Sonoma’s own jazz sweetheart Dana Land will be appearing at the Plaza Bistro tonight, March 18, for a 7 p.m. show. Land has been a mainstay in the local jazz scene since she decided to make her passion for jazz vocals a reality some years back, and sought out some local jazz musicians and produced an album, and she hasn’t looked back. She was instrumental in bringing jazz to the Lodge at Sonoma over the past few years, and also works the jazz camp for children during the summer. Tonight, Land will have with her Ross Gualco on piano, Kendrick Freeman on drums and John Hoy on bass and guitar. There is no cover for the show. In case you haven’t been to the Bistro in a while, they’ve switched the bar and the stage around in the back room, making for a different vibe from the room.
Jacuzzi Family Winery will host a return appearance of the Daedalus String Quartet on Saturday, March 19, at 5 p.m. No, this is not Deadalus Howells latest gig, last we heard he was still in Static People, this is a world renowned classical music act. The Daedalus String Quartet has performed in many musical venues in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan and has also been the Columbia University Quartet-in-Residence since 2005. Founded in the spring of 2000, the Quartet is composed of Min-young Kim and Ara Gregorian on violins, Jessica Thompson on viola, and Raman Ramakrishnan on cello. For more info on the show, point your browser to www.sonomaclassical.org. Tickets can be purchased at the website, or at the door, if available.
Local classical music buffs will be happy to hear that local violin protégé Nigel Armstrong was accepted into the Tchaikovsky Competition in Saint Petersburg, Russia, this June, which is a two-week competition and one of the most challenging in the world. Good luck to young Nigel.
The Sonoma Valley Chorale will have two performances, the second of which will be in Sonoma Valley at St Andrew Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 20, at 3 p.m. They will be joined by guests from the Church of the Roses and members of the St. Andrew Choir as well for a tribute to those lost in the events of 9/11, the holocaust and other world events. Tickets for the Sonoma show are available at Pharmaca, the UPS Store or by calling 935-1576. The Saturday, March 19, show will be at the Church of the Roses in Santa Rosa. For more info, point your browser to www.sonomavalleychorale.org.
Pete Olson and his Cajun House Party Band will be tearing it up at Little Switzerland on Saturday, March 19, for an 8 p.m. show. Olson has been a staple in the local cajun music scene for many years and you never know who is going to show up at the show to sit in with the band.
The Olde Sonoma Public House has the Keith Andrews Band tonight, March 18, for a 7:30 p.m. show. Saturday, March 19, brings the debut performance of Third Party to the venue. Third Party has former BackTrax guitarist Noah Hill laying down rock, blues and even some country tunes. Showtime is 7:30 and there is no cover for either night.
Wildflower Weed will be in the studio this weekend recording their new, as of yet untitled album, that will be recorded at the Sonoma Valley Music studios with Gerard Serafini at the helm. Look for a release in late spring.
Moondance Cellars will have the father- son duo of Tom and Dan Martin on back-to-back days this weekend, as part of the Savor Sonoma event. The elder Martin, Tom, will be in the tasting room at Jack London Village in Glen Ellen on Saturday, March 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tom is also a member of the Sonoma Mountain Band and the Carrtunes. Martin the younger, Dan, will keep the room hopping on Sunday, March 20, with his blues and reggae grooves. There is no cover for the music, but for more about the event, point your browser to www.heartofsonomavalley.com.
There will be a fundraiser for Tim Dixon on Sunday, March 20, at Murphy’s Irish Pub from 1 to 5 p.m. Dixon has been undergoing treatment for cancer for the past several months and spent many years living in Glen Ellen and Kenwood. Dixon designed many rock and roll posters in the late ‘60s for big-name concerts across the country and in Hawaii. Several years ago he was commissioned to do a very large oil painting for Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. Scheduled to perform are Faith Ako, Scott Gerber and Cori Wood, Dan Hicks, Steve Kahn, Tommy Thomsen, Ted Macklin, David Maloney and the Perfect Crime. There is a requested minimum donation of $10. For more info about the show, call 935-0660.
The Cork Pullers will be doing double-duty on Saturday, March 19, kicking off at Imagery Estate Winery for a 1 p.m. show. Then the band packs up and jumps in the band van and travels to the Sonoma Valley Grange Hall for the fourth annual “Chicken Spring Fling.” The dinner-dance will feature local produce from local farms and will celebrate the vernal equinox, or the coming of spring. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. Tickets and more info can be found by pointing your browser to www.sonomavalleygrange.org or by calling 996- 4373.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has a tribute to a long-time performer who passed recently: The life of John Kelley will be celebrated with his former band, Kith and Kin tonight, March 18, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, brings the Perfect Crime into the new snug, also for an 8 p.m. show. E. Z. Kewl will be back at the pub on Sunday, March 20, for an early show at 6 p.m.
Cynthia Tarr and Cliff Hugo will be traveling up to the romantic hamlet of Mendocino tonight, March 18, to the Mendocino Hotel, where the duo will perform two sets, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
The David Thom Band will be at the Lagunitas Tap Room in Petaluma on Sunday, March 20, for a 3 p.m. show.
Garen Paterson is back at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco on Monday, March 21, for an encore performance of “Martas Inferno” at 7 p.m. For tickets and more info, call Garen at 337-2313.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
The Pulsators – Saturday, March 19.
Peri’s – Fairfax
415-459-9910
Tom Rigney and Flambeau – Friday, March 18.
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219
Petty Theft – Tom Petty Tribute – Saturday, March 19.
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-2343
Michelle Shocked – Friday, March 18.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
New Mastersounds – Sunday, March 20.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
Gretchen Wilson – Sunday, March 20.
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123