A few weeks ago, Janis Logan, co-owner of the Vintage Wine Bar in Redding, asked me if me and my band might want to play on this open Saturday date in August — the 15th.
At the time, I said, “Well, sure, I can’t think of anything else going on. Let’s call it a CD release party.”
Boy, do I know how to pick a date.
Turns out, there are a few things going on. Where do I start?
• One big show I should have remembered right away was set for right across the street at the Cascade Theatre. Linda Regan Bott is performing a concert called “Martinis With Santa.” She’ll be backed by an outstanding band, The Cool Yules, which includes jazz cats like Bruce Calin, Dan Kinkle, Jeff Jones and many more.
Linda Regan Bott
Regan Bott, who performed in Dean Martin’s band as a “Gold Digger,” will sing jazz standards and holiday favorites. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m. (tickets are $15-$32) will be recorded and produced as a Christmas gift for U.S. military forces serving overseas. The evening will also include harpist Candace LiVolsi, dancers, youth performers and Santa himself.
The other day, I listened to Regan Bott’s album “Something So Familiar,” which is a truly great recording. She possesses such a distintive, smoky, intriging voice and she gathered some first-class jazz pros for that CD. For more information on her Cascade show, click here.
— But, wait! There’s much more on Saturday (Aug. 15):
• The Oaksong Music Society is hosting its 5th annual Hawaiian Concert and Luau at Gray Pine Farm in Oak Run. If you’re kind of stressed out on in life, you should seriously consider attending this event. When I went to the Luau a couple summers ago, it had a hugely calming, mellowing effect on me. It just hard to be up tight around stellar Hawaiian music, with a belly full of Bruce Wendt’s amazing barbecue, sitting among the big pines at Gray Pine Farm.
Aaron Mahi, Martin Pahinui and George Kuo
This year’s lineup includes slack key guitar master George Kuo, vocalist/guitarist Martin Pahinui, bassist Aaron Mahi and steel guitarist Bobby Ingano.
Dinner-concert tickets are $38, or $22 for concert only. To order dinner-concert tickets call, 472-3065 by Friday (the Wendts need to know how much to cook). For more information, click here.
— But, wait! There’s more on Saturday (Aug. 15):
• The left-handed blues guitar master Coco Montoya performs an 8:30 p.m. show at the Dunsmuir Grill and Creamery (5740 Dunsmuir Ave. in Dunsmuir). I always marvel at a guitarist who plays with the strings flopped upside down — big strings on the bottom, like Albert King.
Coco Montoya
So as a right-handed guitarist, you could just hand Montoya your guitar and he’d turn it over, move it left-handed and play blues like you’ve never heard. You probably wouldn’t want your guitar back at that point. Click here for more info on his show.
— Oh, there’s more:
• If you’re in the Weaverville area, Allison Scull and Victor Martin are performing a special evening of their music, joined by jazz pianist Grant Levin and percussionist Mike Harris, at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Call 623-8695 or click here.
— You know there’s more:
• The Shasta Blues Revue Big End of Summer Party featuring guitarist Marvin Allen takes place at Lulu’s Eating and Drinking Establishment, 2230 Pine St. in Redding. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the music starting at 8 p.m. Cover is $5. Call 246-3984.
— More?
• Yeah! A CD release party at the Vintage Wine Bar (starting at about 8 p.m.) featuring a bandleader who is so wise he would never pick a date where there’s a million other great music events going on. You can certainly trust a guy who’s this wise.
