksuites” combine her live performance with her expertise as an educator.

“Compared to how stagnant the hip-hop soul scene has been recently, their rebellious and distinct style is certainly a breath of fresh air.” -Kurofune Crew, Japan

Antique Naked Soul is:
Antique – lead singer, vocal horns and guitar, work suite facilitator
MC Solati – beatboxer, Vocal DJ
N’gala – background singer, vocal horns and guitar
Jayme – background singer, vocal guitar and keys

Admission: $10-15 for worksuite and performance. $20-30 for both
Time: 4:30pm-6pm: Worksuite 7:30pm-10pm: Live Performance

Katy Stephan
2014-06-23 19:30 - 22:00
Brewing Stories & Drinking Songs
Katy returns to the Poppy for a night of wild tales and beguiling serenades. Combining theater, music and movement, this special Monday evening performance will include Katy’s intricate handcrafted songs. Katy’s sweet and salty songs will feature characters brought to life by Bay Area theater veteran Robert Parsons, known for his spellbinding performances, and by the enchanting Marissa Keltie. Expect a night of stories and songs, myths, larks, tragicomic fascinations.

Check out the Katy’s last performance at the Poppy.
Also get a sneak peek of what she’s truly all about at her website.

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Diego Garcia “EL TWANGUERO”
2014-06-26 19:30 - 22:00
Latino-Twang and American Roots Music
Latin Grammy winner, songwriter, and guitarist Diego García “El Twanguero” presents his acclaimed new album blending Latino-Twang & American roots music: “Argentina Songbook” (Warner Music). This Spanish guitar virtuoso and pioneer of the Latin-Twang genre that inspired his nickname has played this unique style of music all around the world. El Twanguero has shared stages with acclaimed latin artists such as Juanes, Calamaro, Fito Paez, Bunbury, Diego El Cigala, Mercedes Sosa, and much more. The late Gabriel Garcia Marquez proclaimed him as a “guitar master.”

“…Original and fascinating…Diego creates new standards with a unique language. ” – Rolling Stone (Argentina)
Experience Latino-Twang here

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Naomi Wachira
2014-06-27 19:30 - 22:00
A Folk Soloist on her African Girl, African Woman Summer Tour
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present “The Best Folk Singer” in Seattle as deemed by Seattle Weekly. Since Naomi’s appearance on the cover of Seattle Weekly, she’s teamed with the much-loved indie songwriter Damien Jurado to produce her debut album. When you listen to Naomi, you’ll hear the influence of two powerful, groundbreaking female songwriters: Miriam Makeba and Tracy Chapman. Naomi croons with a feminine mystique similar to that of India Arie, singing about the journey to follow one’s heart, with which every human can relate. Naomi’s songs, inspired both by the sounds she discovered in America and what she grew up with in Kenya, tell stories that are imbued with a sense of hopefulness.
Naomi Wachira – Guitar and Vocals
Listen to Naomi’s entire album for free: naomiwachira.com/listen/
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Onda Brasileira Featuring Sonia Caltvedt and Eduardo Corzo
2014-06-28 19:30 - 22:00
Music of Master Brazilian Composers Gismonti, Jobim, and Pascoal
Join flutist Sonia Caltvedt and pianist Eduardo Corzo as they explore the music of influential Brazilian composers Gismonti, Jobim, Pascoal and others. The pair will be accompanied by Eric Garland on drums and joined by other surprise guests. Sonia Caltvedt is a classically trained flutist who fell in love with Latin music a little over a decade ago. Since then, she has performed in the flamenco-latin ensemble Potingue, bossa nova quintet Bossa Five-0, Brazilian pop band Brazilvox, original tango ensemble Scala Tympani, Carlos Oliveira’s Northeast Brazilian ensemble, Kata-vento and the newly formed forro band, Porreta. Sonia is the Marketing Director for Community Music Center, a non-profit music school and performance space based in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Eduardo Corzo is a pianist, guitarist and clarinetist from Havana, Cuba. He has composed and arranged music for Cuban and Mexican television, served as musical director of the Conjunto Nacional de Espectaculos, and toured throughout Latin America. Living in Mexico during the 90’s, he played with an incredible array of musicians including Lila Downs and Oriente Lopez to name a few. Corzo is an artist with a broad vision, interested in genres and styles different from his own, and whose background includes a mix of everything from Bach partitas to Brazilian and Afro Cuban sounds.
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Accessories to an Eviction: A Garage Sale by Yolanda Lopez!
2014-06-29 13:00 - 16:00
Join us for a garage sale of Yolanda Lopez’s accessories! Make the best of a bad situation, and exchange mementos with Yolanda: Dollar bills in exchange for classy accessories from her personal closet! As proven by the items in the last garage sale https://www.facebook.com/events/234466683412729, this artist has great taste! You are invited to actively participate in Yolanda’s accessories market.
Join the Facebook event and spread the word!

Ila Cantor & Jacob Aranda Band
2014-07-03 19:30 - 22:00
A Night of Intimate, Evocative Songwriters
Come join us for Ila Cantor’s CD Release, Highlights of the Grey, as well as a separate performance by Jacob Aranda Band. Together, these two songwriters promise a night of soulful and personal music.
Ila Cantor is a guitarist, composer, and singer/songwriter who has performed worldwide. Highlights of the Grey is her third original album. Cantor’s emotional songwriting takes unusual and beautiful turns captivating her listeners. Throughout her career, Cantor has received grants from the Van Lier Fellowship, as well as the Open Arts Foundation for Merit in Composition. Cantor resides in the Bay Area, where she performs, writes, teaches, and records music.
Jacob Aranda is a singer/songwriter from Chicago who has recently moved to San Francisco. Outside of songwriting, Aranda also plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and pedal steel with several bands in the Bay Area. His music is captivating and emotionally enchanting, while conveying a sense of joy. Aranda resides in the Outer Sunset performing, writing and building guitars at Woodshop.
Ila Cantor Performers:
Ila Cantor – Guitar/Vocals
Cathlene Pineda – Piano
Chris Higgins – Bass
Tommy Crane -Drums
Jacob Aranda Band:
Jacob Aranda – Guitar/Vocals
Paula Frazer – Percussion/Vocals
David Cuetter – Pedal steel
Join the Facebook event. And listen to a sneak peak of their music, here and here!

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Gillian Harwin
2014-07-04 19:30 - 22:00
Sultry R&B Meets Contemporary Soul
Californian turned New Yorker, Gillian Harwin is a true performer whose soulful sounds will be sure to make you get up so you can get down! This vocalist, multi-instumentalist, composer and entertainer brings back the old school R&B groove with her saucy, sultry band, Reverse Double Clutch. Winner of amateur night at the world famous Apollo Theater, Gillian has been taking New York by storm and will be releasing her new album, “Lost n’ Found” in summer 2014. This band will take you on an unforgettable ride so strap on your dancing shoes and come get your groove on with Gillian Harwin and Reverse Double Clutch!
Gillian Harwin – voice
Reese Bullen – drums
Guitar and bass – TBA
Get a sneak peek of Gillian’s style at her website.
Also, join the official Facebook event
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30. Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Prasant Radhakrishnan & Kavita Shah
2014-07-05 19:00 - 22:00
On this evening the Red Poppy Art House will present two full sets of music by different artists, bridging the worlds of South Indian Classical music and Jazz. Two concerts in one, the first being focused in traditional South Indian Carnatic music, and the second in jazz.
SET l

PRASANT RADHAKRISHNAN & ROHAN KRISHNAMURTHY
Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist identified with both the South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz disciplines. The unique vocal texture of his sound on saxophone, noted for its expressive complexity and rhythmic ingenuity, reflects Prasant’s continued study of tradition, constant innovation, and vast concert experience over the past fifteen years.
The foremost disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant began developing his music over the course of nearly a decade of intensive musical training under his guru, much of which took place in the traditional gurukulam format of complete immersion. Waking at 5am each morning in his teacher’s home and practicing through the day under his guidance, Radhakrishnan was initiated into the world of Carnatic music in a format seldom available today in India, much less in his native Arizona. The rigor of this training, followed by the privilege of accompanying his teacher on stage in hundreds of concerts in subsequent years, fostered a deep understanding of Carnatic music.
Acclaimed an “international mridangam performer” by USA Today and “pride of India” by India’s leading newspaper, The Times of India, Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy is considered a musical ambassador. Having initially received mridangam training with Damodaran Srinivasan over the telephone in the U.S., he continued advanced training from maestro, Guruvayur Dorai, in India. Rohan has performed hundreds of concerts internationally since the age of nine as a distinguished soloist and collaborator in diverse music and dance ensembles.
Prasant Radhakrishnan – saxophone
Rohan Krishnamurthy – mridangam
prasantmusic.com
rohanrhythm.com
SET II
On tour from NYC, for one night only at the Poppy…
KAVITA SHAH – VISIONS
Hailed by Downbeat Magazine as the “Best Graduate Jazz Vocalist” (2012) and winner of the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award (2013), Kavita Shah is gaining a reputation as a visionary young singer, composer, and arranger. A native New Yorker of Indian origin fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French, Ms. Shah incorporates elements of Indian, Brazilian, and Malian music into her jazz-based repertoire. Her debut CD “Visions” (Inner Circle Music)–produced by Benin-born jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke–combines the sounds of the traditional Indian tablas and West African kora with those of a jazz quintet.

“I haven’t been so excited about a project like this in a long time,” states Loueke. “Kavita is a real, true musician. She’s a great singer, but the way she writes music, she’s not really thinking just about the voice. It sounds like she could be a horn player, a sax player.” – Lionel Loueke

Shah has performed at Kennedy Center, Joe’s Pub, Vermont Jazz Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rubin Museum of Art, and Paris’ Sunset/Sunside Club. She has had the pleasure of collaborating with Sheila Jordan, Peter Eldridge, Steve Wilson, Lionel Loueke, Samir Chatterjee, Amir ElSaffar, Linda Oh, Rogerio Boccato, and Yacouba Sissoko.Shah holds an M.M. in Jazz Voice from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies from Harvard.
Kavita Shah – vocals
Steve Newcomb – piano
Guilhem Flouzat – drums
TBA – bass
kavitashahmusic
Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Celebrating The Pablo Neruda Centennial Festival’s 10th Anniversary
2014-07-10 19:00 - 22:00
A Poetry Fiesta of Love, Social Justice, Live Music and Film
Presented by Red Reels Film Series & Red Poppy
Join us for a unique evening celebrating The Pablo Neruda Centennial Festival’s 10th Anniversary a night of poetry, music, film and everything Neruda. The evening will kick off with readings from poets central to Neruda’s works including visual artist and curator Adrián Arias, WordParty Poetry and Jazz Open Mic host Jennifer Barone, editor of City Lights’ The Essential Neruda Mark Eisner, WordParty co-founder Ingrid Keir, noted Neruda translator William O’Daly, translator and editor Barbara Paschke and acclaimed poet Michael Warr. This event will also feature a live performance from Quijeremá, who performed the soundtrack to the documentary-in-progress, Pablo Neruda: The Poet’s Calling. New selected scenes from the film will be screened, as well as bonus material starring Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
Mark Eisner is the president of Red Poppy, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the power of Latin American poetry to evoke emotions and foster social consciousness. In 2004, he collaborated with his friend Todd Brown, who had founded the Portfolio-IS-Mission Art House in 2003 (which would later become the Red Poppy Art House). On July 12, 2004, what would have been Neruda’s 100th birthday, Mark was interviewed and read Neruda’s poetry on NPR’s Morning Edition. That night Red Poppy threw what the San Francisco Chronicle called “a perfect birthday party” to celebrate the centennial of the legendary Chilean poet and social justice activist, Pablo Neruda. Poetry readings by the likes of Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Robert Hass, music by Quijeremá, and the premier of an award-winning documentary that now serves as the seed for the more ambitious The Poet’s Calling. A week-long festival followed, featuring art, multi-disciplinary performances including Protest Tango led by the Red Poppy Art House’s founder Todd Brown, local school children reading poetry they translated, lively talks on political poetry in the 21st Century, and much more. Copies of The Essential Neruda will be on sale at the event. Several of the translators may be present at the end to sign your copy if so desired; proceeds from the sales of the book as well as a portion of the event’s admission will go towards the documentary’s crucial phase of editing this summer. Please join us as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of that magical week.
Adrián Arias, American-Peruvian prize-winning poet, visual artist and curator, working with words and souns with his body as an installation-poem. His poetry was exposed in all kind of events, such the Stern Grove festival in 2010 in a music concert with Meklit Hadero, the Struga Poetry Nights in Macedonia in 2009 or at the de Young Museum in San Francisco as part of a visual installation-performance. The video of Pablo Neruda’s “Poem XV” (“I like it when you’re quiet…”) he directed for “The Poet’s Calling” documentary will be screened this evening.
Jennifer Barone is the host of the WordParty Poetry and Jazz Open Mic every third Tuesday at Viracocha in San Francisco, California. She is the author of three books of poetry, her most recent titled Saporoso, poems of Italian food and love. She’s been a selected poet for the 2007 and 2012 Poets Eleven contest, organized by Jack Hirschman, SF Poet Laureate and the SF Public Library.
Mark Eisner is the producer and co-director of the documentary-in-progress, Pablo Neruda: The Poet’s Calling, parts of which will be screened at the event. It has received support from Latino Public Broadcasting. The cinematic exploration he premiered at the 2004 Festival, entitled “Pablo Neruda! Presente!”, won an Award of Merit in Film from the Latin American Studies Association, and serves at the seed for this new, more ambitious project. Mark edited City Lights’ bilingual The Essential Neruda, the bestselling edition of Neruda in the US, and is one of its principal translators. His translations and (non-Neruda) opinion pieces, book reviews, and other writings have appeared in a wide variety of publications. He recently co-edited Red Poppy’s multilingual anthology of Latin American Poetry in Resistance and is finishing a biography on Neruda. He consults on a variety of issues related to Latin America in order to pay the bills. Mark earned his BA from the University of Michigan with High Honors in English/Creative Writing and distinction in Political Science. He received his MA in Latin American Studies from Stanford, where he was later a Visiting Scholar.
Ingrid Keir is a co-founder of the WordParty. She currently teaches Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, and is nearing completion of her M.F.A. at SFSU. In the past, she has organized and hosted several poetry readings honoring Neruda’s birthday, and is an avid lover of his work and poetic vision. Ingrid has written several chapbooks: The Secrets of Like (2004), Toward the Light (2007) and has been published in many journals including the Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Sparkle and Blink, and Out of Our to name a few. Her work was selected as a 2012 winner in the annual Benicia Love Poetry Contest, and published in an anthology From Benicia with Love (Poetry, that is), 2013. www.thewordparty.com
William O’Daly is a poet, translator, editor, and fiction writer. With Copper Canyon Press, he has published eight books of Pablo Neruda’s late-career and posthumous poetry (including Winter Garden, The Sea and the Bells, The Book of Questions, and World’s End). He also published a chapbook of his own poems, The Whale in the Web. Bill has received national and regional honors for his creative work; he was a finalist for the prestigious 2006 Quill Award in Poetry, for which he was profiled on NBC’s The Today Show. Bill is an NEA Fellow and has been published in a wide range of domestic and international magazines and anthologies. A board member of Poets Against War, he’s also taught on the college level and as a poet in the schools.
Barbara Paschke has been involved in translation for over thirty years, both as a translator and editor. Her publications include Riverbed of Memory (by Daisy Zamora),Clamor of Innocence, and Volcán (City Lights Books), Clandestine Poems (Curbstone Press) and short stories and poetry in the literary travel companions to Costa Rica, Cuba, and Spain (Whereabouts Press), New World, New Words (Two Lines Press), First World Ha Ha Ha (City Lights), Literary Amazonia, and The Empire for 1 Poem. She has also contributed translations to a number of literary journals. Currently, she is a board member of the Center for the Art of Translation, where she coordinates the annual Northern California Translation Award. Her other passion is music; she has been and continues to be part of several choral groups in the Bay Area.
Michael Warr is author of The Armageddon of Funk, We Are All The Black Boy, and co-editor of Power Lines: A Decade of Poetry From Chicago’s Guild Complex, all from Tia Chucha Press. His literary awards include the 2012 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature, 2012 Poetry Honor Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Gwendolyn Brooks Significant Illinois Poets Award, a National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, and others. Michael is currently editing the anthology Of Poetry & Protest – Emmett Till to Trayvon Martin, which combines poetry, portraits, essays and archival prints.
Red Reels is the Red Poppy’s in-house monthly film series. Red Reels seeks to support emerging and first-time filmmakers and support the Bay Area arts community by featuring the work of local artists and filmmakers. The series aims to expand on the Poppy’s multidisciplinary focus by utilizing visual culture and cinema as a platform for intercultural exchange and community dialogue. Red Reels films expose audiences to diverse global traditions and encourage audiences to discuss issues highlighted in the films and explore common themes present in their own lives.Screenings will explore a unique interdisciplinary approach to film, utilizing real time performances from other disciplines to create a multi-layered viewing experience for audiences. By integrating mediums like dance, painting, or a live musical performance, screenings can create a unique viewing experience for audiences that stands apart from traditional screening techniques.
Red Poppy is dedicated to promoting the power of Latin American poetry to evoke emotions and foster social consciousness. Their current priority is completing a groundbreaking documentary film on the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. His faith in the “poet’s obligation” to use poetry to bear witness to injustice and promote progressive social change inspires their work. They have also just completed a multilingual anthology of Latin American “Poetry in Resistance.”

Quijeremá is a fine-tuned Oakland (SF Bay Area) based performing arts ensemble that has been recreating the concept of mixtura in World Music. Quijeremá infuses their original contemporary Latin American compositions with a deep sense of unique ancient musical traditions. New with primal, the real and ethereal permeate each performance—an amalgam of Quijeremá’s mastery of traditional music and the present. Still, the blending of rhythm, texture, and color in their music is seamless, transparent and one-of-a-kind. Captivating audiences over the course of a eight-year, five-album career; this fine-tuned San Francisco Bay Area based quintet of world musicians has only gotten better.

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Photo title: Pablo Neruda and wife Matilde Urrutia, after reading at Cal Berkeley, 1966
San Francisco Chronicle article:
www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Admirers-celebrate-Chilean-poet-s-birthday-2741523.php#photo-2185468
Mark Eisner on NPR Morning Edition, Renee Montaigne telling the country about the festival that night:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3301011

Admission: $10- 20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Jesse Olsen Bay and Charming Hostess
2014-07-11 19:30 - 22:00
The Red Poppy Art House offers you a double bill of eclectic tunes on Friday July 11th, bringing you the words of author and activist Tillie Olsen in musical form along with songs about social justice. Composer/multi-instrumentalist Jesse Olsen Bay celebrates the album release ofMakings, songs based on unpublished writings by his grandmother, acclaimed author/activist Tillie Olsen. Jesse is known as part of the eclectic folk duo Ramon & Jessica, as well as for his frequent collaborations with dance and theater, having written original music for Sonoma State’s Fall Dance Concert. In Makings, Jesse accompanies himself on guitar, percussion, piano, toy instruments and found objects, weaving Tillie’s words into a tapestry of vivid emotion and imagery.
Jesse Olsen Bay – voice, guitar, piano, percussion, objects
Listen to and learn more about Jesse Olsen Bay’s Makings.

Charming Hostess works at the intersection of voice, text and diaspora consciousness. Led by founder Jewlia Eisenberg, Charming Hostess often creates an immersive experience—making spaces that incorporate musical performance and visitor participation. They are now working on The Ginzburg Geography, a sonic cartography of the life and work of Natalia and Leone Ginzburg. Recent performance installations include Teraphim (Meridian, 2012) on feminist biblical criticism; and The Bowls Project (YBCA 2010) on Babylonian women’s amulets. Tonight Charming Hostess is proud to honor Tillie Olsen’s legacy with songs of social justice and daily work.
Jewlia Eisenberg – voice
Cyn Taylor – voice
Jason Ditzian – bass clarinet
Laura Inserra – drums
Engage with Charming Hostess‘ past and current righteousness.
Join the event on Facebook
Admission: $10-20. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Jason Ewald & Friends
2014-07-12 19:30 - 22:00
An Evening of Soulful Grooves
Jason Ewald has spent his career deeply immersed in diverse musical environments and, as a result, has developed his own particular brand of soulful, groove-driven music. His original compositions are inspired by a plethora of sounds that he’s picked up along the way – in his words, “by the refined sounds of 70s pop, the greasy soul of Muscle Shoals, the explorations of jazz, and the insistent rhythms of funk and rock.” His latest work with his ensemble, called simply, Ewald, contemplates the magic that he finds lying hidden within his everyday life, emerging from encounters with friends and lovers, bike rides through the city, the powerful energy of New York City and its inhabitants.
Jason spent several years living and playing music in San Francisco before moving to New York City in 2007, and so for his show at the Poppy he will invite some of his favorite Bay Area artists collaborate with him for an unpredictable night of fun, funky original music.
Jason Ewald – drums, lead vocals
Other performers – TBA
Check out Jason’s website here.
Check out the Facebook event here.
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

FivePlay Jazz Quintet
2014-07-18 19:30 - 22:00
Jazz for Hungry Ears
FivePlay is a Bay Area-based band performing original music that nourishes both mind and heart. Whether you’re an experienced jazz listener or you’re hearing jazz for the first time, FivePlay’s approachable music is the byproduct of modern creative jazz, reaching the ears of any spectator involved. Their repertoire encompasses a wide range of influences: from tango, samba and Afro-Cuban sounds, to up-tempo modal jazz, poignant waltzes and contemporary jazz/rock tones. FivePlay has performed at numerous Bay Area venues, including the JazzSchool, Yoshi’s Oakland, the Emerald Tablet, Vallejo Jazz Festival, and many more. They have three CDs which have all received critical acclaim, and international radio airplay.

Laura Klein – piano
Tony Corman – guitar
Dave Tidball – reeds
Alan Hall – drums
Paul Smith – bass

”The FivePlay Jazz Quintet does more than play the notes, they make the music..word of mouth alone has them at the top of the heap in the Bay Area improvisational scene.” –Brent Black, Bop-N-Jazz

Check out FivePlay’s Website here
Also get a sneak peak of their music
Join the official event on Facebook

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Fadista Angela Brito with guitar trio Sete Colinas
2014-07-19 19:30 - 22:00
Fado, the Portuguese Blues
Angela Brito is a fadista born in Northern California who has won over audiences everywhere with her powerful voice and passionate delivery. Fado is a genre of Portuguese music typically characterized by sentiments of longing or melancholy. Sete Colinas is a string trio made up of Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar and John Cardadeiro. Together, Angela and Sete Colinas provide an unforgettable and authentic fado experience full of the passion and emotion that fill the fado houses of Lisbon, Portugal. Angela received two AUA Awards (Artistas Unidos da América) this year for Best Fado and Best Portuguese Interpretation for songs on her debut fado album released in January of this year, Fado de Olhos Fechados. Angela and Guitar Trio Sete Colinas invite audiences to enjoy traditional fado ballads as well as contemporary compositions.

Angela Brito – fadista
Helder Carvalheira – Portuguese guitar (guitarra Portuguesa)
Steve Soares – guitar (viola do fado)
John Cardadeiro – bass (viola baixo)
Check out Angela’s Facebook page
Listen to Angela on YouTube

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Trio Unites for a Night of New Orleans Jazz
2014-07-24 19:30 - 22:00
Vocalist, pianist and percussionist join forces to create a unique jazz sound
McDermott, who is making a rare appearance in San Francisco, will be accompanied by the expertise of Jacques and Goerlitz to perform a night of New Orleans jazz.
Tom McDermott is a New Orleans composer and pianist who explores a broad range of styles. A longtime resident of the Crescent City, he has made a musical appearance and additional musical contributions on the HBO series “Treme.” His latest CD, Bamboula, produced by Van Dyke Parks, has gotten rave reviews from the New York Times, and a 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine.
Michelle Jacques is a vocalist and the founder of ensembles CHELLE! and Friends, and Juke Joint A Cappella. Michelle is a native of New Orleans who has made the Bay Area her home. She has shared the stage with artists such as Susana Baca, Ray Charles and the Manhattan Transfer, among others.
Michaelle Goerlitz is a percussionist who has lent her skills to a variety of Bay Area groups since the 1980s, with styles ranging from Brazilian music to Afro-Cuban music to jazz and all things in between. A founding member of Wild Mango, she currently plays with the VNote Ensemble and Ojala.
Check out Tom, Michelle, and Michaelle on the web.
Join the official Facebook event.

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Namaskar
2014-07-25 18:30 - 22:00
Whirled Raga Jazz
Namaskar is an ensemble that exists in two forms, one in the San Francisco Bay Area and the other in Brooklyn, New York. The group is led by percussionist Sameer Gupta and brings a unique approach to Indian/Jazz fusion. Namaskar is comprised of stellar local improvisers who individually represent modern extemporization. From Indian classical music, avant-garde jazz, R&B and soul, to funk and dub-reggae, Namaskar explores improvisational pathways through compositions from 1950s Golden-Era Bollywood, classic jazz melodies, traditional Indian classical ragas, as well as original compositions.
Sameer Gupta – drumset, tabla Darren Johnston – trumpet Prasant Radhakrishnan – Carnatic saxophone David Boyce – tenor/soprano sax, bass clarinet, efx, Black Edgar’s Musicbox Maya Kronfeld – piano, keyboards Bryan Dean – electric bass
Check out Namaskar’s Facebook page here. If you want a sneak peek of the music, visit these YouTube links here and here. Also, join the official Facebook event
Admission: $15-20. Double show: 7pm (Doors 6:30) & 8:30pm (Doors 8:20)
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

The View From Bernal Hill
2014-07-26 19:30 - 22:00
Original Jazz, Sultry Blues, and Chamber Sounds
Where Charles Mingus meets Doris Day, resident artists Camille Mai, Nahuel Bronzini, and Schuyler Karr kick off their first West Coast tour as The View from Bernal Hill. On the menu: mouthwatering harmonies, eccentric rhythms, and savory new songs straight out of the sonic oven. Hailing from Paris, Buenos Aires, and Seattle, the three musicians united in San Francisco in 2012, releasing their first EP, “We Are No Beautiful Children,” at the Red Poppy last December. Featuring local musicians and performance artists, the trio’s performance will combine the raw spontaneity of jazz improvisation with the energy of rock and the subtle presence of chamber music, resulting in a gripping night not to be missed!
The View from Bernal Hill is:
Camille Mai – piano, voice
Nahuel Bronzini – guitar
Schuyler Karr – upright bass
Including Guest Musicians:
Benjamin Ring – drums
Shahin Gorgani – percussion
Kendra McKinley – voice
Kenya Moses – voice, dance
Gabriel Goldberg – halo
Join the event on Facebook
Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Villalobos Brothers Special Double Show
2014-07-31 19:00 - 22:00
The Poppy is especially honored to welcome the Villalobos Brothers, as their hopeful lyrics invite an optimism that seamlessly aligns with the Poppy’s mission as a socially conscious art space in the heart of the Mission. The brothers are known for masterfully blending the indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Veracruz, Mexico with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music. A trio of virtuoso violinists, singers, composers and arrangers, they have performed at the Latin Grammy Awards, Carnegie Hall, and many other prestigious venues. In 2013, after touring Mexico to critical acclaim, they won the coveted title of “Best Band in New York City” in NPR’s Battle of the Boroughs.
Luis Villalobos – Voice & Violin
Alberto Villalobos – Voice & Violin
Ernesto Villalobos -Voice & Violin
Humberto Flores – Guitar
Leo Sherman – Electric Bass
Rosa Avila – Drum Kit

“I am glad I lived long enough to see you! This is amazing! All I can say is, I hope the world gets to experience this. Before starting you said something very important, you said: “we try to embody the miracle of music”…well, you certainly are a carrier of that disease…may we all catch it!…I don’t know what else to say, I am speechless!” -Marion J. Caffey, Producer of “Amateur Night” at the Apollo Theatre

6:30 pm Doors open for first show
7:00pm First show begins, 70 min no intermission
8:20pm First show ends, crowd’s change!
8:45pm Second show begins, 70 min no intermission
Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends!
Admission: $20-25
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.
