By Richard S. Ginell, San Francisco Classical Voice No one, not even Dave Brubeck, expected Time Out to be the first million-selling jazz album. It was supposed to be an experimental voyage into strange regions, a record that fiddled with compound and odd-meter time signatures that were supposedly alien to jazz. No American Songbook … Read More
By Lily O’Brien, San Francisco Classical Voice In what almost seems like an alternative universe, not so long ago, when the performing arts weren’t just a virtual reality, you could have found acclaimed soprano Janinah Burnett in any number of places — interpreting roles like Bianca in La Rondine at the Metropolitan Opera House, enchanting … Read More
By Lilly O’Brien, San Francisco Classical Voice When violinist Regina Carter was just 2 years old, she walked over to the family’s piano and by ear began playing something that one of her brothers had been practicing. When she was 4 years old, her mother enrolled her in a class to learn the Suzuki Method, … Read More
Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice Ben Winkelman Trio | April 30–May 1 I wasn’t familiar with Australian-reared, New York pianist Ben Winkelman until receiving a copy of his recently released fifth album Balance (OA2 Records), which left me determined to catch him in performance. A startlingly impressive trio session focusing on his original tunes, the album brims with … Read More
Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice Ian Faquini and Natalie Cressman | April 6 Brasilia-born Berkeley guitarist/vocalist Ian Faquini is a composer of inordinately sad and beautiful melodies, building on the supremely sophisticated sound of his mentor, legendary Brazilian songwriter Guinga. In San Francisco-reared trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman he’s found an ideal muse and musical partner who can … Read More
Natalie Cressman and Guitarist Ian Faquini Team Up for a Brazilian Outing Jeff Kaliss, San Francisco Classical Voice The sounds of Brazil prevail in the Bay Area in the first week of April. On Tuesday, April 2, Danilo Brito, a mandolin virtuoso of choro, a balladic genre dating back to the 19th century, plays Yoshi’s, … Read More
