Jamie Zee: Neo-Soul & Jazz Vocalist Debuts EP

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Award-winning jazz vocalist Jamie Zee returns to celebrate the release of her self-titled EP. Inspired by life as a non-binary, Chinese-American child of San Francisco, Zee has spent the past five years meticulously documenting her life through song and performance to bring together her debut collection of original works.   FEATURING: Jamie Zee - vocals Max Brody - guitar Madison Bohrer - saxophone Alex Shapiro-Romano - drums William Bohrer - bass Julian Lopez - keyboard   AB...
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Morley: Acoustic Global Journey to Sites of Soulful Resilience

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Thousand Miles, Morley’s sixth studio album, is the culmination of a global journey to sites of incredible resilience and tremendous trauma—from the United States, Rwanda, and Hiroshima, to the open uranium mines at the Pine Ridge Reservation in the Black Hills—where human dignity, love, and resolve are expanding the frontiers of change, justice, and healing. The 13 songs resound with a layered serenade to the most elemental forces holding humanity together—friendship and love—and to the sanctit...
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Mean to Me: Classic Jazz Reworked with a Funky Step

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Mean to Me is a quintet that resurrects classic jazz of the 1920s through 1940s—sometimes interlaced with the more modern stylings of Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and Ahmad Jamal—and an eclectic variety of soul and Latin jazz.   FEATURING: Judy Butterfield - vocals Ben Slater - saxophone, piano Dave Shaff - trumpet, washboard Cairo McCochran - drums TBA - bass   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Mean to Me is comprised of four core members: Judy Butterfield, who trained as a cabaret sin...
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Call Me Blaze Quartet: World Ukulele Soul Project

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Kyle Blaze brings original pieces and arrangements with the musical expertise of Terrence Brewer on guitar and Ami Molinelli Hart on percussion. In a distinct blend of authentic cool, Call Me Blaze Quartet explores bossa nova, samba, salsa, jazz, funk, and soul.   FEATURING: Terrence Brewer - guitar, ukulele, guitalele Ami Molinelli Hart - percussion Kyle Blaze - vocals, electric bairtone ukulele TBA - bass Student performers - TBA   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Kyle Blaze is an accompl...
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Element Brass Band + Noelle Glory & The Guarantees: New Orleans Second Line

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Fresh off the release of its brand new album, Cali Got a Brass Band, Element Brass Band comes to the Red Poppy for a night of high-energy Mardi Gras vibes and New Orleans second line. Bay Area powerhouse Noelle Glory & The Guarantees open the evening with a set of soul, funk, and reggae grooves.   FEATURING: TBA   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Sacramento’s Element Brass Band is one of the premier bands on the West Coast for New Orleans second line. The group has toured in New Orleans, New Y...
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Sameer Gupta: A Circle Has No Beginning

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This project infuses an element of deep appreciation for cultural diversity and respect for tradition as well as innovation into the musical landscape today. The ensemble's diverse roots, spontaneity, and musical influences of soul, modern jazz, Native American melodies, and Indian classical traditions help bring together a relevant and powerful statement. This work represents the power of collaboration and mindfulness towards others.   FEATURING: Sameer Gupta - drumset, tabla Jay Gandh...
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Dynamic ft. Paul Kim: Danish Jazz & Close Harmonies

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Consisting of four singers and a rhythm section, Dynamic is a Danish jazz band that creates close-harmony arrangements of classic and progressive jazz tunes. Their current repertoire focuses on vocal arrangements of instrumentals by jazz giants including Miles, Monk, Coltrane, Gillespie, and more, as well as original songs with a sprinkling of funk and soul.   FEATURING: Paul Kim - baritone, arranger Kirstine Dahlberg - soprano Katrine Rømhild - mezzo-soprano Anne Rørbaek Olesen - alt...
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gina Breedlove & Beautiful Friends: Spirit Through Song

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Folksoul artist gina Breedlove casts and breaks spells with her powerful blend of folk and soul music with an undertone of Red Dirt blues.  FEATURING: gina Breedlove - vocals Julie Wolf - piano Ruth Price - percussion  ABOUT THE ARTIST: gina Breedlove is a singer, songwriter, sound healer, and medicine woman from Brooklyn, New York. Recently, gina returned from her U.S. tour to play Yoshi's in Oakland, her fourth sold-out performance. An actress as well, gina originated t...
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SOLD OUT: Bay Area’s Women in Jazz: An Evening of Jazz, Blues, Soul, Batucada & More

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Bay Area's Women in Jazz brings together some of the best female jazz musicians for another night under one roof. The performance celebrates and recognizes the talents and hard work of these women who are sometimes underrepresented in the male-dominated scene. With music ranging from straight-ahead jazz, blues, swing, bebop, gospel, and soul, the evening comes to a close with some Brazilian tunes featuring a batucada percussion jam.   FEATURING: Adriana Morrero - vocals Kimiko Joy - voc...
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SOLD OUT: Bay Area Women Musicians: A Sequel to Women in Jazz

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A sequel to the Women in Jazz show, this night brings together some of the best up-and-coming female musicians and veteran talents from the Bay Area. Their repertoire spans an eclectic range of styles and genres, from jazz to pop and funk to soul, through a mix of covers and original music. All the musicians can be seen around town performing with various bands and ensembles, as well as touring all over the world.   FEATURING: Jenna Mammina - vocals Emily Afton Moldenhauer - vocals Ren...
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Derek Lassiter: “Secular Spirituals”

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Derek Lassiter returns to the Red Poppy to present new songs along with songs from past releases. He will be joined by long-time collaborators Tammy L. Hall and Art Khu for an evening of jazz, soul, and beyond.   FEATURING: Derek Lassiter - vocals Tammy L. Hall - piano Art Khu - bass, guitar Elé Howell - drums Maritri Garrett - vocals   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Vocalist and songwriter Derek Lassiter, a native New Yorker, has called the Bay Area home for many years now. A mainstay on...
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Pasatempo Rebetika: Soulful Greek Blues

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Pasatempo Rebetika presents the heart and soul music of Greece with authenticity and depth. Christos Govetas and wife, Ruth Hunter, are well-known proponents of this music, both in the U.S. and Greece, and form the core of the group. Vocal harmonies blend to tell the stories of love, loss, exile, and more. They are joined by daughter Eleni on acoustic bass and violin, son Bobby on baghlama, and guitarist Nick Maroussis.   FEATURING: Christos Govetas - bouzouki, clarinet, vocals Ruth Hun...
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Michelle Alany & The Mystics: Sephardic Soul & Balkan Music

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Michelle Alany & The Mystics brings fresh interpretations of ancient melodies, hypnotic strings, and wild improvisation with their energizing soulful music. The band consists of seasoned jazz, classical, and globally folk-minded musicians with diverse musical backgrounds in Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Klezmer music.   FEATURING: Michelle Alany - violin, vocals Gregory Masaki Jenkins - clarinet Misha Khalikulov - cello Travis Hendrix - upright bass Faisal Zedan - percussion Andrew Co...
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Mean to Me: Classic Vocal Jazz Set to a Modern Tune

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Mean to Me is a jazz quintet that resurrects classic jazz of the 1920s through 1940s–sometimes interlaced with the more modern stylings of Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and Ahmad Jamal–and an eclectic variety of soul-jazz and Latin jazz.   FEATURING: Judy Butterfield - vocals Ben Slater - saxophone, piano Cairo McCochran - drums Dave Shaff - trumpet Scott Foster - guitar Adam Gay - bass   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Mean to Me is comprised of four core members: Judy, who trained...
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CHELLE! and Friends: New Orleans Meets the Bay

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The Poppy is proud to welcome back New Orleans native Michelle Jacques, who has solidified her rep as Oakland's "Queen of New Orleans Music" by stirring jazz, funk, soul, Creole, Cajun, gospel, Caribbean, African, Zydeco, rock, and Mardi Gras Indian chants into a musical gumbo that leaves audiences wanting more.   FEATURING: Michelle Jacques - vocals Rhonda Crane - vocals Bryan Dyer - vocals, horn Donna Viscuso - woodwinds Eric Swinderman - guitar Kevin Scott - bass Michaelle Goerl...
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Adrienne Shamszad: American Folk/Soul & Traditional Persian Songs

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Oakland-born Iranian-American artist Adrienne Shamszad blends folk, soul, and singer-songwriter elements with traditional Persian music and lyrics that are as inspired by the mystic poets of Iran as they are by the folk poet-songwriters of the 1960s and ’70s. At her Red Poppy debut, expect to hear songs from her recent EP, which features her Persian songs.Featuring: Adrienne Shamszad - vocals, guitar Schuyler Karr - bass TBA - percussionAdrienne Shamszad has traveled extensively, stu...
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Eileen Torrez/Maya Hall/Dyllan Hersey: Acoustic Night

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Local singer/songwriter/guitarists Eileen Torrez, Maya Hall, and Dyllan Hersey present a night of soulful, folky acoustic originals. Featuring: Eileen Torrez - guitar, vocals Maya Hall - guitar, vocals Dyllan Hersey - guitar, vocals Eileen Torrez performs a powerful and unexpected blend of folk-pop and neo-soul. Her music builds on themes of resilience, community, anti-capitalism, and women's empowerment.Vocalist Maya Hall, born in Fukuoka, Japan, moved to San Francisco in 2014 in...
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Zona Blu: Soul Jazz Collective

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Ready for an easygoing evening of friendly, familiar jazz tunes? Local quintet Zona Blu, whose Italian name is a nod to Milanese jazz club “blue zones” and Miles Davis’ iconic Kind of Blue, presents a laid-back night of Latin, funk, and swing grooves that’s sure to ease you into the weekend.Featuring: David Kaufer - guitar Jim Wasco - piano Steve Teich - alto saxophone/flute Greg Galli - drums Tom Donald - bassLearn more: Website  EVENT DETAILS   Time: Doors 7:00PM ...
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Pamela Parker’s Fantastic Machine: Rock Funk Soul Love

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Standout Bay Area producer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Pamela Parker brings her trio to the Poppy for a dynamic performance that will feature selections from her upcoming album, Fantastic Machine, a fresh rock & roll landscape that evokes Alabama Shakes, Thin Lizzy, and Funkadelic.Featuring: Pamela Parker - vocals, piano, guitar Spence Murray - bass Chris McGrew - drumsPamela Parker studied opera and commercial music production before establishing herself as a solo performer in the...
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Girl Named Nino: Indie, Soul, and Jazz

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Songwriter and producer Nino Arobelidze, born in the formerly Russian republic of Georgia and raised in Chicago, boasts a sound influenced by jazz, soul, indie rock, her time in a funk duo, and her travels around the world. For her Red Poppy debut, Nino will be joined by frequent collaborator Pablo Gordy on guitar and vocals.Featuring: Nino Arobelidze - vocals, guitar, keys Pablo Gordy - electric guitar, vocals (Special guests TBA)Learn more: Website | Facebook | YouTube  EV...
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Soul y Agua: Latin, Soul, and Folk

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With an all-acoustic sound, rich harmonies, and soul-soothing rhythms, Soul y Agua blends influences from Mexico, Cuba, and Spain with jazz, R&B, and pop. The Bay Area-based quartet promises truly authentic original compositions along with select favorite traditional pieces.Featuring: Monica Maria Fimbrez - vocals, jarana, guitar Angelica Rodriguez - vocals Daniel Fabricant - bass Marlon Aldana - percussionLearn more: Website | Facebook   EVENT DETAILS   Tim...
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MoonCandy: Live Soulful House Music

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In the spirit of the black church, jazz, the Freedom Singers, and disco sensation Sylvester, MoonCandy creates an environment for survival music to live and thrive through live performance. The eight-piece ensemble, which features five of the East Bay’s most underrated jazz, soul, blues, and gospel singers, specializes in inspirational lyrics and transfixing grooves, giving birth to a “house church” where everyone is welcome to dance for love.Featuring: Scott Keller - drums Shree Shyam Das...
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Kat Morgan: Songs for Farewell and So Long

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Drawing from folk and R&B traditions, Kat Morgan sings slow and powerful, metaphor-laced melodies about loving and living. Her Red Poppy debut promises to conjure moods from defiant to melancholic, from soppy sweet to broken and blue.Featuring: Kat Morgan - vocals, guitar, keyboards Alena Coons - bass Lien Do - drums Caitlin Ross - vocalsKat Morgan’s soulful, honeyed voice has been compared to Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso or Sharon Van Etten, and she has released two albums, Homegro...
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Amie Cota & the Liberation Project: American Folk & Soul

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Amie Cota’s sound, which melds American folk and soul, has been described as “Billie Holiday raised by hippies.” The vocalist formerly known as Amy LaCour returns to the Poppy accompanied only by bass and piano for an evening of music that’s not quite jazz, soul, or folk, but a delectable combination of the three.Featuring: Amie Cota - vocals Ruthie Dineen - piano Schuyler Karr - bassOver her nearly 20-year career, vocalist/composer Amie Cota has independently released four albums a...
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Steph Johnson Trio: Soul, Jazz, Funk & Blues from San Diego

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Steph Johnson brings her trio to the Red Poppy to celebrate the release of her new album, Music is Art, produced by Grammy Award-winner Kamau Kenyatta. Steph’s rich, fervent vocals and soothing guitar will be accompanied by double bassist Rob Thorsen and drummer Fernando Gomez for an evening of compassionate soul jazz.Featuring: Steph Johnson - vocals, guitar Rob Thorsen - bass Fernando Gomez - drumsSan Diego-based Steph Johnson is a self-taught musician whose distinctive style of voc...
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SOLO: Her – Three Women Playing Unaccompanied: West Coast Edition

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From group improvisations to contemporary arrangements of standards, SOLO: Her is an intimate evening of music celebrating the individual voice of three women. Marika Hughes, Fay Victor and Mazz Swift bring together their varying musical styles and influences that extend across jazz, soul, folk, rock, and beyond.Featuring: Marika Hughes - vocals, cello Fay Victor - vocals Mazz Swift - vocals, violinBased in New York, Marika Hughes is a cellist, singer, actress, storyteller, and occasi...
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The Mark Growden Quintet: Soulful Chamber Folk

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For a rare Bay Area performance, Mark Growden and his long-time collaborators bring to the Red Poppy a combination of soulful vocals with elements of chamber, folk, and jazz.Mark Growden is a composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and the director/founder of The Calling All Choir. Raised in a small mountain community in Northeast California, his work emanates earthy, soulful and poetic tones. Growden has ten years of experience teaching music in schools and currently leads singing worksh...
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Amy LaCour Trio: Music for the Soul-Searching

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Oakland-based vocalist Amy LaCour returns to the Red Poppy with cellist Misha Khalikulov and percussionist Josh Mellinger for a night of original material inspired by the American traditions of folk, soul, blues, jazz, and bluegrass. Amy and Misha began collaborating in late 2013 and quickly discovered a musical chemistry. Misha brings years of classical training and improvisational experience to Amy's blues and folk-based songwriting. The result is a spare and intimate setting that highlights m...
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Mark Growden and Chris Grady: Soulful Chamber/Folk

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For a rare Bay Area performance, Mark Growden and his long-time collaborator Chris Grady bring to the Red Poppy a combination of soulful vocals with elements of chamber, folk, and jazz.Mark Growden is a composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and the director/founder of The Calling All Choir. Raised in a small mountain community in Northeast California, his work emanates earthy, soulful and poetic tones. Growden has ten years of experience teaching music in schools and currently leads sin...
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CHELLE! and Friends: Celebrating the Holidays with New Orleans Musical Gumbo

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In a lively celebration of the holidays, CHELLE! and Friends commemorates the vibrant music of New Orleans with influences of jazz, funk, soul, gospel, blues, zydeco, and the rhythms of Mardi Gras Indians.Artistic Director and Founder, Michelle Jacques, is a new New Orleans native and Oakland's own "Queen of New Orleans Music". Together with some of the most distinguished musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area, CHELLE! and Friends stirs all of its influences into a diverse stewpot of mu...
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