Troubadour, chronicler of life, juggler of fruit, host of Wine & Song and Jazz at the Blue Guitar.
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Wednesday SEP 20 7:00pm – TICKETS Songs of Shiloh, Maurice Tani
Songs of Shiloh is a collection of tunes written by Marty Axelrod and Nicole Gordon, the lyrics combining to tell the story of a small-town waitress named Shiloh who faces the challenges of her life with courage and humor. From the troubled relationship detailed in “Got the Car Running” to the redemptive love finally found in “The Boy from Crooked Creek”, Songs of Shiloh takes the listener inside the heart of its main character. Produced by Marty Axelrod, Songs of Shiloh has received glowing reviews in Maverick Magazine (UK), Pasadena Weekly and more. Maurice Tani is a “rye-to-romantic, supercalifornigraphic” singer-songwriter, specializing in a so-called cinema-for-the-blind style. His band, Maurice Tani & 77 El Deora has been the source of untold, but exquisite suffering in the Bay Area for over 10 years.
Thursday SEP 21 7:30pm – TICKETS Mark Goldenberg Trio (Jay Bellerose, Jennifer Condos)
Mark Goldenberg played lead guitar for Jackson Browne from 1994 – 2010. He also played on records for a myriad of artists including, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Eels, Natalie Imbruglia, Chris Isaak, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Peter Frampton and yes, even William Shatner. More recently he toured with acclaimed pianist and actor, Hugh Laurie. As a songwriter and producer, his works have been recorded by Linda Rondstat, Chicago, Pointer Sisters, Natalie Imbruglia, Eels, Chris Botti, and Olivia Newton John, among others. He studied guitar with fingerstyle virtuoso Ted Greene, classical guitar with Richard Pick and Emre Saboncuoglo, piano and counterpoint with Abe Fraser. Mark creates music that is both evocative and reflective, appealing to guitarists and non guitarists alike. He’ll be joined by Jay Bellerose on drums and Jennifer Condos on bass.
Wednesday SEP 27 7:00pm – TICKETS John Flynn and Dulcie Taylor
In the words of Deana McCloud, Executive Director of the Woody Guthrie Center, “John Flynn is the real deal. His work follows in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, and other social justice troubadours as he speaks the truth and gives a voice to society’s disenfranchised. His work fills your heart and opens your eyes as he continues to walk the walk of a true advocate for equality, justice, and peace.” Dulcie Taylor recorded five critically-acclaimed CDs for Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings. Her 2014 CD, Only Worn One Time, reached number 1 on the Roots Music Report – Americana Song Chart. Dulcie won the Central Coast New Times Music Award, for best songwriter in 2013 and 2014.
Thursday SEP 28 7:30pm – TICKETS Mark Hatch & Group 5
Another very special evening with Mark Hatch & Group 5. Always a hit at the Blue Guitar. The ensemble consists of five veteran musicians (Mark Hatch, Sam Riney, Rich Ruttenberg, Domenic Genova, Kendall Kay) who use classic 60s jazz quintet as a launching pad, while incorporating a broad spectrum of newer influences.
Wednesday OCT 4 7:00pm – TICKETS Anna Tivel, Nathan & Jessie
8th anniversary of Wine & Song — gonna be a special one. Come celebrate with us! Anna Tivel has spent countless hours in her car repeating lyrical lines over and over until the words fall in time with the windshield wipers. A troubadour with a deep love of quiet stories, she has been making a big noise in the songwriting world — a winner at both Telluride and Kerrville New Folk contests. Her songs reflect both the stark colors of small town life, and the hard, sharp lines of the city. Nathan & Jessie have traveled all over the world performing on the both streets and stages with their unique sound. A fusion of jazzy folk and blues on National Reso-Phonic guitars and accordion. Their interesting vocal interplay and trilingual performances are uplifting and fun with a message for people of all ages and cultures.
Thursday OCT 5 7:30pm – TICKETS Molly Miller Trio (Jay Bellerose/Jenn Condos)
A Los Angeles native, Molly Miller has performed, recorded, and toured with the likes of Jason Mraz, Wynton Marsalis, Donna Missal, Ashley Clark, and Printz Board. She grew up playing guitar in a band with her four siblings, performing on national television, and winning music awards all around the country. In May she graduated with her doctorate in guitar performance from the University of Southern California’s prestigious Thornton School of Music, where she also received both her Bachelors and Masters in Music. She has performed at major festivals ranging from Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy and Charlotte Jazz Festival to Bumbershoot and Riotfest. She just returned just from s two-week tour in Brazil playing lead guitar for Jason Mraz. She’ll be joined by Jay Bellerose on drums and Jennifer Condos on bass.
Wednesday OCT 11 7:00pm – TICKETS Sofia Talvik and Sunny War
Unmistakably Nordic in flavor, Sofia Talvik somehow still conforms to American interpretations of her own original music, a North Sea siren blending sparkle and melancholy. Her tireless touring has included performances at Chicago’s Lollapalooza — the first female Swedish artist to do so — as well as offical showcases at SXSW and Folk Alliance International. Sunny War (born Sydney Lyndella Ward) is more than just an artist; she is a force of nature that is tough to pin down. A bit of Robert Johnson blues with a shot of Bad Brains punk. She is a mainstay performer on the world famous Venice Beach boardwalk with a Gibson Guitar endorsement. The LA Weekly’s Michael Simmons says “Sunny is going to blow your mind. She is like no one else.”
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.
Wednesday OCT 18 7:00pm – TICKETS Sugar Still and Gary Stockdale
2-time Emmy-nominated composer Gary Stockdale has done it all in the music world — from film and TV to musicals and live performances. An original member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, he is also a wonderful and witty songwriter. Gary has a new CD just completed entitled “Keep Letting Go” from which he’ll be performing songs. Sugar Still are conservatory-trained violinist/vocalist Sarah Blick and acclaimed roots singer-songwriter Charlie Cheney. They perform lively, poignant originals and contemporary covers filled with rocking guitar riffs, swinging blue violin, and beautiful vocal harmonies reminiscent of It’s a Beautiful Day, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Civil Wars, and Jefferson Airplane.
Hank Mehren has been playing the piano since he was a young kid. He has a deep love for great songwriters such as Gershwin, Arlan, and Young. He began his jazz journey at Pasadena City College in 2011 before moving on to Cal State Northridge where he studied with Matt Harris, Gary Fukushima, and Tamir Hendelman. Hank graduated with a degree in Jazz Performance last spring and is now working as a pianist, writer, and arranger. Bryan Dedlow is an LA based jazz guitarist who studied with renowned classical and jazz guitariart Ron Berman and subsequently with Larry Conse at Cal Arts. A fanatic of the Nat King Cole Trio, he plays in swing bands in addition to doing production work in the jazz and R&B fields. Jesse Ajamian moved to LA from Northern California in 2011 to pursue a career as a jazz drummer. Beginning at PCC, he studied with great jazz musicians such as Ralph Penland and Dave Tull. He later attended CSUN where he was mentored by Gene Coye and exposed to more modern music. A CSUN Jazz Performance graduate, he has been teaching and performing regularly ever since.
