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Eclectic
Jazz
A 2000 jam session brought together four ace musicians with a résumé spanning stints with Sting, Steve Kimock, John McLaughlin, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea. That fate-tempting meeting was the root of the formation of Garaj Mahal, a four piece consisting of bassist Kai Eckhardt, guitarist Fareed Haque, drummer Alan Hertz and keyboardist Eric Levy. Haque was born in 1963 to a Pakistani father and a Chilean mother. Extensive travels to Western Europe, the Middle East and Chile exposed Haque to a wide variety of music at a young age. Eckhardt, born in 1961 in Mainz, Germany to a German mother and Liberian father, was raised in Germany and West Africa. Hertz's background is solidly in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is among the region's most sought after drummers. His collaborations with Steve Kimock (Zero, Other Ones, Phil & Friends), Bobby Vega (Zero, Jefferson Starship, Quicksilver), and Frank Zappa alumnus Ray White in 1998 became known as KVHW. Eric Levy hails from the Windy City and was steeped in Chicago's gospel and blues traditions as well as jazz and classical. Interestingly, as Levy proceeded with his musical education at Northern Illinois University, Fareed Haque became his professor. Now, master and disciple jam together. What each member of the foursome brings to the mix is his own spice, seasoned by diverse backgrounds and experiences. Together, they blend most deliciously into a pleasing assortment of grooves. The group produces timeless jazz but doesn't stop there; the dish is livened up by a combination of funk, fusion, blues and world beats that causes Garaj Mahal to stand out in a crowded scene. Garaj Mahal's first studio album, Mondo Garaj, has recently been released to wide acclaim, and a second album is in the works. Garaj Mahal plays the McDonald Theatre on Thursday, April 22nd. Local jazz quintet Manischewitz is set to celebrate what would have been the 80th birthday of Henry Mancini, a versatile and multi-talented composer who brought soothing and invigorating themes to popular film and television programs. Mancini was responsible for the irrepressible coolness of The Pink Panther and Peter Gunn. (Mancini scored all of the Pink Panther movies.) He took John Wayne to wildest Africa with the soundtrack for the 1962 movie Hatari. The film Breakfast at Tiffany's just wouldn't be the same without the Mancini-composed and conducted score. "Hubcaps and Taillights," "Mr. Yunioshi," and "Moon River" (with Johnny Mercer) never cease to thrill. Born Enrique Mancini in Cleveland on April 16, 1924, he first burst onto the scene as a pianist-arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, then under the direction of Tex Beneke. Hollywood welcomed Mancini with open arms, during which time he penned the unforgettable tunes we revere him for today. Mancini's compositions were performed by the best jazzers of the time, allowing jazz buffs to go nuts and the casual music fan to revel in his inventive artistry. This cross-musical love affair is being kept alive by Manischewitz: coronet and accordion by Michael Roderick, also of Eugene's Mood Area 52, Los Mex Pistols, Scrambled Ape, Wheel of Meat and RocketBoy Arts Records; alto sax by West Coast Rhythm Kings' and Mood Area 52's Kee Zublin; drums by James West (Justin King, Norma Fraser, the Habaneros); guitar by Gung Ho Recording Studios' owner Billy Barnett (who also plays guitar with other local celebrities, like Dan Jones and Ed Cole); and double bass by Eugene jazz musician Hamilton Mays. The Mancini celebration happens Friday at the Downtown Lounge. Mood Area 52's tango-inspired original compositions will open the festivities, with film clips and Manishewitz following. For all you music lovers and philatelists, a commemorative postage stamp honoring Mancini, who died June 14, 1994, is scheduled for release on April 13th. Nature's
Value is Intrinsic
Corvallis singer/songwriter Siobhan (pronounced Shovan) taught herself to play guitar after realizing music is a great way to share her poetry. Eleven years into her craft, Siobhan plays regularly around town, has one album out and is creating another. During a phone conversation, in between her work as a massage therapist and yoga instructor, I was struck by the strength of Siobhan's voice and her beliefs, which enhance the soft melodies of her first album, Love Lives in the Earth. Siobhan's message of universal love, healing and the sacred earth punctuated our conversation. She is a woman with a mission — healing the planet — and she hopes her music will inspire others to walk that path. EW: Tell me about yourself. S: I want to share with others that we are not superior to nature, as many religious and scientific systems have told us. At the same time, I do not label myself an environmentalist. I care for humanity and do not want to separate myself from anyone, logger, oil driller, no one. The message of my music is compassion for one another, all beings, and supportive healing of ourselves. And healing has to come from the individual's sense of compassion for oneself. EW: How has the Oregon land influenced your work? S: The salmon spawning, the majesty of the landscape, the diverse ecology from oceans to desert to mountain, the amazing water systems … the remaining wilderness is really valuable, beyond a resource extractive system. The value of nature is intrinsic — it is valuable because it is, not because of something we put onto it. EW: In your song Touch Tenderly you share a positive sensual experience you had with another person. The lack of romantic angst throughout Love Lives in the Earth is striking. What are you expressing about human relationships in this song, and can we expect more? S: In Touch Tenderly, I am trying to express the importance of touch in our lives as a way to maintain contact with one another. Touch is a form of non-verbal communication and it is incredibly healing. Love Lives in the Earth is definitely a concepts CD. It is talking about things as a whole, rather than my personal relationships. That has already been sung. On my next album, I am more personal. Of course, the pronouns of my new songs are my grandmother, my best friend, as well as my life partner. Music is an avenue to get my message across, the lyrics are my message. And each song is like a journal entry, capturing a certain experience, a certain time, a certain place, a certain relationship. My songs are love songs to the world — other creatures, humans, the planet. EW: Who is your audience? S: My audience is everyone, each human being. EW: In what ways do you attempt to live eco-consciously as a musician? S: That's a good question. By not over-consuming electricity. I donate a portion of my album proceeds to international conservation efforts. Making the theme of my album one of Earth consciousness was an important choice. To be honest, I get overwhelmed by this issue, so I just do what I can do, take time to heal and rest. EW: In the song Endangered you say, "Wake up to the beauty/ don't let her die away/ Act as a steward/ to guide her fate." How do you suggest environmental activists respond to the destructive actions you sing about, such as the proposed oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and deforestation? S: Vegetarianism is the number one thing you can do — eating a plant-based diet means having compassion for animals and biodiversity. Limiting electricity usage, not taking long showers, not driving as much. It's important to create a lifestyle for yourself because each person is a ripple in this massive effect. I have a deep respect for the people sitting in trees. I do respect everyone that's doing something. At the same time, and I hesitate to say this, I do not think that there is a place for violence in the movement. Monkey wrenching just makes us look bad. The most important thing to do is what is close to home — buying locally, understanding bioregionalism, making choices. And always seeking healing, for yourself and every person you meet. Siobhan will be performing at 2 pm Saturday, April 17, at Planet Goloka. She performs in Corvallis regularly.
ALLANN BROTHERS COFFEE AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR BLACK FOREST CAFE PARADISO CLUB ROCK COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND All
Ages SA: Ginger Hustlers w/ Amish Love Child--8; Alternative
rock DIABLO'S
THE DIVE BAR & GRILL DOWNTOWN LOUNGE DUCK INN EL REY'S EMBERS SUPPER CLUB FR: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country EUGENE WINE CELLARS FOOL'S PARADISE GOOD TIMES INDIGO DISTRICT JIMMY MAC'S OVERTIME GRILL JOE'S BAR & GRILLE JO FEDERIGO'S JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
JOHN HENRY'S JUANITA'S HIDEAWAY THE JUNGLE KELYNSKI'S SPORTS PUB LAVELLE'S WINE BAR & BISTRO LONE STAR BAR AND GRILL LUNA MAC'S AT THE VET'S CLUB
MCDONALD THEATRE THE O BAR OREGON ELECTRIC STATION PEABODY'S PERUGINO PLANET GOLOKA QUACKER'S RAMADA INN SAM BOND'S GARAGE SAMURAI DUCK SAM'S PLACE STACY'S SWEETWATER'S TAP 'N' KEG TINY TAVERN WOODSMAN GRILL WETLANDS
WOW HALL All Ages YUKON JACK'S
CORVALLIS FOX 'N' FIRKIN MURPHY'S PLATINUM
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