Vasona Vibrations 2007
Co-sponsored by
Santa Clara County Parks and South Bay Folks

Vasona Vibrations 2007

Free Summer Concert Series

5-7pm Every Saturday
June thru July
 
[Visit the Vasona County Park web page.]
Los Gatos Creek, Vasona Lake County Park

About Vasona Vibrations

For the fifth consecutive year, Santa Clara County Parks and South Bay Folks team up to bring you free, outdoor concerts every Saturday in June and July.

Located in a pleasant outdoor setting overlooking Vasona Lake and Los Gatos Creek, this nine-week series features local artists performing a wide variety of acoustic genres ranging from big band, to jazz, to traditional and contemporary folk. Pack a picnic dinner or enjoy concessions at the park, and join us this summer for Vasona Vibrations 2007.

Performance Schedule for 2007

(Look here for last year's schedule.)

All performances to be held 5-7pm, Saturdays in June and July, on the lawn near the foot bridge across Los Gatos Creek, just down the hill from the pedestrian entrance on University Ave (park map.) Map and driving instructions available from Google, Yahoo, or MapQuest. (Please be aware that all Santa Clara County parks charge a $6 per vehicle fee to park.)

(Click on images to enlarge.)

[Photo: Calaveras] Click to enlarge.

June 2nd

Calaveras

» award-winning, "new folk" trio

Singer-songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe, with Dave Decker on lead guitar and backup vocals, combine folk, jazz, blues, and country into an incredible mix that is both fresh and timeless.

Their songs have captured the prestigious Kerrville New Folk prize, grand prize in the West Coast Songwriters International song contest as well as first place in two additional categories, the Napa Valley Emerging Songwriter award, West Coast songwriter's Association Song of the Year honors, and have appeared in TV shows and movies. Their songs have been recorded by other artists and their performance of "Ready to Fly" is on a compilation CD that features such well known artists as Joan Baez and Cheryl Wheeler.

Calaveras' most recent album, Ready to Fly, which has won widespread critical acclaim was produced by Teresa Trull and created with great west coast session players Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Stef Burns, Paul Van Wageningen, Laurie Lewis, Benny Rietveld, and others. They are recording a new album scheduled to be released in 2008.

"Wonderful music, wonderfully performed"

-Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.

"An awesome mix of traditional and modern folk sounds."

-CDReviews.com

 
[Photo: 10th Avenue Band] Click to enlarge.

June 9th

10th Avenue Band

» big band, jump swing, swingin' Chicago style Dixieland and more

Back by popular demand, the 10th Avenue Band band simply swings, rocks, and cooks. The synergy of high energy performance, innovative arrangements, and nostalgic music ignites audiences worldwide.

In the last three years alone, the band has toured England, Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand and China, and is headed for a Mediterranean tour this July.

10th Avenue Band is: Ed Zimbrick on Trombone, Bill Bosch on String Bass, Sue Crosman on Piano, Bruce Harper on Drums, Ed Sherry on Trumpet, and Otis Mourning on Reeds

 
[Photo: Kathy & Carol] Click to enlarge.

June 16th

Kathy & Carol

» contemporary & traditional folk duo

Kathy Larisch and Carol McComb are set apart from other artists of the 1960s folk era by exquisitely close, haunting harmonies, remarkable for the use of shifting intervals, dissonance and unisons. The duo received even more attention after the release of their eponymously named 1965 Elektra album, a gorgeous tribute to traditional British Isles and American folk ballads, which has become a coveted rarity of the '60s era.

Since the recent re-release of Kathy & Carol on CD, the two have been singing together again, rediscovering their old arrangements and creating new ones. Their concert includes many of the songs from that famed album, along with plenty of other great material both old and new, drawn from traditional music, the Carter Family canon, and Carol's fine originals.

"...their voices intertwine as if each were the mirror image of the other. Their music is innocent ---innocent of malice and greed---and it is unabashedly lovely."

---Nat Hentoff, Cosmopolitan

 
[Photo: The Bird Dogs] Click to enlarge.

June 23rd

The Bird Dogs

» roots music for real people

Born in a bar thirty years ago, the creation of roots minded rock steady road veterans, the BIRD DOGS remain committed to their founding principles of "all for good times and good times for all." Their lifelines are tied to Memphis and Chicago, to Detroit and New Orleans and to Nashville and L.A. with some Kingston and London thrown in just to give sauce to the stew. Their influences are many and varied, their sound, vision, and songs are all their own. Some call their dual acoustic/electric guitar driven sound "Americana". The Bird Dogs call it business as usual.

 
[Photo: The Mighty Avalanche Choir] Click to enlarge.

June 30th

The Mighty Avalanche Choir

» Americana, folk & originals featuring trademark, rich vocal harmonies

The Mighty Avalanche Choir has delighted Bay Area audiences for the past 12 years with selections of ballads, standards, a cappella arrangements, folk and bluegrassy tunes, and originals. Year after year, this highly respected and always popular group has packed the house as the anchor performers for the Fiddling Cricket Concert Series' Annual Holiday Show.

Plying their trademark, rich vocal harmonies, individual vocal leads, and considerable musicianship, the Mighty Avalanche Choir is: Paul Bridges on mandolin, guitar and vocals, Jenny Stave on guitar and vocals, Larry Weissenborn on Bass, Marilyn Barcellos on Piano, guitar, accordion, and vocals, and Dale Barcellos, rounding out the quintet on guitar, mandolin, violin, banjo, dobro, piano, pedal steel and vocals.

 
[Photo: Leanne Weatherly] Click to enlarge.

July 7th

The Leanne Weatherly Band

» jazz standards and originals

Known for her expressive voice and engaging stage presence, Leanne Weatherly performs solo for concerts, clubs, and churches in the Bay Area. A member of the West Coast Song Writers Association (WCSW), Leanne performs new material of her own along with new arrangements of popular jazz standards.

 
[Photo: Radio Rail] Click to enlarge.

July 14th
(split bill)

Radio Rail

» Americana trio focusing on songs of the American West

David Borough, Jackie Loken and T-Bone Walter perform as Radio Rail at festivals throughout California, including the Great Gold Rush Festival in Old Town Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum Railfest. Radio Rail originated and performed in the "Songs For the Transcontinental Railroad Concerts" along with Utah Phillips, The Black Irish Band, Charlie Chinn and others.

Combining wonderful original songs, old favorites and crisp, beautiful vocals, Radio Rail provides spirited acoustic music that captivates audiences.

 
[Photo: Plan B] Click to enlarge.

Plan B

» original music rooted in the blues and old Country

Small changes can result in big differences. Swap out Radio Rail's Dave Borough for Ron Heimbuecher, and you get Plan B, a very different flavor of original songs with blues, rock and folk influences.

 
[Photo: Ambergrass Unlimited] Click to enlarge.

July 21st

Ambergrass Unlimited

» old-time sibling harmony and lively guitar duets

Anne and Phil Pflager have been celebrating music and marriage for the past forty-five years. Singing frequently at home and at social events was an enjoyable pastime until the children left home. That's when they decided to get serious about music. Their performances, full of warmth, wit, and close harmony are an eclectic mixture of the past and present. Both are tenors and strive to blend their voices in the "sibling" style of the thirties.

Phil has played guitar and banjo since he was fourteen and has developed a bluesy, country rock style. Anne more recently began playing guitar and has developed her own style, sometimes reminiscent of Mother Maybelle Carter. They both play string bass which is sometimes used in their performances.

Their music, which they call Ambergrass, is inspired by the beautiful amber, rolling hills which surround the Santa Clara Valley each summer. They have collaborated on hundreds of songs, many of which address the social issues facing us today.

Anne and Phil will be joined by special guest, Daphna Rahmil, on fiddle.

 
[Photo: San Jose Metropolitan Band] Click to enlarge.

July 28th

San Jose Metropolitan Band

» marches, showtunes, Disney, big band, and symphonic classics

Founded in 1967, the San Jose Metropolitan Band (SJMB) has provided 40 years of community service to the Santa Clara Valley. This is a contemporary, community concert band playing in the tradition of serenading an afternoon picnic. SJMB consists of more than 40 members, ranging in age from 16 into their 80's, including musicians whose experience spans over half a century. The band's repertoire includes a mix of marches, showtunes, Disney, big band, and symphonic classics.