Wanda’s Picks

Home Grown Blues Free Concerts

Every Wednesday, July 5-August 30, 5:30-7:00 p.m., 9th Street & Broadway in Old Oakland
Visit www.bayareabluessociety.net , (510) 836-2227 or (510) 238-1630. This coming week Hollywood & Company July 26, followed by Tia Carroll on August 2.

Hit It! Closes this Weekend

Jared Crawford, Wanda Sabir and André Andréé photo credit: Wanda Sabir

The wonderful musical: “Hit It!” continues Thursday-Sunday, July 20- July 23 at the John & Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts, on the Contra Costa College campus, 2600 Mission Bell Drive, San Pablo, (510) 235-7800 ext. 4274. For tickets call (866) 811-4111. Tickets are $25 general. Ask about student and senior discounts. Read latest review at www.wandaspicks.com (click on web exclusives).

Jump! Theatre Company @ Shotwell Studios Second Annual Performance Festival

Mia Paschal’s “This Lily Was Fontana” about seven suicide attempts, which she told me has a humorous edge…is performed July 19, 8 p.m. with two other excerpts; then July 26, 8 p.m. Nena St. Louis performs “Jill Anatomy of Suicide,” a new solo play. Both artists plays are on their way to San Francisco Fringe Festival. Visit www.jumptheatre.org or call (415) 289-2000. All tickets are $10-20.

Viva Sandino: 4 Day Film Festival for Historic Memory @ La Peña Cultural Center

On July 19, 1979 in Nicaragua, 27 years ago, the Sandinista Revolution triumphed over the 40 year dictatorship of the Somoza family. The result was a ten-year burst of unleashed creative energy to build a new society. This revolutionary process was captured by filmmakers around the world. All shows La Peña, 1305 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, July 18-21 are at 7 p.m. and cost $5-7. Visit www.lapena.org or call (510) 849-2568.

Chukes’ Sculptures

Crack in the System by Chukes

The opening reception for sculptor Chukes newest work is this Thursday, July 20, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street, Oakland, (510) 465-8928. Visit www.joycegordongallery.com. The reception is free. Third Thursday’s Jazz features the Calvin Keyes Duo. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday, 12-7, Saturday, 12-4.

Fely headlines benefit for Green Action and Common Ground: From Bayview Hunter’s Point to New Orleans

The concert, which features the singer from Cote d’Ivoire, Fely, along with T. K.A.S.H., Guerrilla Funk recording artist; Copus, Jonathan Richmon and more. DJ Tony Moses, host at KPOO will be spinning Saturday, July 22, 8 until at Cell Space, 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco. Visit www.greenaction.org or call (415) 248-5010 and for information. Minimum donation: $15-30.

Also see http://www.felyproductions.com/; http://www.guerrillafunk.com/tkash/bio.html; http://www.copus.net/ for artist information.

Mo’ Mega Tour features Mr. Lif @ Slims

Mr. Lif, “one of the most highly touted lyriscists in Boston Hip Hop History will be at Slims, 333 11th Street, San Francisco, Friday, July 21, $16. Visit www.slim-sf.com or call (415) 255-0333 for ticket information. All ages are always welcome.

Mavis Staples @ Stern Grove Sunday, July 23, 2 p.m.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples fills Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., with one of the most distinctive and treasured voices in contemporary music. Iconic since her days as a lead singer of The Staple Singers, Staples has never stopped bringing down houses and earning accolades as a soul and gospel legend. Jackie Greene opens for her. Visit http://sterngrove.org/072306.php for concert specifics or call (415) 252-6252. Though the festival is free, the outdoor venue fills quickly so patrons are advised to arrive early for the best seats.

Sharon D. Henderson @ Friday Night Live at East Bay Church
“Dominion A capella Ensemble” is in concert with special guest: Sharon D. Henderson this Friday, July 21, 7:30-10 p.m., at East Bay Church of Religious Science, 4130 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, (510) 420-1003, www.ebtrs.org.

The Sundance Institute Art House Project in The Rafael Film Center

To Sleep with Anger, Sunday, July 23, 7 p.m. @ The Rafael, 1118 4th Street, San Rafael, (415) 454-1222. The film is directed by Charles Burnett with Danny Glover. Visit http://www.cafilm.org/nav0_2.html.

Afro-Latin Jazz @ Lincoln Center with Arturo O’Farrill

Sunday, July 23, at 5 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall “Summer in the City 2006” through July 28, presents Afro-Latin Jazz with Arturo O’Farrill. Created by Arturo O’Farrill with Wynton Marsalis, this orchestra is comprised of 18 prominent soloists from the Latin jazz scene. Showcasing the works of Latin jazz legends such as Machito, Ray Santos, and Mario Bauza, this ensemble combines Latin rhythm with jazz harmony to create a sound that is thrilling, gorgeous, and authentic. This presentation does not include the San Francisco Symphony. Tickets for youth at half-price but youth tickets are not available online, call the box office, (415) 864-6000 to order. Half-price senior tickets are also for sale per availablity. Tickets are $15-64. Afro Latin Jazz @ Lincoln Center with Arturo O’Farrill. Visit index.htm#lincoln">">http://www.sfsymphony.org/sitc2006/index.htm#lincoln.

Pacific Film Archive presents: I Hear Music

“Accordian Tribe” screens Wednesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way at Bowditch, Berkeley, (510) 642-1412.

Screenagers: Documentaries from the Teenage Years @ PFA

The Screenagers Tuesday series at a 7:30 show time features films with themes and material interesting to youth: “Our Song, (7/25)” “Chain Camera (8/1),” “Thirteen (7/8),” Troop 1500: Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (8/15);” “Seventeen (8/22),” and “a.k.a. Don Bonus, with short “Who I Am (8/29).” Artists will be at the theatre in person 8/29. Film notes are at the website: bampfa.berkeley.edu.

Free First Thursdays at BAMPFA, which means you can see the 5:30 screening in the viewing room, visit all the galleries, and public programs.

Janet Gaynor: A Centennial Celebraton through August 12. Here is an opportunity to see rare and hard to find cinema classics such as “Street Angel,” “Lucky Star,” Tess of the Storm Country, “The Farmer Takes a Wife,” and “A Star Is Born.”

Young Africans Event Saturday, July 22

"Africa Together" is a new established non-profit organization designed to unite Young Africans in the Bay Area while promoting cultural, social, and education awarness. There is a barbecue planned for Saturday July 22, at Fernandez Park in Pinole, 2131 Pear Street. The event is from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Guests are invited to bring their special dish to share. Even if you don’t have a dish to share, you are still welcome to come and eat and have fun with us. For information contact: Ijeoma Nkwuo at (415) 606 1611 or ada94606@yahoo.com.

Howard Wiley & Vocal X @ Stanford Jazz Festival

The ensemble features: Howard Wiley tenor/soprano saxophone; Jeannine Anderson, Lorin Benedict, vocals; David Ewell, bass; Sly Randolph drums in performance Monday, July 24, 7:30 p.m. in the Campbell Recital Hall at Stanford University. Tickets are $18 general, $9 students. Visit www.StanfordJazz.org or call (650) 725-ARTS (2787).

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival July 20-August 7

In its 26th year, the SFJFF begins in San Francisco, July 20-27, then moves around to Mountain View, Berkeley at the Roda Theatre (Berkeley Rep), July 29-August 5, and Smith Rafael Film Center, August August 5-7. Visit www.sfjff.org for the entire schedule or call (925) 275-9490.

There is a special focus this year on Ethiopian Jews and Jews of Color. In fact, the closing film, “Live and Become” and the short film screening that evening, “Train of Life,” both tackle these themes. In conjunction with these two films, along with documentaries: “Sisai” with short “Motherless Haya,” is a panel discussion Wednesday, July 26 following the 6:30 screening of “Sisai” at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco: The Ethiopian Jewish Experience. There will be another panel discussion: The Jewish African Disapora and Jews of Color in the US following “Sisai” at 4:20 p.m. at the Roda Theatre (at the Berkley Rep, Addision Street, downtown Berkeley). The panels are free to patrons with tickets from the fim proceeding the panel.

Notes:
In Sisai, the Ethiopian-Isreali documentary filmmaker David Gavro introduces his audience to his adopted younger brother Sisai, and invites us on a journey to find the father that Sisai has never known. (Isreal 2005). The program is 68 minutes.

“Live and Become” is another film about growing up African in a white family. This time a young Sudanese refugee is adopted by an Isreali family who believe he is Jewish. He is not Jewish and he is not an orphan. The director is Radu Mihaileanu (France, Isreal2004) 143 min.

There are films also about young Isrealis and Palestinains: “First Lesson in Peace and Shadya”; there is also a film about Isreal’s disengagement from Gaza last year: Yoav Shamir’s “5 Days” and Gil Karni’s “Troubled Waters” shot over many years looks at the recent history of the two peoples, peace an illusive, if not impossible goal.

Haiti Benefit this Friday, July 14

Venezula Rising film benefit for Project Cyber Drum in Haiti at the Universal Universalist Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar @ Bonita, Berkeley. Visit www.haitiaction.org or call (510) 601-9116 or (510) 495-5132.

It’s a Leo Thing

Join Avotcja & Modupue and Friends for her 65th birthday bash Tuesday, July 25, at Bistro Yoffi 2231 Chestnut Street between Pierce & Scott in the heart of the Marina District , in San Francisco, (415) 885-5133. Visit www.bistroyoffi.com or www.avotcja.com. The evening begins at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge, but I hear dinner is good.

Other Avotcja Sitings

Saturday July 22nd is the 60th Anniversary of the Oakland General Strike. The Commemoration features: Albert Lannon -retired Chair of Labor Studies Laney College, Labor Heritage Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus and Avotcja, poet/small multi-percussion and a whole lot more at the Oakland YWCA, 1515 Webster & 15th, Downtown Oakland. For more information call: (415)751-1572 or sfbay@flyingpicket.org or www.flyingpicket.org. Admission is free to the event, which begins at 6 p.m.

Reggae Sundays with DJ Ervin @ Ashkenaz

On Sundays from 10 p.m. on, DJ Ervin spins reggae at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley. Visit www.ashkenaz.com or call (510) 525-5054.

Jules Broussard @ Ashkenaz, Wednesday, July 26

At 7:30 there is a swing dance class with Nick and Shana. Music starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

12th Annual North Beach Jazz Festival July 28-30

"Jazz on Grant" kicks off the NBJF every year with free jazz in more than a dozen clubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. This year the event will kick off at the SF Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street, San Francisco, July 28, 7 p.m. with a performance by the Realistic Orchestra.

Led by composer/trombonist/bassist Adam Theis, Realistic is a 20+ piece jazz orchestra composed from the "Jazz Mafia" collective. Other announced J.O.G. artists include local guitar heroes Will Bernard, Dan Lebowitz, and Gregory James, and Brazil groovers Boca do Rio.

12th Annual North Beach Jazz Festival July 28-30
"Jazz on Grant" kicks off the NBJF every year with free jazz in more than a dozen clubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. This year the event will kick off at the SF Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street, San Francisco, July 28, 7 p.m. with a performance by the Realistic Orchestra.

Led by composer/trombonist/bassist Adam Theis, Realistic is a 20+ piece jazz orchestra composed from the "Jazz Mafia" collective. Other announced J.O.G. artists include local guitar heroes Will Bernard, Dan Lebowitz, and Gregory James, and Brazil groovers Boca do Rio.

2006 Jazz on Grant Schedule:
SF Italian Athletic Club: Realistic Orchestra - 1630 Stockton St, 7pm
All subsequent shows run from 8-11pm
· Mojito: Boca do Rio - 1337 Grant Ave
· Blend: TBA- 659 Columbus Ave
· Café Blanca: TBA - 1441 Grant Ave
· Café Roma: TBA - Columbus Ave
· Café Figaro: TBA - 1318 Broadway
· Pinocchio Café: Columbus Ave
· Café Trieste: TBA - Grant @ Valejo
· Columbus Café: TBA - 562 Green
· Grant & Green: TBA - 1371 Grant Ave
· Ideale: Gregory James - Grant Ave
· Live Worms Gallery - TBA - 1341 Grant Ave
· Lost & Found Salloon: TBA - 1353 Grant Ave
· Magnet: Will Bernard - 1402 Grant Ave
· Northstar: TBA - Grant Ave
· Panta Rei: TBA - 431 Columbus Ave
· Royale: TBA - 1326 Grant Ave
· Saloon: TBA - Grant @ Valejo
· Savoy Tivoli: Dan Lebowitz Quartet - 1434 Grant Ave
· Steps of Rome: TBA - 348 Columbus Ave
· The Saloon: TBA - 1337 Grant Ave
· Tony Nic's: TBA - 1534 Stockton
· Washington Square Bar & Grille: TBA - 1534 Stockton

North Beach Jazz Festival: Free Music in the Park

The line up includes: Senegalese hip hop sensation “Daara J” on Saturday, July 29 at the free outdoor concert, 12 noon to 7 p.m. in Washington Square Park, San Francisco. Sunday, July 30, 12 noon to 7 p.m., direct from New Orleans, pianist, “Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen” are headlining the afternoon show. Visit http://www.nbjazzfest.com/. Note: The park will have an alcohol free zone, and no outside alcohol is allowed.

Stanford Jazz Festival ends with All-Star Line-up

In its 35th Season, the Stanford Jazz Festival continues July 30 through August 5.
The All-Star week features: Heath Brothers, Sunday, July 30, 8 p.m., Eric Alexander Quartet: featuring Eric Alexander, saxophone; Harold Mabern, piano; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums; Cedar Walton Trio, Wednesday, August 2, 8 p.m., and Friday, August 4, 8 p.m. the Stanford All-Star Jam Session. For tickets call (650) 725-ARTS or visit TicketWeb.com. For a complete line-up visit www.StanfordJazz.org.

Moody’s Presents Second Annual “Jazz Artists in Residency” Free Children’s Jazz Camp Taught by Top National Jazz Acts

This summer, children will have a rare opportunity to learn about Jazz from some of the country’s top musicians, thanks to a musical camp presented by Moody’s Bistro & Lounge. The five-day camp is part of the second annual “Jazz Artists in Residency” August 4 – 12, an event that also includes eight evenings’ worth of free concerts by top national Jazz acts.

During the free camp, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, August 7 through Friday, August 11, children will learn and interact with Jazz artists from New York, San Francisco and Seattle. The children will develop an appreciation for music in general and for Jazz as a whole.

The workshops will focus on improvisation in Jazz and funk using drums, bass, piano and horns. Last year’s free children’s clinics were so well received that this year they have been expanded to five days. This includes a new, special clinic by DJ Romanowsi, one of San Francisco’s top DJs for the past 15 years, who will lead kids on a musical journey of hip hop, reggae, soul and samba.

“This is a rare opportunity for kids in this area to have access to this type of musical instruction,” said Moody’s co-owner JJ Morgan. “It’s not very often that kids have the chance to get up close and personal with top Jazz musicians from around the country.”

While the kids’ camp is one of the event highlights, adult jazz fans and families will also appreciate the variety of top-notch jazz performed during the evening at Moody’s Bistro & Lounge. Children will especially enjoy watching their “teachers” – the same performers who taught them during the day - take to the stage at night.

For more information on Jazz Artists in Residency or to register in advance, contact JJ Morgan at Moody’s Bistro & Lounge at (530) 587-8688. Visit www.moodysbistro.com.

Email Wanda at wsab1@aol.com.