The "Voices of Latin Rock" Comes to the Warfield

Putting together an inspired collection of talent, Voices of Latin Rock presents The 5th Annual Benefit for Autism Awareness as a benefit for The Alex Speaks Foundation on Saturday January 24th, 2009 at the newly refurbished Warfield Theater, 982 Market Street, San Francisco, California. Headlining the bill is multi-platinum selling band WAR, Azteca, Los Cenzontles, Voices of Latin Rock Review, featuring members of Cold Blood, Malo, El Chicano and Santana. They will also be honoring the following Women of Latin Rock: Rita Gentry, Lydia Pense, Wendy Haas, Sheila E. and Linda Tillery. As in past years, many surprise guests will also appear.

The show benefits schools in the Bay Area dealing with autism on a daily basis. This disorder has increased recently to 1 in 150 births, up from 1 in 166 just a few years ago. When questioned about special needs children in the most recent presidential debates, both candidates mentioned the need for increased funding for research for autism, specifically as it approaches epidemic numbers. With the Bay Area’s support of this event, we can continue our support of both schools and research for autism.

WAR has recently been nominated as candidates for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2009. WAR has recorded some of the biggest hits in the last 30 years including “The World Is A Ghetto”, “Cisco Kid”, “Why Can’t We Be Friends”, and “Low Rider.” The band is in it’s 40th year and has its first release in 14 years, “Greatest Hits Live.” More information on the band can be found on their website at www.wartheband.com.

Azteca features a stellar collective of Latin Rock performers that promises to tear the house down. Azteca was founded by the late Coke Escovedo and his brother Pete after their departure from the Latin Rock superband Santana. They were the first band to employ a large ensemble of horns, woodwinds, keyboards, Latin percussion and other instruments sometimes having 25 members in a live performance! Many of the original members will be performing.

Los Cenzontles is an amazing group from the Mexican Arts Center in Richmond, California featuring the vocals of Fabiola Trujillo and Luciana Rodriquez that infuses traditional Mexican instruments with gutsy electric bass and drums. The group is directed by Grammy nominated producer Eugene Rodriquez, and their latest CD “Wood & Steel” features producer/guitarist David Hildalgo along with vocalist Linda Ronstadt.

The Voices of Latin Rock Review with Musical Director Karl Perazzo includes members of Santana, Cold Blood, Malo and El Chicano. This years event is honoring women of Latin Rock: Rita Gentry, Lydia Pense, Wendy Haas, Sheila E., and Linda Tillery. ‘Voices of Latin Rock’ has become a Bay Area favorite event, and early purchase of tickets is encouraged, as this event will sell out. Get your tickets soon!

Voices of Latin Rock
5th Annual Benefit for Autism Awareness
January 24 , 2009 at The Warfield Theater, San Francisco
Doors: 6:00 PM Show: 7:30 PM

The Palm Wine Boys Revisited

Back in October, I wrote this article about the Palm Wine Boys and their founder, Richard Linley. Sadly, ill health has kept Linley down, but not out. He is finally back on the mend and happily, the Palm Wine Boys are returning for a special concert in Oakland this Sunday.

These days, Richard Linley, writer, singer, guitarist and founder of "The Palm Wine Boys", has been spending much of his time in recording sessions for his latest album, pausing only for treatment while he battles a recent, life threatening illness. His music and spirit has been inspirational to his fellow musicians, especially the latest incarnation of the 'Boys; bassist Ariane Cap, guitarist Mathew Lacques and his long-time collaborator, percussionist QB Williams. "When words fail we turn to music, to listen, or to play", recalled Cap. "Richard's tunes have been turned to by many a restless soul to find relief. His songs are so hopeful, comforting, joyful." Fittingly, I thought it was high time I revisited one of the Bay Area's best loved West African music ensembles, The Palm Wine Boys.

The Palm Wine Boys apparently dread describing their sound in two words or less. Phrases like "pan-African guitar" seem too exotic, but "acoustic folk" doesn't quite draw the crowds. Fortunately for us, this San Francisco Bay Area-based quartet's latest CD "Up and Down", reveals a melodic sound that defies stereotypes. The Palm Wine Boys take two musical genres they love, American folk and Palm wine music, and blend them perfectly to create a sound responsible for a relaxed kind of high, characteristic not only of Palm Wine, but the Palm Wine Boys.

Intertwining guitar lines, a unique, catchy rhythmic style, searching, spiritual lyrics and harmonizing voice appear on "Up and Down," was recorded in the Oakland, California studio of Wildplum Recordings. "The Palm Wine Boys' music speaks to people looking for music with some kind of depth to it. Not too serious, just not pleased with state of popular music and searching for an original sound. Our audience is drawn to the various acoustic styles - taking a genre and bringing something new to it. Palm Wine Boys is a sound that is different, slightly exotic, without being inaccessible," says Richard Linley, PWB singer/songwriter, describing the band's draw.

Palm wine music originated in West Africa; Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria saw the birth of the genre. Palm wine music became internationally known in the 1950s through Ebenezer Calender and his Maringar Band; a decade later, S.E. Rogie achieved cult celebrity status and became known as the "godfather" of palm wine music with records including "The 60s Sound of S.E. Rogie."

The Palm Wine Boys first formed in 2002 when Richard Linley, Tom Chandler, and QB Williams broke from the great world dance band Mud Hut to concentrate on pared-down acoustic songs. Singer/songwriter Linley played sax and guitar in the late 80s with S.E. Rogie and wanted to bring palm wine's mellow influence to the new project. As a songwriter, Linley had been inspired by the greats of American folk, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. The Palm Wine Boys began combining serious lyrics with melodic, upbeat arrangements, using an organic approach to create new music.

Linley soon added the acoustic bass of Eliyahu Sills, and the 'Boys were off and running. The incredible percussion of Williams and his assorted bongoes and mini-bass drums; the lilting bass lines of Sills; Linley and Chandler's guitars and writing made the Palm Wine Boys one of the best loved acts on the world music scene. After garnering much deserved praise and critical acclaim, fatherhood would soon claim Chandler and his chair was temporarily filled by the gifted young Berkeley guitarist Cas Lucas. The return of Chandler would unfortunately also see the departure of Sills, who would go on to form his exotic Middle-Eastern ensemble, "Qadim". Enter Ariane Cap, bassist extraordinaire, and the "Boys" had now become an equal opportunity combo. The joys of parenthood called Chandler once again, finally leaving the group for good and paving the way for guitarist Mathew Lacques. All seemed well in Palm Wine land until the unthinkable happened.

"Richard's illness smacked right into the middle of production of our new album", Cap recalled. "The recent hard months of witnessing Richard's suffering, and not being able to play together as Richard got weaker and weaker, are making us once again aware of how special creating music together is. We are looking forward to finishing work on our new songs and creating a jewel of West African-Americana folk beauty a la Palm Wine Boys. As all experiences infuse the music we make, this CD will be especially close to our hearts."

Undaunted, Linley soldiers on and expects to finish his latest long awaited CD soon. For those wishing to contribute to Linley's ongoing efforts both musical and medical, they can do so here: http://palmwineboysforrichard.com/

Get well soon Richard.

The Palm Wine Boys
Sunday, December 14th @ 4:00 pm
2014 Park Blvd. (about a block down from the Parkway Theater)
$10.00

The Doctor Bob Concert Series

Looking to take a musical walk on the wild side? Tonight at the San Francisco Community Music Center comes some of the area's best artists in every sense of the word. "The Doctor Bob Concert Series" a series of shows featuring Edgetone Records' Doctor Bob and special guest artists. Doctor Bob is a project of avant cellist and vocalist Bob Marsh and nouveau lap steel player and film maker David Michalak. They play songs for a dark and turbulent world ranging from scary to the surreal. This show will feature new material from their upcoming release called, "Chance" as well as songs from their "Dark Times" CD on Edgetone Records. Andre Custodio will join the duo on drums and percussion. Pamela Z is an international composer, performer, sound artist, and extended vocalist will feature some new works for voice, electronics, and video. Ms. Z has been commissioned to compose works for new music chamber ensembles: the Bang On A Can Allstars; Ethel, the California E.A.R. Unit; the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble; the Empyrean Ensemble, and the St. Luke's Chamber Orchestra. These are two of my all-time favorites in a not to be missed performance.

Marsh is a well seasoned improviser whose work has involved shaping sounds words images ideas. Originally from Detroit, Marsh arrived in the Bay Area in 2000 after ten years in Chicago where he played with most of the avant improvisers in that rich and varied scene. Since his arrival on the west coast, multi-instrumentalist and composer Marsh has been busy with several projects. He currently leads or directs String Theory, a string ensemble focusing on textures and microtonics; the Che Guevarra Memorial Marching (and Stationary) Accordion Band, structured and free improv for six to fifteen accordions; Robot Martians, electronics and processed voice; the Out of the Blue Chamber Ensemble, a mixture of reeds and strings; Opera Viva, voiced physical theater; the Quintessentials, a quintet specializing in interpreting graphic compositions based on alterations to the Michelin Road Guide to France; and the Illuminated Orchestra, structured improves for large ensemble.

Additionally Marsh is a member of Romus/Diaz-Infante's Abstractions, Jim Ryan's Left Coast Improv Group, Moe!chestra and Tom Bickley's Cornelius Cardew Choir. Bob Marsh tours frequently with his long term partner saxophonist Jack Wright. Bob has recently been presenting a solo work involving violin, voice and tap shoes. Marsh's educational background includes a BFA in sculpture and an MA in humanistic clinical psychology. He has studied classical piano, classical guitar and vibraphone and has taught himself various other instruments. He currently is active with cello, accordion, violin, voice, vibraphone and electronics.

David Michalak plays a Fender lap steel guitar and an assortment of odd percussion instruments. While he is more commonly known as a filmmaker (50 films with original soundtracks since 1971), the visual art side of him seeps inherently into his solo performances and group compositions, which are characterized by shimmering passages, abstract snapshots and haunting representations of natural elements. David plays in his instrumental ensembles Reel Change and Ghost In The House as well as the duo, Dr. Bob. Some musicians that he is currently performing with are: Tom Nunn, Andrew Voigt, Bob Marsh, Carla Kihlstedt, Karen Stackpole and Kyle Bruckman.

The extraordinary Pamela Z has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. She has performed in numerous festivals including Bang On A Can at Lincoln Center in New York, the Interlink Festival in Japan, Other Minds in San Francisco, and Pina Bausch Tanztheater's 25 Jahre Fest in Wuppertal, Germany. She has composed, recorded and performed original scores for choreographers and for film and video artists, and has done vocal work for other composers (including Charles Amirkhanian, Vijay Iyer, and Henry Brant). Her large-scale, multi-media performance works, Parts of Speech , Gaijin, and Voci, have been presented at venues including The Kitchen in New York, Theater Artaud and ODC Theatre in San Francisco, the Museum of Contemporary Art Theatre in Chicago, as well as at theaters in Washington D.C. and Budapest Hungary.

Her one-act opera Wunderkabinet (co-composed with Matthew Brubeck) premiered in 2005 at The LAB Gallery in San Francisco, and was presented at REDCAT in Los Angeles and the Open Ears Festival in Canada. Her new inter-media work The Pendulum is scheduled to have its San Francisco Premiere at the Royce Gallery in 2008. She has had audio works included in exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Erzbischiöfliches Diösanmuseum in Cologne. Her site-specific, multi-channel sound works have been presented at the Tang Museum in Saratoga Springs NY, the Dakar Biennale in Sénégal, and the Hellenic Museum in Chicago. Her work has also been presented at the San Jose Museum of Art, El Museo del Barrio in New York, and La Biennale di Venezia in Italy.

Doctor Bob Concert Series Operation #1
Doctor Bob and Pamela Z
San Franicsco Community Music Center
544 Capp Street Between 20th & 21st
Friday, December 5th, 8:00 P.M.
$10, $5 students