Thursday, October 22, 2009

Grizzly Bear Solana Beach Show


Have you ever seen a show so good that you left feeling slightly devastated? As in, how the f**K are these guys so good?! So much passion, such amazing harmony in the vocals, and every dude in the band is SO solid.

Grizzly Bear - "Ready, Able" from Veckatimest









The opening band, Beach House, was definitely interesting in their own right, maybe not quite as stunning as GB, but cool, moody music. Victoria Legrand, the lead singer, has a uniquely beautiful, husky kind of voice.

Beach House - "Heart of Chambers" from Devotion








Thursday, October 15, 2009

3 Reasons to LOVE PBS

1. Mendez & McNab
I turned on PBS last night and saw an amazing show called "Concierto Para Mendez" - a celebration of legendary trumpeter Rafael Mendez. If you don't know who that is, check out the video below, or find this program on TV.

Malcomb McNab, a legendary trumpeter in his own right, performs Rafael's solos in this "Concierto".

I believe it's being re-broadcast at various times this week, so check your local listings.

Here's a link...
http://www.kcet.org//programs/arts-performance/index.php?mID=15382&refer=hmh



2. MTT & SFS

Also on PBS this week is "Keeping Score", featuring Michael Tilson Thomas & the San Francisco Symphony. MTT goes into great detail about certain works of music (Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is this week) and it's by far one of my favorite shows. Check it out!
http://www.keepingscore.org/

3. Dudamel & LA Phil
"I want more!" you say? - The inaugural concert of conductor Gustavo Dudamel with the LA Phil is on next week!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fall Greetings

Hey everyone,

This time of year is insane, as always! I just finished some really exciting work with the Symphony in the Glen up in LA. Not only did I perform with Leonard Nimoy (as narrator) at the Griffith Observatory in LA (which was iiiinnnteresting), but at the Greek Theater, and in a recording at the Fox Studios. The recording will apparently be made available for purchase through the Griffith Observatory. Details to come...

In the midst of all of that I traveled out to Boulder to take an audition with the Boulder Philharmonic (I will not be moving to Boulder, although that place is pretty nice), and attended the wedding of Dan and Amanda, my nearest and dearest friends. So on top of starting classes at Fairmont and teaching private lessons, it's been a busy kickoff to fall '09.

I have a couple of performances coming up that may interest you musically:

La Mirada Symphony
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2009 8:00 P.M.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 40, G Minor, K550
Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8, B Minor, Unfinished
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony N0. 7, A Major, Op. 92

Long Beach Symphony Pops
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2009 8:00P.M.

Long Beach Symphony Pops
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, 2009 6:30P.M.
&
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 2009 2:00 P.M.