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Howard Alden ~ 7 String Guitar Master from NY, Solo Performance

Sunday, August 10 ~ 7:00 p.m.

Jazz In The Vineyard, Paschal Winery (1122 Suncrest Road, Talent, OR)

Tickets $25/$20 for Siskiyou Music Project Members.

Advance Reservations are highly recommended

Call 541-488-3869 or email for reservation


Reservations



“He may be the best of his generation,” writes Owen Cordle in JazzTimes. George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger proclaims that he is “the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists.” And Chip Deffaa of the New York Post observes that he is “…one of the very finest young guitarists working today.”

It seems that the only thing regarding Howard Alden on which the critics have debate is whether the remarkable jazz guitarist is one of the best or simply the best.

Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years.

Howard Alden has been a Concord Jazz recording artist since the late ’80s where his prolific recorded output as leader, co-leader, and versatile sideman, has captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality.One of the many highlights in Howard Alden’s fruitful association with Concord Jazz came in 1991 when, at the urging of Concord President, Carl Jefferson, Alden recorded with one of his all-time heroes, seven-string guitar master George Van Eps on the album Thirteen Strings .

As a result of his associating with – and inspiration from – George Van Eps, Alden has been playing the seven-string guitar since 1992. The seven string guitar imparts a greater range and harmonic richness to Alden’s already colorful tonal palette, as evidenced on three remarkable follow-up albums with Van Eps, his critically acclaimed duo recordings with saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski, and the stunning interplay between Alden and special guest Frank Wess on Your Story – The Music of Bill Evans . Alden also teamed up with fellow guitarists Jimmy Bruno and Frank Vignola to record a three guitar outing entitled The Concord Jazz Guitar Collective , which was quickly called by some critics “an instant classic!”

Howard can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1999 Woody Allen movie “Sweet and Lowdown”, starring Sean Penn, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for his role as a legendary jazz guitarist in the ’30s. Howard not only played all the guitar solos, but also coached Mr. Penn on playing the guitar for his role in the film. The London Observer has this to say about Alden’s new solo CD, My Shining Hour ; “If there is such a thing as a complete jazz guitarist, then Alden is it. Only a real virtuoso can sustain a whole CD of solo guitar with the aplomb he displays here.”

In 2004 Howard was the guitarist(and musical director) chosen for an all-star line-up commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, touring 50 cities of the United States in addition to their appearance at the Newport Festival. The 2005-2006 season saw Howard adding his acoustic guitar voice to violinist Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing on his national concert tour. His 2009 recording, “I REMEMBER DJANGO”, once again features his distinctive acoustic sound, developing and expanding the warm and elegant spirit of his performance in “Sweet and Low Down”. Howard’s inimitable playing has also been sought out by rock/blues/pop icon Steve Miller for recording projects and live appearances.
Howard Alden was voted “Best Emerging Talent-Guitar” in the first annual JazzTimes critics’ poll, 1990, and “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” in the 1996, 1992, 1993 and 1995 Downbeat critics’ poll. As jazz critic Wayne Thompson writes simply, in Jazzscene, “If there are better young jazz guitar players in America than Howard Alden, I have yet to hear them.” Howard’s growing base of loyal fans couldn’t agree more.

Occidental Gypsy ~ World Gypsy Music Quintet from Rhode Island

Saturday, July 12 ~ 7:00 p.m.

Jazz In The Vineyard, Paschal Winery (1122 Suncrest Road, Talent, OR)

Tickets $25/$20 for Siskiyou Music Project Members.

Advance Reservations are highly recommended

Call 541-488-3869 or email for reservation


Reservations




Siskiyou Music Project presents for the first time in southern Oregon, Occidental Gypsy from Rhode Island. Occidental Gypsy is pioneering the sound of World Gypsy music. Their mélange of uptempo, high-energy rhythms of gypsy swing, melded with the catchy melodic hooks of pop and complex structures of jazz delivers a thrilling auditory experience to listeners.

Occidental Gypsy’s sound is appealing to a wide spectrum of people, and their shows consistently attract enthusiastic audiences at colleges, arts centers, festivals and clubs. Their fans include musicians who enjoy the sophisticated compositions and masterful play, yet most folks just come to enjoy the music and dance. The band has found a unique beat and bestows a dynamic mix of original vocal and instrumental pieces– and a few memorable standards– in fun, exhilarating performances. Occidental Gypsy’s music cannot be easily classified; a bit of jazz, a catchy strain of pop, and “a whole lotta gypsified swing…”

Occidental Gypsy has played in over 22 states including shows at the legendary Nighttown in Cleveland, Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and Blue Wisp in Cincinnati. Occidental Gypsy has shared the stage with such greats as Rikki Lee Jones, Jorma Kaukenen, Stanley Jordan, Joe Sample, Tony Rice, and David Bromberg, who also said about the band, “these guys have great singing, fantastic guitar and violin work, and high energy originals that leave the crowd crazy. An awesome band.”

An Occidental Gypsy performance includes so much more than just music. Jon, Eli, Brett, Jeff, and Erick are incredibly energetic and charming entertainers who interact with fans on a personal level, and incorporate audience participation into every show. On stage, the dialog between band members is entertaining, to the delight of the audience. Perhaps this is why the Boston Globe recommends an Occidental Gypsy show as a “Weekend Best Bet.”

When Occidental Gypsy decided to gypsify Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on the band’s debut album. “Over Here,” released in 2011, they were quick to garner critical acclaim, and have continued to gather rave reviews and full houses during active touring. Motif Magazine wrote, “Listeners will surely be all in with Occidental Gypsy’s Over Here,” and defined the band as “a terrific and unpretentious fab four”.

Occidental Gypsy was originally formed by brothers Brett (lead guitar) and Jeff Feldman(bassist) as a straight-ahead Gypsy Jazz Quartet. Through the release of Over Here and the addition of new members, the band has taken on a far more diverse, sophisticated, and eclectic sound. The group is fronted by Berklee-trained Jonathan Hurley, and takes the audience to soaring heights by young prodigy violinist Eli Bishop and percussionist Erick Cifuentes. The band also occasionally taps international talents to join the band on stage like Yuki Nakajima and Jason Anick of the John Jorgenson Quintet.

Live, the band compliments original material with expertly arranged ‘gypsified’ covers. Occidental Gypsy’s unique approach to world, pop, jazz and dance music stems from the influence of Gypsy Swing founders, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli.The members of the group posses a deep knowledge and reverence for the Gypsy style and feel honored to bring their music to the ears of new audiences. And now, with an ever-growing list of performances, and presence online through website and social networking pages, Occidental Gypsy’s fan base is constantly expanding.

Featured violinist Eli Bishop began his musical studies with the violin at the age of three. Over the years he continued his musical education at the Vanderbilt Blair School of Music in Nashville and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His studies of various musical styles–including Classical, Western Swing, Rock, Country, and Jazz– provided him with the opportunity to perform with a wide variety of musical artists ranging from Vince Gill and the Time Jumpers, to the Wooten brothers, Bill Evans of the Miles Davis Groupand Wynton Marsalis. Within the band, Eli showcases his eclectic and masterful technique that has brought him ’round the world with the greats.

The name Occidental Gypsy (Western gypsy) embodies the concept behind Gypsy World fusion. The group has taken the Gypsy sound that originated in Eastern Europe and brought it Over Here to blend it seamlessly with contemporary American music. Interestingly, Gypsy Swing was created by taking American Jazz to the East and blending it with the Gypsy Folk tradition. Now almost a century later Occidental Gypsy brings the music back home.

Frank Vignola & Vinnie Rainilo/Extraordinary Guitar Duo

Thursday June 19 ~ 7:00 p.m.

Jazz In The Vineyard, Paschal Winery (1122 Suncrest Road, Talent, OR)

Tickets $25/$20 for Siskiyou Music Project Members.


Reservations




The Siskiyou Institute is please to present the amazing guitar duo featuring Frank Vignola & Vinnie Rainilo. These guys are jaw dropping guitarists and you have to see them to believe them! Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitar List” for the Wall Street Journal. Vignola’s jaw-dropping technique explains why the New York Times deemed him “one of the brightest…stars of the guitar”.

Advance Reservations are highly recommended

Call 541-488-3869 or email for reservations.

Pearl Django, Hot Gypsy Jazz from Seattle, WA

Thursday, June 5 ~ 7 pm

Jazz at the Vineyard, Paschal Winery (1122 Suncrest Road, Talent, OR)

SOLD OUT!
Please call 541-488-3869 or email "> to be on the wait list.

Siskiyou Music Project kicks off it’s Summer Concert Series with Seattle based Gypsy jazz group Pearl Django. The will be the groups first time appearing as a quintet with their accordion player David Lange. Also in the group is Troy Chapman on Guitar; Ryan Hoffman, Guitar; Michael Gray, Violin & Rick Leppanen, Bass

Now in their eighteenth year of performing, Pearl Django continues to be one of America¹s most respected and busiest Hot Club style groups. Though still strongly influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt, Pearl Django¹s repertoire now includes many original compositions. Their music reaches out across the divides of taste to a wide variety of audiences. The band’s fervent followers include Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli fans, guitar enthusiasts (and guitarists!), lovers of string music, including bluegrass devotees, who relish nimble, clean, intricate picking, “world music” fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, plus jazz buffs and aficionados of the new swing music.

Transcending simple categorization, Pearl Django packs in enthusiastic audiences at dancehalls and nightclubs, at folk music festivals and jazz festivals alike. The group¹s inception was as a trio in Tacoma, Washington in 1994.  The focus of Pearl Django was, and is, to incorporate the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with American swing music. They quickly expanded to a quintet, adding a violinist and a third guitarist.  An interview on NPR¹s All Things Considered in 2001 brought the group to national attention. In June 2002, Pearl Django performed at the prestigious Festival Django Reinhardt in Samois sur Seine, just outside of Paris, France. They have released 11 CDs to date.