TIME JUMPERS BRING GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING NASHVILLE STARS TO ESCONDIDO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SEPT. 29 2.5K
Total Views: 48 September 6, 2015 (Escondido)– The California Center for the Arts, Escondido will present The Time Jumpers, an assemblage of some of Nashville’s most gifted musicians performing at the Center on Tuesday, September 29. Led by 20-time GRAMMY® winner and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, as well as Kenny Sears and Ranger Doug Green, The Time Jumpers quickly developed a monumental following while earning four GRAMMY® nominations. With unprecedented talent and a strong affinity for western swing, the group continues to expand the richness and vigor of country music. Formed in 1998, The Time Jumpers settled into fabled Nashville venue Station Inn for a Monday night residency that drew lively crowds to hear the super-pickers. As word spread along Music Row that something extra special was happening at Station Inn, big stars began dropping by. Some came to sit in, while others attended simply to enjoy the vast array of country, swing, jazz and pop standards The Time Jumpers rejoiced in playing. Among those drop-bys were Bonnie Raitt, Reba McEntire, Norah Jones, Robert Plant, The White Stripes, Kings Of Leon, Jimmy Buffet, and Kelly Clarkson. The current edition of The Time Jumpers includes 10 members, each a true master of his respective instrument. Alphabetically — which is the only diplomatic way to present such a phalanx of evenly matched talent — they are Dennis Crouch (upright bass), Larry Franklin (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Vince Gill (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars), Ranger Doug Green (vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar), Andy Reiss (electric guitar), Kenny Sears (vocals, fiddle), Joe Spivey (fiddle, vocals) Jeff Taylor (accordion, piano) and Billy Thomas (drums, vocals). To list the artists these pickers have recorded and toured with would be tantamount to posting all the Billboard country charts for the past 30 years. Suffice it to say that the list ranges from Ray Price to John Anderson to Carrie Underwood. The stages these luminaries have graced extend from the Grand Ole Opry to Carnegie Hall. The ensemble has released their first studio project for Rounder Records, The Time Jumpers, along with a live album, Jumpin’ Time, which earned them two GRAMMY® nominations and a high-profile segment on NPR’s All Things Considered. The Time Jumpers reveals a side of the ensemble that’s largely gone unheralded — that is the members’ abilities to write vivid new songs in the stylistic vein of the standards they love to perform, whether they’re breezy, euphoric dance tunes or mournful testimonies to the destructive power of love. Stone Brewing Co. is presenting sponsor of The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill performance at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. For more information about The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill, please visit thetimejumpers.com. The California Center for the Arts Escondido is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido. The Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 988-4253. Tickets can also be purchased online. To learn more, including performance dates, times and ticket information, visit www.artcenter.org . Printer-friendly version
2.5K viewsWORLDWIDE UKELELE SENSATION JAKE SHIMABUKURO AT CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN ESCONDIDO OCT. 31 11
Total Views: 36 “An international sensation.” -The Today Show “The Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.” -Guitar Player September 20, 2014 (Escondido) — Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will wow audiences as part of The California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s 20th Anniversary 2014/2015 season with a special Halloween show on Friday, October 31, 2014 in the Concert Hall. Redefining a previously under-the-radar instrument, the critically acclaimed slinger combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, folk, and flamenco, fully revealing his musical dexterity. Shimabukuro has appeared on television shows including Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live, he’s earned notable fans such as Eddie Vedder and Sanjay Gupta, and performed for the likes of the Queen of England. Interviews and hi-res photos are available upon request. Well known in his native Hawaii and Japan during his early career as a member of Pure Heart and Colón, Jake Shimabukuro earned international fame in 2006 when his singular cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral online. The video became one of the first hits on YouTube, and has since received over 13 million views. The artist’s career has skyrocketed from his humble beginnings at a local Honolulu café, with Shimabukuro receiving collaboration requests from notable musicians across many genres. He has toured with the likes of Jimmy Buffet & The Coral Reefer Band and Béla Fleck & the Flecktones across the globe in Japan, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Shimabukuro has also performed as a guest artist on Ziggy Marley’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Love is My Religion (2006) and Yo-Yo Ma’s 2008 holiday album, Songs of Joy and Peace. Now, he’s exploring his passion as a film composer, contributing to the soundtrack of the Buffett-produced film Hoot, scoring the hit Japanese independent film Hula Girls, and recently completing the score for the Japanese version of the film Sideways. Regarding his own solo recordings, Jake Shimabukuro’s 2011 album Peace, Love, Ukulele debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Chart. With his most recent album Grand Ukulele, Shimabukuro’s talents continue to flourish. Produced by renowned producer/engineer Alan Parsons (The Beatles, Pink Floyd), the album reached #2 on Billboard’s Top World Music Albums. Parsons broadened his sound, bringing in a 29-piece orchestra, as well as a big-name rhythm section, including drummer Simon Phillips (The Who, Toto), session superstar bassist Randy Tico, and orchestrator Kip Winger (Winger, Alice Cooper). Highlights from the album include originals such as “Island Fever Blues” and “Missing Three” — an entire song played on only three strings, inspired by a day when Jake was missing the third string on his instrument — as well as reinterpretations of Sting’s “Fields of Gold” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”. An award-winning documentary on his life, career, and music, Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, was released in 2012. Airing nationally on PBS and winning the Gotham Film Audience Award, the project is a compelling portrait of the musician whose virtuosity has transformed all previous conceptions of the ukulele’s potential. On the road from New York to Los Angeles to Japan, Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings reveals life on tour, the exhilaration of performance, and the wonder of newfound fame through intimate conversations with Shimabukuro. For more information about Jake Shimabukuro, please visit jakeshimabukuro.com About the California Center for the Arts, Escondido With a mission of bringing people together to discover, create and celebrate both the visual and performing arts, the California Center for the Arts, Escondido is the cultural center of North San Diego County. The Center’s unique campus includes a 1,523-seat concert hall, a 404-seat theater, a contemporary art museum, art and dance studios, and a full-service conference center with meeting and banquet facilities. The Center also runs an extensive education program and produces free community events, such as the Jazz Jam Sessions, Holiday Tree Lighting, Day of the Dead, 4th of July and WOW First Wednesdays performances. The Center is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido. The Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 988-4253. Tickets ($20-$35) can also be purchased online. To learn more, including performance dates, times and ticket information, visit www.artcenter.org . Printer-friendly version
11 viewsCALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO ANNOUNCES STAR-STUDDED 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2014/2015 SEASON 22
Total Views: 74 July 1, 2014 (Escondido)–California Center for the Arts, Escondido (the Center) reaches a major milestone this year, celebrating its 20th Anniversary season with an exceptional line-up of acclaimed performers, including The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garrison Keillor, Merle Haggard, Pink Martini, Jake Shimabukuro, Harlem Gospel Choir, Whose Live Anyway, La Santa Cecilia, Kathleen Madigan, Pilobolus, Peking Acrobats, Jazzreach with Metta Quintet, Sirena Huang, Paul Galbraith, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Lúnasa with Special Guest Karan Casey, Alberta Ballet, Jiayan Sun, Venice Baroque Orchestra, 2Cellos, Han Bin Yoon, and many more. Following a three-year hiatus from presenting internationally renowned talent, the Center returns this fall 2104 as a revitalized tour-de-force in the Southern California market. The Center’s forthcoming 2014/2015 season features premier performances exhibited through an eclectic lens engaging a widespread audience of concertgoers. The season debuts on Fri., Oct. 10, 2014 and continues until Sun., May 31, 2015, and events will take place in both the 1,523-seat Concert Hall and 404-seat Center Theater. Please see the 2014/2015 performance schedule below, and for additional information about the Center, please visit artcenter.org. Escondido Mayor Sam Abed comments on the forthcoming season, “As Escondido’s cultural icon, the Center draws audiences to our city, driving the economy and showcasing our investment in the arts.” The Center’s Executive Director Jerry VanLeeuwen adds, “Our new season will reestablish and advance the Center as an essential component of arts and entertainment in San Diego. Our vibrant lineup, along with our art museum and community events, provide so many opportunities for people to experience the power of performance. I wish it were October already.” Alongside other celebrated Escondido attractions and facilities such as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Mayo Clinic, Stone Brewing Company and many others, the Center is thrilled to continue placing Escondido on the national map as a cultural mecca of the arts and invention. In addition to the diverse programming for their stages, the Center remains steadfast in their mission to provide standout educational and family-friendly offerings, captivating museum exhibitions, free community festivals and more. Below is a comprehensive performance schedule below for the Center’s 20th Anniversary season: Performing Arts 2014/2015 Season Lineup La Santa Cecilia *Friday, October 10, 2014 Center Theater @ 7:30pm La Santa Cecilia won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock Album and are known for their rousing performances that passionately combine Latin culture with rock and world music. Intimate Classic Series, Violin Sirena Huang *Sunday, October 19, 2014 Center Theater @ 3:00pm Master Class Studio One @ 11:00am Since her solo debut at age 9, Sirena Huang has played with some 40 orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as for heads of state and royalty. With the glide of her bow, the young prize-winning violinist channels centuries of history and tradition. Jake Shimabukuro *Friday, October 31, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm Declared by Rolling Stone as a “musical hero,” ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro has earned praise from rock icon Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam as well as comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. Pilobolus *Saturday, November 15, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm Master Class Concert Hall @ 10:00am A Guinness World Record holder and Grammy nominee, the globally renowned dance company Pilobolus has performed on the Oscars, Oprah, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, showcasing their signature flipping, swinging, flying, and lifting all the while challenging the way we think about dance. Intimate Classics Series, Guitar Paul Galbraith *Sunday, November 23, 2014 Center Theater @ 3:00pm Master Class Studio One @ 11:00am Internationally-renowned as a brilliant innovator of the classical guitar, Paul Galbraith masterfully expands the limits of his instrument. By exchanging the traditional guitar for the eight-string Brahms Guitar, which he helped develop, Galbraith found the ideal instrument with which to interpret the classical transcriptions from his personal repertoire. “A Merri-Achi Christmas” Mariachi Sol de Mexico *Friday, December 5, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm The platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated Mariachi Sol de Mexico presents a colorful celebration of Mexico’s Christmas traditions, embracing the romanticism of Mexico’s land, culture, and people. This show includes seasonal song and dance along with select Mariachi classics. Pink Martini *Sunday, December 7, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm Formed by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in 1994, Pink Martini is an American band with international flair and a penchant for the nostalgic. Known as the “little orchestra”, Pink Martini’s globally-inspired repertoire is wildly diverse, crossing genres of classical, Latin, jazz, and old-fashioned pop. Merle Haggard *Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm A Country Music Hall of Famer, Grammy Award winner, and most recently Kennedy Center Honoree, Merle Haggard is a country music icon and living legend. Haggard and his songs retain the grit, heart, and honesty that first won him fans and the standing as “the poet of the common man.” Christmas with Lúnasa with Special Guest Karan Casey *Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Center Theater @ 7:30pm Lúnasa, an “Irish music dream team” as dubbed by Folk Roots magazine (UK), brings a Celtic Christmas celebration to the Center with Grammy-winning guest vocalist Karan Casey, who has been described as one of the most innovative and provocative voices in traditional and contemporary Irish music. Special Christmas Show Blind Boys of Alabama *Tuesday, December 23, 2014 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm The five-time Grammy Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama mix gospel-tinged versions of seasonal favorites along with soulful classics in a joyous evening of stirring music. Peking Acrobats *Saturday, January 10, 2015 Concert Hall @ 7:30pm The Peking Acrobats are masters of agility and grace, defying gravity with awe-inspiring gymnastic displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. Accompanied by live musicians and high-tech special effects, the acrobats bring the excitement of a Chinese Carnival to the stage! Intimate Classics Series, Piano Keyboard Conversations®, Concerts with Commentary Jeffrey Siegel *Sunday, January 11, 2015 Center Theater @ 3:00pm According to the LA Times, “Jeffrey Siegel has everything: massive technique, musical sensitivity, character and the ability to communicate.” The brilliantly polished
22 viewsFREE CONCERT CELEBRATES SOUNDS OF THE GULF COAST 3K
Total Views: 68 January 31, 2011 (Escondido) – As part of its “Free First Wednesdays” series, California Center for the Arts in Escondido will present Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters on February 2 from 4-7 p.m. in the Center Theater. Get in the mood for Mardi Gras at the concert, celebrating sounds of the Gulf Coast with traditional Cajun and zydeco music, Texas swing, second line parade and original tunes. The event is free to all. Tickets are available one hour prior to curtain on a first-come, first-served basis. The performance is sponsored by the Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, The Rotary Club of Escondido, and Dr. David and Mrs. Lynn Tagge. Hear music and view a video of Swamp Critters here: http://www.theswampcritters.com/ Get more information and directions at: http://www.artcenter.org/performances/11february/index.html Printer-friendly version
3K viewsFOREVER PLAID ON STAGE IN ESCONDIDO JAN. 29 2.9K
Total Views: 58 January 27, 2011 (Escondido) – The California Center for the Arts in Escondido and Mike Pettite Presentations will present the musical comedy Forever Plaid on Saturday, January 29 at 7 p.m. The playbill description is as follows: As four-part guy groups harmonized their way across the airwaves, Forever Plaid made its rise to the top. Not even a fatal car crash could stop the old-fashioned gents in plaid as they try to ‘make it,’ making the best of the toughest of rejections and the most challenging roadblocks — including death. See the Plaids return to Earth for one final concert, performing some of the greatest hits from the ’50s before returning to heaven. Tickets: $28–$45 VIP Tickets: $65 For more information, visit http://www.artcenter.org/performances/ Printer-friendly version
2.9K views