JazzView
By Eric Benson
If you luv music you’re gonna love this
Well you know it’s “Summer in the City” when you’re up at the crack and still it is hot, hot, hot!. I have learned to pace myself since moving to the Valley years ago and now have the sense to get out of the heat mid day before my brains turn to mush and I stop making sense to anyone listening. Well Graffiti Summer continues, but remember to pace yourself, drink plenty of fluids preferable water and stay cool. We have lost some great musicians this year nationally but one of our own musical talents in the Valley, Mrs. Penny Gail-White passed recently. Even in failing health she came and sang wonderfully at one of the last Blue Monday Party with our house band, she remains in spirit and always in our hearts.
Blue Monday Invitational Jam returns to the Barkin’ Dog Grill this July 10 with a special tribute to the late Penny Gail White, one of the best singers ever to grace the Central Valley. The Sensations a vocal group she sang with over the years is on the gig and all that played with Penny are invited to come down and play. Also on the gig so far are Dave Souza and David Dow. House band Ultra Lounge, 7-piece band is a super group of all the best players in the area features: lead vocalist, guitar and bass player Dave Sousa, Johnny Valdes guitar, Tim Allen bass, vocals, Dave Hawks on drums, Eric Benson & Pat Governor on keys, and horn section: Andrew Rosenblum Sax, trumpet, Kevin Marin Trumpet. Show from 7 to 10 PM with food and drink available in an all age venue. Call the Dog for reservations: 572-2341. If you play, come on down and sit in with the best musicians in the area, it’s gonna’ be smoking!
The Barkin’ Dog Grill’s lineup for July: July 1st Gary Gervase Blues Band, 7th Me & You Band, 8th Marry Stewart Band, 10th Blue Monday Party, 14th Gottschalks Music Center student bands, 15 ELF Band with Tim Lachuga, 21st pianist David Dow & Friends, 22nd Bourbon Street Blues Band, and 28th Victoria Boyington Presents. If you like the Blues Gary’s Band and Bourbon Street are great Chicago style Blues, and if you want to hear some great Jazz guitar with a smoking group come out for Larry Stewart Band.
The State Theatre brings in World music act Ozomatli in July18th, and returning also to the state a one man guitar extravaganza Mr. Tommy Emmanuel in concert. If you even like guitar a little bit check out guitar slinger Tommy, has played almost every idiom on guitar and is a great fomenter of the Chet Atkins style of playing, studying with Chet Atkins.
I bought my season’s tickets for the Gallo and some nice things coming down the pike. For July 6th the Happy Together tours with the Turtles’, the Association and other 60’s groups.
Give it up for John Griswold’s last sold out show Michael Jackson tribute with an amazing show at great attendance, we would like to do this again! John Griswold this time around is bringing in Incendio a Latin guitar and world fusion Band to Luca Winery Ripon. The band plays amazing music in the style of Otmar Leibert, Jesse Cook and the Gypsy Kings. The Show is in a beautiful outdoor venue with dining, art show, preshow music, wine tasting, emergency chocolate tent and a whole lot of nice folks. There are three levels of seating: Lawn, General, Prime and VIP. Ticketing is online through website at www.Red-Tie.org and you click there on the Eventbrite logo and see all the options.
Come back out for Third Thursday Art Walk 5 to 9:00 PM for some great art and music in the downtown! Lowdown on the jam session in the downtown: Queen Bean Sundays open mike night also in an all age environment. So take some time out to hear some live music and the arts of our own town as well this month, think globally and act locally. All the best, peace out! Eric Benson, cell 209- 918-7033.
