Red Dragonfly Productions Blog

Labels: Benicia Historical Museum, Spenger Garden, Volker Strifler

Tim Zumwalt from the Vallejo Symphony called to let me know there is a change in "The Vienna Connection" program on March 14, 2009. Gone is Haydn's Symphony No. 96 in D major! Instead you will hear Haydn's Symphony No. 104 in D major, "The London," Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Gregory Fulkerson on violin. The program will also include a Beethoven violin concerto.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for students. Call the Vallejo Symphony at 707-643-4441 to get your tickets.

Labels: Gregory Fulkerson, Haydn, Vallejo Symphony, violin

The Best Intentions bring Motown revue to Benicia on March 7, 2009 at 8 pm in a Benefit Performance for AAUW’s Tech Trek Scholarship Program

The singing group The Best Intentions delivers a top-notch Motown revue at the Hayley Horn Auditorium, performing hits by such greats as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, and the legendary Temptations. It's a soulful show that will have the audience on their feet and dancing.

What is Tech Trek?

Tech Trek is a math and science summer camp designed to encourage young women going into the 8th grade to continue their interest in science and math. The camp features hands-on activities in core subjects in math, science and technology during the day and evening programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, marine biology and environmental biology.

Camps are held at various locations throughout California. Campers are chosen by their local AAUW branch to attend the camp nearest them. Tech Trek has been held since 1998 and the campers from the local Benicia/Vallejo Branch of AAUW attend camp at Mills College in Oakland.

The American Association of University Women Benicia/Vallejo Branch has made a commitment to send the maximum allowable number of campers for a local branch. The local Benicia/Vallejo branch will coordinate the selection of campers and will pay each camper’s fee for room, board and most educational materials.
What is AAUW?

AAUW has a rich history of working for the advancement of all women and girls. Founded in 1881 by 17 university alumanae, the organization has grown to represent over 100,000 college graduates across the United States. AAUW-California has 170 branches and a total membership of over 20,000 individuals.

The AAUW Educational Foundation provides funds to advance education, research and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal change. The Foundation’s Eleanor Roosevelt Fund provides cutting edge research in gender equity. Original funding for Tech Trek was provided by the Education Foundation.

Labels: AAUW, Best Intentions, Motown, Tech Trek

Voices of Latin Rock
5th Annual Benefit for Autism Awareness
January 24 , 2009 at 7:30 pm
The Warfield Theater
982 Market Street
San Francisco, CA
$45-$75
415. 775.7722 for tickets and information

WAR

Azteca
Pete Escovedo, Wendy Haas, Victor Pantoja, Errol Knowles, Bill Courtial, Jules Rowlles, Sheila E.

Los Cenzontles

Voices of Latin Rock Review
Musical Director Karl Perazzo

Honoring the Women of Latin Rock
Rita Gentry, Lydia Pense, Wendy Haas, Sheila E., Linda Tillery
MC: Chuy Varela

Putting together an inspired collection of talent, Voices of Latin Rock presents The 5th Annual Benefit for Autism Awareness as a benefit for The Alex Speaks Foundation on Saturday January 24th, 2009 at the newly refurbished Warfield Theater, 982 Market Street, San Francisco, California. Headlining the bill is multi-platinum selling band WAR, Azteca, Los Cenzontles, Voices of Latin Rock Review, featuring members of Cold Blood, Malo, El Chicano and Santana. We will also be honoring the following Women of Latin Rock: Rita Gentry, Lydia Pense, Wendy Haas, Sheila E. and Linda Tillery. As in past years, many surprise guests will also appear.

The show benefits schools in the Bay Area dealing with autism on a daily basis. This disorder has increased recently to 1 in 150 births, up from 1 in 166 just a few years ago. When questioned about special needs children in the most recent presidential debates, both candidates mentioned the need for increased funding for research for autism, specifically as it approaches epidemic numbers. With the Bay Area’s support of this event, we can continue our support of both schools and research for autism.

WAR has recently been nominated as candidates for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2009. WAR has recorded some of the biggest hits in the last 30 years including “The World Is A Ghetto”, “Cisco Kid”, “Why Can’t We Be Friends”, and “Low Rider.” The band is in it’s 40th year and has its first release in 14 years, “Greatest Hits Live.” More information on the band can be found on their website at www.wartheband.com.

Azteca features a stellar collective of Latin Rock performers that promises to tear the house down. Azteca was founded by the late Coke Escovedo and his brother Pete after their departure from the Latin Rock superband Santana. They were the first band to employ a large ensemble of horns, woodwinds, keyboards, Latin percussion and other instruments sometimes having 25 members in a live performance! Many of the original members will be performing.

Los Cenzontles is an amazing group from the Mexican Arts Center in Richmond, California featuring the vocals of Fabiola Trujillo and Luciana Rodriquez that infuses traditional Mexican instruments with gutsy electric bass and drums. The group is directed by Grammy nominated producer Eugene Rodriquez, and their latest CD “Wood & Steel” features producer/guitarist David Hildalgo along with vocalist Linda Ronstadt.

The Voices of Latin Rock Review with Musical Director Karl Perazzo includes members of Santana, Cold Blood, Malo and El Chicano.

This years event is honoring women of Latin Rock: Rita Gentry, Lydia Pense, Wendy Haas, Sheila E., and Linda Tillery.

‘Voices of Latin Rock’ has become a Bay Area favorite event, and early purchase of tickets is encouraged, as this event will sell out. Get your tickets soon!

Labels: Azteca, Los Cenzontles, Voices of Latin Rock, WAR

Johnny Steele & Pals
Cupid’s Comedy Cavalcade
6th Annual Valentine’s Day Comedy Show
Saturday February 14, 2009
Two shows: 7 PM & 9PM
$18
Village Theater in Danville
Call 925.314.3400 for tickets and information

Chocolates make you fat, flowers make you sneeze, and romantic comedies starring Jennifer Aniston cause severe brain damage. But Johnny Steele’s Annual Valentine’s Day Show at the Town Hall Theater in Danville will cause no such adverse side effects.

Winner of the San Francisco Int’l Comedy Competition and former host of his own TV and radio shows, Steele arrives in Danville hot off of sold out performances with comedians ranging from Norm McDonald to Robin Williams.

The evening will be full of commentary on a wide range of topics including relationships. On the subject of marriage Steele, a reluctant romantic, commented, “They say you should find your soul mate. Heck, I can’t even find the Coffee Mate.”

The Contra Costa native headlines the ninety-minute show that includes some of the bay area’s funniest comics as opening acts.

Labels: comedy, Johnny Steele, Valentine's Day

Labels: celtic harp, Cynthia Schultz, pedal harp

Hurry up and get your tickets! I just heard that 160 tickets have already been sold. This is going to be the hot ticket of the weekend.

Will Durst, Johnny Steele, Dan St. Paul and Joe Klocek are gathering to maul McCain, pulverize Palin, chew out Cheney, ravage Rove and kick W. back to Crawford in “Obama-Haha,” at The Empress Theatre in Vallejo on Sunday, January 18th.

Durst, San Francisco’s prince of impaling politicos and pundits, is fresh off a one man show off Broadway. Steele, a Berkeley resident, is a past winner of the San Francisco Int’l Comedy Competition. Klocek has been featured on Comedy Central and St. Paul is veteran of VH-1 and A&E appearances and a South Bay resident.

St. Paul is producing the events, a challenge he gladly accepts.

“It’s a celebration for all of us who worked hard to put Obama over the top,” he said. “And since we can’t all go to D.C., this will be the place to party.”

The fun fest has been two presidential terms in the making, St. Paul added.

“We’ve got all this vile material from the last eight years,” he said. “It’s sort of a public exorcism.”

January 18, 2009 at 7 pm
The Empress Theatre
330 Virginia Street
Vallejo,CA 94590
707.552.2400
$15
www.empresstheatre.org

Labels: Dan St. Paul, Joe Klocek, Johnny Steele, Obama, Will Durst

We've relocated!

We loved our studio on First Street, but we outgrew the space. So, we moved to a new studio which is about 2,000 square feet. We've expanded the computer learning center, have added additional rooms and teaching staff, and are able to do concerts, workshops, seminars in our new studio. I'm teaching in the concert room. I have my piano in one corner and teach Monday through Saturday. The room is big enough to seat 30 people and we now have a place for student performances, group classes, jam sessions and the occasional concert.

Here's the new contact information:

Red Dragonfly Productions
310 Military West
Benicia, CA 94510
www.RedDragonflyProductions.com
707.771.0140
rhondalucile@comcast.net

851 Music Studio
310 Military West
Benicia, CA 94510
www.851MusicStudio.com
707.747.851
info@851MusicStudio.com

About Red Dragonfly Productions

Red Dragonfly Productions produces, promotes live music in the Bay Area. Red Dragonfly Productions is committed to supporting music as a means of artistic expression and community.

About 851 Music Studio

851 Music Studio provides private and group instruction for electric and acoustic guitar, bass, piano, violin, voice, saxophone, drums and harp. Lessons emphasize the fundamentals of music, and general musicianship with an eye towards creativity and improvisation.

The onsite teaching staff includes J. Shelby (guitar, bass, voice), Rhonda Lucile Hicks (piano), Josh Icban (guitar), Matt Ortiz (guitar), Tony Parcaut (guitar), Don Bassey (bass and band development), Aina Davis (violin), Bryan McVicker (saxophone), Justine Chadly (children’s music), Stephan Betz (music therapy) and the offsite teaching staff includes Matt Guggemos (drums), Cynthia Schultz (lever and Celtic harp) and Maureen Moore (voice).

The studio provides private and group instruction, student band development, computer learning, recording services, play nights, workshops, field trips and student performances. Beginning through advanced students are welcome.

Labels: 851 Music Studio, Benicia, guitar lessons, music lessons, piano lessons, Vallejo

Volker and Don will play a rare acoustic blues guitar concert at 851 Music Studio in Benicia on Saturday, February 7th at 4 pm. The concert is free and open to the public.

Volker Strifler, the long-time member of the Ford Blues Band has formed his own band that features his talents as a guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has long been a respected sideman to an impressive lineup of other artists such as Robben, Pat and Mark Ford, Lowell Fulson, Chris Cain and many more. Volker conjures up a seductive mixture of old and new styles and hard to find originality.

His solo CDs, "The Volker Strifler Band," released in 2002, and "The Dance Goes On," released in 2006, have received critical acclaim from press, musical peers, and fans around the world. Today it’s clear that Volker Strifler is a unique musician in his own right.

Always true to his blues roots, Volker is not merely satisfied with interpreting and copying his idols. To him, reaching out and finding new interpretations of this vital music is as important as respecting long standing traditions.

When blues guitarist Volker Strifler was putting his new band together seven years ago, he called Don Bassey to fill the bass slot and team with award-winning drummer Gary Silva in the Volker Strifler Band rhythm section. Don’s playing is featured on the band’s new Blue Rock’It Records release “And the Dance Goes On."

Previous concerts at 851 Music Studio have featured The Steve Freund Trio, harpist Cynthia Schultz and Pepperland (Beatles Tribute Band make up of 851 Music Studio students).

The idea for a concert/informal lecture was the idea of 851 Music Studio owner and guitar instructor, J. Shelby. Shelby said he wanted to create a special event where students and musicians could experience music and have a conversation.

851 Music Studio presents
Volker Strifler and Don Bassey
Acoustic Blues Guitar Concert
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time: 4 pm
Location: 851 Music Studio 310 Military West Benicia, CA 94510
Free Admission –Open to the Public - Limited Seating – Reservations REQUIRED!
Call 707.747.0851 for reservations and information

Labels: 851 Music Studio, Benicia, blues, Don Bassey, guitar, Volker Strifler

Rock Around the Clock with a Tribute to the Birth of Rock and Roll Featuring Bill Haley's Original Comets

The Comets, formed in 1952, together with front man Bill Haley are considered by many to be the first rock-n-roll band. Among the pioneers who fused country and western wit hrhythm and blues to create rock-n-roll, they were leading musicians of the day and changed teh face of music in the 1950's with hits like "Rock Around The Clock," Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "See You Later Alligator."

The five surviving original band members reunited in 1987 and have been performing ever since. Hundreds of years of collective rock-n-roll experience will light up the Vacaviller Performing Arts Theatre on Friday, January 30 at 8 pm when The Original Comets return to the Bay Area. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased by calling 707.449.6217 or online at www.vpat.net.

On Aril 12, 1994 Bill Haley and The Comets recorded "Rock Around The Clock," a song that had been composed specifically for them. The song, which became an audio watermark fo r the entire nostalgic decade of the 1950's was recorded in just 20 minutes - the final 20 minutes of a 3-hour New York City recording session.

History records that the song was initially relegated to the "B" side of the group's next single "Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town)." The record was only a minor success in the United States on its first release in May 1954. It was only with "Rock Around The Clock" was heard on the soundtrack of the MGM film "Blackboard Jungle" (which premiered in March 1955) that the song really took off with teenagers.

The record was reissued in April 1955 with "Rock Around The Clock as the "A" side, and by July 1955 it had become the first rock-n-roll record to reach Number One on the Billboard Charts (a position it sustained for 8 consecutive weeks). According to the Guinness Book of Records, it eventually sold over 25 million units worldwide and is still the highest-selling commerical pop single of all time.

The Comets are the musicians who provided the musical foundation for singer bill Haley from 1949 (when they were known as The Saddlemen) through the key years of their musical journey together as rock-n-roll pioneers. The band was the foremost group in the musical revolution that gathered steam in the early 50's and culminated in the Big Bang of rock-n-roll. the Comets evolved from country western rots in 1949 when they were known as The Saddlemen, through their renaming as The comets in 1952 amidst a time of great musical exploration, all the way through to their heyday in 1953-1956 when their rock-n-roll hits pre-dated successes by Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Eddie Chochran, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly.

The the band is understandably best-known for its many hits between 1954 and 1958, including the first-ever rock-n-roll number one "Rock Around The Clock" in 1955, some of the band's most important contributions to music took place inthe preceding years -- when as arrangers and performers they were in the forefront of the development of rock-n-roll.

With success they performed stage shows, recordings, radio programs and live appearances on national TV shows such as The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. On May 6, 1955 they became the first-ever rock-n-roll act to give a concert at Carnegie Hall.

On January 30, 2009, they will be at Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Please join me for an evening of rockin' fun and good ol' music!

Labels: Bill Haley, Comets, Original Comets, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre

Spenger Garden Music Series is currently accepting submissions for their concert series June 2009-October 2009. All genres are accepted, but the series will focus on Alternative, Blues, Classical, Country, Folk, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Rock, Urban/R&B, World, Reggae, Gospel, Acoustic, Americana, Children's Music, Standards, Broadway, Cabaret, Contemporary Classical, Avant-garde, Celtic, Funk, Adult Contemporary, Bluegrass, Spoken Word, Singer/Songwriter, Comedy, Classic Rock, Soul and A Capella. Please submit your EPK through Sonic Bids at http://www.sonicbids.com/RedDragonflyMusicSeries. All other submissions can be mailed to:

Red Dragonfly Productions
Attn: Rhonda Lucile Hicks
310 Military West
Benicia, CA 94510

Submission Deadline: 01/27/09 for June through October 2009 dates.

The museum is planning on going to year round programming and submissions will be accepted year round. Preference given to Sonic Bids submissions.

Labels: Artist Submissions, Benicia Historical Museum, Spenger Garden

Music is coming this summer to the Benicia Historical Museum! It's cold and dark now, but come June, we'll be sitting outside in shorts and tank tops, sipping wine and listening to the first of many outdoor concerts to come.

The museum has built a beautiful garden in back of Stone Hall. We'll be able to seat 100 people and have planned eight concerts from June to October 2009. The museum is well known for it's Celtic concerts in Stone Hall, and with the addition of the new garden will be able to program new and different music.

I've been named Artistic Director for the Spenger Garden Music Series and I have been given the task of bringing music to the garden. The museum has charged me with their mission to be a center of culture and community. They feel a deep responsibility to bring music that will electrify, educate, enlighten and entertain. I am thrilled to have this artistic freedom and I look forward to building this small series into a gem of musical enjoyment.

My mission is bring new, different, unusual, illuminating, ecletic, enlightening, boundary pushing music to the Spenger Garden Music Series. I plan to focus on bringing some of the best in music to the museum.

I asked my music teacher this past year "What makes music 'good' music?" His answer was simple -- "When it moves you."

I look forward to the opportunity to move the audience, the musicians and all that will come to experience the community of the Spenger Garden Music Series.

Stay tuned! We'll be announcing the series in March!

Labels: Benicia, Benicia Historical Museum, music series, Spenger Garden

I went to the Vallejo Symphony last night and experienced "An American Evening" with works by Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. When we hear the word "classical" we often don't think "American." We think Bach, Brahms, Bartok, Shostokovich -- and the list goes on. One tends to forget the rich tradition of American symphonic music and I thank the Vallejo Symphony for reminding me of my musical heritage.

The program opened with Bernstein's "On The Town: Three Dance Episodes." I talked to some high school students seated near me -- Benicia High School's spring production is "On The Town." These talented kids are already in rehearsal and I'm sure were inspired.

The next piece on the program brought up the evening's featured soloist José Franch-Ballester. He played with verve and nuance as he attacked a piece Copland wrote for Benny Goodman. The cadenza connecting the two movements of the clarinet concerto was pure "Goodman!"

The final piece was Copland's "Appalachian Spring" which Copland wrote for Martha Graham. It includes the beautiful Shaker melody "Tis The Gift To Be Simple." The simple purity of this exquisite melody is yet another piece of our American heritage and to hear it played as Copland heard it and by a full symphony was truly a highlight of the evening.

Mr. Franch-Ballester closed the evening with an encore including the principal violins, viola, cello and bass with a piece by the Argentinian composer, Astor Piazzolla. The haunting piece name "Oblivian" was an homage to the many "disappeared." Mr. Franch-Ballester spoke of the period of Argentina's history when people came home to find their father or their uncle gone -- never to be seen again -- not even to ever have a body to bury - they were taken by their government. The composer wrote this piece to honor and remember the many "desaparecidos." The stage lights came down to a soft glow on the small ensemble as they played a piece of longing for loved ones and the pain of not knowing. The lost voices of the "desaparecidos" will linger with me for a long time.

His choice of this encore demonstrates the power and relevance of classical music -- no one who heard this piece walked away without know the pain of a society losing their brothers and fathers and mothers and aunts and uncles and cousins to a brutal government. You can read books and tomes and essays on the plight of the "desaparacidos," or you can listen to this piece.

The Vallejo Symphony is a first class, professional, regional symphony. Congratulations to Maestro David Ramadanoff for your 25 years of leadership!

Labels: Franch-Ballester, Oblivan, Piazzolla, Vallejo Symphony

The House of Floyd show at Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre on November 3rd was so well received that we've already scheduled to bring it back on November 8, 2008! How's that for planning ahead? This show brought a laserium quality laser show, video, lights and live music to Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre and delivered a stunning multimedia package with live music. I'm still getting emails and phone calls from people in the audience that night. This show is the most complex show I produce. There was a moment after loadin -- when equipment, instruments and cables were covering the stage. There were technicians and roadies and musicians and venue staff everywhere and I thought --- "Are we going to put this all together in time?" At other times, as I tried to keep out of everyone's way, I thought "What were you thinking? Why don't you produce comedy shows? A chair, a mic.....it's so easy!" But, come 8 pm and, of course, all was well. Thank you to House of Floyd for being such a great band to work with, and thank you to the technical staff of Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Everyone came together and the show was wonderful!

Labels: House of Floyd, Pink Floyd, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre

I finally got a chance to see the inside of The Empress Theatre in Vallejo. I've been hearing good things about The Empress and it's all true! The Empress has been beautifully restored to it's glory. It just goes to show what a few million dollars can do! My hats off to all involved in this restoration. You can be proud.

The Majestic Theatre in Benicia is not going to be available to rent for the next 3 months. Robert is taking a break from renting the theatre through the winter so the opening of The Empress couldn't happen at a better time for me. I spoke with Robert last week and he'll let me know as soon as The Majestic is available to rent, but for now -- there aren't going to be any shows at The Majestic Theatre. We've certainly had some memorable shows with some wonderful artists -- Steve Freund, Tommy Castro, Maria Muldaur, Johnny Ace, Cathy Lemons, Pork Pie Phillips, Alvon, Mz. Dee, Stef Burns, Kenny Saydak, The Alameda Allstars, The Detroit Disciples, The Volker Strifler Band, The Bud E. Luv Trio, Bill Haley's Original Comets, VOENA, The David Thom Band, Craig Horton, The Suburban Comedy Tour, George Winston, House of Floyd and Antsy McClain and The Trailer Park Troubadours....

I'd like to thank Robert, the owner of The Majestic, for two wonderful years of shows at The Majestic!

Labels: Benicia, The Empress Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, Vallejo