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Welcome to the Sonoma County Gazette EXTRA! Blog. Your contributions are always welcome...all-month-long. Just e-mail me. Thanks for keeping the lines of communication open for our neighbors of Sonoma County home towns.


Monday, November 9, 2009

Marshall, Bolt & Harr CD Release


Jackalope recording Artists
MARSHALL, BOLT & HARR
Original Americana, Blues, Boogie & Celtic music
Saturday, Nov. 14th 7pm No Cover
Coffee Catz, Highway 12 Gravenstien Station, Sebastopol

CD is in final design stages and....We are working on scheduling a CD release party at the Last record Store on Mendocino Ave in Santa Rosa. Still working on a date hopefully in December just in time for the Holiday. Please check the website for updates.
www.mbhmusic.com

Members of this trio have shared the stage with Dan Hicks, John Lee Hooker, Commander Cody, Norman Greenbaum and others.

MARSHALL, BOLT & HARR IS A TRIO OF MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERANS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR THE PURE LOVE OF SONGWRITING AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
In every rehearsal and performance the ego's are left at the door and replaced with the joy and love of creating "music in its natural state." MB&H lives by the tongue and cheek credo..."We are living proof you should never take yourself too seriously." For MB&H performances are always a tremendous joy but the experience of co-creating original music is what drives this very original and talented songwriting team. Their collective professional experience spans some 40 years.
MARSHALL, BOLT & HARR are now recording their first CD together as a trio with Jackalope Records in Santa Rosa California with the considerable production talents of Doug Jayne.

MARSHALL, BOLT & HARR.
Original Americana, contemporary folk, blues, boogie, Celtic...and wee bit of tomfoolery.

North Bay music veteran PHIL MARSHALL is our "Baron of the Base Guitar." None finer or more versatile. Phil also contributes his considerable arranging savvy and talents to the trio compositions. PHIL MARSHALL uses a traditional stand up base, an electric acoustic masterpiece by Klein/Taylor and a fretless base on the selections of the Woodbine project. PHIL MARSHALL cut his professional teeth back in the 60's and 70's with Norman Greenbaum and Crossfire. He has recorded in every major studio in L.A. Phil's versitility as a player keeps him in demand to play with others in the North Bay like Blue Moon, Smile'n Iguana's, jazz and Dixieland quartets.

ROGER BOLT: Classically trained singer and songwriter, Acoustic steel string and electric guitar. Roger's international and world travel has influenced his original composition to a broad musical pallet of Latin, Celtic, Early American Folk, Rock, Blues, Boogie, Jazz and styles we don't have a name for. ROGER BOLT began his musical journey in the South East with his first band the Inmates, playing for the men and women leaving Ft. Benning Georgia for the war in Viet Nam during the late Sixties. After moving to California in 1967 He connected with other kindred spirits and formed other musical projects like Woodbine, the rock band BOLT, Los Gringos, Noble Bolt and others. Roger has also spent many years in broadcasting with NPR affiliate KRCB FM, KPLS Country music and KMLS Cable 1 rock radio.

The haunting Celtic song "Hooligan's Dream" from the Woodbine CD; Moonlight Memory is currently appearing in the movie "Hilo de Cristal" or "Thread of Glass", from Grial Producciones, Spain. All songs are available on this website, playable and down loadable.

STEVE HARR: Singer songwriter, Guitarist, arranger and citizen of the cosmos. STEVE HARR has performed and recorded for many years in the country and AOR markets. STEVE HARR has shared the stage with Lightning Hopkins, Dan Hicks, Commander Cody and many others. His country compositions have been in the top 10 of the international Billboard. STEVE HARR brings a natural ease to his work often spiked with earthy humour of the common man and the human condition.

Together these three talented singers and songwriters translate their joy of the creative process to every audience they perform before. From moody introspective ballads to toe tapping boogie and blues MARSHALL, BOLT & HARR connects to listeners and fans wherever they play.

Check Out our Myspace www.myspace.com/rogerbolt

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Monday, November 2, 2009

Bob Dylan - Revisited Past & Present


Bob Dylan/ 10/10-11/09

Newport, RI, folk festival, 1963

By Terry Wright

The two forms exploded out of the crowd, grabbed the door latch on my 47 Chevy and breathlessly piled in chanting “we gotta go see Dylan”. Margie and Louise, bedecked in Woody Guthrie denim folk attire are on the warpath, we careen through the crowd to the big field and somehow shoehorn into a parking place and we are off at a run to the workshop tent.

OK, Dylan, I'd heard some echoes of this new guru through folk circles, even had the first album, and had started singing his early songs. We’d even scoured Washington Square for the dude to no avail one dark misty night in NYC, and here we were.

We made a grand entrance..high on our energy, working our way through the crowd, and there’s this guy, I check him out. And he checks me out, scraggly beard, tousled hair---check. Stained work shirt with 1/2 smoked pack of Galoises in the pocket ----check. Battered Levis, cowboy boots----check. Guitar over one shoulder—check. I look at him and say “what's with the bullwhip?” He touches the coiled serpent on his shoulder, smiles and says “Joanie and I are blowing minds doing bullwhip tricks around the pool at the motel”. “Cool, sounds like fun”. And off we go.

We are blown away, the poetry most of all, and the style…gravelly voice, great guitar in all modes, and unassuming air. “Baby let me follow you down”, “Don’t think twice” “House of the rising sun”, all done in a howling style, immediately adopted by all folkies around. And the world had changed for folk music.

Newport RI folk festival 1965

The multitudes are gathered to hear the famous guru of folk, Dylan is now a superstar, with a mane of hair, followed by a wave of marmidons crossing the field to the workshop. You have to shoehorn into the crowd and fight for a space, and the poetry flows and the music bites hard into the words, the guitar sings for us all to hear.

We gear up for the evening concert, a big crowd in the football field, packed in to do homage to the new god of folk. But, there is a setup for a rock band, unheard of at Newport, and finally they come out, Paul Butterfield, band and Dylan with a very poor rendition of some songs, out of tune, feedback screeching, people outraged, a wave of booing running through the crowd. I’ve been talking to Pete Seeger, who was seated in front of me with his mom, Ruth Crawford, and he is outraged, jumps up and heads back for the stage. I hear later that he was going to pull the plug on the performance with an axe. Butterfield and Dylan screech some more, and finally quit. Bob comes out and does one song to mollify the crowd, still with boos echoing, and finally bows out, no apology, just an experiment in a new genre that the folkies weren’t ready for.

This set the pattern for his career, and each time we heard a new set of tunes and a new band (most notably The Band), a new page was written in the bible of Dylan. Nashville Skyline with some great country ballads, Slow Train Comin, songs of his Christian phase, Time out of Mind with some uptempo ballads. He continued the poetry, and the captivating presence in concert.

So when we heard about the Greek Theater concert October 10, it was time, I stalked the Ticketmaster website and scored 2 tickets in the first public minutes, and was off to the music event of the year.

The Greek was packed, we got there at 5 and stood in line for good seats, which we got no problem, center up 10 rows behind the mixers, huge electronic affairs, studded with computer screens. We prepped for cold, and bundled up, with low back chairs, blankets and partied. The house beer and wine was lousey, so we had a little reserve and mellowed out, watching the people. I wore an Uncle Sam top hat so our late friends could find us. We got an early taste of the band during the sound test from the parking lot, and they were solid, with punching bass lines rumbling our chests

On time, they came on and introduced Dylan as an icon of American music and master of many styles and genres. A shout went up from the crowd as he entered the stage, dressed in black hat, double breasted black jacket and red scarf, launching into the solid big beat reverberating around the amphitheater.

The playlist was eclectic, (see Bob Dylan website for list and other reviews) with versions of Mama you been on my mind and the Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll with very creative arrangements; interfaces with Highway 61 revisited during which I cried with happiness, Thunder on the Mountain and old classics Like a Rolling Stone and finishing with All along the Watchtower. All done in the same style, big beat, up tempo, Dylan’s voice was gravelly and low as always, and occasional snippets of words came out, but I knew most of them and sang along. The faithful in the mosh pit were packed in, and well-behaved, and let out a collective spine chilling scream every time a favorite line came on. The crowd in general was mellow, I thought we were going to have some loud people behind us, but they mellowed out as soon as the music started.

The best part for me was to watch Dylan sing with his body, small movements and twitches, sometimes arms raised, leaning into the music, emphasizing the words with his body, Pushing into the lines sent chills up and down my spine. You can see him playing with the words.

“Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"

Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"

God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"

God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but

The next time you see me comin' you better run"

Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"

God says, "Out on Highway 61."

This says it for the poetry, It has always been a creative tour de force, and he can spout out rhymes with amazing words like a fountain. There is a clip in Pennebakers film where he is given 5 words and makes up poetry for 10 minutes, and incredible feat.

The band was solid, Charlie Sexton on lead guitar is top notch and the pedal steel, standup bass, and drums equally talented. They did make a lot of noise, but that’s what its all about in the new Dylan mode. The tour continues across the country, first to LA, then Las Vegas and ends up in Boston Its worth flying to.

Submitted by:
W.H. Terry Wright, PhD
Emeritus Professor of Geology, SSU (retired)
terrywrightgeology.com
terrysworld007.blogspot.com -
picasaweb.google.com/terryw100


If by some fiat I had to restrict all this writing to a single sentence, this is the one I would choose: The summit of Mt. Everest is marine limestone. - John McPhee

...and while you're at it - check out this web site where the photo of Bob came from:
http://tonemarrowreviews.wordpress.com/

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Festival of Harps - Multicultural Music Event

The Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship (MCMF) celebrates the
20th Anniversary of the FESTIVAL OF HARPS
Starts September 30th and runs through the month of October
with an unprecedented event featuring
35 acts and over 75 performers,
gathered for one evening in a unique setting.
The 20th Anniversary celebration includes 3 weeks of Fringe Concerts & Workshops.

The magnificent Chapel of the Chimes columbarium, designed by Julia Morgan in 1928, contains over 100 rooms decorated in a style evocative of gothic cathedrals. This one-of-a-kind "walk through" concert will allow listeners to experience the widest range of harps and harp styles ever gathered for one public event. By wandering from room to room, they will be able to hear some of the world's best harpists playing music from Africa, Asian, Scandinavia, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the British Isles, along with classical, jazz, medieval and renaissance styles. Storytelling, song, dance, and original compositions will be featured by many of the artists and special programs for children are included.

Begun in San Francisco in 1989, the FESTIVAL OF HARPS (FOH) has grown from a grass roots concert of multi-cultural harp music to a much-anticipated event. Showcasing harp music at its finest, the Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship (MCMF), directed by Bay Area harpist Diana Stork, has brought artists from all over the world to share one stage, fostering collaborations and world premieres between some of the best in world, classical and contemporary music styles. Besides annual concerts in major venues throughout the greater SF Bay Area (Yerba Buena Gardens, Grace Cathedral, Mountain View Performing Arts Center, Sunset Center) FOH has toured the West from New Mexico to Alaska. MCMF's many activities include: educational outreach programs on the history of the harp, support of numerous harp ensembles for underprivileged Latino children (Mission, Bahia Vista, Bell Aire harp ensembles), and sponsorship of the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble.

Director Diana Stork expresses her vision with great simplicity: "I want to bring the world together through the harp. In a community like ours, with its extraordinary cultural diversity, the task of finding those common threads that bind all people together, no matter what their origins, is my inspiration. And this particular thread, so vibrant, lovely and joyful, is a delight to discover and re-discover, at every new Festival of Harps.‰

Sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship, a 501 C3 non-profit organization, dedicated to bringing the world together through music.

ARTIST BIOS:

RUDIGER OPPERMANN - New Horizons for Celtic Harp
Germany's foremost Celtic harp player began playing the harp in 1973 and has virtuosically surpassed all existing standards on this instrument. Rüdiger has been an untiring inspiration to the Celtic harp scene, playing hundreds of concerts on harps of all sizes and shapes with his unique, improvisational free-style. With early musical training on the piano and cello, Rüdiger taught himself to play the harp, furthering his musical studies through extensive travels in Africa, Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Turkey. In all of these places he learned local instruments and acquired an understanding of diverse and contrasting “worlds of music”.

PARK STICKNEY - Jazz Harp
While attempting to live simultaneously in Brooklyn and on a farm in Switzerland, jazz harpist Park Stickney is constantly in motion, giving concerts throughout Europe and the U.S. An active teacher, he is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London, an assistant at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Lyon, and teaches a yearly jazz harp class at the Lausanne Conservatoire, Switzerland. He has given workshops at Juilliard, the conservatories of Paris, Lucerne, Warsaw, Torino, Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, Cardiff, Munich, Trinity College (London), and the Berklee College of Music, among others, as well as at countless harp festivals worldwide. www.myspace.com/parkstickneylove

ANN & CHARLIE HEYMANN - Gaelic & Welsh Harps, Gold & Horsehair Strings
Ann Heymann is considered the greatest player of the ancient wire-strung Gaelic harp and is noted for returning the Gaelic harp to a living tradition. Ann performs throughout North America, Europe and Australia and her acclaimed recordings and tutor books are essential for those with an interest in this ancient harp of Ireland and Scotland. She currently plays a replica of the famous 14th century Trinity College with a one-piece soundbox carved from a willow log and strings made from18 carat gold. www.annheymann.com

CARLOS REYES - Paraguayan Harp
Although he had been well known in his native country as a child prodigy ("the little Mozart of Paraguay"), California audiences first came to know Carlos Reyes through his performances on electric harp and violin with the group Merlin. His feet planted firmly in both North and South American music, his album, The Beauty of it All, combined jazz, rock, and funk with the traditional music of his homeland. Carlos has amassed a large and enthusiastic Bay Area following while maintaining a growing international concert schedule. His charismatic personality and outstanding musical talents are a potent contribution with which he performs an extensive and entertaining repertoire. www.carlosreyesmusic.com

CHERYL ANN FULTON - Triple Harp Ensemble
Cheryl Ann Fulton is one of the world‚s premier performers of historical harps, and one of the few harpists to play triple harp, medieval harp, and lever harps. Cheryl has performed on over thirty albums and soundtracks broadly ranging from medieval, baroque, orchestral, and contemporary music to Celtic music and film scores, on records labels such as PolyGram, Koch International Classics, Nonesuch, Gourd Music and others. Her first solo album, The Airs of Wales, brought her recognition. She is a composer as well as a performer, and her original compositions from her second solo album, The Once & Future Harp, have been featured on National Public Radio. Fulton is a Fulbright scholar. In 1987, she received a Fulbright Award for research and performance in Lisbon, Portugal, where she served as principal harpist for Portugal's orchestra, the Orchestre Gulbenkian. She is a contributing scholar for the new edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and has written a chapter for A Performers Guide to Medieval Music. www.magnatune.com/artists/fulton

CHRIS CASWELL - Celtic Harp
Chris is a true Celtic bard. Beginning in 1976, Chris recorded three albums and toured North America and Europe with Robin Williamson and His Merry Band. In 1980 he formed Caswell Carnahan with Danny Carnahan and recorded two albums. Holy Wood is Chris's solo bronze-strung harp album and displays this rare and hauntingly beautiful instrument in a mix of the popular and eclectic from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England and France. Chris was a featured artist with Bonnie Rideout‚s national A Scottish Christmas tour and Live from the National Geographic. A natural teacher, he has held harp retreats throughout the country and has taught at numerous music camps. His Caswell Harps was re-established in 2004 in Berkeley, California. As a harp maker, Chris is known for blending tradition and innovation. His harps are considered among the finest traditional harps available. www.caswellharps.com

Youssoupha Sidibe - West African Kora
Youssoupha's artistic career began over 20 years ago in his home of Senegal, West Africa, where he was trained as a kora player at the National Music Conservatory of Senegal. Since his arrival on the international music circuit, he has recorded, performed and/or collaborated with a diverse list of artists including India Arie, Bela Fleck, Charles Neville, and Michael Franti. He plays the traditional West African sounds of the kora (a 21-string harp-lute) with the mystic Sufi devotional chanting of the Senegalese Baay Faal community. Wide-ranging and empowering, Youssoupha's music has most recently appeared on the CD „For All‰, a collaboration with the reggae vocalist Vaughn Benjamin. www.myspace.com/youssouphasidibe

For a full list of participating artists, and events: please visit: http://www.multiculturalmusicfellowship.org/calendar.html

The 20th Annual FOH poster:
http://www.multiculturalmusicfellowship.org/FoHposter20large.html

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Saturday, August 22, 2009

Monte Rio - Vacation Wonderland


So Much Happening in Monte Rio!
By Dawn Bell

Monte Rio has long been known as the “quiet” river community. Quiet in the way of a smaller population and fewer businesses than other river communities perhaps, but not quiet in the number of activities and events. Four miles west of Guerneville, Monte Rio beach offers a stunning setting and an active community that offers visitors and residents alike a vast variety or things to do, places to stay and food to eat. But if you are beach oriented only, Monte Rio has much to attract you. Canoe and kayak rentals are incredibly inexpensive here. In fact, you can even rent one at a 50% “sunset” special rate Monday through Friday. The beach concession serves up juicy burgers and other favorites and some pretty incredible garlic French fries too! You’ll get 20% off your food purchase when you rent a canoe or kayak! You really can’t lose on this deal.

Residents and visitors are fond of walking to restaurants and stores and taking the opportunity to observe the water fowl and other wildlife that thrives in this area. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the unique experience of watching one of the nesting Osprey fish for dinner. This time of year you will also see bramble after bramble of ripening blackberries and many people picking them.
In answer to the question of what to do with so many blackberries and other area fruit, Monte Rio Recreation and Park District has begun the Russian River Canning Co-operative at the Community Center kitchen. All are welcome to bring berries and other fruits, along with their canning supplies, and $5 for kitchen use, twice monthly to share their knowledge or to learn from more practiced canners, the art of preserving our local foods. Russian River Canning Co-operative meets on alternate Sundays from 10AM to 3PM - Please call for times in September (707) 865-9956

Speaking about food, local restaurants in Monte Rio boast some of the best food in all the Russian River. Café Les Jumelle’s breakfasts are nearly legend, but what is less well known are their equally enticing lunch and dinner fares prepared by chef-owner Robert Holmes. Across the river the Village Inn’s Sunday

BBQ’s with live jazz has become a favorite gathering spot where co-owner Mark Belhumeur works at the grill. They’re also open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday where among many delicious choices, chef John Crespo’s steak frites will leave you speechless. The Highland Dell serves up hearty meals with a penchant for German flavors. Owners Herwig and Ingrid Loose pride themselves on their hospitality and the beauty of the renovated restaurant and inn. The restaurant is open every day but Wednesday. And of course the scene would be incomplete without The Pink Elephant on Main Street where libations and pizza are served daily. Never forgetting the standing Thursday night performance from favorite local band The Thugs!

If you prefer the cool and quiet setting of a movie theater, well, Monte Rio has that too, with the historic Rio Theater
showing first-run movies all year long.
And for those are truly in the mood for privacy, it’s impossible not to recommend a good bottle of wine, some cheese and a baguette from Sophie’s Cellars to enjoy at home. Sophie’s Cellars boasts rack after rack of local and international wines in price ranges for everyone. The shop is also beautiful and owners John Haggard and David Defries are always on hand to find exactly the right wine for you. Twelve area restaurants waive their corkage fees when you bring your receipt from their shop.

Summer is setting for many different events here too. The Russian River Car Show takes place in the Community Center parking lot on Saturday, August 29 from 8AM to 3PM. A pancake breakfast will be cooked in the Community Center that morning prepared by volunteers of the Monte Rio Fire District. Various vendors, including ribs from the Village Inn Restaurant, will be on hand for the lunch crowd. This car show invites American Made cars from 1973 and earlier to show off their beauty and rev their engines. This event is free to the public.

The Monte Rio amphitheater may be known to many as the home of the annual Bohemian Grove Variety Show – which can proudly proclaim the event with the highest attendance – more than 1300 this year! But the amphitheater is also preparing for much more this year.

On August 15th the Monte Verde Music, Art & Sustainable Technology Fair will take over the grounds from noon until 10PM. Jorge Santana and Peace are the featured performers along with Midnight Sun, Creation, and West County African All-Stars and others. Teams of vendors will complete the event providing interest for everyone. Visit www.monteverdefestival.com for details.

In the true spirit of community, we want to encourgae you to attend a “Fun” raising concert for the Friends of Villa Grande, that benefits the Patterson Point Restoration Project.


“A Sunday In New Orleans” on September 6th at the charming Monte Rio Amphitheatre. Go to riverwoods.us for details. All proceeds go to the Patterson Point Restoration Project, and helps promote the under utilized Monte Rio Amphitheatre as well. A great time, a great place, and a great cause.

On Friday, September 18th, golfers and epicures alike can enjoy the 2nd Annual Golf & Gourmet event and silent auction. This event began last year and earned the attention of many local golfers and food lovers. The nine-hole tournament at the beautiful Northwood Golf Course will conclude with a one-of-a-kind food experience created by chef Maria Vieages at the Monte Rio Community Center.

On Sunday, October 4th the Monte Rio Recreation & Park District will host the Autumn Faire and Market at the amphitheater. This is a double event that begins at 10AM with a free admission fair and market with a Latin flair. Local notable chef Gerard Nebeski, famous for his paella, will be on hand as will KGGV radio show host and personal chef Maria Vieages. The Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce will serve up spicy sausages while artisans show their wares and children delight in piñata bashing. Many other Children’s activities will be offered including pumpkin decorating and face painting. The farmers market and artisan fair will offer delectable and interesting items for all. When the fair ends at 4PM the grounds will be converted into a concert venue that will include a flamenco band and dancers, Cuban music and other Latin sounds. The concert will be a ticketed event benefiting EcoRing.

So you see, Monte Rio for all its appearances of quietude, is still jumping with events and activities for everyone to enjoy. Visit us soon and enjoy the best of West County recreation.

www.mrrpd.org or on Facebook at Monte Rio Parks or Russian River Canning Cooperative

Village Inn & Restaurant – 707-865-2304 - http://www.villageinn-ca.com/

Highland Dell – 707-865-2300 - http://www.highlanddell.com/

Café Les Juemelles – 865-9500

Sophie’s Cellars – 865-1122 - http://www.sophiescellars.com/

Rio Theater - 865-0913 - http://www.riotheater.com/

Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce - 707-865-2304 - http://www.monterio.org/

The Pink Elephant - 707-865-0500

EcoRing - http://ecoring.org/

Google Map of Monte Rio: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Monte+Rio&state=CA&address=9925+Main+Street&zipcode=95462+

KGGV-LP 95.1 FM –The Bridge” Guerneville: http://www.kggvfm.org/

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Villa Grande Concert - Fundraiser for Patterson Point



Imagine yourself sitting on a sunny, grassy knoll under the redwoods. You are eating genuine Louisiana Gumbo and other authentic New Orleans food delights. The succulent food prepared by a native chef from the “Big Easy” Maria Vieages. You are sipping fine Sonoma County wine and listening to the mellow sounds of T.A. Barnebey’s New Orleans Jazz Quintet, under the nom de plume of “The Villa Grand Wanderer’s” as they roam the grounds. Shortly after, the beat picks up as the featured band Tom Rigney & Flambeau takes you from the bayou to boogie. You will walk away from this concert thinking to yourself that this is the best Labor Day you have spent in years and that you will definitely return next year.

All of this can be yours this coming Labor Day Sunday at the Monte Rio amphitheater. The Friends of Villa Grande will be putting on a “fun” raising concert for the restoration of Patterson Point in Villa Grande. All proceeds will be used for restoration of riparian habitat and native vegetation. The Friends of Villa Grande is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

The Friends of Villa Grande was established in 2007 for the purpose of acquiring and restoring Patterson Point in Villa Grande. We have received support in the acquisition from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. The participation of the Open Space District will insure that this small recreational gem is open to public access in perpetuity.


We plan to remove the ivy and other invasive species that have taken over the natural vegetation and replace it with native species that are typical of an undisturbed Russian River riparian habitat. By doing so, we will encourage native wildlife species to use the area for nesting, foraging and breeding. We feel that Patterson Point can become a significant addition to the local ecosystem and will help provide a sustainable habitat for our indigenous species. In the future, the restored area may serve as an inspiration and demonstration garden for others who wish to restore the riparian areas along the Russian River. In addition, Patterson Point will remain open as a recreational area as it has been used in the past.


Please put us onto your calendar for
2:00 PM on September 6.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $40 for VIP seating. Tickets and concert information are available at riverwoods.us.

Tickets can also be purchased locally at:
Bartlett’s Market, the Pink Elephant, in Monte Rio,
Berry’s Market in Forestville, Nexus Organic Design, Art Gallery and Home Decor store on Main Street in Guerneville, Frank Howard Allen Realtors on First Street in Guerneville and the Blue Heron in Duncan Mills.

Be sure and bring a low back chair to sit on and a blanket to spread your Louisiana feast onto. The Monte Rio amphitheater is located adjacent to the tennis courts behind the Pink Elephant in downtown Monte Rio. Call Susan Sampson @865-1074 for further information.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Bit of Musical Pleasure for You - Why Not!


African Thunderstorm

This fun YouTube video features a 1980s pop classic. The rock band Toto scored their biggest hit with Africa in 1982. The song is instantly recognizable. But it has been reinvented.

Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia. It’s hard to think of something further from an ‘80s rock band. But their version of Africa may best the original. The group has amazing voices.

But the beginning of this video is really striking. Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands. It’s really something to see and hear.

http://videos.komando.com/2009/06/18/african-thunderstorm/


Life is Fun when you take the time to enjoy it!


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Riggy Rackin - Somewhere in Between


Hi Everyone !
I am so happy to tell you that today I am finally bringing forth a project reflecting my life's work in an album titled Somewhere in Between.

It defies categorization and covers the genres of my journey: English Folksong, Renaissance Art Song, English Country Dance instrumentals, Irish Sea Songs, American Country and Pop ballads.

Stellar singers and musicians provide top-notch support, while veteran producer Jeff Martin has made magic of it all!

The CD and samples are easily available thru my website: www.riggy.com
or you could Download Somewhere in Between if that's your preferred way to gather your music !

Thanks so much taking time to look & listen.

Riggy

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

ONCE-Mini Music & Film Review


Music that Inspires - Film that Touches the Soul
A street musician meets a his musical match - a love story without lust & sex - just mutual inspiration. Hits top notes in both music and film.

By Vesta Copestakes

This isn't my turf, but I just have to recommend a film and CD because it's one of those experiences that leaves a trail in your mind. I love those kind. You see a movie and it haunts you because it's good - not because it's scary or intensely emotional. In this case, because it's sweet, and honest and so very human and real. And the music - the music just took up residence inside my head and heart.

I found this movie simply because I asked Joe at The Movie Library in Forestville to help me find something to take to Alan's house for an evening of watching a movie while lounging on the couch. I fail miserably with my movie choices, even when I bring three. I get lured in by intriguing visuals and off-the-wall plot descriptions. Amazing how bad some movies can be. So I asked for Joe's advice.

He told me about a movie that he hadn't seen but that many people had told him about. People said they recommended it highly - so heck - why not.

Right away I was drawn to the characters, so real and appealing. People I would want to meet. Their story was friendship. Not love and attraction and passion and lust - and certainly not even a hint at violence. Just good friendship. Two people who meet and start making music together. They never fall in love, never jump into bed together even though there's a little hint that they could. Their lives have complexities that are real without drama - just real. Their music and the evolution of the music that comes from their friendship is real and - well - musical! They pull together other people to play with them. The relationships they have with other people in their lives - the whole movie - it's just real. And yet it's a movie.

I like the music so much, Alan bought me the CD for my birthday, and with it is a DVD of how they made the movie. Even that's interesting. Amazing actually!

So I'm passing Joe's advice on that he got from others. Apparently “Once” has left a trail of recognition from Sundance Film Festival out into the universe. Pick up the movie and enjoy. And if you're like me, the music will lure you to wanting to hear it more. And you get the bonus of the DVD that gives you the inside story of how this all came together. I am so impressed.

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