Red Poppy Art House

Discussion 3: Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex
2015-08-13 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
Discussions and Performance by Marcus Shelby
Research and Workshops by Jacqueline Ramos
with Support from the The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the second series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on June 18, July 9, August 13, and August 28, 2015. Marcus Shelby returns to the Red Poppy for the continuation of interactive discussions concerning our justice system.

Led by composer, bassist, and bandleader, Marcus Shelby, the series will explore the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, the black prison movement, incarcerated women, restorative justice, prison abolition, and more. The evenings will include special guests, readings, live music, recorded music, poetry, and video. These discussions are open to anyone interested in ending the prison industrial complex and how music and art can be used as a powerful vehicle in that process.

Discussion 3 features special guest speaker and SF native, Kevin Epps, a community activist and award-winning filmmaker. Epps presents his film Solutions Not Suspensions, which examines our education system and the disturbing systemic school-to-prison pipeline and how restorative justice and restorative practices can make a difference.

Discussion and Performance Schedule:
Thursday, June 18 – Discussion 1
The Prison Industrial Complex: School-to-Prison Pipeline
Thursday, July 9 – Discussion 2 (postponed to August 27)
Mass Incarceration: Public Health Epidemic, Incarcerated Women, Families Affected by Incarceration
Thursday, August 13 – Discussion 3
Ending the Death Penalty, Restorative Justice, Prison Abolition
Friday, August 28 – Performance
The Marcus Shelby Ensemble with Excerpts from Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio

Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio is commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and will premiere at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on September 27, 2015.

Admission: $10 suggested donation per discussion and $20 suggested donation for performance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Doors at 7:30pm. Discussion 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.

A Benefit Performance for the Red Poppy With Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos
2015-08-14 20:00 - 22:00
Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos have graciously offered to donate 100% of this night’s proceeds to the Poppy’s goal to raising $30k by the end of 2015! Please come out for this exceptional evening of flamenco and to support the Red Poppy Art House on Friday, August 14, 2015.
Cast:
Yaelisa – dance
Jason McGuir – guitar
Jose Cortes – vocals
Marlon Aldana – percussion
Paul Martin Sounder – upright bass
Caminos Flamencos’ mission is to enrich and educate the community by presenting innovative contemporary and traditional works which reflect the “nuevo flamenco” movement in Spain today. Since 1993, Artistic Director Yaelisa has collaborated with artists in other mediums, incorporating top musicians in the field of jazz, Latin and Afro-Cuban music. Her choreographies have been commissioned by Collage Dance Theatre, Malashock Dance & Company, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Stanford Danza Espanola and the Internacional Certamen de Coreografía in Madrid, Spain.
During the last twelve years, Yaelisa has spent extensive periods of time living and performing in Spain, presenting her choreography there and in the U.S. Her choreographies have been commissioned by several modern dance companies, including John Malashock & Company, Rose Polsky and Collage Dance Theatre. In 1995, she was one of 11 choreographers in Spain invited to present a piece at the prestigious Certamen de Coreografia in Madrid, and the only American choreographer chosen among them. In 1996, she returned to the U.S. where she continues to choreograph, develop and train dancers for her company. Creating innovative theatrical presentations has established her as a choreographer of merit; she is the recipient of an Emmy Award for Choreography in 1993 for the PBS program, Desde Cadiz a Sevilla, and a Choreography Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1996.

Admission: $20-50. Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. All ages welcome.
Advance tickets: http://caminosflamencosbenefit.bpt.me
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

The VNote Ensemble: Venezuelan Folk with Jazz Sensibilities
2015-08-15 20:00 - 22:00
Hailed for their spirited performances of Latin, folk, and adventurous jazz, The VNote Ensemble brings their unique musical sound to the Poppy. Giving voice to a treasure trove of Venezuelan music, the group explores original musical connections from North American jazz to traditional Venezuelan folk songs. The VNote Ensemble combines the lively rhythms of joropo, swing, gaita, soul, be-bop, calypso and more. VNote’s latest album, Urbano, features a three-movement suite called “Suite Jazznera” written by the ensemble with the generous support of a new works grant funded by SF Friends of Chamber Music.

Featuring:
Jackeline Rago – Venezuelan cuatro, bandola, percussion
Donna Viscuso – flute, harmonica
Sam Bevan – bass
Michaelle Goerlitz – percussion

Follow The VNote Ensemble on Facebook.

Admission: $15-20. 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.

Jessica Fichot: French Chanson and Shanghai Jazz
2015-08-21 20:00 - 22:00
Jessica Fichot‘s acoustic style takes audiences on a journey out of the French chanson tradition and into the lands of gypsy jazz, 1940s Chinese swing, and international folk. With a French/Chinese/American upbringing and a pioneering spirit all her own, Jessica has brought her imagination to audiences across the world, backed by a fiery band, and armed with her accordion, toy piano, and multilingual vocals. Her first albums, Le Chemin and Le Secret, offer a beguiling musical tour that captivates listeners with an international savvy and a cross-cultural whimsy that’s utterly infectious.
Featuring:
Jessica Fichot – vocals, accordion
Sylvain Carton – clarinet, sax
Adrien Prévost – guitar
PJ Wyderka – upright bass
“Delightful. completely modern tunes that evoke the feel of a bygone time and place, where the cultures of east and west collide in unexpected ways” – LA Weekly
“A delicious blend of acoustic styles” – San Francisco Chronicle
Follow Jessica Fichot on Facebook.

Admission: $10-20. 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.

Amy LaCour: Soul, Poetry, & Strings
2015-08-22 19:30 - 22:00
Vocalist and songwriter, Amy LaCour, returns to the Poppy to workshop selections from Any Place But Here, a new song cycle (a set of related songs performed in a sequence) for voice and string quartet.

Any Place But Here explores the human themes of movement, identity, and expansion as reflected through the Great Migration, and using African-American poetry as lyrics. Amy‘s songs convey a young African-American male character migrating out of the South and heading toward an unnamed urban center. The music speaks of hope as a guiding force, the drive towards dignity, and the search for the elusive feeling of belonging in a hostile nation.
Featuring:
Amy LaCour – vocals
Amaranth – string quartet
“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.
Get a sneak peak at her music on Bandcamp 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.

Alejandro y Maria Laura + Diana Gameros: Alejandro y Maria Laura's Farewell Concert
2015-08-25 19:00 - 21:00
Alejandro y Maria Laura is a Peruvian duo consisting of singer-songwriters Alejandro Rivas and María Laura Bustamanate. Together with guest Diana Gameros, they round off their North American tour with a special farewell concert at the Red Poppy Art House.
Alejandro y Maria Laura started making music together in 2009, collaborating on each other’s original songs and doing cover versions of songs from various genres. Back in Lima at the end of 2010, the duo collaborated on the exhibition En Pausa, the final thesis project for María Laura’s performing arts degree, where they experimented with composing songs in reaction to various stimuli. This process yielded such original songs as Abre los ojos, Quiero estar sola, and Estos días. At the beginning of 2011, Mabela Martinez, the host of local TV and radio program Sonidos del Mundo, put the duo in touch with Matías Cella, producer of notable South American artists such as Jorge Drexler and Kevin Johansen. Matías produced the duo’s first record, Paracaídas, which was released in October 2011.
In 2013, they released the music video for Puedo estar sin ti, a song which later received regular radio airplay in Peru. They also started work on their second album, Fiesta para los muertos, featuring collaborations with Susana Baca, Kevin Johansen and Javier Barría. The duo celebrated the release of the record with a concert at the Mario Vargas Llosa Theater in Peru’s National Library. In 2014, they were invited to Brazil by Paulinho Moska, a well-known Brazilian singer, songwriter and actor, and wrote a song for the HBO Latino program, Encuentros en Brasil. Later that year, they were invited to perform at a number of festivals including Indies del Sur (Argentina), Festival Yavería (Colombia), FICIB (Colombia), and the 33rd Encuentro del Canto Popular (San Francisco, CA).
Diana Gameros is a Latin singer-songwriter who performs songs of love, longing, and hope. Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and now living in San Francisco, Gameros creates authentic, inspiring music that reflects the 21st century experiences of a young indie artist at the borderlands between cultures, languages, and genres. Whether teasing every ounce of expression from her acoustic guitar in an intimate cafe or bringing people to their feet in a club with her dynamic full band, Gameros transfixes listeners with her soaring vocals, impressive playing and captivating stage presence.
Follow Alejandro y Maria Laura and Diana Gameros on Facebook.
Catch a sneak peak of their collaboration here.

Admission: $10. Doors at 6:30pm. Show at 7:00pm. 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.

Discussion 2: Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex, Series 2
2015-08-27 19:00 - 21:00
Discussions and Performance by Marcus Shelby
Research and Workshops by Jacqueline Ramos
with Support from the The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the second series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on June 18, July 9, August 13, and August 28, 2015. Marcus Shelby returns to the Red Poppy for the continuation of interactive discussions concerning our justice system.

Led by composer, bassist, and bandleader, Marcus Shelby, the series explores the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, the black prison movement, incarcerated women, restorative justice, prison abolition, and more. The evenings include special guests, readings, live music, recorded music, poetry, and video. These discussions are open to anyone interested in ending the prison industrial complex and how music and art can be used as a powerful vehicle in that process.
Discussion 2 will focus on mass incarceration and its impact on public health, as well as other topics such as families impacted by incarceration, incarcerated women, and immigration. Joining Marcus Shelby and Jackie Ramos is special guest speaker, Isaac Taggart Sr., the program director of PUEBLO’S Reentry Program. The evening will close with Marcus Shelby on bass, Jackie Ramos sharing a poem, and an open mic for people to share their art (songs, raps, freestyle, poetry).
PUEBLO’S mission is to advocate for the needs of low-income residents of Oakland by grassroots organizing, offering leadership training, and initiating policy reform. PUEBLO has won reforms in the areas of public health, education, living wage, environmental justice, youth development, and public safety. An Oakland resident, Isaac Taggart Sr. has over 15 years experience in assisting individuals transitioning from welfare to work and parole-probation to payroll. He spent 3 years working as a Reentry Specialist for Mayor Ronald Dellums and played a key role in developing the policy, “Ban the Box,” which eliminates the question about past convictions on applications for employment and housing in the Alameda County. Isaac and Marcus have worked together at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) helping recently incarcerated men and their families on health promotion and disease prevention.

Discussion and Performance Schedule:
Thursday, June 18 – Discussion 1
The Prison Industrial Complex: School-to-Prison Pipeline
Thursday, July 9 – Discussion 2 (postponed to August 27)
Mass Incarceration: Public Health Epidemic, Incarcerated Women, Families Affected by Incarceration
Thursday, August 13 – Discussion 3
Ending the Death Penalty, Restorative Justice, Prison Abolition
Friday, August 28 – Performance
The Marcus Shelby Ensemble with Excerpts from Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio

Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio is commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and will premiere at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on September 27, 2015.

Admission: $10 suggested donation per discussion and $20 suggested donation for performance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Doors at 6:30pm. Discussion at 7:00pm. 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.

Performance: Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex, Series 2 - The Marcus Shelby Ensemble
2015-08-28 19:00 - 22:00
Discussions and Performance by Marcus Shelby
Research and Workshops by Jacqueline Ramos
with Support from the The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the second series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on June 18, July 9, August 13, and August 28, 2015. Marcus Shelby returns to the Red Poppy for the continuation of interactive discussions concerning our justice system.

Led by composer, bassist, and bandleader, Marcus Shelby, the series will explore the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, the black prison movement, incarcerated women, restorative justice, prison abolition, and more. The evenings will include special guests, readings, live music, recorded music, poetry, and video. These discussions are open to anyone interested in ending the prison industrial complex and how music and art can be used as a powerful vehicle in that process.

Discussion and Performance Schedule:
Thursday, June 18 – Discussion 1
The Prison Industrial Complex: School-to-Prison Pipeline
Thursday, July 9 – Discussion 2 (postponed to August 27)
Mass Incarceration: Public Health Epidemic, Incarcerated Women, Families Affected by Incarceration
Thursday, August 13 – Discussion 3
Ending the Death Penalty, Restorative Justice, Prison Abolition
Friday, August 28 – Performance
The Marcus Shelby Ensemble with Excerpts from Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio

Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio is commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and will premiere at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on September 27, 2015.

Admission: $10 suggested donation per discussion and $20 suggested donation for performance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Doors at 6:30pm. Show at 7:00pm. 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.

Leni Stern African Trio: Groove-Filled African Jazz
2015-08-29 19:30 - 22:00
The Leni Stern African Trio trio performs original compositions in the funk, jazz, rock, and folk styles, all through the lens of West African rhythms and tonalities. Leni Stern is an awarded electric guitarist and songwriter, leading a trio with Senegalese master musicians Alioune Faye and Mamadou Ba. Their lyrics are poignant and emotional, using naturalistic imagery to convey borderless ideas and stories, music that is meaningful to audiences of all ages and races.

Ms. Stern studied for several years with Bassekou Kouyate and Ami Sacko in Mali, later performing in the bands of Salif Keita, Baaba Maal and Toumani Diabate. She performed for five years in a row at the Festival in the Desert in Essekane and Timbuktu, and she was recently featured in the full-length documentary about the festival, Last Song Before the War.
Featuring:
Leni Stern ‒ electric guitar, vocals, n’goni, calabash
Alioune Faye ‒ djembe, calabash, backing vocals
Mamadou Ba ‒ electric bass
“Stern doesn’t collaborate with the West Africans so much as commune with them, she never sounds out of her element, even when her pop and jazz sensibilities are most apparent.” ‒ The Washington Post
Subscribe to Leni Stern 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.

The Musical Art Quintet: Chamber with Soul
2015-09-04 19:30 - 22:00
The Musical Art Quintet was formed in 2008 as part of the Classical Revolution movement. Although classically trained, the members of The Musical Art Quintet are skilled improvisors that each bring with them an area of expertise. Whether it is Argentine tango, Afro-Cuban son, klezmer, classical works, or even electronica, the Quintet is at home. Their debut recording, Nuevo Chamber, has received much critical acclaim and a second album, Chamber con Alma, is currently in the works.
Featuring:
Anthony Blea – violin
Thomas Yee – violin
Charith Premawardhana – viola
Erin Wang – cello
Sascha Jacobsen – bass

“A stunning demonstration of how jazz improvisation can be performed as effectively by an ensemble of string players as it can by any more conventional combo.” – SF Examiner
“Composer-bassist Sascha Jacobsen’s concoctions hop nimbly through a world of styles while impressing with ear-catching intricacy and handsome technique….” – SF Bay Guardian
Get a feel for The Musical Art Quintet’s music on Facebook and on their website.

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.

Daniel Riera Ensemble: "The Wind Controller:" Future Flutist With Electric Ensemble
2015-09-05 19:30 - 22:00
Drawing inspiration from 70’s jazz and funk and the rhythmic tug of post-Dilla hip-hop, Daniel Riera premieres works for flute, wind-controller and electric ensemble. A San Francisco native, Daniel is a flutist, bassist, producer, sound-designer and teacher known for his enchanting performances on the wind-controller, a digital woodwind delivering earth-shaking bass, acidic melodies and even chords. Winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, he graduated Berklee College of Music with honors. He performs with the groups Soltrón and The Congress.

Featuring:
Daniel Riera – wind controller, flute
Parker Grant – keyboards
Schuyler Karr – bass
Dame Drummer – drums, sampler
Follow Daniel on Facebook and SoundCloud.
Get a sneak peak at his productions here and here.
PC: Tom Ehrlich

Admission: $1o-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.

Marcus Shelby Presents: Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex, Series 3, Discussion 1
2015-09-10 20:00 - 22:00
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the third series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10, 2015. Marcus Shelby and Jacqueline Ramos return to the Red Poppy for the continuation of these interactive discussions concerning our justice system.

Led by composer, bassist, and bandleader, Marcus Shelby, the series explores the prison industrial complex, restorative justice, prison abolition, the death penalty, the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and more. The evenings include special guests, readings, live and recorded music, poetry, and video. These discussions are open to anyone interested in ending the prison industrial complex and how music and art can be used as a powerful vehicle in that process.

Discussion Schedule:
Thurs, 9/10 – Discussion 1
Music and Its Power in Social Justice; Restorative Justice
Thurs, 10/8 – Discussion 2
Prison Abolition and the Death Penalty
Thurs, 11/12 – Discussion 3
School-to-Prison Pipeline Part 3
Thurs, 12/10 – Discussion 4
Action Plan and Solutions to Fight Mass Incarceration

Admission: $10 suggested donation per discussion. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Doors at 7:30pm. Discussion 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.

Broken Shadows: New Roots & Chamber Folk
2015-09-11 19:30 - 22:00
With songs that place an emphasis on spontaneity, lyrics, and story-telling, Broken Shadows‘ take on roots music includes grooves with origins from around the globe. Broken Shadows is comprised of a highly-adaptable collection of musicians under the leadership of trumpeter/composer Darren Johnston. The ensemble brings poetry, interplay, vocal harmonies, and a cross section of musical interests into a curious new blend of roots/art/dance music. Collectively, members have played and recorded with Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Quartet San Francisco, Fred Frith, Meklit Hadero, The Nice Guy Trio, Berkeley Symphony, The View From Bernal Hill, ROVA Sax Quartet, Brass Menazeri Balkan brass band, Todd Sickafoose, Marcus Shelby Orchestra, and many others.
Featuring:
Darren Johnston – trumpet, vocals
Matthew Szemela – violin, vocals
Ila Cantor – guitar, vocals
Schuyler Karr – upright bass
Hamir Atwal – drums
Get a feel for Broken Shadow’s music 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.

Ramon & Jessica's A Cappella Big Band: Six Voices Sing Gertrude Stein
2015-09-12 19:30 - 22:00
Long-time Bay Area collaborators Dina Maccabee and Jesse Olsen Bay present a new incarnation of their eclectic ensemble Ramon & Jessica, as a vocal sextet with special guest singers.

Inspired by Gertrude Stein’s playful language and imagery, this new song cycle builds on the composer’s signature style, using tuneful melodies and complex rhythmic interplay, to bring Stein’s classic book for children, The World Is Round, to life.
Featuring:
Dina Maccabee and Jesse Olsen Bay – vocals, composition
with special guest performers
Follow Ramon & Jessica 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.

Jazz in the Neighborhood Presents: Steve Erquiaga and Frank Martin - Second Show of "Three in a Row"
2015-09-13 19:30 - 21:30
As part of the new monthly series at the Red Poppy Art House, Jazz in the Neighborhood presents Three in a Row – three concerts highlighting the music of local jazz guitarists. The series will feature Jeffrey Burr Trio on August 9, Steve Erquiaga and Frank Martin on September 13, and John Schott’s Actual Trio on October 11.

Steve Erquiaga and Frank Martin have been musical compadres going back to the 1970s. They first toured and recorded together in 1978 with the John Handy band. The duo setting showcases their amazing communication, spontaneity and sensitivity. Their original compositions and arrangements cover a broad musical spectrum.
Featuring:
Steve Erquiaga – guitar
Frank Martin – piano
More on the Musicians:
Guitarist/composer and Bay Area native, Steve Erquiaga, has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Joe Henderson, Les McCann, John Scofield, Andy Narell, David Byrne and The Turtle Island String Quartet. His music can be heard in such films as The Firm, Nina Takes a Lover, and Forrest Gump. He is a published author, an international clinician, and a faculty member at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA.
Keyboardist Frank Martin is a Bay Area native in demand as a studio player, arranger, producer, composer, and performer. His performance history includes concerts with Sting, John McLaughlin, Al Jarreau, Trilok Gurtu, Flora & Airto, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Santana, James Taylor, Joe Farrell Quartet, Larry Coryell, Richard Bona Band, and the Narada Michael Walden Band.
More on Jazz in the Neighborhood:
The mission of Jazz in the Neighborhood 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, $25 at the door, $5 student, sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Advance tickets: http://goo.gl/hRi1Ri
Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Amendola vs. Blades: From Avant Garde to Funk, Bebop to Rock
2015-09-18 19:30 - 22:00
Wil Blades and Scott Amendola conjure various sonic deities as only a duo, covering everything from avant garde to funk and bebop to rock. Amendola vs. Blades got their start as a group when Scott had the vision of performing Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite with Wil. While quite a daunting task executing a suite (originally written for a big band) as a duo, the Hammond organ had previously been used in the 1940’s and 1950’s to emulate the sound of big bands. With Wil’s knowledge of this tradition and Scott’s desire to push boundaries, they were able to pull it off in a explorative yet cohesive manner. The two continue to perform the Ellington suite in their live performances, while also developing their own original material.

Featuring:
Scott Amendola – drums, percussion, electronics
Wil Blades – Hammond B3, clavinet
“Lean and mean, the AMENDOLA vs. BLADES duo has firmly established itself as one of the liveliest acts in the Bay Area” – Forrest Dylan Bryant, Jazz Observer

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.

Musette Explosion: French Musette via Brooklyn, Reimagined by Three Polyglot Virtuoso Improvisers
2015-09-19 19:30 - 22:00
Prizing improvisation and emotionally honest performances, Musette Explosion takes upbeat, French accordion music to new heights. Musette Explosion is comprised of virtuoso musicians, each with a distinctive voice on his instrument, that explore and expand on the challenging French musette repertoire. The trio brings new life to this multicultural, accordion-driven dancehall music through their highly improvisational communication style and original compositions. Their debut album, Introducing Musette Explosion, was featured on NPR.
Featuring:
Will Holshouser – accordion
Matt Munisteri – guitar, banjo
Marcus Rojas – tuba
“… swings with speed and clarity, sways with mystery and eroticism….Not simply an archeological paean to past masters, this debut recording from Musette Explosion makes the genre relevant to NYC’s musical landscape.” (bring down to next line) – Elliott Simon, New York City Jazz Record
“This group does not restructure the repertoire’s foundation; they handle it all in their own way. [Musette Explosion] has respectfully reclaimed 1930s Paris for the 21st Century.” – Aaron Cohen, Downbeat
Get a feel for Musette Explosion’s music on Facebook and on Soundcloud.

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.

Diaspora Arts Connection Presents: A Night of World Improvisation
2015-09-20 19:30 - 22:00
A Night of World Improvisation is an evening dedicated to all the innocent lives lost in the Middle East, especially the Syrian refugees who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Presented by Diaspora Arts Connection, the performance will feature melodies from old Near and Middle Eastern tunes to Persian classical music.

Featuring:
Saman Mahmoudi – santour
Ali Tahbaz – percussion
Kia Mousavi – guitar

About Diaspora Arts Connection:
Diaspora Arts Connection is an organization dedicated to promoting music, arts, and culture of Iran and beyond, with emphasis on introducing new and up-and-coming artists in diaspora.

Admission: $20 advance, $25 at the door
Advance tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2259734
Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Cine+Más SF Presents: 7th Annual SF Latino Film Festival - Shorts Program 2: Lifestyle & Laughs @ RPAH
2015-09-24 19:00 - 22:00
Cine+Más SF presents the San Francisco Latino Film Festival (September 18-27, 2015) in theatres and cultural centers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, screening award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary and feature films throughout Latin America, South America and the USA. The audience will have the opportunity to participate in discussions with local and visiting filmmakers after many of the screenings.
The Cine+Más SF Latino Film Festival celebrates its seventh installment and opens with its annual tradition to kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month and the SF Latino Film Festival, hosted by CBS/5 and The CW/44 Cable 12 on Thursday, September 10, 2012 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at KPIX-5, 855 Battery St, San Francisco.
The festival takes the program to several theaters and cultural centers in the Bay Area including the Roxie Theater, Brava Theater, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, Red Poppy Art House, Yerba Buena Gardens, de Young Museum and the Eastside Cultural Center and San Jose Mexican Heritage Plaza. Films are screened in their original language with English subtitles. “The festival’s purpose is to build community through film, while educating, entertaining, and recognizing the work of Latin American, Spanish, and US Latino filmmakers which otherwise may not be seen in San Francisco,” says festival director, Lucho Ramirez.

Shorts Program 2: Lifestyle & Laughs – Red Poppy Art House

Edgar and the Joyous Life
Director: Veronica Lopez
USA / 2015 / 10 min / English, Spanish / Culture, Faith, Women in Film
Edgar is a young Chicano adult that still lives in downtown LA housing projects with his parents. While his family is very Catholic, Edgar is drawn to a traditional Japanese church which has been open to the community.
—
Edgar es un joven chicano que vive en el centro de LA con sus padres. Mientras que su familia es muy católica, Edgar se inclina a una iglesia tradicional japonésa que ha estado abierta a la comunidad.

Grown Ups – Casitas
Director: Javier Marco
Spain / 2014 / 9 min / Subtitles / Comedy
Carlos and Marta, both 35 years old, are living the life they’ve always dreamed of… a house with a yard, a dog, and they’re even about to have a child, but there’s no such thing as a perfect life.
—
A sus 35 años, Carlos y Marta tienen la vida que siempre habían soñado… una casa con jardín, un perro, incluso van a tener un hijo… pero una vida no puede ser tan perfecta.

Eduardo Carrillo: A Life of Engagement
Director: Pedro Pablo Celedón
USA, Mexico / 2014 / 30 min / English / Biographical, Culture
The life and legacy of Eduardo Carrillo, painter, muralist and beloved teacher, who came of age, artistically and personally, during the heady years of the Chicano movement of the 1970’s. He went on to create a vibrant body of artworks and to inspire and guide thousands of young artists of all ethnicities.
—
La profunda dedicación al compromiso destaca la vida y el legado de Eduardo Carrillo, pintor, muralista y querido maestro, que se desarrollo artística y personalmente, durante los años gloriosos del movimiento chicano de la década de 1970. El llegó a crear una vibrante obra completa que inspiro y guio a miles de jóvenes artistas de varias culturas.

Two Days of Luck – Dos Días de Suerte
Director: Arturo Martinelli
México / 2015 / 9 min / Subtitles / Comedy
Mai and Cañas, a couple of small-time criminals, see their luck change dramatically when a winning lottery ticket lands in their laps.
—
Mai y Cañas, un par de delincuentes de poca monta, ven un cambio drástico en su suerte cuando el boleto ganador de la lotería cae en sus manos.

Living Quechua –Runasimiwan Kawsay
Director: Christine Mladic Janney
USA / 2015 / Quechua, Spanish, English / Subtitles / Culture, Doc, Indigenous, Women in Film
Quechua is an endangered language that Elva Ambía Rebatta is trying to save by cultivating a Quechua-speaking community in New York City.
—
El Quechua es un idioma en vías de extinción. Elva aun lo habla y hace lo posible por mantenerlo en un pequeña comunidad en Nueva York, donde es imperativo aprender el español y el ingles para conseguir trabajo. Living Quecha sigue a Elva en este proyecto, viendo sus éxitos y las dificultades que se le presentan.

Admission: $10 student/senior, $12 general
Advance tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2238144
Screenings begin at 7:00pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Big Galut(e) with Guest Narrator Daniel Barton: Jewish Folk with Jazz and Tango Sensibilities
2015-09-25 19:30 - 22:00
Hailed as “a real treat for open minds” and an “alleged klezmer band,” Big Galut(e) brings its mix of folk, jazz, klezmer, classics, and more to the Poppy. This East Coast quintet performs music ranging from Argentine Yiddish tangos and Renaissance Jewish sonatas, to Mahler compositions with a klezmer sensibility. For the second set, Big Galut(e) will be joined by Daniel Barton, a San Franciscan lawyer and circus veteran. Barton will narrate The Tale of Monish, which tells the story of what happens when the Devil’s wife visits a little Jewish town in Poland.
Featuring:
Robin Seletsky – clarinet
Sasha Margolis – violin, vocals
Mark Rubinstein – accordion
Michael Leopold – theorbo, baroque guitar
Rich Sosinsky – bass
Daniel Barton – narrator for The Tale of Monish
Follow Big Galut(e) 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.

DOUBLE SHOW: Lavay Smith And Her All-Star Soultet
2015-09-26 19:00 - 22:00
Country Soul: Lavay Smith Sings Music Made Popular by
Dinah Washington, Esther Phillips, and Ray Charles

Lavay Smith and Her All-Star Soultet bring a bracing, bluesy jolt of energy to the jazz and country crossroads with her new show Country Soul. In crafting jazz and blues-steeped arrangements of songs associated with the great country American songbook, Smith and her band found inspiration in the country and western recordings of Ray Charles as well as R&B and jazz musicians Big Maybelle and Dinah Washington.

Featuring:
Lavay Smith – vocals
Jules Broussard – alto and tenor saxophones
Chris Siebert – piano, bandleader
Danny Armstrong – trombone, vocals
Ron Belcher – bass

Get a feel for Lavay Smith’s music on YouTube.

Admission: $15 online / $15-20 door
Advance tickets: http://lavaysmith.bpt.me
Double Show: First show at 7:00pm (doors at 6:30pm). Second show at 8:30pm
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

"The Other Barrio" CD Launch Party: Songs From the Motion Picture
2015-10-01 19:00 - 21:00
The Other Barrio, the sold-out Centerpiece Film of the 2015 San Francisco Independent Film Festival, returns to SF’s Brava Theater on October 16th. In preparation of the opening, Producer Lou Dematteis and Producer/Director Dante Betteo release the new CD, Songs From the Motion Picture The Other Barrio, containing nine songs from the film produced by Barrio Music Supervisor and Composer Greg Landau. Featured on the album are Veronica Valencia, Jerry Gonzalez, Omar Sosa, Dr. Loco, Culture Clash, Enrique Fernandez, and Greg and Camilo Landau.

The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to host the official CD release party on Thursday, October 1st from 7-9pm. Joining Dante, Lou, Greg and Veronica are Barrio Production Designer Rene Yanez and San Francisco Poet Laureate Alejandro Murguia, plus other members of The Other Barrio cast and crew along with guest musicians. The evening will feature songs from the new album, scenes from the film, and poetry recited by Alejandro Murguia. Admission is free, and the cast and crew invite the public to join in on the celebration. In support of the film, CDs will be on sale for $15 as well as tickets to the screenings at the Brava on October 16, 17, 18 and 22.

Learn more about The Other Barrio here.

*Mission Makeover Mural by Lu Cia Ippolito and Tirso Araiza.

Admission: Free. Event at 7:00pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets can be purchased for Brava Theater screenings here.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

ACKAMOOR/MOLINA DUET: A Ritualistic Musical Journey Improvised With Traditional & Invented Instruments
2015-10-02 19:30 - 22:00
Using a multitude of traditional acoustic and invented instruments, ACKAMOOR/MOLINA DUET creates a ritualistic, improvised musical journey that takes the listeners through various sonic territories, including ambient, experimental, jazz, American folk, and more.

Using modern technology, Molina creates sparse and dense layers, which can range from hauntingly beautiful and meditative to dark and unnerving soundscapes. Idris uses his collection of alto and tenor saxophones, keyboards, and invented instruments to provide a contrast and celebrate the forms of jazz exposed by John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, and more.
Featuring:
David Molina – classical and electric guitar, cello, autoharp, Burmese harp, and more
Idris Ackamoor – alto and tenor saxophone, invented Cymbal tree, Chinese gongs, various percussions, and more

“Molina has the uncanny ability to make music out of anything. He draws inspiration from the urban landscape and the refuse most people discard as nonfunctional and obsolete,
breathing new life and music into them.” – Dorothy Santos, Asterisk Magazine

“[Ackamoor’s] compositions incorporated intercontinental and cosmic sources, opening passages into boundless periods and locales, each one seemingly unearthed from futuristic sarcophagi.” – Sam Ada, Fader Magazine

Get a feel for Idris Ackamoor and David Molina’s music on their websites.

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.

Oct 3rd MAPP: Mission Arts & Performance Project
2015-10-03 15:00 - 22:00
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to participate in the Mission Arts & Performance Project on Saturday, October 3, 2015. Curated by Zéna Allen and Schuyler Karr, the Poppy’s program will feature artists Zoe Page, Zéna Allen, Camille Mai, Jackie Ramos, Naima Shalhoub, Los Rumberos de Cali, and more.
Schedule:
3:00pm – 5:30pm: Rumba with Miguelito
Cuban rumba demonstration
3:00pm – 9:00pm: Sankara Sky
The Fingerprint Pigmented Hand art installation
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Jackie Ramos & Naima Shalhoub
School-to-Prison Pipeline forum
7:00pm – 7:20pm: Zoe Page
Soulful sounds
7:30pm – 7:50pm: Zéna
Kora, West African harp
8:00pm – 8:30pm: Camille Mai
Chamber jazz
8:35pm – 9:00pm: Jackie Ramos & Tongo Eisen-Martin
Spoken word
9:10pm – 9:30pm: Naima Shalhoub
Neo-fusion Arab American soul
9:30pm – 10:00pm: Bata Ensemble
Traditional Afro-Cuban drum/chant

Admission: Free. Event at 3:00pm. 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.

Marcus Shelby Presents: Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex, Series 3, Discussion 2
2015-10-08 19:00 - 21:00
The Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present the third series of Beyond the Blues: Ending the Prison Industrial Complex on September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10, 2015. Marcus Shelby and Jacqueline Ramos return to the Red Poppy for the continuation of these interactive discussions concerning our justice system.

Led by composer, bassist, and bandleader, Marcus Shelby, the series explores the prison industrial complex, restorative justice, prison abolition, the death penalty, the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and more. The evenings include special guests, readings, live and recorded music, poetry, and video. These discussions are open to anyone interested in ending the prison industrial complex and how music and art can be used as a powerful vehicle in that process.

Discussion Schedule:
Thurs, 9/10 – Discussion 1
Music and Its Power in Social Justice; Restorative Justice
Thurs, 10/8 – Discussion 2
Prison Abolition and the Death Penalty
Thurs, 11/12 – Discussion 3
School-to-Prison Pipeline Part 3
Thurs, 12/10 – Discussion 4
Action Plan and Solutions to Fight Mass Incarceration

Admission: $10 suggested donation per discussion. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Doors at 6:30pm. Discussion at 7:00pm. 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.

Ramana Vieira: Portuguese Fado Music With a Contemporary Sensibility
2015-10-09 19:30 - 22:00
Ramana Vieira and her group performs traditional, ballad-style fados that pay homage to the “Queen of Fado,” Amália Rodrigues, along with up-tempo compositions from their new album, Fado Da Vida. Her new work captures both the language and cultural heritage of Portuguese-speaking countries in a musical tapestry that ranges from whispering, haunting ballads to collaborations featuring the works of famous Portuguese-Canadian poet, Euclides Cavaco. Two of the tracks on the album were internationally nominated with the International Portuguese Music Awards in 2015.
Fado, the most widely recognized music of Portugal, is a passionate, soul-stirring genre with soaring vocals and dramatic tales of love, loss and redemption. Legendary fadista, Amália Rodrigues, popularized fado in the 20th century, and today, platinum-selling Portuguese singers Ana Moura and Mariza are selling out concert halls in the U.S. The New York Times has recognized Ramana Vieira as an American at the forefront of the fado resurgence.
Featuring:
Ramana Vieira – vocals
Patrick Fahey – mandolin
Steve Nelson – percussion
Alberto Ramirez – acoustic bass
Ela Polak – violin
More About Ramana Vieira:
Ramana’s personal relationship to fado music lies deep in her family history. She was born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants and was exposed to the voices of Portugal’s past at a young age. Furthermore, her grandfather was a well-known musician and composer from Madeira Island, Portugal. Ramana has headlined the world’s largest Portuguese festival, the New Bedford Portuguese Feast in Massachusetts, and performed at the 2010 Encontro Festival in Macau. One of her original songs, Unido Para Amar, was played for the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, and she was chosen to sing for the 50th Grammy Awards special MusiCares benefit honoring Aretha Franklin. Ramana was recently honored to be exclusively invited by United States Congressman Jim Costa to perform for the president of the Azores alongside the internationally acclaimed guitarist and artist, Chico Avila.
“Conservatory-trained singer Ramana Vieira adds a New Age sensibility and instrumentation to the [Fado] music with cello and drums.” – New York Times

Follow Ramana on Facebook and SoundCloud.

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.

Oded Tzur Quartet (NY): West Coast Album Release Tour
2015-10-10 19:30 - 22:00
Oded Tzur Quartet is a New York-based ensemble that prizes improvisation while exploring the territories of contemporary jazz and Indian music. The Quartet defines its sound by making use of the microtonality and melodic architecture of Indian classical, known as raga, within a jazz setting. Their debut album, Like a Great River, has been released by Enja Records and has received worldwide critical acclaim. This October, the ensemble will be touring the west coast to celebrate the US release of the album.

Featuring:
Oded Tzur – saxophone
Vardan Ovsepian – piano
Sam Bevan – bass
Britt Ciampa – drums

Follow Oded Tzur on Facebook and get a sneak peak at the Quartet’s music on 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.

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Jazz in the Neighborhood Presents: John Schott Actual Trio - Third Show of "Three in a Row"
2015-10-11 19:30 - 21:30
As part of the new monthly series at the Red Poppy Art House, Jazz in the Neighborhood presents Three in a Row – three concerts highlighting the music of local jazz guitarists. The series will feature Jeffrey Burr Trio on August 9, Steve Erquiaga and Frank Martin on September 13, and John Schott’s Actual Trio on October 11.

John Schott Actual Trio, playing guitarist Schott’s memorable and intricate compositions, swings hard, plays from the heart, and seeks to uplift its audiences. The Trio’s debut album on John Zorn’s Tzadik label comes out September 18.
Featuring:
John Schott – guitar
Dan Seamans – double bass
John Hanes – drums
More on the Musicians:
John Schott graduated from Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts, where he studied with Gary Peacock and Julian Priester. John was a member of the jazz and funk band, T.J. Kirk, whose album, If Four Was One, received a 1997 Grammy nomination. Schott’s album, Elegies for the Recording Angel, featuring his 16-piece Ensemble Diglossia in 70-minute composition, was named one of the best records of 2002 by The Wire magazine. John can also be heard on records by John Zorn, Tom Waits, The Baguette Quartette, and Steven Bernstein.
Dan Seamans was a co-founder of the New Klezmer Trio, a group credited with pioneering the Radical Jewish Culture movement. They released three albums, all of which have been re-released on Tzadik. A top Bay Area bassist since the 1980’s, Dan enjoyed long associations with Donald Bailey, Bill Bell and Mark Levine. His group, Lost Trio, has released six acclaimed albums, including Knowmonk.
John Hanes has been an in-demand drummer in the Bay Area since 1977, backing up classic R&B singers Etta James, Lowell Fulsome, Otis Clay, Freddie Roulette, and Fillmore Slim. He can be heard on over a hundred albums, including those of Henry Kaiser, Victor Krummenacher, Mark Karan, and more.
More on Jazz in the Neighborhood:
The mission of Jazz in the Neighborhood 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, $25 at the door, $5 student, sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Advance tickets: http://goo.gl/K5hTKl
Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. All ages welcome.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.

Love is Alive: A Canto in Four Parts ft. Arisa White, Tammy L. Hall, & Amber McZeal - Curated by Derek Lassiter
2015-10-16 19:30 - 22:00
In these times of increasing and consistent violence against black and brown bodies, against women, against those who do not abide by the norms set out by our dominant culture, Love is Alive calls our attention to the healing we are capable of enacting through love. Curated by Derek Lassiter, the evening features a word score with improvisational music by Arisa White, Tammy L. Hall and Amber McZeal.

Arisa White is a Cave Canem fellow, an MFA graduate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is the author of the chapbooks Disposition for Shininess and Post Pardon, as well as the full-length collections Hurrah’s Nest and A Penny Saved. She is a 2013-2014 recipient of an Investing in Artist Grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation and a BFA faculty member at Goddard College.
Tammy L. Hall, a supremely gifted pianist versed in jazz, gospel, and classical music, began keyboard studies at age four in her native Dallas and relocated to the Bay Area to attend Mills College. Following a two-year stay in Belgium, she returned to San Francisco in 1989 and established herself as a keyboardist and accompanist, performing with artists including Houston Person, David “Fathead” Newman, Marcus Shelby, Regina Carter, Kim Nalley, Melba Moore, and Etta Jones, to name a few. Hall is a respected educator and bandleader, releasing a pair of superb albums under her name as well as a duo recording of spirituals with vocalist Valerie Joi.
Amber McZeal is inspired by the literary works of Toni Morrison, Ursula Le Guin, Octavia Butler, and artistic scholar Omi Osun Joni L. Jones (the theatrical jazz aesthetic). Her soul is continually ignited by the aural musings of Betty Carter, John and Alice Coltrane, Oumou Sangare, Joni Mitchell, Bobby McFerrin and Nina Simone. Her affinity for the transcendent has been nurtured by the works of Sobonfu Somé, Caroline Shola Arewa, Edward Bynum and Robert Farris Thompson, among many other scholars and healers. Amber has recently completed her Master’s degree in Depth Psychology with Somatic Specialization and will begin dissertation development in the Community Psychology, Liberation Psychology, and Ecopsychology Specialization at Pacifica Graduate Institute in October of 2015. She resides in Oakland, CA.
About Derek Lassiter:
Derek 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.

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.

LOVE Stories: Call & Response, Curated by Mi'Jan Celie - 11th Annual Lit Crawl SF
2015-10-17 20:30 - 21:30
Five writers with fresh work and crazy talent will read on the topic of evolving love. The stories will range from the funny, surreal, soul-crushing and redeeming aspects of loving people, language, culture, community and self.
About Lit Crawl:
The 11th annual Lit Crawl will span over three hours in the Mission District’s Valencia Street corridor, featuring an astonishing 101 literary readings and events, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comedy and more, in bookstores, bars, galleries, restaurants, stores, cafés, community spaces, a bookmobile, a vibrator store, and a police station.
One of the most anticipated literary nights of the year, San Francisco’s Lit Crawl attracts close to 10,000 people, and is the world’s largest such event. In 2008, Lit Crawl NYC launched in Manhattan, also an immediate hit. Austin was next, swarming for the first time in 2011. In 2012, two more Lit Crawls were born, one in Brooklyn, another in Seattle. In 2013, the event expanded to Los Angeles, Iowa City, and London, and in 2014, Lit Crawls were launched in Miami and Helsinki.

View the complete Lit Crawl SF map here!

About the Writers:

Mi’Jan Celie is a documentarian based in New Mexico, with written work
that has appeared in Tribal College Journal and the Santa Fe Reporter.

Lilliam Rivera’s work has appeared in Tin House, Los Angeles Times,
Bellevue Literary Review, Latina, among others. Lilliam lives in Los Angeles.

Luke Dani Blue’s fiction has most recently appeared in The Colorado
Review, Midnight Breakfast and Fourteen Hills. She lives in San Diego.

Idrissa Simmonds is a Brooklyn-born, Vancouver-raised
writer, essayist, and poet. She is at work on her first novel.

Nancy Au’s work has appeared in Word Riot, Identity Theory, Fiction
Southeast, and elsewhere. She teaches Creative Writing at SFSU
and co-founded The Escapery.

Admission: Free. 8:30pm – 9:30pm. All ages welcome.
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.
