Fancy Footware --- Zhena Folk Chorus at the Exxopolis in Los Angeles

Can you spot my feet?
Find more info about Zhena Folk Chorus at zhena.org

Zhena Folk Chorus --- Exxopolis, Los Angeles, 15 September 2013



Ines Thomé: Classical Guitarist at Palos Verdes Library

Ines Thomé, guitar (11 January 2014)

Ines Thome gave an outstanding performance last Saturday at the PV Peninsula Center Library.

"Ines has studied classical guitar since childhood in Germany. In 2013 she completed her masterr's degree with distinction at the Stuttgart State University of Music and the Performing Arts. She is currently a Graduate Certificate Program scholar with the University of Southern California. Since 2011, she has kept a busy performance schedule. In addition to being an accomplished classical guitarist, Ines is a lead electric guitarist with an all-women metal band which has released two albums." (inesthome.de)

Ines Thomé, guitar and YuEun Kim, violin (11 January 2014)

Ines was joined by YuEun Kim for the last piece.

The Classical Music Series brings "great music into the library" with a monthly concert through June, is organized by the dedicated young librarian Ashley Kagan, and is sponsored by the Peninsula Friends of the Library.

2 CELLOS & 1 Drummer

What I've been doing instead of blogging... concert going.

The superb and comical Stjepan Hauser (cello), the very talented and sweet Dušan Kranjc (drums), and the handsome and outstanding Luka Sulić (cello) at Nokia Club, Los Angeles, 7 Oct. 2013.

Zhena Folk Chorus does EXXOPOLIS 2013 in LA

Chirstina G. in Red Bubble

EXXOPOLIS 2013 with Los Angeles City Hall

Zhena were there!!!

"Moje Žene" --- Zhena Folk Chorus in San Pedro

Zhena Folk Chorus with singer from Zadeshe Ensamble
Croatian Cultural Center, San Pedro, April 2013
Singers (left to right): Kadrije, Natasha (Tash), Betty, Christina, Sylvia, Mutlu, Wendy, Cathy, Eve (our music director) with Shmagi (from Georgia Republic)

I joined Zhena Chorus more than a year ago. We sing Eastern and Central European village songs, and have a truly wonderful time singing and being together. On Sunday, August 18th, we are having a CD release concert at 4 pm at the Corner Store in San Pedro. Come by if you are close by!

Read more about us on ZHENA.org

Listen to our latest CD Sedenka (on cdbaby)

Final Farewell to Eddie Bertrand -- The Real Showman

Eddie Bertrand in concert (photo courtesy of Tim F.)

Eddie Bertrand (photo courtesy of Tim F.)

With sadness, I am posting this e-mail from Eddie's friend Tim to all of you. Eddie is a legendary local surf rock musician. From my half hour talk with Eddie, I was left with an impression of a kind, unassuming person.

"Back in Oct 2008 (Post link) you posted a blog about long time PV resident Eddie Bertrand. Unfortunately, Eddie has terminal cancer and only has a few has days left. I was hoping you could share this in your blog.

Those wishing to send their thoughts to Eddie may do so at eddieandtheshowmen@yahoo.com. All emails will be read to Eddie and placed in a book for the family.

Here is a link to one of Eddie's Last Live Performance."

Sade in Los "Angelees"

"Is is a crime..."

Sade sounded and looked f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s, and she and her musicians put on an amazing show.

Friday, 19 Aug 2011 at the Staples Center.

A Night at the (LA) Opera

Cast of Rigoletto - Los Angeles Opera - 5 Dec 2010

More like a superb afternoon at the opera, from the cheap seats in the upper balcony. The singers were just wonderful - especially George Gagnidze in the title role, Sarah Coburn as Gilda (such an exquisite voice from a pettite, pretty woman), and Gianluca Terranova as Duke of Mantua (dashing enough to almost understand why every woman the Duke courts falls totally in love with him).

To add to the experience, the sets with the clean lines and lighting of bright, primary colors, were a real visual treat (scenery by Michael Yeargan and lighting by Mark McCullough).

We Are With the Band

Musician triplets (or at least it seemed so - note the young man in the left corner), enjoying a sunny day in Avalon, Catalina Island (30 August 2010)

... "with a banjo on my knee" ...

The banjo player taking 5, at the local PV Farmer's Market.

Dolls

Peninsula High School is putting on the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" (with the cast made up of South Bay high school students) starting this Thursday and running for two weekends. Judging from the preview last Sunday at the PV farmers market, the timeless show will be a smash hit.

Cast and Crew and Show Times

Pretzel Logic Band (A Steely Dan Revue)

Saturday afternoon at the PV Street Fair.

All the musicians and singers in the band were fantastic.

Pretzel Logic Band

Anita & a Kantale - Pasadena, CA

Anita with a sunny smile played the Finnish kantele - a lap harp - at the Pasadena Museum of History in the Finnish Folk Art Museum - 16 May 2010

I've been inspired by many bloggers to join the 100 Strangers series.

Amazing Talent at PVPHS

PV Peninsula High School held a Fine and Performing Arts Gala last Saturday evening, featuring extermely talented groups of young musicians, singers, dancers, actors and 2d/3d visual artist (my son's mask was on display). The culinary art students provided the hors d'oeuvres.

Red Guitar of Boomer McLennan with Rhythm Ranger

Red Guitar and the Blues is a song by Boomer. See www.boomerm.com under Samples for a sample.

4th of July with Boomer McLennan

The local country music band of Boomer McLennan and the Rhythm Rangers were a big hit at the Ranch Palos Verdes 4th of July Celebration. Check out Boomer's "Arizona Sunsets" song under Samples in http://www.boomerm.com/. All the guys are excellent musicians.
Fireworks from above San Pedro - an abstract rendering (tripod needed!). (R to L) - My son, my friend L., her two daughters and son, with the Los Angeles Harbor lights in the background.

James Burdick - Classical Guitarist at PV Library

Two Saturdays ago was the last of this season's Music at the Library series, arranged by the talented young librarian, Ashley Burdick. This time, her brother James gave a wonderful concert of solo guitar pieces and delighted the audiance with the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo, accompanied by the accomplished pianist Albert Mendoza.

About the guitarist: James Burdick is a young Southern California classical guitarist, who began his formal studies at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Since then, James has performed in a number of exciting venues, including the “Guitar Nights” series at the South Pasadena Public Library, and a private concert under the auspices of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra.

Ashley Burdick, James Burdick and Albert Mendoza

Robert Thies & Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay at the Norris Theater

Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay under the direction of Frances Steiner performed their GALA SPRING CONCERT last evening at the intimate Norris Theater in PV. The pianist Robert Thies played a wonderful rendition of Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54, and the orchestra did Beethoven proud on Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op.92.
After the Grieg Piano Concerto, Schumann's is my most favorite. With only 450 seats at the Norris, the COSB season tickets sell out quickly (previous subscribers and benefactors are the first to get seats) but we usually luck out and get tickets by being on a waiting list.
I do like seeing a talented, competent, and stylish woman in charge.

'M' is for Music by Alma Trio (abc Wednesday)

Maria Wietrzynska (Poland, piano), Diana Flores (Costa Rica, violoncello), Clara Kruk (Uruguay, violin)

These very talented student musicians gave a recital at the Peninsula Center Library last Wednesday. The concerts are part of the Classical Music Series (arranged by the librarian Ashley Burdick) and are performed in the library foyer, which gives an open invitation for all passers by to stay and enjoy.

The audiance thought the musicians excellent and we all wanted to hear more - I'm hoping they will eventually record the program. The program:

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Trio Eleguaque Op. 9 in G minor for piano, violin and violoncello (1893), 1st movement: Moderato
Franz Liszt - Ballade #2 in b minor (1853), piano solo by Ms. Wietrzynska
Astor Piazzolla (Argentina) - Verano Porteno (1964), Otono Porteno (1969)*, Primavera Protena (1970)*, La Muerte del Angel (1960)*, *arrangement for piano trio by Jose Bragato (Piazzolla's violoncellist)

'T' is for Tower with Tunes & Tree (abc Wednesday)

On Thanksgiving Day, we briefly visited Cal Berkeley campus.
Shown is Sather Tower which houses a set of 61 bells called the Berkeley Carillon.

"A Carillon is a musical instrument consisting of at least two octaves of carillon bells arranged in chromatic series and played from a keyboard permitting control of expression through variation of touch. A carillon bell is a cast bronze cup-shaped bell whose partial tones are in such harmonious relationship to each other as to permit many such bells to be sounded together in varied chords with harmonious and concordant effect." (Ref. Berkeley School of Music)
The School of Music offers lessons: "...University Carillonist at ucbells@berkeley.edu. ... accepted each semester ... Please include ... your musical background and a brief explanation why carillon study interests you."

I would love to take a carillon or even better - organ lessons. Are there any lessons you've always wanted to take?

See other participants' posts for Terrific T on ABC Wednesday Anthology.