Sunday, May 19, 2019

Red Poppy Art House: June, 2019

This seems to be about the time of the month when I report on activities next month at the Red Poppy Art House. To be fair, however, the Upcoming Events Web page currently accounts only for the first extended weekend (extended by beginning on Thursday) and one date late in the month. Nevertheless, that is enough for a start. Those who follow this site regularly know that this Web page will be updated to reflect additions to the Upcoming Events list and that I use my “shadow” Facebook site to put out the word each time there is an update.

The Red Poppy is located in the Mission at 2698 Folsom Street on the southwest corner of 23rd Street. Tickets are now being sold in advance online through Eventbrite. As a result, the dates provided below will be hyperlinked to the Eventbrite event pages for purchasing tickets.

Given the demand for these concerts, it is likely that only a limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Remember, the Poppy is a small space. Even those who have purchased their tickets in advance should probably make it a point to be there when the doors open one half-hour before the performance is scheduled to begin. Here are the specifics for the events that have been posted thus far:

Thursday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.: After Muslim forces conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the eighth century, Jews lived there under protected status by virtue of being “People of the Book.” The result was a rich fertilization of crossed cultures that pre-dated the Renaissance by centuries. The Levoná Ensemble celebrates those inter-cultural results with a program of music from flamenco, Arabic, and Jewish sources. Their program interleaves their musical selections with stories of similar ancestry. The group is a quintet consisting of Faisal Zedan (percussion and vocals), Asaf Ophir (woodwinds and vocals), David McLean (guitar), Josh Mellinger (percussion), and Patrick Kelly (upright bass). Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.

Friday, June 7, 7:30 p.m.: Another perspective on Arabic influences will be presented by Vince Delgado’s Mid-East Tapestry Ensemble. Their repertoire encompasses a diverse array of classical, urban, and folk music from the Arabic-speaking countries, as well as Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and Persian traditions, along with original compositions. Delgado himself plays both qanun and percussion. He leads a quartet, whose other members are Coralie Russo (oud), Rami Ziadeh (riq and percussion), and Tom Shader (bass). Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.

Saturday, June 8, 7:30 p.m.: Maracujá is the duo that brings guitarist Terrence Rosnagle together with vocalist Caitlin Belem, who also plays saxophone, guitar, fiddle, and hand percussion. They have developed a repertoire that celebrates the rich diversity of Latin American sources, including samba, bossa nova, cumbia, son cubano, and much more. Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.

[added 5/21, 7:50 a.m.:

Saturday, June 15, 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.: Rupa & the April Fishes is led by vocalist Rupa Marya, who also plays guitar. In addition to being a composer, she is also an activist and a physician. Her genre is Libertation Music, which she describes as “a live experience which is a manifestation of a world beyond nations, where the heart of humanity beats louder than anything that divides us.” Accompaniment is provided by the April Fishes, whose members are Mario Silva (trumpet), Aaron Kierbel (percussion), Matt Szemela (violin), Jhno (piano), and Misha Khalikulov (cello). As can be seen above, there are two shows; but they are both handled by the menu of a single Eventbrite page. Admission for both performances will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.]

Friday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.: Vocalist Ramana Vieira will pay tribute to the fado classics made famous by Amália Rodrigues. Her selections will also include Portuguese folk music, jazz, and original compositions. She will be accompanied by the trio of Leslie Thorne (bass), Stephen LaPorta (percussion), and Jeff Furtado (guitar). Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.

[added 5/20, 9:50 a.m.:

Saturday, June 22, 7:30 p.m.: Trance Mission brings together two San Francisco musicians with a percussionist from Los Angeles. The group was formed here in San Francisco by didgeridoo pioneer and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Kent and clarinetist and composer Beth Custer. They upgraded from their duo performances by adding percussionist Peter Valsamis, who also adds electronics to the mix. While the sense of trance comes primarily from the didgeridoo, the trio, as a whole, makes music perhaps best described as a new form of contemporary global jazz. Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.

Sunday, June 23, 2 p.m.:  There seems to have been a break in this series this month. However, the next installment of the free Monthly Community Rumba, with music provided by Rumberos de Radio Habana, will return next month. While this is a free event, donations are warmly accepted. All donated money goes to the performing musicians, and a recommended amount is between $5 and $10.

Friday, June 28, 7:30 p.m.: Daptain Hook is a trio recently formed by three jazz musicians: Elé Howell (drums), Franklin Rankin (guitar), and Nick Panoutsos (bass). Their interest in jazz is complemented by explorations into both funk and rock. They will debut original music and feature vocals over their compositions. The vocalist for this concert has not yet been named. Admission will be on a sliding scale between $15 and $20.

Saturday, June 29, 7:30 p.m.: Master West African kamale ngoni (known as a hunter’s harp) player Mamadou Sidibe and fingerstyle guitar wizard Walter Strauss perform as a duo called the Fula Brothers. They create an intoxicating blend through intertwining melodic grooves, spirited improvisation, and songs in two languages. Admission will be on a sliding scale between $20 and $25.]

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