Hello All! The summer is opening up and the bands are heating up, with the return of Americana Unplugged Sundays, as well as a mess-load of smokin' bands including the latin-influenced rock of Raya Nova (May 2), the psychedelic-jazz of Thee Immortals (May 9), Nashville sax/vocalist Ben Graves (May 14), the jazz/skank of Joseph's Bones (May 17), and the debut of the SF Jazz Mafia's new off-shoot Supertaster (May 28), among many other great acts this month. Let the summer begin!!
Th.May.1
Selector DJ Sessions 8:00
Live-electronic weekly series, featuring DJ’s, laptop artists, and electronic acts every Thursday at Jup.
Fr.May.2
RAYA NOVA 8.oo
Formed in Berkeley in 2001, Raya Nova combines the unique styles of Eduardo Gamboa and Grae Ryder’s original melodic and harmonic vocals superimposed on the backdrop of a rhythmic, genre-bending hybrid of music. Their influences run the gamut from early Pink Floyd (Meddle, Dark Side era) to the Buena Vista Social Club, Santana to Peter Gabriel and much more. The lyrics have a depth and consciousness that has become a rarity in a darkening world. Sometimes they’re music is ambient-psychedelic and at other times folk influenced or the danceable rhythms of Latin music. http://www.myspace.com/rayanova
Sat.May.3
TRES MOJO 8.oo
Tres Mojo is an original eclectic group where jazz-funk merges into New Orleans funk which melds with calypso that turns into Latin which morphs into samba and then mutates into funk-rock & back again. Keyboardist Jim Talley's wide-ranging compositions allow plenty of room for jamming with integrity as the improvisations flow from solid, memorable grooves & melodies.
http://www.tresmojo.com
Sun.May.4
Americana Unplugged 5.oo
Its baack! Live bluegrass, Americana, and old-time artists in the late afternoon sunshine every Sunday during the summer.
Tu.May.6
JAZZSCHOOL TUESDAYS 8.oo
Ensembles from the Berkeley Jazzschool.
www.jazzschool.com
Wed.May.7
REBECCA GRIFFIN 8.oo
Rebecca Griffin brings a sultry, warm and rich sound to a unique repertoire of great jazz standards, lesser-known gems, and fun and sophisticated contemporary tunes. With a strong background in musical study, she brings a serious musicianship to music bridging the tradition of legends like Billie Holiday to modern arrangements inspired by the likes of contemporary jazz star Nnenna Freelon.
http://www.rebeccagriffin.com
Th.May.8
Selector: DJ DELGADO & AZTLAN ROOTS 8.oo
DJ Delgado and Noble of the Aztlan Roots Soundsystem stop by to spin reggae, dub, and dancehall.
http://www.reggaedelgado.com
Fr.May.9
THEE IMMORTALS 8.oo
San Francisco-based alternative-blues band, Thee Immortals also could fall under Root, Jazz, New Jazz, Blues, Funk, Psychedelia, Jam, and Latin genres..either way, they have one of the freshest new sounds out there. Headed by Michael Hatfield on guitar and vocals, Thee Immortals channel roots blues from Howlin Wolf to Electric Mud stinging the air with their own flair for Free Jazz mixed with Psychedelia and Mississippi Mud. http://www.myspace.com/theeimmortals
Sat.May.10
STANLEY 8.oo
From deep-fried funk nasty to post-apocalyptic jazz to scintillating trance hypnotism, the music of Stanley is sure to leave you a changed being. A quartet comprised of some of the Bay Area's finest musicians, Stanley's music features the extended compositions of saxophonist/keyboardist Mitch Marcus, as well as on Guitar; Mike Abraham, Acoustic/Electric basses; George Ban-Weiss, and on drums; Micah McClain. This is soul music that simmers and sparks with intense group improvisation. Whether navigating murky wah-wah swamps or the exhalted celestial current, Stanley always delivers with warmth and precision.
http://www.mitchmarcusmusic.com
Sun.May.11
Americana Unplugged: Savannah Blu 5.oo
Savannah Blu graces our stage for their fist time this week. This Marin based bluegrass five piece is a great new band that just gets better and better. Dave Gooding (Donner Mtn.) and friends kick the season into high gear with good old, straight ahead bluegrass!
www.myspace.com/savannablugrass
Tu.May.13
JAZZSCHOOL TUESDAYS 8.oo
Ensembles from the Berkeley Jazzschool.
www.jazzschool.com
Wed.May.14
BEN GRAVES QUARTET 8.oo
Having relocated to Nashville, saxophonist/singer Ben Graves makes his way back to the Jup stage, with a jazz-americana sensibility fusing many styles from jazz, rock, and blues. "...With his mix of easy grooves and smooth roots-rock sensibility... Ben Graves delivers incisive observations on the everyday in a honeyed voice."
http://www.bengraves.com
Th.May.15
Selector DJ Sessions :: DIETSNAKS 8.oo
“Audio Catering by Experts”, featuring DJ Diet and DJ Snaks making it back in at Jup, where they’ll be serving up a delicious international blend of funk, nu-jazz and electronic music.
http://www.myspace.com/dietsnaks
Fr.May.16
BITCHES BREW 8.oo
Blasting the far-out electrified space funk of the 1970's ouvre of the great Miles Davis into the future positive, this nine-member ensemble more closely resembles a fire-breathing two-headed lizard than it does the polite jazz that inhabits too many of the SF's restaurants and jazz clubs. Mixing reworkings of Miles material from albums like Live/Evil, Dark Magus, On the Corner and others with their own similarly-themed originals, Bitches Brew the band must be seen to be believed.
Sat.May.17
JOSEPH'S BONES 8.oo
Drummer/composer Jason Levis leads Joseph's Bones, an instrumental trombone reggae band featuring drummer/composer Jason Levis' arrangements of Bob Marley classics and one of the most skankin'est horn sections this side of Kingston.
http://www.jasonlevismusic.com
Sun.May.18
Americana Unplugged: Pete Madsen 5.oo
Pete can't be beat. This guy's been with us since year one and there's a reason for that. He's one of the bay area's best blues pickers and we're glad he's back again! It's not often we can work in some real honest to goodness ragtime music to Jupiter.
www.buzzyfrets.com
Tu.May.20
JAZZSCHOOL TUESDAYS 8.oo
Ensembles from the Berkeley Jazzschool.
www.jazzschool.com
Wed.May.21
TEN TON CHICKEN 8.oo
Berkeley's own improvisational, groove-rock band Ten Ton Chicken has performed hundreds of shows to enthused audiences along the West coast since January 2001. In Search Of..., TTC's second CD on Harmonized Records impresses with an eclectic selection of originals influenced by Funk, Jazz, Progressive, Blues and improvisational Rock.
http://www.tentonchicken.com
Th.May.22
SELECTOR 8.oo
Live-electronic weekly series, featuring DJ’s, laptop artists, and electronic acts every Thursday at Jup.
Fr.May.23
THE JELLY ROLL SOULS 8.oo
The Jelly Roll Souls are the youngest swinginist and soulfullest band around today. Born from the collaborative visionary efforts of Lech Wierzynski (Trumpet and Vocals) and Nansamba Ssensalo (Drums), the JRS's deliver a sound thats as joyous and funky as a New Orleans street parade, down-home as a Delta juke joint, and fresh and sweet as a Carolina peach. Working with some the finest musicians in the bay area, the Jelly Roll Souls will not only keep your feet moving, but also delight your ears and most of all, soothe your soul.
http://www.myspace.com/thejellyrollsouls
Sat.May.24
RAINMAKER 8.oo
Rainmaker has been spreading their mix of strong songwriting, infectious grooves, and feel-good improv throughout Northern California, freely mixing elements of Americana, World Music, New Orleans Funk, Ska, Jazz, Dub, and good old Rock and Roll in to their compositions. This range of styles is held together by a musical connection that band leaders Jon Chi and JP McLean have felt since they first started playing together at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Their interaction during jams and blending of vocal harmonies lends a family-style feel to Rainmaker's sound.
http://myspace.com/rainmakerjam
Sun.May.25
Americana Unplugged: .49 Special 5.oo
Another first time band at Jupiter this week as James Chayka and friends take the stage. They're a new band with an old sound. Sweet harmonies and a serious attitude toward their music gives these guy convincing authority!
Tu.May.27
JAZZSCHOOL TUESDAYS 8.oo
Ensembles from the Berkeley Jazzschool. Tonight: Arian Shafiee.
www.jazzschool.com
Wed.May.28
SUPERTASTER 8.oo
Supertaster is the latest offshoot of Jazz Mafia, San Francisco’s eclectic and freakishly talented musical collective. Formed in late 2007, the band features Adam Theis on bass, trombone, and electronics, Jon Monahan on guitar and electronics, and Joe Bagale on drums, vocals, and electronics. Like many of the current crop of post-jazz groups, the band is able to generate large volumes of sound between the three of them; unlike many, they share an encyclopedic (and shameless) knowledge of pop, rock, and hip-hop music, and have the creativity to reinvent these songs with every performance. http://www.myspace.com/supertastersf
Th.May.29
Selector DJ Series: DJ RIDDM 8.oo
A long-time staple of the Bay Area DJ scene, DJ Riddm can pretty much do it all, specializing in Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Funk, Salsa, Afro Beat. http://www.myspace.com/funkyriddms
Fr.May.30
WHAT IT IS 8.oo
Forever in the pantheon of all-time great Jupiter bands, What It Is are back on the scene!! Headed by bassist/vocalist Jerry Kennedy, What It Is plays soul-groove music -- a mixture of funk, acid jazz and soul. The sound of the band, while contemporary, is reminiscent of Black American music of the early 1970's. The music features the same ingredients that made 70's funky soul so powerful: strong song writing, funky grooves, soulful vocals, horns, jazzy solos and, most importantly, the sound of musicians playing real instruments together. Far from being a studio-only band, What It Is is an electric live band. Each show is a spirited, body-moving, live performance that captivates the audience and garners new fans wherever the band appears. http://myspace.com/whatitisband -- http://www.whatitis.com
Sat.May.31
JINX JONES TRIO 8.oo
In Jinx Jones’ impressive musical career he has visited nearly every conceivable style and genre of the electric guitar. From his work with R&B divas, En Vogue to his own acclaimed rockabilly album, “License to Twang,” Jones has always strived to expand the possibilities of the instrument. He accepts every musical challenge head on, always making an impressive statement with his music. The one thing that remains consistent throughout Jones’ multi-stylistic journey is the grace and finesse of his virtuoso playing.
http://www.jinxjones.com
Thanks!
Alain Grissette
Jupiter
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