PAST EVENTS 2023
This video isn't up to our usual standard since it was shot handheld when the crew had the day off, but if gives a good idea of the energy and style of the Itty Bitty Big Band. They're playing a 1943 classic by Kurt Weill, written when he lived in upstate New York.
At Collage's "House With Good Candy" variety show, Wolf Foss regaled the audience with this slightly unsettling story of a simple request that took a sinister turn. Wolf Foss has performed in various cities around the US, as well as in England and Ireland.
At her second concert at Collage, Mala presented her version of the jazz standard made famous by Nat King Cole. The author, Eden Ahbez, was a mystic who was interested in South Asian culture, so may have been influenced by Indian music styles.
Kyoto native Hiroya Tsukamoto travels a lot and composes tunes wherever he is , and this piece was inspired by a visit to a natural bridge in Utah. Hiroya's skill at layering sound is on full display here, as is his virtuosic , subtle guitar mastery.
At their first public show, David Farley led the band in this piece that was written by John LaBarbera and popularized by Bill Watrous in 1974. It wasn't composed with reference to the city where Collage was located, but was inspired by the nickname of a South American dictator in a Sherlock Holmes film.
Our June jazz jam was our best yet, attracting more than a dozen players and two vocalists. Things were hot from the very first number, and we caught a minute of a half of the opener, "The Saints Go Marching In."
The eclectic folk band Zimzala came to Collage for their first actual concert performance after years as a dance band. Their repertoire includes Balkan, Scandinavian, and American music, performed with vigor and passion. Here they present a modern Romanian folk-pop tune with intricate three-part harmonies.
San Pedro High School’s garage band club has a once a month residency at Collage during the school year. Their enthusiasm for rocking out is evident in this clip from a show in May, at which teacher Mark Warnholz played lead guitar while students performed on rhythm, bass, and drums.
Sabine is a Russian-born pianist who is a graduate of Paris conservatories and is an international award winner. This video and audio aren't our usual quality because our tech crew had the day off, but the performance on this popular piece from 1939 was so good that we had to share it.
After a career that included albums with LA rock bands in the 70’s and a career as a therapist on military bases around the globe, Cej has settled into a career as a folk troubadour. At the show he played with Eric Ramsey, he dedicated this celebration of relationship harmony to his wife.
The Salty Suites have graced Collage’s stage several times, on each occasion bringing new tunes. In this clip from their show in fall of 2022, Chelsea Williams and Chuck Hailes harmonize beautifully on a song that Chelsea wrote. Mark Cassidy plays delicate banjo accompaniment.
There were so many great moments in James Lee Stanley's show that it was hard to pick out one, but this piece stands out. It’s a sweet, compassionate musing on mortality and how to best remember a lost loved one.
The San Pedro High School Jazz Band, conducted by Mark Manriquez, came to Collage: A Place For Art & Culture, for a concert at which Collage donated a trumpet to a graduating senior. Here the band plays Stevie Wonder’s ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing.”
The Jacob Wendt Quintet plays hard bop jazz with authority, and they do a great job with this rendition of Benny Golson’s 1957 tune “Reggie of Chester. This recording was done with a handheld camera and isn’t up to our usual standard, but captures their energy.
Bobby “Hurricane” Spencer started in the Oakland jazz and blues scene in the 1960’s, and he’s still going strong despite a stroke. On his return to the stage after a hiatus of over two years, he was in fine form and the band was supporting him vigorously.
Eric Ramsey composed this song as part of a challenge with other songwriters - the idea was to use a cocoon as a metaphor. While most participants celebrated metamorphosis, Ramsey created this odd tale of a butterfly that doesn't want to leave the only home it has known
Rebecca Lynn is a famed local violinist, guitarist, and singer, and she sang this classic when she was a guest with the Keith Jones Collective in 2022. There are at least two songs called "Angel Eyes" - this is the 1946 jazz piece written by Matt Dennis and Earl Brent.
The Merry Wives of Windsor sing a piece composed by group member Heather Greene about their favorite place to enjoy an adult beverage. Nine members were present for this show, and in this piece you hear both their harmonies and solos.
Here is something remarkable, a poetic survey of Los Angeles by Michael Sonksen, aka Mike The Poet, from the “Lee Boek’s Traveling Medicine Show” event on 25 June 2022. For more about Mike and his work, see mikethepoetla.tumblr.com.
Cameron played this composition inspired by doing his laundry his fourth show at Collage as part of the Acoustic Americana series, bringing He had just come back from a long performing tour in Europe and was on his way to a residency in Nashville, and we're glad he joined us again.
Tom Hofer, Kjehl Johansen, and John Rosewall were members of the melodic rock band Trotsky Icepick, and Tom's new music has some of the wittiness associated with that group. Here they play “Stumbled Again” from Hofer’s recently released album, his first in over ten years.
On 18 June, Irish band The Praties presented an energetic set that included some not very Celtic tunes. An example is this mash-up of Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash and The Who's Pinball Wizard. In some alternate universe, this was the original release.
For the finale of their show at Collage on 29 May, the Good Notes Jass Band and Lafayette Ben Charlatan & The Charlatones performed an improvisational jam on the classic 1928 blues song. They had never played together before, and obviously had a fine time on this song.
This group formed as a backup band for Windy Barnes but sounded so good during their opening set that we decided to put up this video. Band is Richard Turner Jr. on keys, Vernon Heard on bass guitar and vocals, Jeffery Suttles on drums, and Victor Orlando on congas.
Jim's repertoire encompasses jazz, blues, folk, and a great variety of music, and he is a scholar who resurrects long forgotten tunes. Here he plays "Old Coat," whose author and exact era are unknown, but might be guessed to date to the early 19th century.
The bandura is the Ukrainian national instrument, though few people know how to play it - this music was suppressed during the Soviet era. Luke Lashuk Miller is the only bandurist in Southern California, and he presented a concert as part of our Ukrainian arts and culture program.
Eva Loona says about this song, "It’s about all of the mixed feelings I felt on my 19th birthday. Everything from acceptance, to longing, to contentment. " There are universal themes here, all the more powerful for the simple accompaniment.
Wolf Foss has told stories for audiences in the USA, Britain, and Ireland, and all of his material is original. This was his first performance in five years, and he offered the first story he ever told in public. It's still getting laughs over 30 years later.
Zander Schloss opened for Eleni Mandell with a set that startled people who had known him only as a punk rock bassist. Here he plays the title track from his new album, "Songs About Songs," accompanying himself on a Greek bouzouki.
Near the close of the show on 18 December, Connie Rouse sang this soulful version of "Sister," which sounds like a vintage ragtime blues but was written by Quincy Jones for the movie "The Color Purple." Pianist Diane Kula provided tasteful accompaniment.
The Salty Suites played a sold out show on 11 December 2021. This composition, "One Grey Day”, was written by mandolinist Scott Gates and appeared on their album “Fever Vision”. It contrasts grim humor with stellar musicianship on a piece with several time changes.
Before the Ranchers For Peace show on 05 December, Rae Duncan performed a solo set, which she finished with "Break My Heart," the title song from her recently released EP. The lyrics are rather different from what you might expect from the title.
At a program on 21 November about her artistic collaboration with Jessica Gudiel, Tina Calderon told stories in English and sang in her living Tongva language. This song opened the program, and is to honor the ancestors of all four directions.
British folk-blues troubadour Tim Holehouse showed up on 19 November with his guitar and a headfull of songs. One was "August - For All The Crows," a piece had had just written and never previously performed live.
On November 2 the Gabriel Feldman Duo presented a jazz set . Here Gabriel on Guitar and Brad Williamson on fretless 6-string bass perform an instrumental version of “Corcovado”, a samba/jazz piece by Carlos Jobim.
Mariachi Quinto Sol are virtuosos on Mexican traditional tunes, but we love it when they experiment with other styles. Here they play an upbeat version of a tune that was made famous by Amy Winehouse.
On October 24th, Author Josh Lurie presented a program about his book “History Is Delicious,” which makes culinary history interesting and accessible to children. Here he is in conversation with Richard Foss.
Most of the music at the Acoustic Americana series is instrumental, but during his solo set on 23 October, Matt Arons sang a rendition of Leadbelly's "Alberta". The sad, conflicted lyrics abut a straying lover are given force by his sweet, wistful voice.
On 23 October as part of the Acoustic Americana series, renowned session player Mark Goldenberg played this lovely version of Milton Nascimento's samba tune Anima, which the composer released in 1982.
Annette Warren, whose career started in the 1940's in New York before she performed in films in the 1950's, is 99 years old and still singing
Marquis Howell III and Matt Coleman, a.k.a. Hobo Jazz, opened for Jim Kweskin and showed off admirable musical chops and humor
Guitar virtuoso Barry Johnson is a remarkable composer and performer, sometimes singing his poetic lyrics over his thoughtful fingerwork.
We usually post songs without the intros, but this one was too good to miss - it gives a sense of the unpredictable fun at a Hobo Jazz show
On October 7th, Gruppo Subconscious played an instrumental set that ranged from funk workouts to psychedelia-infused jazz. This original composition, "Blue Water" is a conversation between a guitar and a bass.
This is not the Dylan tune, but the song that inspired it that was written by Mississippi Fred McDowell and first recorded in 1959.
Sade's hit from 1986 is given a smooth gloss by the great Windy Barnes, an artist who has performed with Stevie Wonder.
It's thought of as a rock and roll song, but this song was written by Sticks McGhee and Mayo Williams in 1949 as a jump blues. George Van Wagner and band play it loud and lively in this performance.
Annette Warren was accompanied by pianist Bob Remstein, a fixture on the LA music scene for decades. When not harmonizing, Bob sang a few tunes like this early jazz classic, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."
Rev. Sheffield and Daniel Spector traded leads on this version of Paul Stookey's "There Is Love" while Stacey Morse added harmonies. The song has been played at so many weddings that it’s known as “The Wedding Song.”
The San Pedro Jazz Sextet showed stellar musicianship and extraordinary ensemble playing in this version of John Coltrane's "Tenor Madness." Watch the way the tune is passed between players, and enjoy the melodic bass solo.
Stacey Morse and Dan "the Music Man" Spector performed on 19 August. One of the highlights was this energetic version of the 1924 hit by Spencer Williams, “Everybody Loves My Baby, But My Baby Loves Nobody but Me.”
Frontier Follies was a homage to classic American county fair performers of the 1890's by Magic Castle magicians Joe Derry and Dennis Forel. Here Forel explains the unlikely origin of some of his favorite sculptures.
Charlie Rauh and Cameron Knowler arrived for the Acoustic Americana show on August 13th. Rauh is noted for his gentle melodies. Here he plays tunes inspired by 18th Century African-American author Phyllis Wheatley.
Newcomer to the LA scene Cameron Knowler draws inspiration from bluegrass and old-time music, and plays with impeccable timing and expression. Consider this solo acoustic guitar cover of the “Ghost Picker” medley by Tut Taylor.
Connie Rouse and Diane Kula arrived on 04 August with a set that showed off Kula’s honky tonk piano style and Rouse’s bluesy, expressive singing style. Here Connie belts out Nina Simone’s “Love Your Lovin’ Ways.
Shane Parish and Patrrick Shiroishi played an improvisation on guitar and tenor sax to finish the show, quite a feat when you consider the difference in volume and dynamics of the two instruments.
On 17 September, three award-winning authors discussed how they write biiingual characters who move between communities. Maria Amparo Escandron, Naomi Hirahara, and William Wu were thoughtful and insightful as they reflected on cultures in fiction.
Lafayette Ben Charlatan and the Charlatones stopped by in March of 2022 and favored us with this version of "My Cherie Amour." The Stevie Wonder classic gets a Louisiana twist from Lafayette and his crew. It remains a soulful love song despite the different musical setting.
From Alyssandra's recently released "Nighswonger Sings Nilsson" album, her version of a song that originally appeared on the Popeye Movie soundtrack. The movie wasn’t particularly successful artistically or financially, but this wry song is worth a listen.
Five superb singers present a heartfelt version of the classic from "Into the Woods" as part of our Sondheim tribute Singers are (L to R) Bob Remstein (piano) Chayim Frenkel, Alison Wissot, Ilan Davidson, and Rachel Goldman. All except Remstein are Jewish cantors.
Eleni Mandell and Milo Jones sang this sweet tune at the first show after Collage got a new sound system, and we think it was captured very well. Their guitars and voices are in perfect balance with each other, and the emotion is obvious.
Sander Wolff creates dreamy, shifting soundscapes using synthesizers and guitars. At his First Thursday show on December 2nd he improvised this piece while a film he created of distorted dancers provides a shifting and hypnotic background.
A mariachi band playing a tune associated with Frank Sinatra? That’s what happened on 27 October 2021, when the incomparable Mariachi Quinto Sol played this version of the jazz-pop classic “Fly Me to the Moon.” This song sound so much better with a trumpet solo…
To close the Acoustic Americana show on 23 October, Mark Goldenberg, Cameron Knowler, and Matt Arons traded leads on the Appalachian classic “New River Train.” The verses have nothing to do with the chorus, but that’s how they wrote in 1895.
At the Grace Notes concert on 03 October, Episcopal Priest Sharon Sheffield and Jewish Cantor Stacey Morse drew from both traditions. Here Morse and pianist Daniel Spector sing a modern prayer for peace in English and Hebrew.
Windy Barnes and her superbly talented pianist and percussionist presented a performance that included this version of “All is Fair” by Stevie Wonder. Windy has performed with Wonder, and gives her take on that song.
On 29 September the San Pedro Jazz Sextet played their first public show, featuring vocals by Lea Guardado. Here she sings a classic Bossa Nova known as "Carnival Morning" in its English translation.
On 24 September Aloke Dasgupta and Bibhu Pathak presented a concert of Indian classical music. The interplay of sitar and tabla drums here shows the almost telepathic communication between masterful players.
At the Frontier Follies show on 21 August, Magic Castle alumnus Joe Derry presents a classic trick that is enhanced by his timing and gentle humor. As any fine magician can demonstrate, the hand is quicker than the eye…
Kris Doron raised the roof on August 15th with a set that showed off her expressive voice and the chops of guitarist Luke Villegas. Here Kris performs a song that had its genesis in her only guitar lesson - but she doesn’t play guitar on it.
After separate sets for the first Acoustic Americana show, the two guitarists improvised together. Here Cameron Knowler starts a tune and Charlie Rauh joins in. It’s a conversation between two guitars
On 06 August The Swing Riots Quirktette showed spectacular musicianship, playing about a dozen instruments and singing in multiple languages. Their rendition of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon” shows their remarkable musical interplay.
Windy Barnes presented a spectacular jazzy show on August 3rd. Her opening act, musical saw virtuoso Lou Mannick, might seem unlikely. It all makes sense when you hear his lovely rendition of “I’ll Be Seeing You”…
North Carolina-based Shane Parish showed up at Collage on 17 July with his blend of jazz, classical, and Americana. Parish was in Los Angeles to record a new album, which will include this piece, Subconcious-Lee by Lee Konitz.
Christina Linhardt and Bryan Pezzone graced our stage on 01 July 2021. The piano virtuoso and opera singer presented performances by artists that included Marlene Dietrich, Handel, and this incendiary version of the Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen.
At our first show of 2021, Professor Bryan Pezzone, who has been featured soloist at Disney Hall, played a solo improvised piece based on themes by Gershwin. His spoken introduction is quiet, but just listen when the piano takes over!