S. Oakland News

On January 4, 2020, the GRAMMY winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra released their new album The III Side. Known as the Pacific Mambo Orchestra Sound, the ensemble masterfully blends Timba, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo and Bolero with classical and pop sounds to create a sonic tapestry that is uniquely its own. This dynamic new recording features danceable melodies, intelligent arrangements, superb musicianship and infectious energy over the course of 9 tracks. Featured guests on The III Side include GRAMMY winning percussionist Dafnis Prieto, GRAMMY nominated trumpeter Jon Faddis, singer extraordinaire Herman Olivera and renowned guitarist Alex Britti.

After a 15-year hiatus, the Lionel Hampton Big Band is back on stage with energetic jazz, swing and bebop, presented by the Annenberg Center on Saturday, March 23 at 8 PM.

Henry Kapono has released a brand-new album entitled Welcome 2 My Paradise. Welcome 2 My Paradise marks Henry Kapono's 20th solo album and his 1st release in four years. This long-awaited collection of ten originals was written while travelling and was inspired by his many fans around the world. W2MP celebrates Henry's love of life and a state of mind that he believes everybody can achieve if we embrace each day as a gift, love one another and recognize that the little things very often are the big things. Henry will showcase the new album as part of the 2019 Artist 2 Artist Concert Series on Wednesday, February 20th at Blue Note Hawaii and on Thursday, February 28th at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The concert series features some of Hawaii's most iconic artists and rising young stars, including GRAMMY® Award Nominee Henry Kapono. W2MP is available wherever you buy music, at www.henrykapono.com and at www.welcometotheislands.com. 

Described as dazzling by the New York Times, Makana is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, singer, composer and activist who is widely known for lending his musical talent for social change. He has been a TEDx talk presenter, and his guitar playing has been featured on three Grammy-nominated albums, including the soundtrack of the Academy-Award winning film The Descendants.

The Marsh Berkeley has announced that due to popular demand it has scheduled an extended run of Lisa Rothman's hit show, Dragon in the Drop-Off Lane. This hilarious and cautionary tale describes what happens when Rothman's Oakland-raised kids venture into the fairytale world of Marin, where all the children seem to know how to sew, speak in a "Crystal Cave whisper," and decorate their (vegan) gingerbread men with stevia icing, carob chips, and unsweetened coconut flakes. Of course, no fairytale would be complete without a fairy godmother to help Rothman reckon with her parenting choices.

The Marsh Berkeley has announced that due to popular demand it has scheduled an extended run of Lisa Rothman's hit show, Dragon in the Drop-Off Lane. This hilarious and cautionary tale describes what happens when Rothman's Oakland-raised kids venture into the fairytale world of Marin, where all the children seem to know how to sew, speak in a "Crystal Cave whisper," and decorate their (vegan) gingerbread men with stevia icing, carob chips, and unsweetened coconut flakes. Of course, no fairytale would be complete without a fairy godmother to help Rothman reckon with her parenting choices.

Legendary American singer, songwriter, and performer Don McLean recently signed a third extension to his ongoing administration deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, worth $4.5 Million. McLean, whose relationship with UMPG goes back to 1990, had this to say on the deal, 'Universal has done a great job at getting my songs in movies and TV shows, and they are a first class, worldwide organization.”

 50 years ago, in 1968, the nation was at a crisis point.  War, assassinations, political strife; millions of voices were yearning to be heard, to be understood.  A year later, 1969, at least on the creative-artistic front, one voice came forward to carry a message, lyrics in song that reached out to those millions. That voice, those lyrics, were JOHN FOGERTY. His natural talent to capture emotion in words, coupled with being the lead singer and guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival at the time, gave us three amazing albums in one year!  

Iconic American singer, songwriter and performer Don McLeanhas recently wrapped up a successful tour of the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, and Israel. Playing to numerous sold out venues - from the Palladium in London, to six nights at Vicar St. in Dublin - McLean performed his timeless American classics, along with new music from his latest album Botanical Gardens,to raves from enthusiastic audiences.

On Her Shoulders is pleased to present a staged reading of PECILIAR SAM by Pauline Hopkins, directed by Arminda Thomas on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Doors open at 6:45pm for a prompt start at 7:00pm with The Play in Context Introduction by Celia Braxton, who situates the script in its historical time and place,. Admission is by Donation. Running time, including a post-performance Q&A is approximately 100 minutes. The performance is at The New School, Wollman Hall, 65 West 11th Street, New York, NY. R.S.V.P. to OnHerShouldersReservations@gmail.com.

Legendary drummer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Max Weinberg has extended his fan-friendly 'Max Weinberg's Jukebox' tour, with additional dates confirmed into 2018 and more to be announced soon. Weinberg's tour is a non-stop party for the audience, where they get to choose the entire set list at each show!

Drummer Dave King best known for his long-standing work with The Bad Plus and Happy Apple, brings his exciting quartet Dave King Trucking Company out west for a string of performances later this month.

Mike Stern, the Grammy-nominated guitarist and former member of Miles Davis' band, Steps Ahead, Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth, and The Brecker Brothers, will release Trip, his 17th album as bandleader on September 8, 2017.

Grammy-nominated R&B mainstay, Kenny Lattimore returns, after a 2-year hiatus, with new single PUSH available now on all digital platforms.

Mike Stern, the Grammy-nominated guitarist and former member of Miles Davis' band, Steps Ahead, Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth, and The Brecker Brothers, will release Trip, his 17th album as bandleader on September 8, 2017.

This afternoon, August 7, 2017, the Oakland University Board of Trustees voted to approve the creation of the Oakland University School of Music, Theatre and Dance This move follows a consistent expansion and transformation of programs offered by the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance over the past 32 years.

Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its doors for its annual Open House on Sunday, August 6, for an all-day extravaganza full of live performances and arts events across six different stages.

Ahead of the annual Miscast Gala Monday, MCC Theater has just this morning launched a spring auction with a dozen exclusive Broadway experiences, including the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the cast of New York's hit musical Chicago. 

Jazz virtuoso Akiko Tsuruga will bring the hypnotic sound of her Hammond B-3 organ to Uptown audiences as the Akiko Tsuruga Trio swings into Aaron Davis Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 24. A popular and innovative mainstay on the New York jazz scene, Tsuruga has been praised as one of the most dynamic performers in music. 

Students in the Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) Advanced Performers program have been selected to showcase a new musical at the first-ever Junior Theatre Festival WEST (JTF WEST), taking place February 10-12, 2017, in Sacramento CA.