music

Santa Cruz Youth Symphony Performs at UCSC Nov. 12

October 24, 2017 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz Youth Symphony to perform at UCSC on November 12, 2017

The Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony will perform their Fall 2017 Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 12, at the UCSC Music Recital Hall. We can’t think of a better way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon — listening to music by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich performed by our talented young musicians, ages 10 to 20. In particular, children will be inspired to see other kids their age performing at such a high level. No one will be disappointed!

Founded in 1966, the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony is made up of students from throughout Santa Cruz County who study and excel at their chosen instruments, from violin to cello, flute to trumpet, harp to percussion. Our mission is to foster a lifelong appreciation for classical music in the youth of Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas, with an emphasis on the beauty and value of the experience of playing and performing this music with others.

Music director and conductor Nathaniel Berman is one of those charismatic young conductors who knows how to work with young people and bring out the best in their musical abilities. The Fall Concert features 13-year-old soloist Laura Wang performing in a beautiful Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that many listeners will recognize. Beethoven’s 5th Symphony shows off the orchestra’s skill at conveying both grand and quiet moments. It’s hard to choose, but my personal favorite on the program is the delightful set of dances that make up the Ballet Suite by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Admission to the concert is free for students up to age 18. Adults pay $15, seniors $10, older students just $5. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or through the Buy Tickets button on our website: http://www.sccys.org/concerts/

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Exclusive Interview with James Durbin

March 11, 2017 by Seb Frey

For those of you who haven’t heard, local musician James Durbin was recently announced as the new lead singer for Quiet Riot, the legendary metal band. James was kind enough to grant an interview to AptosCommunityNews about this new musical venture.

First, congratulations on joining Quiet Riot! That’s quite an accomplishment.

1) How did you happen to get connected up with those guys?

JD: I was doing a residency show in Las Vegas and ended up (re)connecting with QR Guitarist Alex Grossi and we started our own songwriting project titled “Maps To The Hollywood Scars” of which we just released our first five song EP titled “Volume 1”. Throughout our time writing, Alex played our songs to QR Drummer Frankie Banali. Frankie had had his eye on me for a few years. I guess everything just fell into place at the right time 🙂

2) What history do you have with the band – have you been a fan, if so, how long?

JD: The first time I heard QUIET RIOT’s ‘Bang Your Head (Metal Health)’ was on a video game called Legends Of Wrestling. The gameplay was awful but the theme song was worth keeping it haha. This is a few years before YouTube was around.

3) Do you have any favorite Quiet Riot songs in particular that you look forward to rocking out on?

JD: Since QR rehearsals took place earlier this week all songs in the setlist are just as strong as the next one, but in particular I’m currently enjoying ‘Condition Critical’, ‘Thunderbird’, ‘Put Up Or Shut Up’ & ‘Sucks To Be You’.

4) Have you and the rest of your new band mates discussed any changes to the sound or a new approach to performing their music?

JD: QUIET RIOT is a straight-forward Rock ‘n Roll party band! 1 Guitarist, 1 Bassist, 1 Drummer & the Singer 🙂 We now have 3 Generations in the band, so there will definitely be some new approaches happening every now and then.

5) Quiet Riot is something of an institution in the heavy metal world – and you’re a pretty young guy. Do you have any concerns about that?

JD: No concerns at all. As soon as we hit the stage for the first time together, any concerns will be laid to rest.

6) When will be your first show with Quiet Riot?

JD: My first show is at The Cotillion in Wichita, KS on March 18th! I can’t wait to unleash everything we’ve got on that crowd haha. I hope they’re ready.

7) Are there plans to record any new material with the band now that you’re on board?

JD: Right now QUIET RIOT is focused on touring and getting the word out about my joining the band.

8) Will Quiet Riot be playing in or near Santa Cruz any time soon?

JD: No scheduled dates at this time, but we are looking at possible bookings in Santa Cruz.

9) Quiet Riot is based in L.A. – does this mean you’ll need to move, or will you be staying here in the Santa Cruz area?

JD: Most of my travels will be weekend based, so there are no plans to move at this time.

10) Will you continue your career as a solo artist?

JD: Absolutely! I recently released my first Independent album “Riot On Sunset” that was recorded in Santa Cruz at Rocker Studios with ‘Father’ Rick Vierra. We will be recording an Acoustic Album sometime this year as well as a songwriting project with my wife Heidi.

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James Durbin is appearing TONIGHT, March 11th, at the Catalyst Club in downtown Santa Cruz to support Jacob’s Heart. The show starts at 7:30 PM – so head and down and check it out!

Twelfth Night Harp Festival

January 3, 2017 by Seb Frey

The Community Music School is putting on a Twelfth Night Harp Festival, this coming Saturday, January 7th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at Resurrection Church in Aptos. This will be a celebration of the harp in its many forms, featuring soloists Steve Coulter (folk harp) Cathleen O’Connell (wire-strung harp), Malima Kone, (kora), the Community Music School Harp Orchestra and teen band. The performance will be conducted by Shelley Phillips, and the musicians will perform traditional Celtic and Ukrainian music.

Across the ages, the harp has been both universal and unique in human musical experience, holding a sort of mystical place in our consciousness and enchanting us with a pure, transcendent sound. It is arguably the most ancient stringed instrument, found all over the world in many cultures; the origin of the harp goes all the way back to Mesopotamia, with the earliest harps found in Sumer around 3500 BCE.

In modern times, it has changed and developed in all sorts of ingenious ways, leading to the pedal or concert harp (the giant harps typically seen in orchestras or jazz ensembles) and the electric harp (special effects-ready, in all sorts of crazy shapes and colors!). The harp is also the national instrument of Ireland, Paraguay, and Burma.

Admission to this event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted to benefit youth music programs at the Community Music School, a non-profit educational organization.

This is a kid-friendly event, and a harp “petting zoo” will follow the performance for curious concert-goers.

Temple Beth El to Host Music Panel

April 11, 2016 by Seb Frey

New Music Works, Chadeish Yameinu Jewish Renewal and Temple Beth El invite you to join them for a panel discussion with musical illustrations about the historic and timeless musical connections that link the Middle East and West, on Friday, April 15, 8PM, at Temple Beth El.

Celebrated Israeli composer and lecturer Eitan Steinberg and vocalist Etty BenZaken will share their perspectives and artistry as prominent members of Israel’s music community. Discussions will also explore the long-echoing resonances and deep spirituality that connect Western and Middle Eastern cultures.

New Music Works Artistic Director Philip Collins will host this forum as a prelude to New Music Works’ Saturday evening concert, “Major Keys of Asia Minor”, 8 pm at the UCSC Music Recital Hall. The concert, featuring work by Mr. Steinberg and a performance Ms. BenZaken, will present music by Middle Eastern composers of Jewish, Christian and Muslim heritages.

This lecture will be repeated at 7PM on Saturday, April 16th, just before the concert.

New Music Works Ensemble Performs at Cabrillo

March 17, 2015 by Seb Frey

Pacific Premieres Musical Event

The New Music Works Ensemble Performs at Cabrillo College’s Barbara Samper Recital Hall on Saturday, April 4th at 8:00 PM. In addition, there will be a Composer-Performer panel discussion which begins at 7:00 PM, and the discussion will be free of charge to the public.

Several new chamber works will be performed by the ensemble, which will be conducted by Phil Collins.

Tickets must be purchased on Cabrillo College’s VAPA Vendini website:

General : $19 + $5 service fee
Senior : $14 + $5 service fee
Student : $5 with ID, availble at door only
Kids (Age 12 and Under): Free

This concert is supported in part by grants from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz Arts Council, the Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation. This performance is also sponsored by the Hill Guitar Company and Cabrillo College VAPA Department.

About New Music Works

New Music Works is dedicated to presenting music of our time in concert. Their goal is to develop a positive relationship between today’s audiences and the music of our time, through imaginative, diverse programming. Their annual concert series offers works by living composers in a variety of media, emphasizing music by Santa Cruz area composers, producing original music/theater works, while also including masterworks of the 20th and 21st centuries.

First Annual Santa Cruz American Music Festival

February 26, 2015 by Seb Frey

The First Annual Santa Cruz American Music Festival is set to rock Aptos Village Park on Memorial Day Weekend 2015, Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24. This year’s headline acts are Bonnie Raitt and Big & Rich, with a number of other highly talented artists including J.J. Grey, Los Lonely Boys, Coco Montoya, and many more.

Tickets go on sale starting March 1: children 6 and under are free, kids 7-12 are $25, and adults are $65 each, or $120 for both days, and can be purchased directly on the festival’s web site, or at Street Light Records in Santa Cruz.

While this is the First Annual Santa Cruz American Music Festival, the event is really the successor to the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, which was held in Aptos Village Park every year from 1993 to 2014. Aptos Village Park has historically hosted a number of festivals over the years, including the KPIG Fat Fry, the California Beer Festival, Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival, and many others.

Ray Charles, Santa Cruz Blues Festival 2003

Sunday at the Blues Festival

May 26, 2014 by Seb Frey

It’s Memorial Day Weekend in Aptos, which for the last twenty plus years has meant it’s also the weekend of the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, held down at Aptos Village Park. I haven’t been to the blues festival in years – the last time I went was to see the great Ray Charles play what turned out to be one of his last concerts.

Aptos Village Park is an awesome venue for a intimate outdoor concert experience such as the Blues Festival. For a number of years, they also held the KPIG Fat Fry there, too, although it’s been many years since the last one.

The Blues Festival spans two days – on Saturday, Gregg Allman headlined, and I heard from one of the ticket vendors that it was a great show. We went on Sunday, when Chris Isaak headlined. The crowd was a little thin – didn’t look anywhere close to sold out to me, although there were thousands of people there. I guess last year (2013) was kind of a disaster, oversold and with ham-fisted security people, so maybe that had something to do with the light attendance.

I went this year because Jackie Greene was playing, and I’m something of fan. I first saw him play 7 years ago when he joined Phil Lesh and Friends at the ripe of age 26. I was pretty impressed when I saw him jam with Phil and Friends – there’s no question, he plays a mean guitar, harmonica, and keyboard. I haven’t seen him play since then, but I’ve bought a number of his albums and caught him on YouTube here and there.

Listening to @jackie_greene getting stoked to see him on Sunday at the @cruzbluesfest
— sebfrey (@sebfrey) May 23, 2014

I went to the blues festival this year with my wife Rocio, our children Aiden (5) and Evan (2), and also my wife’s cousin Andrea who has been staying with us as she studies at Cabrillo College. Andrea had never been to anything like the Blues Festival, although Rocio did go with me to the Phil and Friends show back in ’07.

We all had a really good time – Rocio and Andrea particularly enjoyed Vintage Trouble. They were a lot of fun, a very tight blues band with great energy. Chris Isaak took the stage around 5 o’clock or so, and he was a lot of fun too – but we probably only made it half way through his set. We wanted to avoid the mad dash for the bus which would take us back to our car we’d parked at Cabrillo College. It worked out beautifully, actually – the bus was right there waiting for us when we walked up the hill out of the park.

It was good, too, to see some of my friends from the Capitola Aptos Rotary Club down there selling beer. We ended up buying our fair share from them, although the proceeds went to the festival itself. They just collected tips which went into their general fund. I bet they got to see the music for free though. 🙂

James Durbin Speaks in Aptos on March 29

March 26, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Monterey Herald is reporting that Santa Cruz native James Durbin will be speaking – and possibly performing a song or two – at the Cabrillo College Visual and Performing Arts Complex this coming Saturday, March 29th at 7:30 PM. James Durbin garnered wide acclaim when he appeared on the 10th season of American Idol, coming in 4th Place. James is afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome and Aspberger’s Syndrome, and appeared in a documentary Different is the New Normal, about a teen living with Tourette’s.

Durbin will be talking with Wallace Baine of the Santa Cruz Sentinel about his upbringing and his experience on American Idol, and his life as a professional musician since his time on the top-rated TV show.

Adult tickets are $15; kids and seniors are $12, and Cabrillo Students are $10 and can be ordered here.

Santa Cruz Blues Festival 2014 Lineup Announced

March 25, 2014 by Seb Frey

The lineup for the 22nd annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival has been announced – and as usual, it brings an amazing amount of talent to our little town! This year, the festival is being headlined by Gregg Allman (of Allman Brothers fame) and Chris Isaak. The Sunday show also features musical virtuoso Jackie Greene, a rising star on the Jam Band circuit and an absolutely phenomenal talent at guitar, harmonica, and keyboard. Jackie is a son of the Monterey Bay area, having been born and raised in Salinas.

The festival dates are May 24th and 25th, and tickets are available on-line through the web site, but can also be purchased at Moe’s Alley and Streelight Records.

The Santa Cruz Blues Festival is one of those yearly events that make Aptos truly special. Plan to come early and stay late – they serve a wide range of food and beer. Bring the family and a set of lawn chairs and prepared to be amazed.

Also, be sure to like them on Facebook.