Soundbytes – Bits and Pieces
The Hawaiian dance party season kicks off this weekend on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Sonoma Woman’s Club when Del Medina, referred to in the local hula circles as “the North Bay’s King of Kanikapila” will be officially recognized as the King after a coronation ceremony for him last fall. “Kanikapila” means Hawaiian jam session, and is presented by the local hula group Hula Mai and all are welcome to bring an instrument and join in on the fun. The songs are half traditional Hawaiian and half American pop, so they’ll be room for anyone with even an ounce of musical talent, be it on a guitar, ukulele, kazoo or even a foot stomper or two. Special feature this month will be the Pixar hit song “Someone to Lava” composed by Sonoma local Jim Murphy. Hula Mai’s teenagers will present their original choreography, accompanied by Alan Freeman’s ukulele class. Song sheets will be distributed so that everyone can play and sing along. The event gets under way at 2 p.m. with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and admission is a $5 donation and goes towards the upkeep of the historic Woman’s Club building which is turning 100 years old in Feb. of this year. For more info, point your browser to hulamai.org.
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We’ve always taken the stand that the music in Sonoma Valley is just as important as all the art and wine, and tonight, Jan. 22, at Bump Cellars, you can enjoy all three with wine, art and an album release party. The Hyman Loman Experience is a music collaboration between Quinton Cohen, vendor and son-in law of Paul of “Pauls Produce” and Alex “Wilky” Wilson, along with George Dolinsky, retired businessman and “small town shaman.” Just ask George about cotton. The album release event features a live performance of an eclectic mix of vocal samples over progressive rock sounds, which makes for a night of random acts of music. The music will be paired with local food and discounted wines will be available. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and there is no cover. Bump Cellars is right off the plaza at 524 Broadway.
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There’s a couple of Marks appearing at the Plaza Bistro tonight, Jan. 22, but these aren’t the Marks you may be thinking of. These are “Jazz Cats,” Mark Lewis and Mark Levine, and they bring years of jazz experience with them to Sonoma Valley. Lewis is a master of the alto and baritone saxophone, along with the flute. Growing up in the Northwest United States, he studied music at Western Washington University and Cornish College of the Arts, and then moved to the Netherlands for 14 years where he performed at clubs and jazz festivals throughout Europe. Moving back to San Francisco, there he recorded a top 40 jazz album after auditioning for Stan Getz to land a record deal. He often subbed for Stan Getz after that. Lewis has almost 1,700 songs to his name, and has played with the likes of George Cables, Mark Levine, Candy Finch Chuck Metcalf to name a few.
Levine is a Grammy-nominated pianist and instructor at the California Jazz Conservatory and University of California at Berkeley and is not only a highly respected performer, but also a well-known author. “Jazz Times” named his book “The Jazz Theory Book” the number one choice in its recommended basic jazz library, and available in seven languages. Levine has played with many jazz legends, including Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Tito Puente, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie, to name just a few. Showtime is 7 p.m. and there is no cover
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar
865 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 938-7779
Tonight, Jan. 22, Full Circle – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, Vitamin Girl – 7:30 p.m.
Blue Moon Saloon
19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 996-3055
Saturday, Jan. 23, Karaoke – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24, Blues Jam – all welcome – 10 p.m.
Bump Wine Cellars
521 Broadway Sonoma – 228-9214
Tonight, Jan. 22, Hyman – Loman Experience Album release party – 6 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille
400 First St. E. Sonoma – 938-7110
Tonight, Jan. 22, DJ Hi – Isak – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, DJ Cal – 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market
Depot Park – 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Jan. 22, Stewart Degner – 9:30 a.m. .
HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway Sonoma – 935-9100
Tonight, Jan. 22, Billy Manzik – 8 p.m
Saturday, Jan. 23, Witherward – 8 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
464 First St. E. Sonoma – 935-0660.
Tonight, Jan. 22, Amy Wigton Trio – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, Doug Adamz – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24, Hooper and Sloss Trio – 7 p.m.
Muscardini Cellars
9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood – 933-9305
Saturday, Jan. 23, Adam Traum – 1 p.m
Olde Sonoma Public House
18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs – 938-7587
Sunday, Jan. 24, Karaoke – 7:30 p.m.
Plaza Bistro
420 First St E. Sonoma – 996-4466
Tonight, Jan. 22, Mark Lewis and Mark Levine Duo – 7 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall
401 Grove St. El Verano – 343-0044
Tonight, Jan. 22, Magic – 7 p.m
Saturday, Jan. 23, Sonoma Punk Rock with Get Dead and the Connies – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24, Sweet Potato 5 – 5 p.m.
Schellville Grill
22900 Broadway, Sonoma – 996-5151
Saturday, Jan. 23, Butch Engle and Styx – 12:30 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall
452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma – 996-1364.
Tonight, Jan. 22, New Copasetics with Tim Eschliman, Gailene Elliot, Sean Allen and John Hanes – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, Mark Dennis, Mark Willson and Friends – 4:30 p.m. – John Allair and Julia Harrell – 8 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club
574 First St. E. – 938-8313
Saturday, Jan. 23, Hawaiian Jam Session – 2 p.m.
Vintage House senior center
264 First St. E. Sonoma – 996-0311
Sunday, Jan. 24 – Benvenue Trio and Friends, – 3 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it.