Skip to content

INTERVIEW: JAZZ TRUMPET LEGEND GUESTS ON “CLAREMONT STRAIGHT AHEAD”

Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, jazz trumpet legend, Grammy-nominated recording artist, author, dynamic bandleader, producer, composer, arranger and winning educator, will be a guest on Larry the Fox's straight-ahead jazz show on KSPC 88.7 FM and kspc.org at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 17. Dr. Rodriguez is a professor of Jazz and Latin Jazz at UCLA, UC Irvine, Pasadena College, and Pomona College. He has earned one Gold and three Platinum records, and produced six of his own recordings. Born and raised in East LA, he is a genuine role model for young people who also come from humble beginnings. Be sure to tune in to this interview of an amazing jazz star.
Continue Reading

ART REVIEW: Picasso & Woody Allen

Image And Video Hosting By Tinypic
DE YOUNG MUSEUM San Francisco

I went to see the PICASSO MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEE NATIONAL PICASSO, PARIS collection at the DE YOUNG MUSEUM in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Woody Allen’s new movie MIDNIGHT IN PARIS renewed my interest in Picasso because of the time travel sequences to Paris in the 1920’s. The film also included guest appearances by actors playing the roles of Salvador Dali, Ernest Hemingway, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, Degas and many more. The music was also tasteful and fit that bohemian period. You can read my blog review of Janet Klein And Her Parlor Boys’ performance at the Coffee Gallery Backstage. Her recreation of the music of the 1920’s is very accurate. Being involved in the arts, I have seen many works by Picasso. He’s not one of my favorites but he created such a diverse collection of works during his lifetime that many of them are striking and well thought out.

Continue Reading

Venue & show review

Image And Video Hosting By Tinypic
via pasadenaviews.com

I recently saw JANET KLEIN AND HER PARLOR BOYS at THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE in Altadena California. This was the second time I saw her and was impressed by her 1920’s period performance. Her rotating cast of Parlor Boys exhibits a high level of virtuosity in their “hot” style of playing. Prior to this show, I saw Woody Allen’s new movie MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. Afterwards I began looking where I might see Janet Klein again. I found the right spot. THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE is a decades old neighborhood venue that features quality shows in a picturesque setting. Being a firm believer that going out into the world, mixing with people, and being part of spontaneous and random events in important, I was not disappointed with this outing.

Continue Reading

RECORD REVIEW: 100 Years Of Django – Frank Vignola

Image And Video Hosting By Tinypic

I bought this CD while attending the LIVE OAK MUSIC FESTIVAL outside of Santa Barbara California in the Spring of 2010. Frank Vignola’s band was playing. It was the first and only time I had seen them. This is the fourth release I have under his name. Buying music at concerts always seems like a great idea. Many times the music is not readily available or out of print. I don’t even remember paying tax either. The same could be said for purchasing products at farmers markets, yard sales, etc. A tax free loophole is always nice.

Continue Reading

ALBUM REVIEW: 24 of Hank William’s Greatest Hits

Image And Video Hosting By Tinypic

First off, I want to mention my latest listening experience from a vinyl LP given to me by a friend. People have been giving me boxes of their vinyl LP’s they do not care to use anymore. Most of the LP’s are cumbersome and take up to much physical space but it is worth going over and pulling out the gems.

Continue Reading