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October 2, 2009
Friday |
SAN FRANCISCO - Ramsey
Lewis Trio -
Yoshi's Jazz Club. Location: 1330 Fillmore St., San
Francisco, CA. Call: (415) 655-5600. yoshis.com
read moreOct
02-Oct 04
Ramsey Lewis Trio: Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey
Dinner:
Friday & Saturday
5:30pm to 10:30pm
Yoshi's San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415.655.5600
Jazz Club
Ramsey Lewis Trio: Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey
Oct 02-Oct 4, 2009
Friday - Saturday 8pm & 10pm shows $35
Sunday 7pm show $35
At the age of 74, Ramsey Lewis has not only continued to be
active in the jazz world, but he's also forging ahead with a
newly inspired creative instinct as a composer. This
re-envisioned artistic sensibility is showcased on his new
album, which is a remarkable, refined collection of 12 new
originals that he composed over a period of two years. The
collection includes music from two commissioned world premiere
performances at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois,
just north of Chicago. Eight songs come from the score of 2007's
ballet To Know Her...written for the Joffrey Ballet Company and
four pieces come from 2008's Muses and Amusementssuite performed
with the Turtle Island Quartet.
Songs From the Heart, Lewis' first trio recording in five years,
features eight pieces with bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon
Joyce, and four piano solo performances. To Lewis, the CD marks
a turning point in his storied career: he's found new life as a
composer.
Joffrey choreography began in April 2007 for the June 2007
performance. A month before the premiere Lewis saw his first
rehearsal. The troupe put his recorded demos on and began to
dance. “The way they moved brought tears to my eyes," says
Lewis. “When I started out in bands when I was 16, people danced
to our music. This took me back 50 years, and here I was writing
for dancing again."
At Ravinia, the performance garnered a rousing applause from the
audience and critical plaudits from the press. Lewis says, “My
son pointed out to me that this was the first concert of mine he
had seen that got a standing ovation without me having to play
the hits. That told me something about focusing more intently on
composition."
Kauffman was so impressed that he immediately commissioned Lewis
to write new works for Ravinia in 2008. He decided to compose
for a string quartet to accompany his trio. On the
recommendation of his good friend and fellow pianist Dr. Billy
Taylor, Lewis enlisted the Turtle Island Quartet to perform a
suite of eight new originals, including the relaxed-swinging
“The Spark" and the bowed ballad “The Conversation." Of the
former, Lewis says, “I like the energy in this song. I was
thinking of a groove-not rock, but something that had an element
of excitement and forward motion while at the same time was
melodic."
From the ballet score, Lewis explains that the emotive tune
“Touching, Feeling, Knowing" is based on a folk melody he heard
when he visited Soweto, South Africa. “It's a simple melody that
I used as the basis for this song. When we play it, it reminds
me of South Africa." In regards to the appropriately titled “The
Way She Smiles," Lewis says, “That's one of those songs that
just happened. I woke up one morning and was thinking of a New
Orleans groove."
One of the added bonuses of Lewis' prolific writing has been an
enrichment of his pianistic talent. “The composing has informed
my playing," says Lewis. “I'm looking at harmony and melody in a
different way. I've noticed that my solos have become deeper and
more contemplative." On Songs From the Heart, Lewis takes the
solo spotlight four times, including the film noir-ish “Long
Before She Knew" and reflective muse “The Glow of Her Charm."
The latter arrived when Lewis was working on an intro to the
song “In the Still of the Night" that he was performing one
evening in Washington, D.C. He was in his hotel room on a grand
piano, determined to find a prelude. Once again, his wife
offered her wisdom. “Jan was listening to me and said, 'What's
that? That's a song, not an introduction. You've got a new
song.' And, if course, she was right."
On Songs From the Heart, Lewis offers graceful music, played
with a light, gentle, joyful touch, and focused on melody.
Writing in the CD liner notes, Lewis pointed out that in the
CD's initial planning stages, all artistic and record company
parties agreed that Songs From the Heart should be characterized
by “heartfelt, lyrical and inspirational" music “that my fans
had come to expect."
In the liners, Lewis also noted, “Our desire was to convey a
sense of beauty, joy, simplicity and lyricism...I am extremely
proud of the results." He adds, “Looking back at all the music
that I've written over the last few years, I think I'm coming up
with something unique. I think I'm developing a style."
CARPINTERIA -
Avocado Festival. This annual event that
runs through the entire weekend celebrates the
regions prime crop with food contests, games and
lots of bands and live music. Time: 4 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free admission. Location: Downtown
Carpinteria on Linden, Carpinteria, CA.
avofest.com
HUNTINGTON
BEACH -
Oktoberfest German Celebration. Get out the
lederhosen, dirndl and beer stein for a good
time with an Oom-pah band from Germany.
Beautiful bar maids, scrumptious strudels, and
imported draft beers, plus lots of liqueurs to
wet the whistle, and plenty of dancing (chicken
dance is a must). Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $15, 21+
only. Location: Old World German Village's
German Restaurant, Center Ave., Huntington
Beach, CA.
JULIAN
-
Fall Apple Harvest. A San Diego tradition, the
Annual Julian Fall Apple Harvest runs through
November 15. This year, the Apple Harvest
celebrates its 100th birthday as thousands of
visitors venture to this historic East County
mining town, nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountains,
to sample fresh crisp apples, homemade apple
pies and ciders. Visitors can also enjoy acres
of colorful fall foliage, charming bed and
breakfast inns, art shows, quaint antique shops
and live entertainment. julianca.com
LA MESA
-
Oktoberfest. 36th Annual Oktoberfest expects
200,000 to attend the 3-day event at La Mesa
Village with 6 city blocks filled with over 300
craft and commercial booths, 5 food courts, 3
beer gardens and a children’s carnival. You
don’t want to miss the Grand Daddy of all street
fairs and the largest 3-day Oktoberfest West of
the Mississippi. Time: Friday October 2nd. 11am
till 11:30pm; Saturday October 3rd.11am till
11:30pm; Sunday October 4th. Noon till 6pm.
Location: La Mesa Ave. to Alison Blvd. and
Spring St., La Mesa, CA. Take the San Diego
Trolley, Orange Line (La Mesa Blvd Stop) which
will drop you off right in the middle of the
event. lmvma.com
LODI -
October Fusion Friday. Fusion blends with
authentic, refined Mexican cuisine as one of
Lodi ’s newest local restaurants, Revolucion
1910 shares a selection of their inspired
creations that leave your old chips and salsa in
the dust! Sergio of Midtown Sacramento will
serenade you with his acoustic guitar! $10
admission includes wine tasting, appetizers, and
souvenir wine glass. Revolucion 1910 will also
have dinners available for purchase.. Location:
Borra Vineyards, 1301 E. Armstrong Rd., Lodi,
CA. Call: (209) 368-2446. info@
borravineyards.com / BorraVineyards.com
LOS
ANGELES -
LA County Fair. Time: Opens at 10 a.m.
weekends, Noon on Wed.-Fri. Event runs through
Oct. 4. Cost: $17 general, $12 age 6-12; Free
under 6. Parking: $10 car. Location:
Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA.
Call: (909) 623-3111. lacountyfair.org
ORANGE- Irvine Park Railroad
Pumpkin Patch. Fun for all ages, but
designed for kids. Ride the train, play carnival
games, hay rides, maze, haunted house, and
pumpkins. Pumpkin Patch time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: No admission, parking fee at Irvine
Regional Park is $3 weekday, $5 weekend.
Location: 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange, CA.
PALO ALTO
-
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch. Marvel at over
8,000 beautiful glass pumpkins hand made by
artists. Items are on view on Oct. 1 & 2, and
are available for purchase on Oct. 3 & 4. Time:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free admission.
Location:
Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303.
The facility is wheelchair accessible. Directions:
Take Caltrain to the Palo Alto station, catch Valley Transit
Authority (VTA) bus 35 or 86. Buses stop
within one to two blocks of the Center. Free parking is
located at the Center and on the street. Call:
Palo Alto Art Center (650) 329-2366 or Bay Area Glass
Institute (408) 993-2244; greatglasspumpkinpatch.com.
PETALUMA -
SlaughterHaunts Haunted House. Time: 5:30-7:30
Kid Friendly 7:30pm-11pm Ages 7+. Cost:
5:30-7:30pm $5 Kid Maze; 7:30-11:00pm $16
SlaughterHouse $6 Ghost Tunnels; $19 Both
Attractions; Phone: 707-332-6171; Address: 15
Copeland Petaluma, CA. slaughterhaunts.com
SAN DIEGO -
Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours. Meet to be taken
on bus and walk to several of 6 haunted spots in
San Diego, including the
Whaley House in Old Town which is one of the
most haunted places in America. Time: 6:30 and
8:30 p.m. Cost: $33-35. Location: meets at Best
Western Hacienda Hotel Downtown, 4041 Harney,
San Diego, CA.
Book IT
SAN
FRANCISCO
-
Oktoberfest by the Bay. New location at Pier
48 next to AT&T Park. Chico Bavarian Band will
perform. Opening night from 5 p.m. to Midnight.
Tickets on sale at oktoberfestbythebay.com
SAN FRANCISCO -
Ramsey Lewis Trio.
Yoshi's Jazz Club. Location: 1330 Fillmore St., San
Francisco, CA. Call: (415) 655-5600. yoshis.com
read more
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO -
Our Land, Our People, Our Mission Art Exhibit.
Annual event features original art exhibition
and art sale with proceeds benefiting the
mission. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily. Cost:
$5-9. Location:
Single day
admission: $25 for adults, $15 for kids 12 &
under. Location: The Exhibition Hall at the
Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, CA.
pacificpinball.org
SANTA ROSA -
Sonoma
County Harvest Fair. Enjoy Sonoma County
Harvest Fair - All-Inclusive Tasting in this
Wine Tasting Event. Cost: Both Sessions $60;
First Session (Noon – 2:30 pm); $35; Second
Session (4:30 – 7:00 pm)
$35.
TEMECULA -
Pig Racing,
Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze at Peltzer Farms. Open daily 9 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Located 6 miles east of 1-15, take Rancho California
Road Exit to Calle Contento. Peltzer Farms, 39925 Calle
Contento, Temecula, CA 92591. Call: (951) 695-1115.
peltzerfarms.com
Oct.1,2009
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