2012 Vasona Vibrations Schedule

featuring a wide variety of acoustic genres by local artists

All performances are held every Saturday in June and July from 5-7pm, on the lawn near the Ranger Office, and just down the hill from the pedestrian entrance at University Ave and Pepper Tree Lane.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge.)

June 2nd

Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic

» zydeco, blues, world

Andre Thierry has been capturing the attention of other musicians and music lovers since he was a young boy. The late, great Clifton Chenier, "King of Zydeco," grabbed three-year-old Andre by the arms and deemed him a future accordion player; Andre was captivated. When given his first accordion by local musician Billy Wilson, currently with MotorDude Zydeco, Andre began teaching himself to play by listening to Chenier's music.

Andre was born and reared in northern California, but his French Creole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana. His music cannot be simply categorized into zydeco's old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau. He and his band, Zydeco Magic, lay down both soulful, traditional, slow-dances, and bottom-end-booming, kinetic groovers. Building from a love and respect for traditional zydeco, his original music blends old and new to create a unique sound for this and future generations while staying true to the past.

Just this year, the Bay Area Blues Society and The City of Oakland named Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic the 2012 "Zydeco Group of the Year."

Andre Thierry on accordion;
Jahon Pride on bass;
Tawann Bradford on drums;
Jocque Randall on rubboard; and
Mark Daniels on guitar.

June 9th

David Correa and Cascada

» Latin guitar world fusion, rumba, flamenco

David Correa and Cascada has been entertaining crowds since 1999 with their passionate and distinctive blend of instrumental Latin guitar world fusion. The group tours regularly throughout the west coast, northwest & southwest regions. They blend Spanish guitar with Afro-Cuban and Latin rhythms from Mexico & Central America with a hint of middle-eastern influenced melodies.

In 2003 the self-produced and widely acclaimed CD, Incidents of Travel, was released. The group has won numerous accolades and awards, including three NORBAY awards for best Latin band in the San Francisco North Bay area from 2005 through 2007.

David signed to prestigious Baja/TSR Records in '06 and released Rumba de la Selva in 2007. In 2008 "Gypsy Spice" Best of New Flamenco was released and featured the track Linda from Rumba de la Selva along side artists such as Ottmar Liebert, Jesse Cook, Armik, Young & Rollins, Luis Villegas and Benise.

Their new CD, Eterna Primavera, takes you on a musical journey around the world. Released on August 9th, 2011 on Zocalo Records. The band is currently #2 on the Reverbnation Latin charts for the San Francisco Bay Area!

"This Bay Area band lives up to their name as a 'waterfall' of exuberant influences - Nuevo Flamenco, Latin folk, Afro-Cuban and Middle Eastern melodies with spicy Gypsy guitar solos and foot and soul moving Latin rhythms."

Georgeanne Lees, Music Under the Stars - Ventura, CA (Jul 12, 2010)

David Correa: guitar;
Alfredo Caceres: guitar
Leehoward: world music bassist;
Tim Bolling: drum set player and percussionist.

June 16th

Women With Strings Attached

» folk, country, roots and blues; vocal harmonies

Women with Strings Attached is a beautiful harmonic blend of three magical voices. Mira Wooten, Lucy Billings and Deborah Thacker share the stage with original work and cover tunes that weave through many genres including folk, country and blues. These three bright stars, each a dynamic performer in her own right, bring their talents together to benefit non-profit organizations such as Shelter Network, Second Harvest Food Bank, Hospice, and many others.

Mira Wooten has a soulful and sultry sound that captures the essence of contemporary talents like India Arie, Bonnie Raitt and Eva Cassidy, to name a few. An original stylist whose gift shines brightest in her own compositions of love and life.

Deborah Thacker gives a first rate performance with a voice that is liquid gold. An accomplished, professional Bay Area performer, she blends pop, jazz and folk music into a smooth style all her own. As if Bonnie Raitt changed bodies with Norah Jones, then met Annie Lennox for coffee who was currently hosting Ella Fitzgerald's soul.

Lucy Billings uses music as a language as she distills life events into songs. Her newest CD release "No Other Road" produced by John Jennings, of Mary Chapin Carpenter fame, doesn't disappoint. A collection of ballads with topics ranging from love, family, and loss, Lucy blends her musical pallet with rock, country, and a pinch of bluegrass for good measure.

June 23rd

The Klezmakers

» rollicking seven-piece klezmer band; lively Eastern European dances, traditional Israeli folk songs and more...

The Klezmakers are a seven-piece klezmer band from the San Francisco Bay Area with a repertoire encompassing Eastern European dances, Yiddish theater tunes, and traditional Israeli folk songs. They bring to the stage a full and rich melodic ensemble of clarinet, violin, flute/piccolo, accordion, and vocals backed by a solid rhythm section of guitar, keyboard, bass/cello, and drums. It is a joyous and heartfelt sound that echoes the Old World, while still making today's audiences get up and dance.

Tom Belick on clarinet; Kurt Conrad on bass; Rachel Garb on piccolo/flute; Bruce Kirschner on accordion; Elaine Moise on vocal/percussion/piano; Alan Rappoport on guitar; and Daphna Rahmil on violin.

June 30th

Tip of the Top

» Foot-stompin' blues!

Who says the good old days of the blues are over? "This music isn't long gone; it's alive and happening right here and now in Northern California!" says blues guitar virtuoso Kid Andersen. He's talking about Tip of the Top, the San Francisco Bay Area band that has taken the blues scene by storm since 2009.

The band's musical style is reminiscent of the 1950's. Their live show delivers all the primitive pulsating rhythms, repetitive chord changes and gritty amplification that defines early American Rock 'n' Roll. But these bluesmen are no mere imitators. They feel this music to their core. They represent it with 100% authentic personal expression and deliver it with emotionally charged energy.

Tip of the Top's debut CD, Depot Street Blues, and their second release, Rock Tonight, received rave reviews from fans and blues critics alike. Their latest release From Memphis To Greaseland features some of the band's finest original work and their unique, spontaneous take on blues classics. Engineered and produced at the world-famous Greaseland Studios in Campbell, California, this album is a MUST HAVE for any serious blues afficionado!

Jon Lawton ("Little Jonny") on guitar & vocals;
Frank De Rose on bass;
Akarsha "Aki" Kumar on harp & vocals;
Carlos Velasco on drums.

July 7th

Kitchen Help

» traditional and modern bluegrass featuring hot pickin' and heartfelt vocal harmonies

Formed in 2007 by Jennifer Kitchen, Kitchen Help is a high energy bluegrass band that focuses on both traditional and modern bluegrass repertoire, as well as original material. The group combines skillful picking and soulful vocal harmonies with an energetic delivery.

Kitchen Help has played many of the Northern California bluegrass festivals, as well as local venues and radio stations. Their debut CD "Kitchen Help" was released in May 2010 and contains fifteen cuts mined from the traditional bluegrass repertoire.

Jennifer Kitchen on upright bass & vocals;
Alex Mayers on guitar & vocals
Tom Cooper on banjo & vocals; and
Gail Reese on fiddle and vocals.

[Photo: Scott T. Miller and the Acoustic Porkchop Band]

July 14th

Scott T. Miller and the Acoustic Porkchop Band

» acoustic blues, really whippie guitar playin', and a lot of mostly humorous songs

Scott has been performing on and off for decades, first with the legendary lost band from Aptos "Harold Honey and the Cabbage Heads." Scott was a cabbage head. Various outfits came and went, playing a variety of music, as people did back then. And then there was an "off" period for 27 years, while Scott had something of a life, with college, jobs, and children. Several years ago, Scott, in a move typical of geezers such as himself, got back on stage with various blues bands, with which he continues to perform. More recently, Scott has been writing songs and playing to quieter audiences. He recently released an acoustic CD, "Songs of Love and Porkchops".

Scott's music is influenced by many musicians, including Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, BB King, Eldon Shamblin, Frank Zappa, Sun Ra, Lonnie Johnson, and John Lee Hooker. His singing is mostly influenced by old-school R&B shouters and crooners such as Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner, and Dinah Washington.

Scott T. Miller on guitar and vocals;
James Dewrance on harmonica;
Pat Gill on bass; and
Mike Eaton on drums.

July 21st

Sherry Austin with Henhouse

» gritty folk with a bit of a twang

Henhouse has found that magical combination of music that is often wished for, but rarely found. Whether singing their own material, or the songs of Kate Wolf and others, these four great vocalists come together to form an exquisite blend of harmonies. Their music truly engages listeners with their warm and captivating spirit.

With four of the most popular Americana vocalists in the Monterey Bay area, Henhouse delights their fans with their engaging stage presence, upbeat songs, and great harmonies. The band is fronted by Sherry Austin on rhythm guitar and vocals, Sharon Allen on vocals and guitar, Tracy Parker on bass and vocals, and Santa Cruz legend Patti Maxine on lap steel and dobro. Their music ranges from sweet love songs to gritty, rockin' songs about cars, trains, and love gone wrong. They sing with authority and passion, and their distinctive blend of folk, country and rock is filled with warmth and conviction.

Expect original songs written by Sherry and Sharon, as well as much-loved covers by Americana artists such as Kate Wolf, Townes Van Zandt, and Nanci Griffith. The blend of harmonies between the four women is exquisite.

July 28th

10th Avenue Band

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

Combining Big Band, Swing, Chicago-style Dixieland, and specializing in both concert and swing dance performances, this dynamic five-piece group has ignited audiences worldwide for 30 years, and has been a perennial favorite at Vasona Vibrations.

With innovative arrangements that give new life to classic Jazz and Dixie standards, the 10th Avenue Band's high energy performances from Europe to Australia, from Russia to China and all points in between always leave them rocking!

Join the thousands all over the world who have become lifelong friends and fans!

Lewis Keizer on trumpet & vocals;
Marshall Root on drums;
Nancy Cassel on bass;
Ed Zimbrick on trombone & vocals;
Anthony Steinberg on piano.

10th Annual Free Summer Concert Series
Vasona Lake County Park
333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA

Vasona Vibrations
Celebrates Ten Years This Summer!
5-7pm, Saturdays, June thru July, 2012

2012 Vasona Vibrations Schedule