The Mickey Hart Band Comes to Yoshi's

Mickey Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the soul and spirit of music, disguised as the rock and roll band the Grateful Dead. As half of the percussion tandem known as the Rhythm Devils, Hart and Bill Kreutzmann transcended the conventions of rock drumming. Their extended polyrhythmic excursions were highlights of Grateful Dead shows, introducing the band’s audience to an ever-growing arsenal of percussion instruments from around the world. Exposure to these exotic sounds fueled Hart’s desire to learn about the various cultures that produced them.

On October 11, 2011, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings released the ‘Mickey Hart Collection’ to preserve and further the Grateful Dead percussionist’s endeavor to cross borders and expand musical horizons. Smithsonian Folkways made many of Hart’s music projects available digitally (stream and download) for the first time while keeping physical versions in print as on-demand CDs.

The Mickey Hart Collection begins with 25 albums drawn from ‘The World,’ a series Hart curated that incorporated his solo projects, other artists’ productions, and re-releases of out-of-print titles. Six of the twenty-five albums form the “Endangered Music Project,” a collaboration between Hart and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, which presents recordings from musical traditions at risk. Both ‘The World’ and ‘The Endangered Music Project’ were previously distributed by Rykodisc from 1988 to 2002.

Currently, Hart is in the studio recording his new solo project due out in February 2012. “I’ve been involved in sampling the epic events of the universe from the Big Bang to now – everything that makes up our lives,” says Hart, describing his upcoming album. “It’s all about the vibrations of life. In this case, they began as light waves, and these light waves are still washing over us. The scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs and Meyer Sound made them into sound waves. I want to bring these light waves into the human range and use that as a musical catalyst and play with it.” Hart debuted his new songs to packed houses in the summer of 2011 with the Mickey Hart Band featuring, Tim Hockenberry, Crystal Monee Hall, Vir McCoy, Ian “Inx” Herman, Gawain Mathews, Greg Ellis, and Sikiru Adepoju.

His tireless study of the world’s music led Hart to many great teachers and collaborators, including his partners in Planet Drum Zakir Hussain, Babatunde Olatunji, and Airto Moreira. Planet Drum’s self-titled album not only hit #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart, remaining there for 26 weeks, it also received the Grammy for Best World Music Album in 1991– the first Grammy ever awarded in this category. Hart last released the Global Drum Project with Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo in 2007, which took home the Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album.

Hart’s experiences have paved the way for unique opportunities beyond the music industry. In 2008, he and Planet Drum partner Zakir Hussain composed a thrilling backbeat to the new Volcano at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. He composed a major drum production performed by an assembly of 100 percussionists for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Additionally, Hart has composed scores, soundtracks and theme for a number of award-winning films and television shows including Apocalypse Now, Gang Related, Hearts of Darkness, The Twilight Zone, the 1987 score to The America’s Cup: The Walter Cronkite Report, Vietnam: A Television History, and The Next Step.

Hart has written four books documenting his lifelong fascination with the history and mythology of music. These include Drumming at the Edge of Magic, Planet Drum, and Spirit into Sound: The Magic of Music. His latest book, Song catchers: In Search of the World’s Music, published by National Geographic Books, traces the 100-year evolution of recording technology, creating vivid portraits of the pioneers who traveled far and wide collecting the world’s music.

Long a social activist, Hart appeared in August 1991 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging, speaking on the healing value of drumming and rhythm on afflictions associated with aging. He followed that speech with Rhythm For Life, a 2000 person drum circle at the College of Marin, where he was joined by Carlos Santana, Shiela E, Hamza El Din, Airto, and Flora Purim, and in the Fall of 2004, broke the Guinness World Record: Largest Drum Ensemble for his 5000 person drum circle, also in Northern California. Hart currently serves on the board of “Music and the Brain” at Institute for Music and Neurologic Function at Beth Abraham Hospital.

In 1999, Hart was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress where he headed the sub-committee on the digitization and preservation of the Center’s vast collections. There he helped to establish the “Save Our Sounds” project, a collaboration between the AFC and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where he currently serves as member of the board of directors.

Hart has been honored repeatedly for his contributions. The Grateful Dead was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 2007 along with the other members of the Grateful Dead, Hart received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Other honors include, in 2009, Hart was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. In 2004 he received the NARAS SF Chapter Governors Award, in 2002 Surround Music Awards Best Multi-track Reissue for Grateful Dead American Beauty, and in 2003 a Music Has Power Award, In October of 2000, the Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center conferred an honorary doctorate of humane letters upon Hart for his work in advancing the preservation of aural archives.

The Mickey Hart Band
featuring Tim Hockenberry, Crystal Monee Hall, Vir McCoy, Ian “Inx” Herman, Gawain Mathews, Greg Ellis, and Sikiru Adepoju.
Yoshi's Oakland
Monday, November 28
 @8pm
$20 advance / $25 day of show

Jeff Coffin & the Mu'tet Live!

Saxophonist Jeff Coffin and his "Mu’tet", truly defy musical categories, and obliterate musical boundaries with their take-home-with-you compositions, their mind-bending solos and their swirling, danceable odd rhythms and exotic world music influences. Their latest effort is a new "Jeff Coffin & the Mu'tet Live! ", a double CD described as "over the top funky and burning with energy and killer tunes." Coffin & the Mu'tet throw down and bring out the music lover in everyone. The album was released on the Ear Up Records label, and recorded live at SPACE (Chicago/Evanston, IL) and at MOMO'S (Austin, TX) in 2010/2011.

The Mu’tet is led by 3-time Grammy winning saxophonist & composer Jeff Coffin. On tour with Dave Matthews Band since July, 2008 and with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones since 1997, Coffin strives to expand himself, his band mates and listeners with music flavored by his wide musical interests. Drawing from African, New Orleans, Indian, funk, jazz, folk, Gypsy, rock, fusion, Brazilian and other styles of music, Coffin sends shockwaves down people’s spines with his fierce soloing and inspiring compositions. A passionate and curious player, Coffin is known to use guitar effects on his sax as well as sometimes playing two, count ‘em…two, saxes at the same time!

On drums is the legendary Jeff “Apt. Q-258” Sipe. Jeff & Jeff have been playing together for many years and Sipe recorded on the Mu’tet cd BLOOM as well as the ‘DUET’ project with Coffin (Compass Records). He is renowned for his mind bending drumming with the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Trey Anastasio, Susan Tedeschi, Greg Osby, Phil Lesh, Project Z, Jonas Hellborg & Shawn Lane, Leftover Salmon, Alex Machacek, The Jimmy Herring Project, and many, many others. When Jeff Sipe unleashes his whirlwind of rhythms and grooves they have to be seen and, especially, heard to be believed.

When not touring with legendary guitarist, Derek Trucks, Kofi Burbridge is on keyboards and flute - bringing his not-so-secret Weapons of Mass deFunkstruction to the Mu’tet. You better watch your back. Kofi is one of the most gifted improvisers and composers on the music scene…Period! Kofi is featured on the latest Mu’tet release MUTOPIA and recently recorded with the legendary Herbie Hancock!

Felix Pastorius, son of bass great Jaco Pastorius, roots the Mu’tet on electric bass. He has been playing with the group since 2002 and is featured on MUTOPIA. Felix has also been touring recently with legendary jazz drummer Cindy Blackman while living and playing in NYC. At 6’ 6” tall, Felix is a gifted composer and a monster bassist with the chops and sensitivity of someone twice his height.

Bill "the Spaceman" Fanning rounds out the horns on trumpet. Bill has performed with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, the Mu'tet, Glenn Frye (of the Eagles), George Garzone, Jon Faddis, Maria Schneider and George Russell. In 2005, Coffin produced Bill's debut CD, "Parakletos". A brilliant improvisor and musician, Bill is stretching the boundries of the trumpet by using guitar pedals while still rooting his technique, concept, and sound in the masters.

Mike Seal is a "Young Lion" of the guitar world. He sets people back in their seats with his burning lines, stunning ideas and a remarkable tone that defies his 25 years on the planet. You might hear a little John Scofield, Jimi Hendrix, Derek Trucks, Tony Rice, Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Lionel Loueke, but you’re always hearing Mike Seal. Listen up, he’s the real deal."

I really enjoyed the Mu'tet's previous album, 2008's "Mutopia", and as live albums go, the Mu'tet's latest is wonderful, beginning with the funky and infectious "Tag", with a bass line that fans of all things Pastorious will love. Personally, I've always loved the drumming of Sipe, beginning with his work with the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Leftover Salmon and even Jazz is Dead. On the tune "Mad Hatter Rides Again", Sipe is at his crispy best, propelling Burbridge to display some of his best work on the Fender Rhodes. Coffin's latin-flavored "L'Esperance" was perhaps my favorite; the horn arrangements are some of the album's best; the textures thoughtful and Sipe was once again, amazing.

Truly, there is not another band quite like Jeff Coffin & the Mu'tet.

Concerts at the Cadillac: Wilbur Rehmann Quartet

Last Friday, I joined one of the "Deans of Montana jazz", saxophonist Wilbur Rehmann, and two of my UFQ bandmates, Sam Peoples on piano, and bassist Ariane Cap at the Cadillac Hotel for their monthly “Concerts at the Cadillac” series. Bought in 1977 by the late Leroy Looper, the Cadillac became the first non-profit “supportive housing” SRO on the West Coast – a national model, and which shaped Leroy’s contribution to San Francisco. Since 2007, the Cadillac has also been home to the Patricia Walkup Memorial Piano – a fully restored, 1884 Steinway Concert Grand. Leroy, who passed away last month, greatly enjoyed these concerts – and I'll always miss not seeing him in the front row each Friday, tapping his feet along to the music.

It's been awhile since I trotted out the beloved Gretsch kit for live jazz, however having recently obtained a brand new 8"x 8" Rosewood tom, I decided it was time go all acoustic, especially with Wilbur back in town for what would be our 6th annual gig, and Sam playing the gorgeous Walkup Steinway. Goodness, Ariane even brought her acoustic bass out for this one!

My earlier experimentations with Bruford's symmetrical, timpani set-up was fun, however, the extra tom now gave me an opportunity to go back to my roots with my mentor, teacher and friend, Paul Sears, and reacquaint myself with the music of Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Rayford Griffin; like Sears, all masters of left-handed drumming technique. It also didn't hurt recall the melodic drumming of another mentor, Jack DeJohnette and his recordings with Sonny Rollins.

It's no secret that Wilbur is also a huge Sonny Rollins fan and longtime friend, (we both love playing Sonny's "St. Thomas"). Combined with his knowledge of some of the greatest tunes ever written for jazz, and his rich history with longtime guitarist Blackie Nelson, Wilbur has also become a very good composer as well. His latest album, "Old Friends and New", is among his best ever.

On a personal note, this was my first performance at the Cadillac since Leroy's passing, so we wanted to do something special. Wilbur also dedicated our performance of "Sunny", to the late Bobby Hebb, the composer of that famed tune who also passed away recently.

This was also the first concert at the Cadillac to employ their new multi-track, digital recorder, so we were also something akin to musical "guinea pigs". Here is a flip video of the Wilbur Rehmann Quartet, performing an excerpt from Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"...

McCabe & Mrs. Miller perform Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska"

For those who missed McCabe & Mrs. Miller's performance of Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" at the Pegasus in Berkeley last July, or "were left standing outside because the room was full", are in for a treat. Those rockin' troubadours, Alison Faith Levy & Victor Krummenacher are thankfully, "at it again". The Pegasus event was presented by Joe Christiano, the enjoyable and thoughtful scribe of "First Person Singular", and whom, as the duo puts it,"will be so eloquently introducing" them for this Friday's show at the Make Out Room in San Francisco. This will be the duo's last and only performance of some of Springteen's best loved tunes.

McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a collaboration between singer, guitarist Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom) and singer and pianist Levy (The Sippy Cups, The Loud Family), who in this incarnation plays guitar. McCabe & Mrs. Miller have been rocking shows in San Francisco, as either a duo, or a killer six piece band. A peek at he group's website, aptly sums up their happy origins. "...Having worked together on and off for many years, Levy and Krummenacher have finally realized their dream of writing and performing as a duo. Although it seems an unlikely pairing, their voices blend together in the tradition of classic duets, and their songwriting styles mesh into a fine mix of blues, folk, and country. Digging at the roots of their rootlessness, these songs sweep out the dark corners of longing, regret, and desire with the intimate wit and wisdom of old friends.

Their debut album, Time for Leaving, produced by Bruce Kaphan (American Music Club) is out now on Magnetic Motorworks. Between the touring schedules of both of their high-profile bands, they have found the time to tour and perform with the likes of Rosanne Cash, Built to Spill, Cracker, The Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, and The Knitters. Their live show has evolved into a formidable, dramatic force, building from a slow burn into a full-on electric blues throwdown. The band also includes Jonathan Segel (CVB) on violin and mandolin, John Hanes on drums, Doug Hilsinger on guitar and Paul Olguin on bass. The band is based in San Francisco..."

Fans of McCabe & Mrs. Miller may want get to the Make Out for Nebraska by 7:30 pm, because afterwards, they'll return with the full on McCabe & Mrs. Miller band at 8:30 for a what promises to be, a true "freight train, blues blowout." I've seen them, trust me, they know how to roll. If you want more info McCabe & Mrs. Miller, they can be found at www.mccabeandmrsmillerband.com, as well as their cohort, the amazing world of First Person Singular, at http://www.1stpersonsingular.com/.

McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Make-Out Room, San Francisco
Friday, October 21st 2011
Encore performance of Nebraska @7:30 Only
McCabe & Mrs. Miller Band @8:30

"2 of a Perfect Trio" Comes to the Regency

Guitarist Adrian Belew, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Pat Mastelotto, members of Robert Fripp's King Crimson, have combined the forces of their trios, the Adrian Belew Power Trio and Stick Men, for the "Two of a Perfect Trio" tour. This double trio is touring the United States this fall, with select Canadian dates."It's a rare treat, both for us in the band, and for the audience, for three King Crimson members to be together onstage", says Levin. And the supporting cast are excellent players in their own right. They will be in full force next Tuesday, October 18th at the Regency Ballroom on Van Ness.

The performance will feature two sets with an extended encore of music all featuring King Crimson material. The show will kick off with sets by Stick Men, featuring Mastelotto on electronic and acoustic percussion, Markus Reuter on his self-designed Touch Guitar, and Levin on Chapman Stick; and the Adrian Belew Power Trio with Belew on guitar and vocals, bassist Julie Slick, and NYC drummer Tobias Ralph.

For the extended Crim-centric encore, fans will be treated to the three Crimson members Belew, Levin and Mastelotto, covering some of their favorite pieces from their work in King Crimson. "King Crimson is an elite club", says Belew. "There have only been seven members in the last 30 years. Having Tony, Pat and myself onstage, three legitimate Crimson players, will make this as close as currently possible to the actual thing."

To make this concert even more colossal, the trios will combine to close out the show. Then the others will come out to join us as a double trio, fairly well covering what Crimson had in the 90's lineup, says Levin. It should be a big challenge, wild music, and great fun. "Im very excited at the sound I hear in my head of this particular double trio," says Belew. Its monstrous.

Adrian Belew's resume reads like a who's who of innovative rock music: Zappa, Bowie, Talking Heads, Graceland, Downward Spiral, add in a 30-year stint as frontman/writer/guitarist/singer for King Crimson, 5 records with the avante-garde pop band the bears, and 20 critically acclaimed solo records and, well, you get the picture.

Tony Levin, a master of the 10-stringed "Chapman Stick", was also a long time bassist with Peter Gabriel and has played with many rock artists, including John Lennon and Pink Floyd. He's had 6 solo releases, as well as 3 Stick Men CD's. His website, tonylevin.com, has one of the longest running musician blogs on the web.

Pat Mastelotto, perhaps best known for pop hits with his 80's band Mr Mister and others like the Rembrandts, XTC, Jude Cole, Michael Penn, etc. After a 1993 world tour with David Sylvian and Robert Fripp, Fripp invited Mastelotto into King Crimson in 1994, where he has remained - contributing to dozens KC releases , two official DVDs and countless live shows.

2 of a Perfect Trio
Adrian Belew Power Trio
Stick Men featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastellotto
Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA @ 8:00pm
Tuesday October 18, 2011

Impulse! Records 50th Anniversary Exhibit Comes to SFJHC's Lush Life Gallery

Impulse! Records, a label synonymous with some of the greatest names in jazz, celebrates its 50th Anniversary with an exhibit to San Francisco’s Jazz Heritage Center’s Lush Life Gallery. This exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Impulse with iconic album covers and images of musical history’s giants captured by Chuck Stewart’s camera that tell the label’s story as vividly as its music does. I was amazed at the album covers and photographs in this exhibit; from drummers Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton and Max Roach, to vocalist Shirley Horn and of course, John Coltrane, perhaps Impulse's most famous artist.

From the very beginning, artwork was a major component in the identity of Impulse Records. When producer Creed Taylor laid out his vision for the label in late 1960, before any records had been released, he set a visual standard to match the music: laminated gatefold covers rich in colorful graphic design, distinctive typography and magnificent photography. The label launched in early 1961 with its own slogan: “The New Wave Of Jazz Is On Impulse!” Creed Taylor and his successor Bob Thiele fulfilled that promise in a variety of musical directions. Albums with well-defined concepts and cutting edge music were the label’s forte.

The exhibit will run from September 29th to October 23rd. The Jazz Heritage Center located in the famed Fillmore District of San Francisco with it’s own lauded musical history has been opened since 2007 and has hosted many fine exhibitions, most recently the very successful ‘ Presenting Bill Graham’ exhibit which was extended several times due to overwhelming demand.

If you enjoyed last year's Herman Leonard photography exhibit at the JHC, you will love this one A jazz lover's delight and a stroll down memory lane, filled with iconic covers and photos of one of the greatest eras in jazz.


Jazz Heritage Center
Lush Life Gallery
1320 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Return to Forever IV & Zappa Plays Zappa Comes to the Warfield

Return to Forever, one the best jazz fusion bands ever, were spectacular back in 2008, at the Regency on Van Ness. That exciting tour celebrated a 30 year reunion of the most popular incarnation, featuring co-founders Chick Corea on keyboards, and Stanley Clarke on bass, withdrummer Lenny White and guitarist Al DiMeola. An amazing show and subsequent albums, DVDs and live recordings would soon follow. This time RTF re-emerges sans DiMeola, and his stead is guitarist Frank Gambale and an unexpected bonus: France's incomparable jazz violinist, Jean-Luc Ponty. Ponty is no stranger to either RTF, or young Dweezil Zappa, having performed on some of the late Frank Zappa's greatest albums.

The Warfield performance opened with Dweezil Zappa, who had an amazing command of his father's repertoire. Zappa had killer musicians in those days, like the aforementioned Ponty, George Duke, Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood (she was amazing on marimba & xylophone), Napoleon Murphy Brock, Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, Eddie Jobson, just to name a few. That group and the others that followed would go on to play Zappa's most challenging compositions. I'll confess, I'd gotten my first Zappa album, "Freak Out", when I was 12, so I'm no stranger to Zappa's music. That being said, Dweezil and his group performed them with the same mind-bending musicianship, as well as the humor that was part of the Zappa genius. The crowd loved them, and they closed the set with "Hot Rats", featuring Dweezil and joined by Gambale on guitar.

Return to Forever IV started off in Canada before heading to Europe and Zappa Plays Zappa joined them for the beginning of this latest leg. Like Zappa, I'd first seen RTF in the days before DiMeola with guitarist Bill Connors. The addition of Ponty and Gambale has added a unique, new flavor to the group. A leader in his own right, Ponty, still possesses that grace and his gorgeous touch on violin rarely heard in jazz. My favorite part of the show perhaps, was RTF IV's version of Ponty's "Renaissance"; beautifully re-imagined by Corea, Gambale and Clarke, with Ponty easing out of the shadows with his awe inspiring melodies, accented by White's rhythmic prestidigitations.

Watching the quintet, I couldn't help thinking about the other late 70's jazz rock "offsprings" of Miles Davis; Weather Report, and John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra. Of them all, only Return to Forever still remains. Although the members of the Mahavishnu Orchestra still survive, it is unlikely that their line up of guitar, violin, keyboards, bass and drums will every reunite beyond a studio track or two. Last week, I saw the 68 year old Diana Ross still belt it out with the best of them. At 70, Chick Corea is still every bit as amazing.

Perhaps it is only fitting that Ponty, who also once performed with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Gambale joined RTF for this outing, re-imagining their music. Corea, Clarke and White looked particularly happy, clearly enjoying and appreciating the music and the audience. White let the crowd know that he was particularly grateful to be back in San Francisco, (many of his albums were recorded at Different Fur Studios), and recognized them "People who know good music, music that isn't played on radio & MTV, or wherever they play it these days!"