The Talking Stick @ 1411 Lincoln Blvd in Venice always reminds me of the line in Bob Dylan’s Tangled Up In Blue that “There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air…” World Music Night @ “The Stick” (as we affectionately call the place) has a line up for this Saturday (7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.,October 20, 2012) that is NOT to be missed….be there or be square…..
This is how the multi-talented Lauri Reimer of Music Magique Productions describes this Saturday’s entertainment fest on Facebook:
Music Magique & Stefani Valadez are gonna do it a little differently this month. The term ‘World Music’ covers a broad spectrum from Latin Jazz to Middle Eastern Klezmer to African, Reggae, Folk-Rock from other lands, Celtic and more. This Saturday evening at the Stick will provide a forum for all of the above. So far on the line-up: Peter McGowan, Carol McArthur, Stefani Valadez, Lauri Reimer. If you’re interested in playing, please contact us asap. Otherwise, please c’mon down to the Stick and enjoy what we bring to the evening. There will be no cover, but requesting a minimum $7 donation for the musicians that offer their time to bring this music to you. Free parking front and back of building. Family friendly.
Finn MacCool
Peter McGowan’s Finn MacCool band I have been following for, well, I think decades. My great old friend and band member Marta Collier and I used to defend women’s clinics against Operation Rescue in the dark days of the blockades that prevented women from getting everything from pap smears to mammograms, frequently at clinics that didn’t even perform abortions. You can see more about Finn MacCool at http://www.finnmaccool.com/ and http://janbtucker.com/blog/2012/02/21/music-revolution/.
Carol McArthur
Carol is a tremendous performer and committed activist….last year she was elected to my NOW Chapter’s Board and is a fellow member of the California Peace & Freedom Party (although I didn’t recruit her for the latter affiliation; turns out she knows my fellow party member Frank Boeheim). This is from her official bio:
Singer/songwriter CAROL McARTHUR has a big heart, a gentle spirit, and the voice of an ‘Angel’ (the title also of one of her fine originals) though she will wryly tell you that her halo “is a little rusted.” She has a lovely, lyrical, soaring voice, giving an elegant, wistful, romantic reading to a jazz standard like ‘Ghost of Yesterday,‘ then sounding very much like a classic folksinger with the haunting refrains of ‘Health to the Company‘ or ‘Night Driving.” She counts Ella Fitzgerald, Kate Bush, The Beatles, Elton John, Nina Simone, Elizabeth Frazier (Cocteau Twins), and Roberta Flack as the singers that have influenced her the most, but it is a testament to her talent to say she has her own unique sound and style. She has been performing in front of an audience since age 6. [More at: http://www.newoceanmusic.com/Carol%20Bio.htm]
Stefani Valadez
Stefani’s bio explains that she is:
An unforgettable singer/performer whose haunting, soulful voice will linger on, long after you have been entranced and entertained . . .
Singer, guitarist, songwriter, Stefani Valadez offers a rich repertoire of soulful romantic and enchanting melodies from many nations. A third generation musician, Stefani has an international following of fans who have thrilled to her deep, haunting voice and the wide range of musical and ethnic lore she incorporates in her performances.
Stefani first learned to play guitar and discovered the beauty of harmony from her mother, a singer and pianist, and from Pete Seeger, and the Greenwich Village blues locals. She traces her musical inspiration to diverse musicians, such as Taj Mahal, Grace Slick, and Antonio Jobim. Her later interest in Celtic & international folk music led her to her first CD of World Music, “Other Voices”.
One of her newest albums is “Ladino Live,” a medley of songs from the Sephardic cultures of the Mediterranean, which Stefani collected while living in Spain. They speak of a time of peace and a flowering of civilization when the cultures of the three great religions coexisted peacefully together for 700 years. Stefani’s arrangements bring these ancient melodies, prayers and love songs into the moment with sensual and haunting vocals, soulful ethnic drums and delicious harmonies. The LA musicians on this CD have played with the legends of the music world and add layers of rich colors to an already deep and moving palette of music.
A strong vocalist, performer and arranger, Ms. Valadez also plays dulcimer and percussion and is a producer and recording artist. [More: http://www.stefanivaladezmusic.com/index.html]
