Kippy Marks Comes to Rasselas

I've seen some incredible jazz violinists in my day, Stephane Grapelli, Jerry Goodman of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Steve Kindler, the incredible Jean Luc Ponty, Eddie Jobson, the disgustingly talented Al Shankar and most recently Tracy Silverman. During last month's fifth night of Kwaanza at the African Cultural Center, I caught a glimpse of one of the most extraordinary electric jazz violinists I have seen in quite some time, the self proclaimed "Improv-o-linist", Kippy Marks. Marks delighted the crowd with his one man show of loops, samples and remarkable prestidigitations. Kippy comes to Rasselas next Tuesday night, with a full band for his latest CD release of "To the Mountain Top". You don't want to miss this.

Kippy Marks has been delighting audiences with his inspirational compositions and lively performances for over 2 decades. Raised in El Paso, Texas, the Artist began his musical acclaim with performances with the El Paso youth symphony orchestra and also the Coronado T-bird Orchestra which was awarded a first-place recognition by winning the international Youth & Music Festival coveted Award in Vienna, Austria during his tenure.

Kippy began to refine his artistry by performing as a distinguished member of the Denver youth Symphony Orchestra and with the Billings Symphony Orchestra before turning his attention to the art of composition and improvisation. With his unforgetable compositions, which draw from Classical, Jazz, Blues, Dance and even Middle-Eastern and Eastern-European traditions which has brought Kippy global recognition which includes the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Bay area communities.

Upon relocating to the San Francisco/Bay area, the Artist hopes to achieve continued high visibility with the community and hopes performing for such distinguished audiences as the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, San Diego City Council, and the Insights World Conference Leadership Forums will segue into many years of inspiring-creative-experiences within and around the San Francisco/Bay Area. Kippy's innovative stylings have been featured at the Hotel Del Coronado and Westgate Hotel, and have shared life within community festivals such as San Diego Pride and Cityfest festival.

Kippy was proud to be affilliated with such companies as Schwarzkopf International, Coffeebean and Tealeaf Coffeehouses and with groups such as the Concious Youth Media Crew, Intel, Salano Stroll and many charitable organizations in San Francisco and in the Bay area. Kippy believes in giving back to the community and has contributed his talents to charity and youth-outreach organizations such as Ordinary Miracles the Metropolitan Community Church, Market Street First Adventist Church, Unity Palo Alto, Nurses Association of America and the Boys and Girls Club of America just to name a few.

Kippy's Latest

"Improv-o-linist" Kippy Marks does it again with the third vol. of the trilogy TR-2 "Tranquillium". This project grabs the listener and brings them to the final place of Musical Peace with a fusion of jazz rhythms that intices the ear and body to truely feel the artist passion and devotion to the gift of music. "U", the title of the cd represents the artist's gratitude to everyone who has shared in the sprit of the creration of music. Kippy has released nine albums through Kima Exclusive Entertainment. With this recent album Kippy will undoubtedly recieve rave reviews and even greater local recognition and opportunities to share his gift for music and expression.

Kippy Marks
Rassalas Jazz Club, 1534 Fillmore
Tuesday, February 3rd
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:30 pm.
There is a $20 cover which includes a copy of his CD.

The Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio Comes to Healdsburg

I'm often intrigued by the offspring of great musicians. The sons and daughters of Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck and Pete Escevedo respectively, are among the best and have done their parents proud. The tradition continues with sons of three of my all-time favorites; the incredible guitarist Larry Coryell and his group "Eleventh House" were astounding in their day; organist Brian Auger and his "Oblivion Express" blew my mind on several occasions and Joe Sample's "Jazz Crusaders" redefined themselves and jazz for decades. Now comes the "Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio" to the Healdsburg Palette Art Cafe, taking up where their fathers left off. These inherently talented musicians combine their jazz roots with a funky blues. If you're game for a little weekend up north, take in some fine art and these fine young musicians.

In July of 2007 while doing a gig with Julian's father Larry Coryell, Karma and Julian were introduced minutes before walking onstage together. It was quite a special evening and a strong connection was made. After the show they spoke about doing something together and Nick's name was brought up. In early August they all got together for the first time and wrote an album in four hours. After a day of getting sounds CAST! went into Julian's studio in Venice and spent 3 days cutting the album. The strategy was simple: Play down the list, get lunch, do it again. No headphones were used in the making of the record. Just three guys in a room playing. "We basically recorded a live album in the studio. We gave ourselves an opportunity which is so rare in today's clinical approach to recording, we just played."

Julian Coryell has been playing and recording music since childhood with everyone from his father (legendary jazz guitarist Larry Coryell) to Carole King, Jewel and Aimee Mann. An Alumnus of the Berklee College of Music, he's also performed with Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock and Billy Cobham. He's produced legendary singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, and recently played to sold out crowds at the world famous Budokan in Tokyo with Japanese rock star Kazuyah Yoshii. Julian's most recent musical passion is CAST, an eclectic jazz trio with drummer Karma Auger and bassist Nick Sample. Says Julian, "CAST is my opportunity to take what my father has given me and run with it". CAST has recently completed their first full length CD and will tour extensively in '08.

Karma Auger's musical education began close to the beginning of his life. His earliest memories are of his father, legendary jazz keyboardist Brian Auger playing electric piano at the house in London. At age 2 Karma was already threading the tape on his father's reel to reel and plugging in headphones to listen to dad's new masters. At age 3 he began playing piano which he still plays today but it wasn't until age 20 that he found his true passion; Drums. Since age 21, Karma has been touring and/or engineering/producing tracks for his father and a huge list of world class artists including Eric Burdon (The Animals), Robby Krieger (The Doors) and Billy Cobham to name a few. His understanding of the business rounds out his musical education which Karma owes greatly to his father. " My father has given me a priceless education and I am lucky enough to work with him today."

Nicklas Sample began his musical education as a young child watching his father, jazz legend Joe Sample. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nicklas has gained over 20 years experience in the music business learning all creative and business aspects of the industry first-hand. Nicklas immersed himself in the LA scene as a professional bass player, playing both electric and upright with the local talent such as Nikka Costa, Zoo Story, Daniel Cage, Jakob Dylan, Duke Daniels and Alison Sudol of “A Fine Frenzy” (whom he has also co-written songs with). He is also the bass player and member of “The Crusaders” and the “Joe Sample Trio”. Forty years of experience in the music business is an unprecedented amount of information to gain in just the few years Nicklas has been working with his father. “Joe Sample is the best teacher I could ever have”, “I’m learning from the best”.

Coryell Auger Sample Trio
Palette Art Cafe
Healdsburg, CA
Friday, January 23, 7:00 – 10:00

The Corner Laughers Come to the Make Out Room... And Kimo's

I'm a lover of all things musical, world, jazz, rock, punk and yes, even pop, to name but a few. After all, one of my favorite Bay Area pop groups are the "Orange Peels", led by tunes-smith Allen Clapp and the lovely Jill Pries. It was Clapp who tuned me onto a group he happens to be co-producing, known as "The Corner Laughers". After listening to what's now become one of my favorite tunes, (the fabulously written "Stonewords"), as well as other cuts from their soon to be released new album, I knew I was hearing something special. Created in a San Francisco Bay Area lab by "mad scientist" Angela Silletto and indoor archaeologist Karla Kane, the Corner Laughers were genetically engineered to be the perfect band: one part 60s British invasion, one part 80s new wave and one part 90s power pop with a smidgeon of twee, mod folk and trad jazz.

But something went wrong! Two evil rhythm-section geniuses from rival bands -- fueled by energy drinks and Indian food -- added the deadly chemical of ROCK, and thus The Corner Laughers were born. Wistful and dreamy, saucy and sassy in almost equal measure, The Corner Laughers' ideal blend of herbs and spices proved a magic concoction.

After their debut album "Tomb Of Leopards" delighted the eardrums of America and the world with its bouncy, clever, melodic pop songs about geography, ecology, primatology, Greek mythology, English literature and guys who are jerks, The Corner Laughers retreated to super-producer and Orange Peels' mastermind Allen Clapp's lair, Mystery Lawn Studio, to plant the seeds of their second, even more wondrous album "The Ultraviolet Garden", the title of which is taken from a Richard Dawkins BBC documentary about things in nature that cannot be seen by the human eye and indeed would be too overwhelming for us to comprehend.

A lofty aspiration and a difficult corner to paint oneself into, but The Corner Laughers laugh in the face of corners and proved themselves up to the task with a botanical cornucopia of songs about Italian catacombs, martyred saints, extinct California megafauna, ghosts suspended in time, Mayan villages, the Armageddon of all life on earth and yes, more guys who are jerks.

Clapp's influence and expertise have greatly expanded the band's arsenal of magnificent multi-colored shimmery sounds, with technology both modern and ancient, including tangy and twangy vintage guitars, spacey echo boxes from the Eichler age, inhumanly precise tambourines, heavenly harpsichords and layers and layers of angelic vocals.

Singer / ukuleleist Kane and guitarist Silletto began writing music together the instant they met and both enjoy spending their spare time rescuing wild animals, watching time-travel movies, and talking about sandwiches. They're Joined by drummer Charlie Crabtree (Variable Stars, One Eyed Jacks, William Cleere Band) and multi-instrumentalist Khoi Huynh (Bigwheel, Chris von Sneidern's Pop Gem Factory, Anton Barbeau UK).

As for their upcoming shows, the Laughers write, "We know you're not allowed to play in the same city twice in one week but we're the Corner Laughers - we play when we want, where we want, who we want. On Saturday Jan. 24th we'll be at the Make Out Room with Lady Genius. (http://www.makeoutroom.com/)

The following Thursday, Jan. 29th we'll be playing a benefit show for Equality California (http://www.eqca.org) at Kimo's. Joining us on the bill are Thousandnames, Big Round and Veronica Klaus. Never doubt that the power of the Corner Laughers' rock can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has..."

To paraphrase the Laughers, "I'll never quite grasp how they stay so young and I grow old". Listening to them however, I don't much care. Their pop is timeless and beautiful.

The Rova Saxophone Quartet & Ghost in the House

I'm a huge fan of Tom Nunn and David Michalak, two incredible artists and musicians. This Saturday, their amazing ensemeble Ghost in the House will join the acclaimed all-saxophone ensemble, Rova at the Community Music Center in San Francisco’s Mission District. With their unique instrumental combinations the two ensembles will present an evening of adventurous music making – performing as Rova and Ghost in the House, but also mixing it up with different combinations of the two groups. ROVA will present a set of original works for saxophone quartet. For more than 3 decades Rova has explored ways to blend composed and improvised musical elements to create genre bending pieces to the delight of audiences around the world. Community Music Center is an ideal setting to get up close and personal with the foursome. Rova will offer the San Francisco premier of Steve Adams’ Parallel Construction #3 from his series of works that blends interval and set derived written sections with options for improvising soloists.

Ghost In the House will be performing “other worldly scenarios” from their recent CD on the artist collective label Edgetone Records as well as new work including, “Dreams of the Tin Man” and “Beyond” a tribute to the late Toyoji Tomita.
http://www.edgetonerecords.com/ghostinthehouse.html

SOME QUOTES

about ROVA
The Penguin Guide to Jazz calls its music "a teeming cosmos of saxophone sounds" created by "deliberately eschewing conventional notions about swing [and] prodding at the boundaries of sound and space..."

about Ghost in the House
" Exotic and ethereal without being totally weightless, soothing without turning into sonic wallpaper, deep and mysterious... definitely worth your attention." - The one true dead angel

ROVA Saxophone Quartet, the acclaimed all-saxophone ensemble, has fundamentally extended the horizons of music since forming in 1977. Positioning themselves at music's most dynamic nexus, Rova has become an important leader in the movement of genre-bending music that has its roots in post-bop free jazz, avant-rock, and 20th century new music as well as traditional and popular styles of Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. With its potent mix of stellar musicianship and compositional creativity, Rova explores the synthesis of composition and collective improvisation. The result is adventurous works that are ardent and riveting, exhilarating and free-spirited. While much of Rova's music is composed by its members, the group has also collaborated with and commissioned new works by a wide range of creative artists. Since its founding, Rova has released over two dozen recordings of original music.

ROVA is:
Jon Raskin – baritone, alto and sopranino
Larry Ochs – tenor and sopranino
Steve Adams – alto and sopranino
Bruce Ackley – soprano and tenor

Conceived by filmmaker & musician David Michalak, GHOST IN THE HOUSE explores the ethereal and elemental soundscapes where music suggests an image; a murder mystery, a visitation in a dream or a cataclysmic storm.

“The music reflects a series of descriptions by its creators, who picture hypothetical images and dreams while trying to represent them through the strangest sounds they can obtain from their instruments... truly beautiful..." - Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes
“These are the films I couldn’t afford to make.” David Michalak

Ghost In The House Is:
Kyle Bruckmann – Oboe, English Horn
Karen Stackpole – Gongs, percussion
Tom Nunn – Inventions
David Michalak - lap steel, buffalo drum

The Ghost In The House Concert Series
a series of shows featuring Edgetone Records’ Ghost In The House and special guest artists.

Rova Meets Ghost in the House
San Francisco Community Music Center
544 Capp Street, Between 20th & 21st
January 10th, 2009, 8:00 P.M.
$10.00
For reservations (415) 826-2765 or e-mail dmichalak@sbcglobal.net