Jazz& Blues View By- Eric Benson
As the summer rolls on plenty of local family friendly things to do, strolling through our famers market to peruse the veggies while being serenaded by local bands, hitting the downtown for the third Thursday Art Walk with music, art, and food at local venues as well as the Graffiti summer events and don’t forget the regional county fairs and the 4th of July. There are some not to miss shows coming through in July and beyond to tell you about.
Area promoter and music aficionado John Griswold is doing a Latin music fun-raiser call “the romance of old Havana” on July 27th, which will feature everything Cuban, music, Cuban food, dancing and even Cuban cigars! It will be a fun-raiser for arts and music in the schools. Los Boleros, a Cuban salsa Band with Ramon Romero’s group Cuedos de Fuego will play with Cuban street food by Larry MacCatering. Also there will be a Cuban Dance floor show with Arenas Dance Co from S.F. And if you feel like it, even a Mojito bar featuring E & J’s Shellback rum label. Tickets are available now by phone and will be online in several days at our website: www.havanafocus.org<http://www.havanafocus.org/> The number to call: 209-543-4261. If questions John’s at Sambaarts@live.com.
And on the west side of things: west side Theatre brings in Janiva Magness, one of the best Blues and R & B singers for a July 27th show. A veteran singer and multiple winners of many Blues awards and recognition Magness brings in a seasoned band to the intimate West Side venue. Tickets are only 20 dollars, shows at 8:00 PM, if you’re going get tickets early because this will probably sell out.
Hero’s continues with some great local and regional shows. My band Ultra Lounge will return to Hero’s Friday July 26th with special guest Ross McGinnis of Caribbean Steel pan and percussion, influences from Calypso, Jazz, R & B, funk and a little of everything else. Hero’s Tues night Jazz jam with Ian Stambaugh trio featuring guitar slinger Johnny Valdes, and Wed’s Blues and Brews with rotating top notch Blues bands continue on. Also on the Jam side the Barkin’ Dog features Thursdays with Dave Dow, (Jazz), Queen Bean Sundays hosts jam with acoustic, rock music.
Need to get, give me some input at: mbenson@fire2wire.com, or cell 209-918-7033. Peace out, Eric Benson
