LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Join Lake County Community Radio for the only Lake County screening of the powerful film documentary, “Evolutionary Blues: West Oakland’s Music Legacy.”
The film will be shown only on Friday, July 13, at 5:30 p.m., in the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St.
The film is based on evidence revealed in the book, “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Isabel Wilkerson.
The great migration of six million black Americans from the Jim Crow South to the urban centers of the West Coast, Midwest and East Coast oversaw disparate, yet similar musical trends that followed the inhabitants to their destinations.
This film traces the development of the West Coast Blues; specifically, the blues that evolved on postwar Seventh Street in Oakland.
The cast includes over 30 people including Bay Area musicians Alabama Mike, D’wayne Wiggins, The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, Freddie Hughes, Fantastic Negrito, John Turk, Wylie Trass, Lenny Williams, Lady Bianca, Marvin Holmes, Ricky Vincent, Bob Geddins, Jr., Sugar Pie DeSanto and author Isabel Wilkerson.
The soundtrack includes music from Big Mama Thornton, Fantastic Negrito, Sugar Pie DeSanto, L.C. “Good Rockin’” Robinson, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Talbot & De Thangs, Omar Sharriff, Marvin Holmes, Sonny Rhodes and Jimmy Reed.
The film also sports stunning archival still and video footage from public and private sources.
Immediately following the screening will be a Q & A featuring the film’s Director, Cheryl Fabio, and writer, T. Watts. Refreshments will be served.
This event is a benefit for KPFZ, Lake County Community Radio. Tickets are $12.50 for KPFZ members and $15 for non-members. They can be purchased at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main Street in Lakeport, or the studios of KPFZ 149 N. Main Street in Lakeport.
For more information, call 707-365-5503 or 707-995-3565.
The French Oak Gypsy Band includes, from left, reed player James Inciardi, vocalist Stella Heath and guitar player Gabriel Pirard. Courtesy photo.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – If you’re a Francophile and even if you’re not (but you love parties), the Soper Reese Theatre invites you to a Bastille Fête on Sunday, July 15, at 3 p.m. to celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day.
This afternoon of French-themed fun includes live music, dancing, surprise guests, food á la française, wine and song.
Wear your favorite French outfit, bring your worst French accent and get ready for a rousing sing-along of the French national anthem.
Lake County's own minstrel group, My Divas, will open the day's activities.
North Bay vocalist Stella Heath is part of the French Oak Gypsy Band. Courtesy photo.
Headliner the French Oak Gypsy Band gives a fresh spin on French and American Swing Era classics with a repertoire from French Chanson, Gypsy Jazz, Dixieland Jazz.
North Bay vocalist Stella Heath and French/American guitar player Gabriel Pirard lead this group of gypsies in their undeniably fun performances. Reed player James Inciardi rounds out the group.
With their French-inspired sound, spotlighting Heath’s magnetic vocals and the band’s tight rhythms they'll transport you straight into the bygone era of swing.
Tickets are now on sale for $25, $20 and $15. All seats are reserved. The dance floor will be open and dancing is encouraged, mais oui!
Tickets can be purchased online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0577.
Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.
John Foy is a poet living in New York whose book, Night Vision, published by St. Augustine's Press, was the winner of The New Criterion Poetry Prize.
I especially like this leisurely, conversational account of a walk in the woods that just at the end lifts its eyes and looks into a deeper place beyond the particulars.
Woods
I took the dog and went to walk in the auditorium of the woods, but not to get away from things. It was our habit, that was all, a thing we did on summer days, and much there was to listen to. A slight wind came and went in three birches by the pond. A crow uphill was going on about the black life it led, and a brown creeper went creeping up a brown trunk methodically with no record of ever having been understood by anyone. A woodpecker was working out a deep hole from the sound of it in a stand of dead trees up there. And then a jay, much put upon, complained about some treachery it may or may not have endured, though most are liars anyway. The farther in, the quieter, till only the snapping of a stick broke the silence we were in. The dog stood still and looked at me, the woods by then already dark. Much later, on the porch at night, I heard the owl, an eldritch thing. The dog, still with me, heard it too, a call that came from where we'd been, and where we would not be again.
One must reach into the memory bank, as well as bring along a new whole generation of younger viewers, to appreciate the fresh appeal that still resides with Pixar’s gift to creative animation in the original “The Incredibles.”
Fourteen years have passed since writer-director Brad Bird delivered an animated film that was energetic and ingenious, with plenty of heart and good humor, and one must assume that he took great care and meticulous devotion to produce a worthy sequel with “Incredibles 2.”
Most of the primary voice actors have returned with Craig T. Nelson as the patriarch of the Incredible family, Bob or his alter-ego Mr. Incredible, and Holly Hunter as his wife, Helen aka Elastigirl, and Sarah Vowell as teen daughter Violet.
The modern world has banished all superheroes into retirement due to the collateral damage that often followed their heroics. The Incredibles chafe at these limits, feeling discarded from society, until a new villain, the Underminer (John Ratzenberger), surfaces.
Though Mr. Incredible, with the physique of a competitor for Mr. Universe, wants to be the center of attention in the superhero world, the sequel belongs to his spouse, Elastigirl, who is called upon to use her powers as she has a less destructive method.
The superheroes, referred to as Supers, have fallen into disfavor with the public. Tech wizard Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) seek to restore the public image of the Supers and enlist the help of Elastigirl to serve as the ambassador.
The Incredible family and all other superheroes have been declared illegal and are eager to get back into action. Meanwhile, the Incredibles are living like fugitives in the low-rent Safari Court motel until Elastigirl proves their worth to society.
After dispatching the Underminer’s destructive plan to level Municiberg with a giant boring machine contraption, Elastigirl heroically uses her flexible powers to stop an insidious plot to derail a brand new high-speed monorail train filled with dignitaries.
The evil force behind a plot to cause panic and turn Municiberg into a dystopian urban wasteland is Screenslaver (Bill Wise), a high-tech super-villain who manages to hypnotize his victims to bend to his will, acting as pawns to thwart Elastigirl’s mission.
For now, the Incredible family goes about new routines while Elastigirl is engaged once again as a Super. Mr. Incredible becomes Mr. Mom, struggling to keep up with baby Jack-Jack who is showing signs of unbelievable superpowers usually manifested during tantrums.
Jack-Jack has abnormal powers for a toddler, including becoming a demon baby with the ability to burst into flames, turn invisible, break through walls and windows, and levitate. Best of all, his power includes shooting burning lasers from his eyes.
Violet, mastering the power of invisibility and creating force fields, is an introverted and bright 14-year-old who is socially awkward but sarcastic and has a crush on classmate Tony (Michael Bird) that is complicated by his inability to remember who she is.
The Incredible middle-son is Dash (Huck Milner), a mischievous sort modeled it would seem on Bart Simpson, who desperately wants to be part of the action. He has the remarkable power of super speed and is dismayed that he has to keep his ability a secret.
Screenslaver turns out to be an exceptional villain in his use of computer screens and special goggles, once affixed to a person’s face, that transform his victims into hypnotized pawns for his evil plans.
An old friend of the Incredibles is a fellow Super named Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), who falls prey like all the others to Screenslaver’s master plan after being turned into his unwitting accomplice.
An epic battle takes place on a cruise ship where officials from around the world are gathered to formalize a treaty that would restore the Supers as guardians of the public order. Screenslaver will have none of that.
The climactic confrontation brings the entire Incredible family into a serious showdown on the ship, where they are called upon to save the day once again. Even the precocious Jack-Jack gets to use his powers along with his siblings.
As with most sequels, “Incredibles 2” creates a sense of déjà vu of what transpired the first time, mainly because it picks up where “The Incredibles” left off. The riveting action, including a daring helicopter rescue, makes for a good time for family entertainment.
Whatever might be said about this sequel, “Incredibles 2” is likely to be one of the summer’s big hits and for good reason. Chinese Animated Short “Bao”
Viewers of “Incredibles 2” should be treated to the offbeat Chinese short animated film “Bao.” An aging Chinese mom suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as lively dumpling boy.
The dumpling grows up fast and becomes a teenager with the typical desires. It’s a weird short that a friend thought was the mother’s hallucination. That may be the best explanation for what unfolds, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
John Parkinson, conductor of the Lake County Symphony Association, presents a scholarship to Garrett Grossner at the concert on Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Michael Stempe.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The recent concert by the Youth Orchestra was an energetic display by talented young musicians of Lake County.
“They have been practicing for months to be ready for this,” said Sue Condit, conductor. “We’re so proud of them and very grateful for the people and organizations that support them and helped make this possible. “
The concert began with several pieces performed by students in the Lake County Symphony Association’s string music classes, with teachers Jeff Ives and Clovice Lewis conducting pieces the students worked on in their classes.
The string classes include violin, viola and cello, said Condit, and were made possible by a “generous grant” from the Lake County Wine Alliance.
The Youth Orchestra then took to the stage, where they performed a variety of recognizable tunes, including those from the classical era, Beethoven’s Allegro from “The Creatures of Prometheus,” to the contemporary, which featured tunes from the Muppet Show and Pixar films, effectively capturing the concert theme of “Creatures and Beasts.”
The young musicians also played four tunes arranged by Jeff Dixon, a retired music teacher and principal from Lake County: “The Fox,” “Beauty And The Beast,” “The Muppet Show” (Medley) and “How Does a Moment Last Forever.”
Dixon, who was in the audience, was recognized during intermission for his contributions, and received a gift basket, delivered to his seat by Concertmaster Rafael Contreras.
Intermission was particularly busy, as many young musicians were honored.Condit presented scholarships from Lake County Symphony Association to departing seniors Garrett Grossner and Jenny Landeta.
Grossner, from Kelseyville High School, plays tuba, viola, electric bass and piano; he will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a statistics major/music minor. Landeta, from Lower Lake High School, plays the flute and will attend UC Davis as a music major.
Tom Ganoung, director of the Allegro Scholarship Program, was also there with updates on his organization and to deliver awards to several students.
“I worked with Sue Condit last year to find a way to provide additional instrumental services for promising students,” he said. “I am happy to report that last June, $5000 in additional funding beyond the current budget was generously provided by the George and Ruth Bradford Foundation.”
Ganoung went on to offer thanks to the many individuals and businesses in Lake and Mendocino Counties who have provided support for Allegro scholarships during its 18 years of service to the education of young musicians.
“Your generosity has provided $50,000 for student tuition assistance, awards, instruments and study materials and created a $150,000 endowment fund for scholarships in perpetuity,” said Ganoung.
He also commended Lake County music instructors for their “selfless dedication” to the development of musical skills of young musicians.
“This group includes Jeff Ives and Jeanne Mullen-Ison, along with current ASP instructors Andi Skelton, Sue Condit, Austin Ison and Clovice Lewis,” said Ganoung, adding, “The Allegro Scholarship Program has been providing funds for performance scores for the Youth Orchestra since 2013 and will continue to do so into the future.”
Ganoung noted that Allegro currently provides tuition assistance for many students studying privately and, in extra special cases, grants scholarships which help pay college expenses, an investment of more than $8,000 in student support annually.
After urging all audience members to “please consider donating your support for these wonderful young musicians,” Ganoung recognized current Lake County ASP students and presented each with a Musician Achievement Award along with his congratulations.
Recipients were Maya Leonard, Samantha Carter, Nicole Pyzer, Christian Contreras, Polina Bradley and Rafael Contreras.
Maya Leonard is completing seventh grade at Middletown Middle School, and is in her fourth year playing violin in the Youth Orchestra and the Konocti Fiddle Club. She also studies piano and plays percussion and trumpet in her school band, and placed third in her division at both the Cloverdale Fiddle Contest and the Heirloom Festival Fiddle Contest.
Tom Ganoung, director of the Allegro scholarship Program, presents the Musician Achievement Award to Maya Leonard at the concert on Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Cindy Leonard. Samantha Carter is completing her freshman year at Kelseyville High School with high honors and a 4.0 GPA. Her dedication and progress made in violin study earned her the privileged first violin chair next to the Concertmaster in the Youth Orchestra. She also plays saxophone and flute in her school band.
Nicole Pyzer is completing seventh grade at Middletown Middle School and is in her 3rd year with the Youth Orchestra. She made her debut with the Konocti Fiddle Club last July at the Bluegrass Festival and plays with them at Ely Stage Stop. The Ely Stage Stop jam sessions take place the first Sunday of each month and raises money for music scholarships for District 10 of the California Fiddlers Association.
Christian Contreras plays the cello in the Youth Orchestra. He is completing the seventh grade at Konocti Education Center in Clearlake. He has also begun studying the trumpet with Austin Ison, and plays trumpet in his school band. Christian will receive an additional Allegro Scholarship grant to continue his brass studies. Christian is also a talented artist and one of his pieces is permanently displayed in downtown Clearlake.
Polina Bradley has played cello in the Youth Orchestra for several years and has learned many difficult cello pieces. She recently finished the seventh grade as a homeschool student. She is recognized for her excellent grades and is a member of the honor society. Polina is described by her music teacher, Clovice Lewis, as an outstanding student leader who knew she wanted to become a cellist after viewing her favorite movie “The Soloist”, starring Jamie Foxx.
“She is inquisitive, creative and very musical,” said Lewis. “I feel she is well on her way to studying at the San Francisco Conservatory in the future.”
Rafael Contreras, concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra, has been playing violin since he was age 5 and started playing fiddle with Konocti Fiddle Club in second grade. He joined the Youth Orchestra in third grade. He has won a number of fiddle contests over the years and currently plays with District 10 Old Time Fiddle Club at Ely Stage Stop every month. He also plays the flute in his school band and in school musicals, as well as playing the viola and guitar.
Contreras Rafael just completed the ninth grade at Konocti Education Center and will continue his education at KEC in the fall in the ‘middle college’ pathway, which allows him to take classes at Woodland Jr. College as he attends KEC.
He is a high academic achiever (he is on the honor list), an avid reader, loves animals (he is the vice-president of the Cobb Mountain 4-H Club) and volunteers his time helping at local KEC events.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Spotlight On Productions has planned two more concerts at the Soper Reese Theatre to raise funds for Lake County fire rebuilding.
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