JAZZ &BLUES VIEW Springing Back With Music

By Eric Benson

3. I heard some of the stuff you were playing on Twitch, sounds like drum and bass, electronica, trip hop. What would you consider your style to be?

Some of the genres I play on Twitch are: drum and bass, jungle, hardcore, trap, dubstep, hip-hop, rnb, garage, grime, house and chillwave. Sometimes I do practice scratch sessions. My channel grew the most when I started connecting with other drum and bass channels. For the most part, even though the majority of my streams are drum and bass, I still consider myself to be an open format dj, because I love almost every genre of music.

4. Where are some places around town and beyond that you have played at? Luckily, we have a great community here in Modesto where I have been able to play. I’ve played at Trax on Wax at Speakeasy, Lofi Cocktails, Contentment Brewery and DOMO First Fridays. Thanks to networking on Twitch and breaking out of my introvert ed shell a bit, I have also been able to play in the Bay Area for underground raves and at locations such as Burnt Ramen, Brix, Underground SF, Stamina at F8, Lower Grand Radio and Secret Spot in Oakland.

5. What do you go by on Twitch, and do you have booking info?

Twitch Info: twitch.tv/mf_mama

Email: Ladamamama@gmail.com for bookings

The weather is cooperating, and downtown is bustling with arts offerings. The farmers’ markets are thriving, and spring events keep us active. It is the perfect time to come down and support local businesses. Downtown is starting to come back to life, and there’s no better way to experience it than by attending the Blue Monday Party on the 2nd and 4th Mondays in May. This month, the party features Gustavo Ramirez and a Cinco De Mayo groove with friends.

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it’s essential to keep supporting the arts and local businesses. Chris Murphy and Gary Nelson support the Blue Monday Scene, which I appreciate, and we must keep it going. By attending events like Blue Monday, we can help boost the local economy and support our community.

The Blue Monday event features great music and attendance. The House Band includes John Burt on sax, John Adey and Conrad Johnson on bass, Dave Hawkes and Cortez Flores on drums, Eric Benson on keyboards, and Natalia Alexandra as the vo- calist. Moreover, there are special guests at each event, and the jam is open, so come down and enjoy the music. The band will host on May 8th and 22nd, so mark your calendars.

If you’re looking for something to do outside of Blue Monday, Café Urbano is an excellent spot. It offers a full bar and great food, and they also have DJ dancing Tuesday through Sunday, featuring Latin-based music. The Creole Jazz Kings continue to play at Café Urbano and will be back this month, so make sure to swing by and check them out. There are plenty of other great shows and venues to explore this month. While the Gallo Center has some fantastic performances, other great venues out of town, such as Yoshi’s Oakland for the best jazz shows, Khumba Music Center in Santa Cruz, Piedmont Piano Company, the Back Door, and the Sound Room located in Oakland. It’s an excellent opportunity to catch live music and explore new areas.

Please continue to come out, folks, as we can’t do it without you! By attending local events and supporting local businesses, we can help ensure that our community thrives

The cities with a strong cultural community are the most creative and the most successful. Modesto is fortunate to have the Modesto Symphony, Modesto Opera Company, Central West Ballet Company, Modesto Performing Arts, the Gallo Repertory Theatre Company, the Prospect Theatre Project, Modesto Unplugged, MJC Performing Arts, YES Company and local public and private schools with strong performing arts programs. Makes sense that talented people emerge from Modesto like George Lucas, Jeremy Renner, Tim Olyphant, Lindsay Pearce and more. Make sure you check out these season schedules and take in a show and enjoy the talent here in Modesto.

Hang tight, the Gallo Center Season will be announced next month. Check www. modestoview.com for the announcement. There are so many things to check out this month from Edger Allen Poe, to Anastasia and so much more. But here are a couple of hits.

Mozart’s Requiem

By Chris Murphy

This is THE symphony to see. Mozart’s Requiem was arguably the first rock opera. He was so far ahead of his time, this is like listening to Pink Floyd, the White Album and Mozart all at once. If a symphony were made for a laser light show, this is it. Don’t miss out on this. Just wait until the Confotadis Maledictis part. You will snap. May 12-13 www.galloarts.org

Prospect Gala

This is something you need to check out. This is cool local, intelligent theatre, completely prepared by local people in a great small setting where you can really feel like you are a part of the play. They are working on their new season and they are having a really important fundraiser in one of the coolest buildings in Modesto.

The Prospect Theater Project’s Annual FUNdraiser is June 3! Don your chicest chapeaus and party down to gear up for the 24th season with the Blue Monday Band at the Silos.

It takes a village to keep Modesto’s longestrunning resident theater thriving — so put a feather in your Il CAPitano and join your favorite cast of characters for a night of whimsy, gratitude, and celebration at the Modesto Silos.

This month on the Prospect stage, Sight Unseen by Donald Margulies

May 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28

Central West Ballet’s Peter Pan

First star to the right, straight on to morning! Peter Pan is the ultimate magical story ballet. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this. Journey to Neverland with Peter, Wendy, John, Michael and Tinker Bell as they encounter Peter’s arch enemy, Captain James Hook! After you see it, you might just feel like flying, too! May 6, 7 & 8.

Bike to Work Day – May 18

Guess what the tallest hill is in Modesto? It’s the Briggsmore overpass. That means that Modesto is pretty flat and that makes it good for bicycling. It is crazy that its only approximately 5 miles from the city limits to downtown and it is super easy to ride to restaurants on the weekend for a Sunday Fun Day or to our local parks. But heads up though as so many people are texting while driving, it is more dangerous to be on a bike, so that is why it is so important to promote bike safety and awareness. Drivers, get off your phone! Cyclists, follow the motor vehicle rules! It’s pretty simple. If you bike to work downtown Modesto, on May 18, there will be snacks and goodies from 6:30 – 8 am.

Please also lookout for helmet safety programs being offered by the Stanislaus Regional Transit. Keep those kids and yourself safe out there. For kid safety tips, schedules and updates, www.facebook.com/safekidsstanislaus/

In taut scenes that dart from past to present and back, the characters are forced to deal with the unanswerable question of antiSemitism, the legacy of the Holocaust and assimilation, the sadness of lost love, the role of the artist and the location of the human soul at the end of a ragged century.

Learn more, get tix & info@prospecttheaterproject.org or (209) 549-9341

GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS TICKETS AT MODESTOSYMPHONY.ORG

music by JOHN WILLIAMS