Monthly Archives: June 2019

2nd Saturday Concert Allison & Victor AND Two5Live!

Live Music to Celebrate Dunsmuir’s Second Saturday

On Saturday, July 13, Pops Performing Arts and Cultural Center will present a double bill concert celebrating Dunsmuir’s Second Saturday. Allison Scull and Victor Martin and Two5Live!, a new group in the area, will perform beginning at 8pm. Advanced tickets are available here.

Dunsmuir-Second-Saturday-Flyer-DUNSMUIR-july-optimizedAllison and Victor and Two5Live will combine to bring a fabulous night of music. Songs will be featured from each act as well some collaboration with both bands together. Allison and Victor together create a fusion of musical forms uniquely their own. They blend roots music — a fusion of jazz, folk, blues, a little funk, originals and some jazz standards laced with some French lyrics. Currently recording their 4th CD, Allison and Victor are recording with area musicians such as drummer Kenji Kato, bassist Bruce Calin and Stefan Schittko who will be featured on keyboard in both acts for this special concert. Visit allisonandvictor.com and facebook.com/AllisonAndVictor for more on these artists.

Two5Live! is a band that blends jazz, funk, neo-soul, R&B and Latin music. It features Nathan Sivananda on bass, Stefan Schittko on keys, Victor Martin on saxophone and vocals and Ross Perry on drums. According to Schittko, this group features “a lot of tunes that all band members love and never had an outlet to play.”

Pops Performing Arts and Cultural Center is located at 5819 Sacramento Ave in historic Dunsmuir, across from the Amtrak train station. Tickets are available in advance online for $10 and at the door for $15.   For more on Dunsmuir’s Second Saturday, visit https://www.dunsmuirsecondsaturday.com/

 

Tadaima presented by Shasta Taiko

Shasta Taiko Presents Free Performance by Tadaima at Pop’s July 6

Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer are known in northern California as leaders and founders of Shasta Taiko and are recognized nationally for pioneering taiko – Japanese drum – in America.  On Saturday, July 6, 7 pm at Pop’s Performing Arts & Cultural Center in Dunsmuir, Shasta Taiko presents Russel and Jeanne’s music ensemble, Tadaima, featuring jazz artists drummer Kenji Kato and bassist Greg Potter.  The event is free to the public and sponsored by Shasta Taiko.
7-6-19 ShastaTaiko-Pops-Web
Russel’s work on saxophone and flutes has received favorable reviews in national music publications – DownBeat, Musician, Jazz Times, CODA, and Options magazines.  Jeanne is known for her exquisite touch, beautiful sound, and an open creative approach to taiko.

“We love group taiko, the physical movement, the choreography, and the spirit and spectacle of large and loud drumming as well as exposing taiko through community classes.  We do however have other sides as artists and people.  We hope to explore other areas for taiko to expand in or vice versa…for music like jazz to include taiko and other music.  So we’re not only exposing taiko to America, but we also hope to pioneer taiko in other areas – in our case, jazz and world music influences.” says Baba.

Russel Baba is known as an innovative musician and for creative compositions.  He has toured and recorded winds with jazz artists drummer Eddie Moore, violinist Michael White, and pianist Andrew Hill, and taiko and winds with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, San Jose Taiko, On Ensemble, and Jeanne Mercer.

Jeanne Mercer has performed taiko with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, San Jose Taiko, and On Ensemble.  Her work has contributed to movie soundtracks Star Wars and The Right Stuff.  She has performed and recorded original music with Eddie Moore, Michael White, Russel Baba, Masato Baba, and Shoji Kameda.

Kenji Kato is a versatile drummer who has performed with Gary Burton, Merle Haggard, Larry Mitchell, Roy Hargrove, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mark Gross, Mark Whitfield, Warren Hill, Antonio Hart, Mark Cooper, Chuck Epperson, and Greg Potter.  Kenji received both the Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams Awards where he graduated from the Berklee College of Music.

Bassist Greg Potter has toured worldwide and has performed with Stan Kenton and The Entertainers.  He has recorded with Bruce Hornsby and for the Disney studios.  He also plays guitar and drums.  Locally he plays with Marc Cooper, Kenji Kato, Chuck Epperson, and Sharp 11.

Jeanne adds, “We’re excited to have the opportunity to play some original music with some exceptional artists.  This open approach is not so common in taiko.  A smaller ensemble of musicians allows for spontaneity and musical ideas to flow.  It’s really challenging, fun, and creative.”

“Tadaima’ is the traditional greeting when one comes home in Japan.  It means “I’m here, I’m pressent, I’m home.”  says Russel.  “Tadaima has performed before at the ShastaYama Taiko Festival with various guest artists.  The Festival presented a variety of taiko artists and groups with each act having only a limited time to perform.  At Pop’s, Tadaima will be featured, allowing time for the music to go deeper and for me, more centered.”

Tadaima is sponsored by Shasta Taiko.  There is no door charge – FREE  Donations are accepted.   Pop’s – 5819 Sacrameneto Ave.  popsdunsmuir.com   Tadaima – russelbaba.com
June 18, 2019

Press Release

Shasta Taiko Presents Free Performance by Tadaima

Where:
Pop’s Performing Arts Center & Cultural Center
5819 Sacramento Ave.
Dunsmuir, CA

When:
Saturday, July 6
7 pm

What:
Music Performance byTadaima (I’m here, I’m present, I’m home)

Russel Baba – flutes, saxophone, taiko, percussion
Jeanne Mecer – taiko, percussion
Kenji Kato – drum set, percussion
Greg Potter – bass

Free:
Sponsored by Shasta Taiko
Donations accepted

Ukulele Player Abe Lagrimas Visits Pops!

Screen Shot 2019-06-04 at 8.46.14 PMMusician, composer, educator and author Abe Lagrimas, Jr will be performing at Pops Performing Arts & Cultural Center, Sunday, August 4. Listen here to his amazing sounds.

Abe Lagrimas, Jr. plays the drums, vibraphone, ukulele, and studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. In 2012, he competed in the highly prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition and has worked with many different artists such as Eric Marienthal, Eric Reed, Kamasi Washington, Dontae Winslow, Barbara Morrison, Michelle Coltrane, Jake Shimabukuro, Kenny Endo, and continues to be an in-demand session musician in Los Angeles. As an ukulele artist, Abe is a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (Hawaii Music Award) recipient and has released multiple albums in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. His latest album, self-titled Abe Lagrimas, Jr., was featured on the Hawaiian Airlines in-flight entertainment system. As a performing artist, he has been featured at ukulele festivals throughout the United States in addition to leading his own solo tours. His international performances include Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Germany, and toured extensively throughout China. Abe is also an educator and is the author of Jazz Ukulele: Comping, Soloing, Chord Melodies (Berklee Press & Hal Leonard), which is available in stores worldwide and on Amazon. He is currently endorsed by Canopus Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Beato Bags, Ko’olau Ukulele, Analysis Plus Cables, Fusion Gig Bags, and Elite Acoustics. abelagrimasjr.com