Jazz saxophonist Michael Zilber, will grace the back room at the Plaza Bistro tonight, April 22. Zilber has performed or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Henderson, John Handy Holmes and John Stowell, among many others. Jazz legend Dave Liebman calls Zilber “one of the best composers and players around anywhere, period!” Zilber’s album “Stranger in Brooklyn,” was named one of the top 30 CDs of all time by www.jazzfusion.com. Zilber-led groups have headlined at Festivals and venues from Yoshi’s in San Francisco to Bach Dynamite Dance hall in Half Moon Bay, and he recently shared the stage with the Wayne Shorter Quartet in the San Francisco Jazz Tribute. Zilber also runs the Los Medanos College jazz studies program and has a doctorate from New York University. Showtime is 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
The Dark Lord Byron will be at the Olde Sonoma Public House tonight, April 22, for his debut performance, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. The Dark Lord records all his own tracks, and then performs live on top of them.
If you miss the Dark Lord tonight, you can catch his act at the Barking Dog in Boyes Hot Springs Saturday, April 23, for a 6 p.m. show.
Hopmonk Tavern Sonoma will have the debut performance of the Magnetics, which features Sue Albano, Mark Dennis and “the Monster” Bob Edmondson tonight, April 22, for an 8:30 p.m. show. The band has been really looking forward to playing the venue, and will have a few new tunes to showcase as well.
Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Sweet Burgundy Trio tonight, April 22, for an 8 p.m. show. The all-female trio will be playing folk and rock songs. Saturday, April 23, the pub welcomes High Country, playing traditional and contemporary bluegrass music, also at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 24, the pub will have the acoustic sounds of Tudo Bem members Dave Aguilar and Peter McCauley for an evening of songs that will include a variety of genres, except Celtic. That is an early show, kicking off at 6 p.m.
Natasha James, hot off the huge success of her latest album “Tequila Time,” is back in the studio recording the single and title track for her next album called ‘My Country has the Blues.” The album is being engineered by Ronnie Rivera at the Marin County recording studio “The Site.” James has recently returned from a successful European tour that may also spawn a live album. In addition, James will shortly embark on some selected Northern California dates in support of the newest album. Stay tuned for more info.
The Free Radicals are back in action as well, with a bunch of new studio tracks coming our way in preparation for a new CD. The band consists of Don Trotta and Chris Caselli on guitar and vocals, Marius Pelsma on bass and Jim Holland on drums. Both Pelsma and Caselli did stints with Natasha James and Holland is a well-known local drum teacher, operating the Drum School of Sonoma and has written books on drumming, such as “The Best Double Bass Book Ever.”
Adam Traum will bring his solo act to Meadowcroft Winery at Cornerstone Sonoma in Carneros on Saturday, April 23, for an afternoon of folk, country and Americana, kicking off at noon. Traum is a great finger-picker as well as a singer-songwriter.
Sonoma’s own Sinatra, Stan Pappas will be on the road to Rickey’s Restaurant in Novato on Saturday, April 23, to perform his Frank Sinatra tribute for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover, but reservations are requested by calling 415-883-5952.
Sonoma’s own bluesmen the Hellhounds will be in Napa this weekend on Saturday, April 23, for an 8 p.m. show.
Points North featuring Eric Barnett on guitar, will be at George’s Nightclub in San Rafael tonight, April 22, for a night of instrumental rock. Playing with Points North that night on bass will be Uriah Duffy, formerly of Whitesnake. The band will be opening for the Memorials. The show kicks off at 8:30 p.m.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
Pride and Joy– Friday, April 22.
19 Broadway – Fairfax
415-459-0293
Ron Thompson and the Resistors – Saturday, April 23.
Peri’s – Fairfax
415-459-9910
Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Friday, April 22.
Mystic Theatre – Petaluma
765-2121
Vicious Rumors – Saturday, April 23.
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-2343
Yo! Pizazaface – Friday, April 22.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
Foreverland – Michael Jackson Tribute – Saturday, April 23.
Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco
415-474-0365
Paul Simon – Wednesday, April 27.
The Fillmore – San Francisco
415-346-600
Tommy Castro – Saturday, April 23.
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123