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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Billie Holiday Project, led by Stella Heath, celebrates the music of Lady Day at the Soper Reese Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 with open seating.
Shrouded in mystery, as she was draped in furs, Holiday was quintessentially multi-faceted, possessing the sensitivity and ability to make the songs she sang as personal as if she was singing them softly in your own very ear.
Featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest Jazz musicians, The Billie Holiday Project evokes the electric and intimate feeling of experiencing Lady Day live in a 1930s jazz club.
Drawing from some of Holiday’s most recorded tunes, such as Blue Moon, Billie’s Blues, God Bless the Child, and Strange Fruit, to name but a few, the Stella Heath band also revives some of the earlier and lesser-known tunes that Holiday interpreted.
During the performance, stories of Holiday’s life and musical artistry are interspersed with the music.
Heath invokes the vocal stylings of Billie Holiday; Neil Fontano, plays piano; Jason Bellenkes, on tenor saxophone and clarinet; Trevor Kinsel, on upright bass and cornet.
Sponsored by Mary Heare Amodio, Karen Weston, and Carol and Steve Shepper.
For tickets go to www.soperreesetheatre.com or to The Travel Center, 825 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets also sold up to two hours ahead of the show at the theatre box office.
For more information call 707-263-0577. The theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Blues lovers won’t want to miss the next “Concert with Conversation” in the Tallman Hotel Meeting House in Upper Lake at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.
The Blue Wing’s favorite blues guitarist, singer and songwriter “Mighty Mike” Schermer, will be paired with blues harp master and bandleader Andy Santana.
“Both of these guys have played the Blue Wing on Monday nights leading their own bands,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “This will be quite different, though, as they’ll be on acoustic instruments and giving us a nice, intimate history of the blues.”
Mike Schermer was a fixture on the West Coast scene for 20 years when he moved to Austin, Texas as lead guitarist with the legendary band headed by Marsha Ball.
When they’re free of other obligations, Schermer and Santana have enjoyed getting together in smaller acoustic venues to give audiences a real feel for the blues genre.
Schermer calls Santana an awesome harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist.
“We had a band together in the Bay Area for eight years,” he said, “and we used to back all kinds of blues legends when they came to town and did several tours to Europe. Andy’s a big reason I still love to do what I’ve been doing for 30 years.”
Schermer's discography lists more than 25 album appearances with some of the blues' greatest performers, but his last four solo albums have established him as hands down one of the top songwriters in the genre.
“In addition to the great music, what I like about Mike,” said Butcher, “is his sparkling personality, engaging wit and deep knowledge of the music.”
“Our long history really shines when we play together,” said Schermer. “My girlfriend says it's like we're finishing each other’s sentences, only with music instead of talk. And speaking of talk, he's got some great stories to tell as well.”
Coffee and cookies are served as part of the $25-plus-tax price of admission.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com and further information can be obtained at the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
The Hotel is also offering a 10-percent discount on hotel bookings that weekend for people purchasing tickets to the concert.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
