Archive: The Week July 27-30
For the Week of July 27, 2009.
Monday /// Tuesday /// Wednesday /// Thursday
PICK OF THE WEEK
Mads Tolling jazzes up the violin at Kuumbwa
From left: Mads Tolling, Mike Abraham, Eric Garland, and George Ban-Weiss make up the Mads Tolling Quartet. Photo by Stuart Brinin.
Sizzling. Soulful. Electricity crackling. Smooth. In the hands of Mads Tolling, the violin wails, smokes and sings. You almost want a cigarette after listening to him play. He’s that good.
Known for his work with the Turtle Island Quartet, with whom he’s won two Grammy Awards, the 28-year-old Danish jazz artist started his own group in 2007. The Mads Tolling Quartet comes to Kuumbwa Jazz Center on July 30 for a performance sure to shatter prejudices about what a violin can do.
Tolling, who graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 2003, composes his own pieces along with playing works as diverse as Miles Davis’ “Blue on Green” and Led Zepplin’s “Black Dog.” Besides Turtle Island and his Quartet, the San Francisco Bay Area resident’s musical resume includes regular tours with bassist Stanley Clarke’s band, an active master class teaching schedule and past performances with Paquito d’Rivera, Stefon Harris and Russell Ferrante, among others.
Read a five-question interview with Tolling here.
Mads Tolling Quartet. 7 p.m. Thursday. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $18 in advance, $21 at the door. Half-price night for students, available at door only with valid student ID. Dinner available one hour before the show. First come, first served. 1-866-55-TICKETS or (831) 427-2227 for information.
Monday
EDITOR’S PICK: The Big Lebowski at Movie Nite at The Crepe Place. The Dude will never be the same after The Crepe Place presents The Big Lebowski as their Monday movie. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 429-6994.
Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.
Spencer Day at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Songs from singer-songwriter Spencer Day’s new release, Vagabond, will hold their own with jazz standards. “Put him in the company of Rufus Wainwright, Nellie McKay and other young singer- songwriters who have open hearts and something new to say,” claims Time Out New York. 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Dinner available one hour before the show. First come, first served. 1-866-55-TICKETS or (831) 427-2227 for information.
The Band Of Heathens at Don Quixote’s. What happens when three Austin singer-songwriters keep meeting each other at the same venue? They team up and form a Band of Heathens. The Americana soul rockers play Felton. 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Under 21 allowed with parent. (831) 603-2294.
The Passionate Mind Revisited at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Join Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad, authors of The Passionate Mind Revisited in a discussion facilitated by Mark Stephens at Bookshop Santa Cruz. The book takes readers on an inner journey into the workings of the mind. 7:30 p.m. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-0900.
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Tuesday
EDITOR’S PICK: Wailing Souls in The Catalyst’s Atrium. Shark attack! No, it’s just reggae legends Wailing Souls playing The Catalyst. 8:30 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15 in advance, $19 at the door. Ages 16+. (831) 423-1338.
Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at the Rio. Former Pavement lead singer Stephen Malkmus rocks out with his new band, the Jicks. Members include Janet Weiss (formerly of Sleater-Kinney), Mike Clark and Joanna Bolme. 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Advance tickets at Streetlight Records. (831) 421-9200.
The Legendary Santa Cruz Poetry Slam at The Crepe Place. It’s like a poetry death match, but no one dies and there’s a prize at the end of it. 8 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. $4. (831) 429-6994.
The Taxi Project & Matt Masih and The Messengers at Moe’s Alley. Six-piece Santa Cruz jam band The Taxi Project blends rock and pop with blues and jazz for a high-energy show. They will be joined by the spiritual sounds of Santa Cruz’s Matt Masih & The Messengers for a special double bill. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $5 in advance, $8 at the door. (831) 479-1854.
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Wednesday
EDITOR’S PICK: NPR Commentator Alan Cheuse at Capitola Book Cafe. NPR commentator, poetic wanderer and novelist Alan Cheuse discusses and signs his latest collection of writings, A Trance After Breakfast, at Capitola Book Cafe. 7:30 p.m. Capitola Book Cafe, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 462-4415.
Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.
Harpin Jonny & the Primadons at Esplanade Park. Rock and blues with a harmonica twist. Harpin Jonny and the Primadons play the Capitola Twilight Concert Series. 6 – 8 p.m. Capitola Village Esplanade Park, corner of Esplanade and Monterey Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 475-5935.
Omani & Tri-Plex at Moe’s Alley Monterey Bay reggae band Omani join Bay area hip-hop/reggae sensation Tri-Plex for a double bill at Moe’s Alley. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $5 in advance, $8 at the door. (831) 479-1854.
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Thursday
EDITOR’S PICK: Mads Tolling Quartet at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Bowing at dizzying speeds, exploring the edges. Two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling brings his own instrumental voice to the language of jazz. 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $18 in advance, $21 at the door. Half-price night for students, available at door only with valid student ID. Dinner available one hour before the show. First come, first served. 1-866-55-TICKETS or (831) 427-2227 for information.
EDITOR’S PICK: Madame Pamita & Her Parlour of Wonders at The Crepe Place. Soothsaying musical prognostication is about. Madame Pamita & Her Parlour of Wonders tells fortunes and sings in The Crepe Place’s front room. Also on the bill: Oakland ukulele slinger Tippy Canoe. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. $8. (831) 429-6994.
Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.
The Wizard of Oz at Cabrillo. Join Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion somewhere over the rainbow in this timeless musical tale of finding your way in the world. Produced by Cabrillo Stage, Santa Cruz’s only professional musical theatre company. 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Closes August 16. See www.cabrillostage.com for other date/time details. Cabrillo Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. $15 – $31. (831) 479-6154.
Helene & Bellydance International at Don Quixote’s. Immerse yourself in the music of the Middle East with Orient’al and the hypnotic moves of Middle Eastern dance artist Helené. Orient’al performs classical Arabic, Turkish and Armenian music of the last century. 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Ages 21+. (831) 603-2294.
The Lolita Effect‘s Gigi Durham at Capitola Book Cafe. Author Gigi Durham discusses and signs The Lolita Effect at Capitola Book Cafe. The book explores how our society can raise sexually healthy young women in an environment filled with media sexualization of young girls. 7:30 p.m. Capitola Book Cafe, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 462-4415.
The Godfather II at Regal Cinema. Michael Corleone returns to the big screen as part of Flashback Flix at Regal Cinema. 8 p.m. Regal Cinema 9, 1405 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. $5. (831) 457-3505
Chris Pureka in The Catalyst’s Atrium. It might be an ordinary day, but it’s likely to be more than that when acoustic indie singer Chris Pureka plays the Atrium. Lucy Walsh opens. 9 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $3 in advance, $5 at the door. Ages 16+. (831) 423-1338.
Rootz Underground at Moe’s Alley. Rave reviews tend to follow this reggae act, which hails from Kingston, Jamaica. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. (831) 479-1854.
