Vol. 7 august 9th, 2012
Showcase featuring musicians from Cirque du Soleil
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2012 Twilight Concert Series Table of contents
Pg. 12-13
Walkabout
Pg. 5
Santa Monica Pier at the center of a busy hub
User guide
Pgs. 14
Learn more about the TCS
Pg. 6-7
Cirque musicians on PARADE Musicians of Cirque du Soleil join forces on stage to perform eight unique acts in one night
Pg. 10-11
Map Make your way around the pier with ease
Design of the times Artists combine music and surf, fresh and retro, to create unique merchandise for the Twilight Concert Series
Pg. 16-17
Future shows Find out who will be playing upcoming concerts
Pg. 18
Picture play Pictures from previous concerts
About this publication This Twilight Concert Series guide has been created as a partnership between the Santa Monica Pier Corporation and the Santa Monica Daily Press. It is intended to help concert-goers navigate the popular summer concert series.
The Santa Monica Pier Corporation is a non-profit created in 1983 by the Santa Monica City Council to preserve and enhance the pleasure pier experience for people of all ages and for future generations. For more information, visit santamonicapier.org, or call (310) 458-8901.
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Twilight Concert Series user guide Here’s the skinny on this year’s shows Tickets, cost No ticket or reservation is necessary for the concerts. And all of the concerts are free. However, should you find yourself wanting to express your appreciation for the concerts you are welcome to make a tax deductible contribution to the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation either by donating online at santamonicapier.org or in person at one of the concerts by visiting the pier booth.
What time do the concerts begin and end?
Hundreds of bikes are parked during each show so make sure you get a spot.
First aid/lost and found If you require first aid or assistance, please visit the pier booth/tent and we will contact the proper authority. If it is an emergency, please call 911. The lost and found will also be located at that location.
Smoking Smoking not permitted on the Santa Monica Pier.
7 p.m. — 10 p.m.
Parking Parking is available in the 1550 Pacific Coast Highway Lot, on a first-come, firstserved basis. There is no parking permitted on the Pier Parking Deck. There are also a number of city structures located in nearby Downtown Santa Monica. For more information, visit the City of Santa Monica’s parking site for directions and pricing at parking.smgov.net/overview.html. For directions to the Santa Monica Pier, visit santamonicapier.org/location.
Bike valet There is a free bike valet located next to the beach bike path just south of the Santa Monica Pier. It’s the reward for being kind to the environment.
Volunteer
Pets Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Weather It never gets really cold, but after the sun goes down it can sometimes get a bit chilly requiring only a sweater or light jacket. It’s always a good idea to have something to throw on just in case.
Seating Seating is not provided. You are welcome to bring beach chairs and blankets and sit on the pier deck or the beach. We ask that you bring low beach chairs. Many people do sit on the sand at the beach below the pier deck.
Food and drinks Alcohol consumption is not permitted in public spaces in Santa Monica. However, there are several full-service bars on the pier. Food is permitted.
Have a drink “Sonoma on the Deck” Wine and Beer Lounge will be located on the pier overlooking the sand, where guests can enjoy a selection of specialty wine and beer, see the concerts in a relaxed environment, all while taking in the sunset overlooking the Santa Monica Bay.“Sonoma on the Deck” will feature locally-owned, award-winning Solsticio Wines from Argentina, California labels, specialty beer and more! Beer and wine will be offered for $5 and $8 respectively. Must be 21 years of age and present an I.D. “Sonoma on the Deck” is a perfect place to enjoy a summer’s night with great wine, friends and entertainment!
The pier is always looking for a little help with the dance series. Volunteers are needed to help with raising funds, assisting the crew and providing hospitality for artists. If you are interested in assisting at the concerts, please contact us at (310) 4588901, or e-mail Anne Railsback at Anne@santamonicapier.org. Please provide the following information: • E-mail address • Phone Numbers: Cell/home • General availability • Special skills/interests • Fundraising ideas
Santa Monica Pier contact info Telephone: (310) 458-8901
Internet: santamonicapier.org
Mail: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A Santa Monica, CA. 90401
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PARADE Collective
Cirque musicians on PARADE Musicians of Cirque du Soleil join forces on stage to perform eight unique acts in one night e forewarned: this is not your normal Cirque du Soleil performance. Cirque du Soleil is best known for putting on a surreal visual display of sets, costumes, and of course, acrobatics, but the live music is also an important feature of any Cirque show. And, on Aug. 9 during the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series, the live music will be the feature. For the first time ever, some of the musicians of Cirque du Soleil will be on stage playing their original compositions and arrangements of their favorite songs. The concept, dubbed the PARADE Collective, was designed to help support the artists who provide the musical backdrop for Cirque’s shows by giving them a chance to perform their own material with the help of the company, said Roger Butterley, casting advisor and music scout for Cirque du Soleil, who is serving as creative director on the PARADE Collective. Butterley was chosen to guide the Collective because his job at Cirque made him personally suited for selecting the musicians. And, when he put out the call for
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any musicians that wanted to participate, the response was overwhelmingly positive, Butterley said. From there, it was just a matter of hammering out how long the sets would be, and who would be performing with who; an easy task, because most of the artists have already worked with each other. It’s an interesting setup, because every musician in the ensemble will not only be playing for the crowd, but for each other as well. For the performance, the musicians will be formed into eight groups backed by other Cirque musicians, each with their own set of styles, talents and influences, from funk to afropop to jazz and R&B. “A good example is a vocal group called Vox Indigo,” Butterley said. “They feature three of our singers, and they’re already a self-contained group. “In their band, they have a couple of people who already play with them. To fill out their band for this particular concert, they have other musicians from Cirque.” And Santa Barbara-born Dina Emerson, a singer in Mystère by Cirque du Soleil and
one of the founding members of Vox Indigo, is looking forward to taking part in the performance. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to participate, and the full support of the company is behind us,” she said. “We absolutely love our jobs, but to have the opportunity to perform our own music is very special.” The core group of the international Vox Indigo is four singers and a guitarist, but thanks to the other Cirque musicians, the band will be augmented for the performance and feature bass, drums, percussion and cello, Emerson said. The expanded group will do what Vox Indigo normally does: eccentric homages and deconstructions of some of the band’s favorite artists. “We take familiar cover songs, and we completely rearrange them,” she said. “We change the style, too.” Soulful British singer Adele is a big influence on the band, but also expect to hear Vox Indigo turning Dolly Parton’s country popper “Jolene” into Latin jazz, and
forge Pink Floyd’s anthemic “Comfortably Numb” into a lyrical ballad. And that’s only one act; everything from a 14-piece band to traditional African music is part of the set, and all of it featuring some of Cirque’s most talented artists: Canadian rock saxophonist Eric Plante, cellist Dena Massaro, who has performed with YES and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Los Angelesbased classical and jazz pianist Otto Ehling, and jazz percussionist John Abraham, who will be providing the drums for all of the acts of the Collective. The audience will get nothing if not an eclectic show. “I’m so happy that kind of opportunity exists for people, because they’ll be exposed to a really amazing range of talent and style,” Emerson said of the performance. And it’s an opportunity that Cirque is happy to be brining to Santa Monica. “We have a deep standing affinity for Santa Monica,” Butterley said. “Cirque has a long-standing connection with the pier; it was sort of the birthplace of Cirque in America in many ways.”
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Musician bios John Abraham John Abraham is a graduate of West Virginia University and has spent the last 25 years playing Las Vegas showrooms as both drummer and percussionist for production shows and star acts. He has spent the last 10 years working as a drummer for the Cirque du Soleil productions of Mystère and “O.” As a prominent member of the Las Vegas jazz community, he has worked backing artists such as Cedar Walton, Alan Broadbent, Don Menza, Ricky Woodard and Carl Saunders.
Jean-Francois Blais Jean-Francois Blais, a native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, is a saxophone and woodwind specialist in Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil. A graduate with high distinction in jazz saxophone from the Jazz Performance program at McGill University in Montreal, Jean-Francois was awarded a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to move to New York City where he fostered and honed his craft. While in New York, he studied and performed alongside numerous jazz masters, such as Chris Potter and David Binney.
Genevieve Dube Genevieve’s artistic life started at a very young age. By the age of 12 she had already participated in numerous music competitions and performed as a soloist on stages in Canada, the United States and France. She completed her education at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal and the University of Montreal. Genevieve had the opportunity to study with numerous violin masters such has Sylvia Rosenberg, Pinchas Zukerman, and Sydney Hart and specialized in chamber music with the Tokyo Quartet and members of the Orford String Quartet.
Otto Ehling Otto Ehling began classical training at 2 years old. Born and raised in Los Angeles as a Brazilian-American, he performed numerous events in his youth to raise money for Brazilian orphanages. In 2002, Otto won first prize in the NAACP national classical division. He then began studying jazz music in addition to his classical playing. This led to his full scholarship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he achieved his degrees in both classical and jazz performance.
Sebastien Jean Sebastien Jean, a native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, began playing the trumpet at a young age. He completed his undergraduate studies in trumpet at the University of Montreal and earned an excellent reputation on the music scene. Sebastien was a key member of the party group La Chango Family and also played in the group One Ton. Since 2003, he has been performing in Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil.
Toumany Kouyaté Toumany Kouyaté plays authentic traditional music that represents the oral traditions of his native Senegal. Born and
raised in Dakar, he comes from a long line of artists and musicians. His instrument of choice is the kora, a classic harp-lute used by musicians in West Africa. Picture a washtub bass with 21 strings strung similar to a harp … and with a lute sticking out of the base and you have the basic idea of a kora. The instrument is built on a calabash cut in half and covered in cow skin to create a resonating chamber. He mesmerizes audiences nightly in “O” by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.toumanykouyate.com.
Carlos Lopez Vox Indigo
Growing up in Los Angeles with a musical family, playing in city youth bands in addition to music programs at school, Carlos began his pursuit of a musical career at an early age. In his never ending search for new sound, Carlos would go on to be the most eclectic musician in his family. His influences are as diverse as any pallet could be, ranging from rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, R&B, to reggae, classical and world music. Carlos’ style of playing and musicianship has allowed him to perform, record and tour with some of the top artists of today including; Wayne Newton, Marie Osmond, Sara Evans, Toni Braxton, Rhythm Slam and many more. His unique style and rhythmic approach keeps him in demand.
Tom Lyons Tom Lyons has performed with the Cirque du Soleil productions Zumanity, KÀ & Mystère. He has toured with The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, David Cassidy, Robert Goulet, Jack Jones, Lionel Hampton, and others. He was keyboardist for Penn & Teller’s “Sin City Spectacular,” a weekly variety show on Fox TV. He has been Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Idaho, jazz pianist-in-residence at the Lionel Hampton School of Music, and has a B.A. and M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Iowa. He has toured Central and South America for the United States State Department.
Dena Massaro Dena Massaro holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance from Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music, in Ohio. She performed regularly as a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Warren Philharmonic, sharing the stage with artists such as Al Jarreau, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Phil Keaggy, Craig Schulman and Linda Eder. She has also performed in other cities throughout Ohio with the rock band, YES and the TransSiberian Orchestra.
Eric Plante A Montreal, Canada native, Eric took on the saxophone at age 13 and never looked back. Eric studied in Montreal at Cegep de St-Laurent with Jean-Pierre Zanella and Luc Beaugrand, then with Simon Stone and Luc Beaugrand at University Of Montreal. In
2007, Eric co-founded Jelly Fiche, a French rock band, releasing their debut album “Tout ce que j’ai reve,” in 2008 under Unicorn Digital Records. Warmly received by critics and fans, its success brought Jelly Fiche to open for rock legend Fish in Montreal and to be nominated for “Best Debut Album” at the Prog Awards in 2009. For more information, please visit www.ericplante.com.
classical and heavy metal communities. Specializing in ethnic styles, Martin has extensive knowledge of traditional Chinese music and North Indian classical music. Martin was an orchestrator and score coordinator for Christopher Young on numerous feature films including “The Grudge,” “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” “Spider-Man 3” and soundtrack producer for “Ghost Rider.”
Paris Red Melle Vasquez Paris Red has appeared on numerous recordings, television specials, and soundtrack albums, performing with some of the world’s most celebrated artists: Stevie Wonder, Michael Bolton, Howard Hewit and many others. Her awards include: winner of the 2009 Black Music Awards of Las Vegas for Best Jazz Vocalist Overall, Best Female Vocalist Overall, Best CD Recording Live, winner of the 2007 BMA Best Jazz Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year, and winner of the 2008 Best Jazz Vocalist. She is currently performing in Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque Du Soleil.
Briana Rossi Briana Rossi is a Boston native and avid Red Sox fan. Currently, she is performing with Cirque du Soleil in their production of “O” at the Bellagio. In the fall, she will begin the role of the Clown Diva Castafiore in Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil while understudying the roles of Lia, Mandragora (Flower Pistil Mutant Lady), Kundalini (Snake Mutant Lady), and Spider Mutant Lady. She graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Vocal Performance/Opera Studies with a minor in English Literature.
Marc Solis Marc Solis, musician/reed player, was born in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec. He graduated from the University of Montreal/Jazz Studies in 1991. Marc joined the production of Fascination by Cirque du Soleil in Japan in 1992, and then later that year Nouvelle Experience by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. Since 1993 he has been performing in Mystère by Cirque du Soleil.
Martin St-Pierre Martin St-Pierre continues to be recognized as a front man for composing and improvised violin in the world music, rock,
As solo artist and performer, Melle Vasquez, has played various clubs in Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. Her music has been featured on L.A. radio. As guitarist and backup vocalist, she has traveled throughout the world with such artists as Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, Cher, Nancy Sinatra and k.d. lang, to name a few, and has performed in renowned venues, including The Greek Theatre, Arrowhead Pond, Madison Square Garden, Hammersmith Odeon and Radio City Music Hall. Her “day gig” of late has been an 8year stint with Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil.
Corinne Zarzour Originally from Montreal, Corinne launched her first French-language solo album, “Café Noir” in March of 2002 to a barrage of critical acclaim. Reviewers were unanimous in their praise for Corinne, touting her as having “lyricism, emotion, intensity and a quality of voice that is irreproachable” and declaring her “an absolute discovery.” Corrine joined Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil in May 2004 as lead singer: a distinctly mystical chanteuse mixed with hard-edged rock vixen.
Vox Indigo From the four corners of the globe comes Vox Indigo, an ensemble of four virtuoso vocalists and one guitar sensation dedicated to unique versions of both classic and contemporary songs. They are an organic and genuine sound at the crossroads of vocal genres, highlighting a broad musical vocabulary and a fresh, creative spirit. Vox Indigo seeks to shine a light on songs both familiar and novel, and in the process, create a renewed excitement for live acoustic music. For more information, please visit www.voxindigo.com.
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S u b a r u o f S a n t a M o n i c a 1229 Santa Monica Blvd. | Santa Monica, Ca., 90404 | (800) 809-1283 www.SubaruSantaMonica.com | Twitter: @SubaruSM | Facebook: facebook.com/SubaruSM
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Walkabout Santa Monica Pier at the center of a busy hub hile there’s plenty to see and do on the Santa Monica Pier itself, the surrounding area offers dozens of other enticing activities and attractions. Whether you want to take a dip in the ocean, go for a ride along the beach, grab a bite or simply soak up the sun, there’s something for everyone. And the best part about it all is that you don’t need to stray far from the boardwalk. Here are some of the most popular things to do within walking distance of the pier:
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Santa Monica State Beach Granted, this is an obvious one, but it bears repeating. Santa Monica State Beach stretches more than three miles along Santa Monica Bay, home to some of the best coastline views in Southern California. Swim, surf and sun — this beach has it all (during the summer, surfing is permitted only between lifeguard towers 18 and 20, and between 28 and 29). Hang around past rush hour and not only will you miss the traffic, you’ll also get to witness the spectacular sight of the sun setting over the pier. Lifeguard stations at the beach are staffed during all daylight hours, though the lifeguard headquarters provides 24-hour assistance year-round. For more information about Santa Monica State Beach, please visit www.santamonica.com. SEE Walking PAGE 13
RECYCLE NOW! Aluminum Cans $ .80 1 per pound with this coupon
expires 8-31-12
Aluminum Plastic Glass Bi-Metal Newspaper CardboardWhite/Color/Computer Paper Copper & Brass
Santa Monica Recycling Center 2411 Delaware Avenue in Santa Monica
(310) 453-9677
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Walking FROM PAGE 12
Bicycle Path For a classic Santa Monica experience, hop onto the beach bike path, which passes underneath the pier and stretches 22 miles along the coast — north toward Malibu and south to Torrance. You can either bring your own bike, inline skates or skateboard, or rent from any of the numerous shops lining the beach. Whatever your mode of transportation — as long as it’s wheeled and non-motorized — the path offers scenic views of the ocean, as well as a great way to work out or just people-watch. It’s important to note that pedestrians are not allowed on the popular path. For more information about the bike path, please visit www.labikepaths.com.
International Chess Park If you’re feeling particularly adventurous or up for a mental workout, head over to the International Chess Park, south of Muscle Beach along Ocean Front Walk. Although the park has its share of serious competitors, challengers and spectators alike are always welcome. And while you’re waiting for a table to open up, feel free to entertain yourself with the human-size chessboard painted right into the sidewalk. For more information about the Chess Park, please visit www.santamonica.com.
The Great Bike Giveaway is back! Presented by BIKE ATTACK and PURE FIX
e k i b e i x i Win a fconcert! every
Raffle tickets will be available for sale at the concert, and a drawing will take place at the end of every show. You do not need to be present to win.
BIKE ATTACK 2400 Main St. Santa Monica
310-581-8014
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Design of the times
Artists combine music and surf, fresh and retro, to create unique merchandise for the Twilight Concert Series he key to any good design is balance. At least, that’s what Jay Farrand, the new Santa Monica Pier administrator, had in mind when he brought together classic graphic designer John Van Hamsersveld and emerging artist Izzy Holden of the Bagavabonds to create the merchandise for this year’s Twilight Concert Series. “Beyond a simple juxtaposition of old and new, I guess I wanted to prove that things that feel historic can evolve, and things that are new can feel iconic,” Farrand said. “We’ve grown up with John’s work, it has a story to it, and it captures the emotions of a time and place. On the other side, Bagavagabonds are emerging and inventing, and we watch them to give cues of what’s to come.” The “historic” is represented by Van Hamersveld, who is most famous for designing some of the iconic images of the 1960s and ‘70s, including the poster for surf documentary “Endless Summer” and the album covers of the Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” and the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street.” But Van Hamersveld has done more than that. He’s also created music posters, designed video displays, and taught at California Institute of the Arts, all the while learning to see the interconnectedness of the arts. “Seeing it as a multi-disciplined kind of process, that I could make different kinds of art in different kinds of places,
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in different kinds of mediums,” he said. After a serendipitous decision to rekindle some pier contacts, Van Hamersveld found himself meeting with pier staff to help create the image that would define the 2012 Twilight Concert Series. The image that Van Hamersveld selected for the series was the same image that he had used to promote one of folk rocker Donavon Frankenreiter’s concerts a few years earlier; it seemed appropriate since Frankenreiter was one of the featured acts at this year’s Twilight Concert Series. “I felt that he’s playing here, and that’s good, and I applied it as almost a symbolic way of seeing the beach and the music,” Van Hamersveld said. “And it’s kind of symbolic about my career, being surf and rock ‘n’ roll.” Throughout it all, Van Hamersveld has never lost sight of his aesthetic origins. “I just became famous for being a graphic artist; I’m still an artist. I have to work. I tried to create images that were culturally significant.” Another figure who straddles the divide between the artistic and the commercial is Izzy Holden, one of the founders and managers of Bagavagabonds, a creative collective and arts marketing company. The Bagavagabonds started as a group of hopeful young college students who wanted to hit the road and do art; soon, they realized they had a whole gang of “vagabonds,” hence the name: “bag-of-vagabonds.” The collective winked in and out of existence for a number of years, until 2010, when Holden and Eli Thomas created a business under the Bagavagabond name. “We’ve really only been going for two years now,” Holden
said. But in that time, the Bagavagabonds have put on six art explosions, a hybrid of art gallery and music performance that’s always connected to a youth charity. “We sell the art, we raise awareness. We give back to the community on the same night,” Holden said. “That became our face.” Through art explosions, and the similar but smaller art bangs, the Bagavagabonds made connections throughout the community, including at the Santa Monica Pier. Eventually, the group was contacted to help create something for the Twilight Concert Series: first the Partner’s Lounge in 2011, and this year, the Partner’s Lounge and the merchandise. “Bagavagabonds has a very rooted sense in bringing in Americana, things that used to exist and things that are [always] going to be cool,” Holden said. To create a design that would represent that duality, Holden fused images of the pier from the 1920s with modern, industrial text. The images were stamped onto shirts and sweatshirts by Family Industries in Downtown Los Angeles, another part of the Bagavagabonds community; the print shop’s warehouse space often hosts the Bagavagabonds’ events. “A lot of good things are in the mix, and I’m happy to be a part of them. I’m looking forward to many more projects,” Holden said. Classic and cutting edge, surf rock and the rocky surf, Van Hamersveld and Bagavagabonds designs on clothing, posters, guitar picks and more will be available throughout the Twilight Concert Series at the Pier Shop booth.
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Amadou & Mariam
Twilight Concert Series 2012 lineup Week 7
Amadou & Mariam Plus Portland Scene-Stealers Y La Bamba
Alex Cuba
Aug. 16 To expand your horizons while remaining true to your roots is a challenge that Amadou & Mariam have risen to — and consistently met — throughout their career. Each new album has found the husbandand-wife duo from Mali boldly moving forward and breaking fresh ground, while at the same time preserving their instantly recognizable trademarks: the exquisite song craft, Amadou’s thrilling electric blues guitar and the magical interplay of their two voices, which first brought them popularity. In recent years, Amadou & Mariam have toured with Coldplay and U2 and jammed with musical heroes David Gilmour and Johnny Marr. They’ve performed at a Nobel Peace Prize concert in honor of Barack Obama, and played at the opening ceremonies of the last two FIFA world cups. Manu Chao and Damon Albarn have lent their production skills to their records and they have worked with some of the most innovative names in contemporary rock music via Albarn’s “Africa Express” and other cross-cultural projects, such as “L’Afrik C’est Chic.” And as their celebrity has grown around the world, the scope and ambition of their music has grown with it. Amadou has often said that the invitation to share songs and ideas with other musicians and find new
ways of expression is the most exciting adventure any musician can undertake. And it is that sense of shared openness and collaborative opportunity, which is at the heart of Amadou & Mariam’s new album “Folila.” The story of “Folila” — the word means “music” in Bambara — boasts three distinct chapters, and is a tale of how two records became one. Marc-Antoine Moreau, the duo’s long-time manager and producer explains: “The original idea was to make two albums: a crossover record in New York City, where Amadou and Mariam have many musical friends and relationships and the other a more rootsy album recorded in Bamako with mostly African guests and African percussion instead of a drum kit.” Both plans came to fruition, but when Amadou and Mariam listened back to the richness of the two sessions, a third way suggested itself: to combine the two recordings in a seamless, organic fashion. The result is “Folila,” a near-perfect example of how tradition and modernity can work together to generate creative forward movement, two parallel rails leading to a common musical destination.
Week 8
Alex Cuba Plus Lucky 7 Mambo
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Shows FROM PAGE 16 Aug. 23 Alex Cuba is a rebel. “When it comes to creativity, I need to go to places I’ve never been before,” he says. With the wanderlust of a world traveler, the Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter explores new sonic spaces on “Ruido En El Sistema/Static in the System.” Following the compass points of rock, soul, pop, and Latin-funk on his fourth album, Cuba continues his journey as a critically acclaimed independent artist who’s charted his own destiny across the world stage while earning a growing legion of devoted listeners at each new juncture. As rebels are often wont, Alex Cuba views his music as a liberating force. It’s a quality that’s transmitted through the artist’s songs and has made him a fascinating exception to the staid rules of category. He explains, “The purpose of my music is to free up people, to free up musicians, to free up writers and composers and creators in the world. That is the purpose of why I do music. Music, for me, is not one style. I’m not creating for one kind of people.” Armed with a Gibson ES355, Alex Cuba consistently challenges perceptions about what Latin music is, and who listens to it, by simply being himself. A self-proclaimed “musical sponge,” Alex Cuba first learned the music of his native Artemisa, a city located just west of Havana. His father, a guitarist and music instructor, earned a Master’s degree in music at age 55 and remains a source of inspiration for the artist. Beyond sharing a natural affinity for music, the multi-instrumentalist Cuba learned the discipline of honing his musical talents from his father and later formed The Puentes Brothers with his brother. Citing influences that range from “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis to The Beatles’ “White Album,” Cuba looked beyond the rich heritage of his homeland to develop his own singular style — one fueled by spontaneity, or what Cuba characterizes as the “tension of imperfection.”
Hot 8 Brass Band
Week 9
Hot 8 Brass Band Plus The Gumbo Brothers
Aug. 30 New Orleans’ own Hot 8 Brass Band has epitomized New Orleans street music for over a decade. The band plays the traditional Second Line parades, hosted each Sunday afternoon by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, infusing their performances with the funk and energy that makes New Orleans music loved around the world. The members of the Hot 8 Brass Band were born and raised in New Orleans and many began playing together in high school. What makes the Hot 8 so special are the sounds they coax from their well-loved, well-worn instruments. An evening with the Hot 8 is like no other. Members of the Hot 8 Brass Band have toured in Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Finland, England and Sardinia. The band performs annually at the New Orleans Jazz
& Heritage Festival and at world and jazz festivals across the U.S. and Europe. Members of the band have been featured in both Spike Lee documentaries, “When the Levees Broke and If God is Willing” and “Da Creek Don’t Rise.” The band was also featured in the second season of the HBO series, “Tremé.” They recently appeared at The Apollo with Dr. John, Lou Reed, Nicolas Payton and others for the annual Great Day in Harlem. The Hot 8 has released three critically acclaimed recordings and is featured on the latest Blind Boys of Alabama recording on TimeLife Records. The Hot 8 Brass Band has been part of an important relief project following Hurricane Katrina. SAVE OUR BRASS! is a local grassroots project that has brought music and instruments to shelters, temporary trailer parks, and communities across the Gulf Coast.
Best Coast
Week 10
Best Coast Plus No
Sept. 6 Combine the sophisticated chill of a New York City winter with the girlish, laid back romance of California in the summertime and what to you get? The answer is Best Coast, the latest musical endeavor by perennially cool, self-described “weird girl” Bethany Cosentino. Best Coast was born when Cosentino decided to come home to L.A. after a time in New York City, to get a fresh start at living in the place she knows best — California. Quickly garnering praise from critics and listeners with the single “Sun Was High (So Was I),” Cosentino was approached by UK-based label Blackest Rainbow, who released her now sold-out tape “Where the Boys Are.” A Los Angeles native, Cosentino grew tired of what she had grown up with and did what so many have done before — she picked up and left for the East Coast, specifically Brooklyn, with the intention of going to art school for creative writing. “I was like, I hate the beach, I hate flip flops. I want to go to New York,” she said. But Brooklyn quickly turned out to be far different from what she had envisioned. “I realized that I actually liked all those things, they reminded me of home,” and life in New York was too cold, both literally and figuratively, with too many people trying way too hard, “it’s like, there are people in New York who look like they’re at the beach sometimes but it’s not real, it’s not the same.” Looking for a way to get a taste of her native land all the way in Brooklyn, Cosentino was drawn to the 1950’s and ‘60’s aesthetic of The Beach Boys and The Everly Brothers, which, she said, “made me happy.” Creating her own little Southern California in her bedroom wasn’t enough, however, and one weekend Cosentino decided enough was enough. “One weekend I just decided to leave New York. Two days later I was back in L.A.,” Cosentino said matter-of-factly. She started making music almost immediately, having been “inspired by the music I was listening to in New York,” Cosentino “wanted to be making the music I wanted to listen to.” Because of this, the project’s aesthetic is intended and natural, a combination of Cosentino’s influences and her inherent Californian-ness.
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Picture perfect The Aussies invaded the pier during last week’s show asey Chambers led a delegation from Down Under for week five of the Twilight Concert Series. She was joined by Matt Ellis and D Henry Fenton as they hipped Southern California to the sounds of Australian rock ‘n’ roll. This week brings the PARADE Collective, a showcase featuring musicians from Cirque du Soleil.
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Get involved We’re asking concert-goers to send in their photos from each week’s show. E-mail them to daniela@smdp.com or post them on our Facebook page at facebook.com/SantaMonicaPier. If you’re on Twitter we can be found at twitter.com/SantaMonicaPier. If you’re more into hashtags, tag it #pierconcerts.
Week 5 - Kasey Chambers
Week 3 - HAIM
Week 4 - Jackie Greene
Week 2 - The Lions
Week 1 - Donavon Frankenreiter
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28th annual
Twilight Concert Series
twilightseries.org