In this time of harsh divisions, Licity Collins’ passion bridges audiences and touches people in that place we all share—of raw, honest emotion. Her songs are rooted in folk and layered with the grit of rock. Licity’s prose lays bare the heart-wrenching rise and falls of our attempts to navigate the unknown. She believes that any path to healing must involve a deep connection to our emotions, and she delivers just that. Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bernie Larsen has lived a charmed musical life. He has recorded, toured and produced an elite handful of artists, many of whom are Grammy Award recipients including Melissa Etheridge, Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Public Enemy. He spent six years as an original member of David Lindley’s legendary band El Rayo-X. We’ll also hear from special guest Igor Bulanov, a wonderful singer and songwriter from Russia.
Thursday Jan 23 7:00pm
Adam Levy, Raph Humphrey, Carey Frank Organ Trio– TICKETS ($17/$12)
Adam Levy has played guitar on recordings by Norah Jones, Amos Lee, Lisa Loeb, Tracy Chapman, Allen Toussaint, Meshell Ndegeocello, Vulfpeck, and many other artists. As a solo artist, he has a dozen original recordings to his credit. Ralph Humphrey has been a working professional musician/drummer and teacher in the Los Angeles area spanning more than 50 years. As a member of the Don Ellis big band, Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention — as well as working with Al Jarreau, The Manhattan Transfer, Babaghanoush, Free Flight, The Tierney Sutton Band and a host of other individuals and groups — he proves himself as a versatile player who looks for challenges in all kinds of music. Originally from South Florida, Carey Frank is an active touring, performing, and recording pianist, Hammond organist, and keyboardist based out of Los Angeles. He is known for his work with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Social Distortion, Dr. Smith, Bob Mintzer, and Jane Monheit.
The Beachwood Belles are a new “vintage vamp” harmony duo based in Los Angeles consisting of Cait Leow and Cynthia Brando. Cait was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and comes from a strong musical background. She plays violin, ukulele and guitar. Cynthia recently moved to South Pasadena and is a singer and songwriter with a unique voice that lies somewhere between “silk and Stevie Nicks.” The Furious Seasons are an acoustic trio with stories to tell. Songwriter, singer and guitarist David Steinhart brings a writer’s eye to his tales of persons in desperate situations, tales of Los Angeles in the 21st century, stories of unforeseen romance and of individuals who are quietly heroic. Guitarist Paul Nelson illuminates the songs with an agile blend of blues, folk and country, and adds harmony vocals. The upright bass of Jeff Steinhart pulls it all together with a gravitas that makes the vocals and the guitars soar.
Thursday Jan 30 7:00pm Judy Wexler & the Larry Koonse Trio – TICKETS ($17/$12)
LA-based vocalist Judy Wexler has a pliably warm, lustrous sound and displays an unerring ear for underexposed gems. All About Jazz says, “Judy Wexler is more than a mere singer of songs, she is an actress, mood painter, song archaeologist and vocalist par excellence.” Her fifth CD, a collaboration with piano great Alan Pasqua, presents an anthology of ten modern jazz compositions by contemporary songwriters. Ted Gioia, author of The Jazz Standards and The History of Jazz says, “What a joy to listen to this album, both for the exquisite music-making of Judy Wexler and Alan Pasqua, but also for their astuteness in finding and featuring outstanding songs by current-day jazz composers.” Judy’s CDs have topped the national JazzWeek charts and received enthusiastic reviews, including two profiles on NPR Weekend Edition. She’ll be joined by Larry Koonse on guitar, Dave Robaire on bass, and Conor Malloy on drums.
Wednesday Feb 5 7:00pm
Holly Bernt, Cej – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Thursday Feb 6 7:00pm Louie Cruz Beltran & his Latin Jazz Band – TICKETS ($20)
Louie Cruz Beltran is a charismatic entertainer, singer and master percussionist. His musical career was crafted upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic American background and flavored with contemporary R&B, Jazz, and Salsa as well as the Great American Songbook. Early in his career, Louie performed with great artists such as Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Francisco Aguabella, and Jorge Claudio. Recently he has performed with legends Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Poncho Sanchez and many other renowned artists. Louie will be joined by Carlos Vivas on keyboard, Abelardo Bolano on drums, Andrew Ford on bass, and Rob Kyle on sax and flute.
Wednesday Feb 12 7:00pm
David Burchfield, Zak Schaffer – TICKETS ($17/$12)
David Burchfield writes folk music that’s not content to stay within traditional genre boundaries. Taking cues from Josh Ritter and Joe Pug, Burchfield’s literate lyrics meet emotive grace in nods to Gillian Welch, Mandolin Orange, and David Ramirez. There is a powerful candor in Burchfield’s writing – raw, emotive, and rich with details that bring the listener right into the scene of his passion. Burchfield’s writing sounds like the joy of a man who knows how close the dark can creep to the light’s edge. Inspired as much by his native Kansas plains and his current home in the Colorado mountains, the landscapes of his nostalgia are ever present his songs. Zak Schaffer has been a fixture on the Los Angeles music scene for years. He’s been a side musician (Pete Yorn), engineer, producer, and singer-songwriter. Zak’s latest release is Try Not to Panic. He employed several great SoCal musicians to help him out and the results are terrific.
Thursday Feb 13 7:00pm Gregory Porée Group – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Greg Porée grew up in a multi-cultural environment in Los Angeles and his career in music reflects his upbringing. He has worked with a diverse group of musicians ranging from Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock to Diana Ross, Sting, and Phoebe Snow. His influences also cover a great chasm from Bach to the Beatles, and from Villa-Lobos to Motown. He was lead guitarist on the hit BBC show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for eight years, and can be heard on landmark albums by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Stanley Turrentine, Randy Crawford, Albert King, Ahmad Jamal, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, and James Blunt. He produced groundbreaking solo albums in association with Sting for world music master Vinx, and was musical director for Sonny and Cher, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Joan Baez. He will be joined by Isaias Elpes on bass, and Joey Heredia on drums, along with a special guest to be announced soon.
Wednesday Feb 19 7:00pm
Ikes Creek, Yosi Mesbah – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Ikes Creek is an ensemble that combines the songwriting, bluesy vocals and instrumental skills of Korey Simeone, with guitar and mandolin of Thomas Moose, and co-lead vocals of Cori Cable Kidder. In 1997, Idaho native Simeone found his way to Austin, Texas where he worked with neo-vaudeville outfit, Asylum Street Spankers and bluegrass satirists, Austin Lounge Lizards. Ikes Creek placed first in the best band category at the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest. Born in Moscow, Idaho to a parent fleeing genocide and living through the subsequent fallout has fundamentally shaped Yosi Mesbah‘s music. Her faithful devotion to the resilience of the human spirit weaves its way through her songs. She has a compelling presence and powerful voice coupled with humor and dynamic musicianship. Her debut album “Cellar & Sky” was released in 2015. You may have caught her music if you’ve tuned in to the CW series My Last Days.
Thursday Feb 20 7:00pm Sami Stevens & the Man I Love – TICKETS ($17/$12)
With the 2017 release of their first album, And I’m Right, Sami Stevens and the Man I Love have carved out their rightful place in the NYC music scene. Founded by Brooklyn-based bandleader Stevens, the group draws together cohesive, classic R&B style arrangements, impeccable vocal lyricism and phrasing, and intense dynamic range. And I’m Right gives an imaginative, fresh take on old, warm sounds and grooves. Sami studied privately with Dominique Eade and John McNeil at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she graduated with a BM in Vocal Jazz Performance. She also received a BA in Psychology from Tufts University. The band consists of Bob Edinger on drums, Jed Lingat on bass, Noah MacNeil on keys, and Kazemde George on tenor sax. This is the band’s debut Los Angeles appearance. They have been featured at renowned Brooklyn venue National Sawdust as well as San Francisco jazz club Black Cat.
Wednesday Feb 26 7:00pm
Ted Russell Kamp, Gerry Spehar – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Ted Russell Kamp is an LA-based singer-songwriter, producer, and bassist. He travels the world performing songs from seven critically-acclaimed Americana albums. He is well known for his ability to step into bands and rock all genres of music. He spent decades holding down the bottom end for bands as diverse as Shooter Jennings and Wilson Phillips. He has played everywhere from honkytonks to major festivals and David Letterman appearances. Gerry Spehar was born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he worked on his Uncle’s ranch punching cattle and farming. His Uncle gave him his first guitar and Gerry started absorbing everything from Haggard to Hendrix. Along with his brother George, the Spehar Brothers were the buzz of the mountain and midwest club circuit, opening for Boz Scaggs, Ian & Sylvia, and Townes Van Zandt. After a long hiatus from music, he is back with a killer album produced by Paul Lacques of I See Hawks, who will be joining Gerry for this show.
Thursday Feb 27 7:00pm David Arnay Trio
Wednesday Mar 4 7:00pm
Few Miles South, Dana Cooper
Few Miles South is an unlikely duo consisting of South Georgia raised, Blake English, and Los Angeles native, Tori Lund. They met in 2014 singing and playing in church and bonded over a shared love of country music. Tori is a classically trained singer and misplaced country girl. Blake comes from a family of guitar players and songwriters, raised on rock, country and R&B. You can find them performing throughout the U.S., or in a van camping with their dogs. Dana Cooper is a song poet who has been engaging and inspiring audiences with his quick wit, insightful stories and commanding presence for over 40 years. He has performed on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and the Kerrville Folk Festival where he was nominated for their Hall of Fame. Cooper’s mixture of flat-picking, finger-picking and percussive strumming style is legendary among other guitarists. An expressive singer his voice is ageless evoking a rich lifetime of experience.
Thursday Mar 5 7:00pm Jon Mayer – Jacques Lesure Project – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Jon Mayer was introduced to jazz at an early age in his native New York. After graduating from the famed High School of Music and Art he became entrenched in the NYC music scene playing with Kenny Dorham, Tony Scott, Pete LaRoca and Ray Draper. He played on a John Coltrane recording “Like Sonny” and on a Jackie McLean cut called “Strange Blues.” He spent time in the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band as well as road assignments with Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughan, and Anita O’Day. His compositions have been cut by Les McAnn, Nancy Wilson, Gladys Knight, Ernie Watts and Jackie Ryan. Joining Jon will be guitarist, educator and actor Jacques Lesure whose sound is steeped in the rich tradition of mentors like George Benson, and Kenny Burrell. Jacques has played and recorded with many notable musicians across genres. They will be joined by Will Lyle on bass and and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums.
Wednesday Mar 11 7:00pm
Fox and Bones, Clint Alphin – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Rather than simply documenting their experiences in song, Fox and Bones (aka Sarah Vitort and Scott Gilmore) write from the perspective of quasi-fictional characters. There’s Fox, a down-and-out it girl, and Bones, a rootless orphan bad boy with a heart of gold. The two fall for each other, decide to hit the road, and never look back. The characters, as well as their real-life counterparts, use music as the canvas on which they paint a new life together. Born in Dunn, North Carolina, Clint Alphin always had a destined straight path to success. His family ran a second-generation meat and seafood distributing company, and it was assumed he might someday take it over. For Alphin, making the choice to pursue music was a hard-fought personal battle. On his newest release Straight to Marrow, Alphin explores those moments in life that move you to the bone, as he embraces and celebrates risk taking and dream chasing.
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Arroyo Seco Golf Course 1055 Lohman Lane South Pasadena CA 91030 The Arroyo Seco Grill has food and full bar.
