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Gualala Arts
Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961.
Archive of past events: 2004 through 2014
Executive Chef James Romeo is preparing a special multi-course menu for this special holiday evening celebration. Fine wines have been personally selected to specifically partner with the menu selections. Cocktails and fine microbrews will also be available. Advance reservations for this event may be made with a credit card guarantee (VI/MC), as space will be limited. Seating for dinner will begin at 5:00 p.m. and the jazz music will be from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Special dinner menu: $56 for 3-course dinner with choice of entrée (price does not include beverages, tax or gratuity). Please call (707) 785-2371 or (800) SEA-RANCH (732-7262) for reservations.
Troy Hanson: Guitar. Troy has performed in and around the Bay Area with a variety of swing and gypsy jazz bands. He studied the music of Django Reinhardt and took classes with the great gypsy jazz artist Alfonso Ponticelli at the legendary Old Town School of Music in Chicago. The first tune he learned was "Avalon" and he was hooked! This will be his third time performing at the Whale & Jazz Festival. Trevel Beshore: Guitar. Trevel has been playing guitar for over 17 years in a variety of musical genres and ensembles. While studying jazz at San Francisco State University, Trevel had the honor of studying with such musical talents as Dee Spencer, Wayne Wallace, Jim Witzel, Francis Wong, and Ron Caltabiano. Having performed and recorded for years with many songwriters, jazz artists, and his own original collaborations throughout the Bay Area, Trevel most recently committed himself to the study of Gypsy Jazz. Matej Seda: Violin. Matej is a jazz and classically trained violinist from Prague. In addition to leading a variety of ensembles and jazz groups, Matej has composed and performed music on the radio and in top clubs and theatres in Prague. Matej is currently studying Indian violin at the Ali Akbar Khan School of Music in San Rafael, CA. On Saturday evening, the Main Event Jazz Concert at Gualala Arts Center features the Montclair Women's Jazz Ensemble, with vocalist Rhonda Benin selected from the Montclair Women's Big Band, and 11-year-old jazz flute sensation, Elena Pinderhughes. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for beer, wine and a martini bar along with savory and sweet tapas plates available for purchase. Limited open cabaret seating at 7:00 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 if purchased in advance or $35 the day of the event. Call Gualala Arts at (707) 884-1138 weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Visa and MC accepted. The Redwood Coast Whale and Jazz Festival runs four days and kicks off Thursday, April 5 evening at Point Arena CityArt for Poetry & Jazz, with a jazz ensemble accompanying both local and guest artist poets. The Dinner & Jazz, Brunch & Jazz and Sunset & Jazz events hosted by local restaurants are returning by popular demand, along with Chowder & Jazz and the Whale and Jazz Festival Main Event, both at the Gualala Arts Center. And what about the whales? There will be plenty of opportunities around the jazz events to observe the gray whale migration that passes Gualala heading north at this time of year. Point Arena Lighthouse offers exceptional spots to view the whales, as does Gualala Point Regional Park, and the film, Whales: An Unforgettable Journey, will be shown on Saturday, April 7. The Whale and Jazz Festival is produced by Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce and Gualala Arts, Inc. More information about festival events is available in Gualala Arts' monthly newsletter, Sketches, and at whaleandjazzfestival.com.
The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA, |
Sea Ranch Lodge Restaurant rests high on a cliff above the breaking waves, each table in the dining room offering a dramatic panorama of the ever-changing Pacific Ocean. These exceptional Redwood "Mendonoma" Coast ocean views make it an excellent spot to view the whales and the sunset... the perfect spot to end this year's Festival as the "Sunset & Jazz" event.
The Tipsy Gypsy Trio is a jazz group focusing on the pioneering music of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli and their progeny, the many musicians and composers who make up the musical world created by Django and now known as Gypsy Jazz. The music evokes the verve and romance of pre-war Europe and features both traditional jazz standards as well as unforgettable original compositions by Reinhardt/Grappelli. In addition, the group blends in modern compositions from the Gypsy Jazz repertoire, giving the music versatility and a contemporary feel. The members of The Tipsy Gypsy Trio are Troy Hanson, guitar, Trevel Beshore, guitar, and Matej Seda, violin. Special guest: Wayne Harris on chromatic mouth harp.
