Autumn Blues
By Eric Benson
Well, it’s time for Thanksgiving and giving thanks. I hope you share family and friends, cool the goose, and toast a glass to fall. The garden is winding down, the leaves fall, and a time of fallow ensues. Hoping you make time to get out and support the arts in our area. We still need all our fans to come out for the Blue Monday Party jam on the second Monday of every month at Café Urbano. We thank the support of our sponsors, Gary Nelson and Chris Murphy, for their support. The Conrad Johson Experience returns November 24th for a 4 pm show. The band plays R&B, Funk, and Motown with a tremendous 6-piece Band for listening and dancing.
I want to discuss an issue many people are unaware of: please share sites where dogs and animals are on lists to be put down. Most of my dogs are rescued, and I try to help them deal with unnecessary suffering. Please share and help in any way you can.
The Blues Monday Party continues at Café Urbano. The band features John Burt Sax, Cortez Flores on drums, Kevin Marin on Bass Trumpeter and myself, Eric Benson on Keyboards, special guest Gene Radino, and Jazz guitarist. The alumni include John Adey Bass, Conrad Johnson Bass, Dave Hawks’ drums, and Andrew Rosenblum Sax. We have had some high school horn players who can play Jazz come out. Please come for music, food, and a full bar; I can’t do it without you! We need more places to play live music, especially downtown. Let me know if you have any ideas or ways to make it happen.
And upcoming at the State Theatre is a Benefit for Patty Castillo Davis on Sunday, November 24th, at 1 p.m. Bands playing will be members of Zazu Pitts Memorial Orchestra, The Viber, Journey Revisited, and Tripple D. The event is a fund-raiser for Patty, who is undergoing some serious health issues. Please come out, folks!
We all need to work on supporting the venues that support the arts and creating new venues, as many great bands need to be heard. Together, we can make it happen and see things strive!
There are some great shows at Gallo Center, but you can also check out some great venues out of town: The Newman Theatre, Vinhose Tapas Bar in Merced, Yoshi’s Oakland best jazz shows, Khumba Music Center Santa Cruz, Piedmont Piano Company, the Back Door, and the Sound Room located in Oakland.
