Arts and Culture

Vallejo Holiday Concert Features Vocalist DeAnne Brewer, Bassist Tony Saunders

DeAnne Brewer’s schedule is usually filled with singing functions in the Bay Area at churches, weddings, banquets, conventions or other civic events. However, in the current pandemic era, Brewer takes no performance opportunity for granted and while reflecting, gives thanks for her musical journey.

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2021

Oakland Post

DeAnne Brewer and Tony Saunders. Facebook photos.

By Carla Thomas

“It’s That Time Again,” a gospel and smooth jazz concert will be held at the Empress Theater in Vallejo on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.

DeAnne Brewer, a singer/songwriter and pianist will be joined by Emmy Award-winning bassist, composer and producer, Tony Saunders, keyboardist Gail Johnson, and jazz saxophonist and flutist, Paula Atherton.

“Guests should be prepared to hear Christmas songs meant to inspire and uplift our spirits,” Brewer said.

Brewer’s schedule is usually filled with singing functions in the Bay Area at churches, weddings, banquets, conventions or other civic events. However, in the current pandemic era, Brewer takes no performance opportunity for granted and while reflecting, gives thanks for her musical journey.

As a child, Brewer performed for her family and family events. The daughter of a minister father and educator mother, Brewer was encouraged to pursue her musical endeavors. Growing up in New York, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana and California, Brewer continued to develop her musical abilities as a singer and songwriter in the making. In Ohio, Brewer learned from fellow classmates Lawanda Maupin and Mark Gordon who were part of the group Levert.

After obtaining a degree in communications, Brewer explored the world of broadcasting and studied music with more opportunities to sing with Mark Kibble, Claude McKnight and Mervyn Warren of Take 6.

As a gospel radio host in New Orleans even more doors opened for her to sing with BASIC, The Raymond Myles Singers, The Moses Hogan Chorale, Word of Comfort, and the Brewer Sisters.

“It’s also been an honor to share the stage with gospel icons Tramaine Hawkins, Bebe and CeCe Winans, Daryl Coley, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Donald Lawrence, and Tonex,” said Brewer. “I’ve enjoyed performing with mainstream artists Howard Hewitt, Miki Howard, Levert and the O’Jays.” Having performed in the Bahamas, Canada, and Italy, Brewer says she wants to see the world healed one song at a time.

Bassist, producer, and son of the legendary Bay Area keyboardist Merl Saunders, Tony Saunders says guests at the upcoming concert are “in for a treat. This pandemic has really challenged us in the music world, but we will continue to produce great music and performances to wow our audiences.”

Saunders’ life has been infused with one musical adventure after another. At 14, he earned the first of his two Emmy’s for collaborating with his dad on the PBS documentary “Soul Is” and by 17, he was playing with Merl and the late Jerry Garcia on their collaborative projects. The second Emmy was earned for his contribution on the TV show, “Digital Journey,” in the episode on China’s new digital economy.

Though he took one of his first musical lessons on piano from Herbie Hancock, the bass he received from John Fogerty’s brother Tom — and watching recording sessions with famed bassists Anthony Davis and Lee Miles — greatly influenced him. Saunders is now a major force in contemporary jazz. “The bass seemed to spark a lifelong passion,” Saunders said. “I have now romanced my bass guitar for 50 years and [I’m] loving every minute of it.”

For tickets, visit: www.TicketFairy.com

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Arts and Culture

Kedrick Armstrong: New Music Director for the Oakland Symphony

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director. In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Kedrick Armstrong is the new music director for the Oakland Symphony. Photo credit Scott Chernis.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director.
In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Armstrong is the successor to previous music director and Conductor Michael Morgan, who passed away in 2021 after a 30-year tenure at the Symphony.

Armstrong will open the Oakland Symphony 2024-2025 season on October 18.

Armstrong, who is 29 and hails from Georgetown, South Carolina, is currently the creative partner and principal conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.

The Chicago Tribune has praised Armstrong for his ability to “simply let the score speak for itself.” He enjoys a wide range of repertoire, spanning early music to premiering new works, using his joy and curiosity for all music to cultivate understanding and collaboration within diverse communities.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new music director of the Oakland Symphony,” Armstrong said. “As a Black conductor, I find it humbling to stand on the shoulders of both Michael Morgan and Calvin Simmons,” the most recent and the first African American music directors of the Symphony, respectively.

Armstrong led three programs at the Symphony between 2022 and early 2024, which showcased his broad knowledge of the classical repertoire and enthusiasm for spotlighting diverse voices.
On his Oakland Symphony subscription debut on Feb. 16, Armstrong led the world premiere of “Here I Stand: Paul Robeson,” an oratorio by Carlos Simon on a libretto by Dan Harder, commissioned by the Oakland Symphony.

Armstrong was selected unanimously by the Oakland Symphony’s board of directors and musicians after an extensive two-year search. “The search committee was overwhelmed by Kedrick’s scholarship and curiosity about all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to gospel and hip-hop,” said. Dr. Mieko Hatano, executive director of the Oakland Symphony. “We are thrilled to have him join us at the Oakland Symphony.”

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Arts and Culture

Faces Around the Bay Dr. Carl Blake, Pianist

Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999. One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Carl Blake

By Barbara Fluhrer

Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999.

One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.

Blake obtained a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and continued post-baccalaureate studies in Jamaica before earning a Master of Arts in Music at San Jose State University. He was the recipient of two Fulbright residencies in Honduras and completed a third residency at the University of St. Petersburg in Russia. He has a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University.

At age 19, Blake, then an undergraduate piano major at Boston University, was “discovered” by Impresario Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, who is the Founder and Director of Today’s Artists/Four Seasons Arts.

Williams honored Blake by awarding him the first Marian Anderson Young Artist Award. Anderson personally presented the award at the Masonic Auditorium in S.F. Subsequently, Blake was presented by Dr. Williams in his San Francisco debut at The Herbst Theatre. Williams subsidized a year of study abroad for Blake at the Paris Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Williams sponsored Blake’s New York Weill Hall debut, where he has performed twice since. Blake performed several times at the Yachats Music Festival in Oregon.

Blake continues to perform nationally and abroad. His hobbies are reading, baking and travel. He says, “I’m still pumping ivories, as Belgian pianist Jeanne Stark described the disciplined practice of concert piano.”

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Arts and Culture

Oakland Jazz Great Offers Master Class as City Declares “John Handy Day”

World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city. Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).

Published

2 months ago

February 24, 2024

Oakland Post

(L-R) Del Handy, John Handy, Roger Glenn, and Joe Warner celebrate John Handy Day at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, Oakland. Photo by Lady Bianca.

By Conway Jones

World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city.

Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).

“John Handy is a jazz icon and an inspiration to musicians everywhere,” said Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old Oakland tenor saxophone player who is enrolled at the Oakland School for the Arts.

In celebration of this day, the reception in downtown Oakland at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle was a gathering of artists, young and old, coming together in his honor and celebrating his 91st birthday.

Handy presented a Saxophone Colossus free masterclass for musicians. This class afforded a rare opportunity to learn about the saxophone from an aficionado. The class was free and open to all – saxophonists, vocalists, aficionados, students, and casual listeners.

“As a longtime friend for over 60 years, and fellow musician who has had numerous opportunities to share the stage with John, it has always been a pleasure performing with him and hearing his creative interpretations of the music and his gift of ease inspiring the next generation of jazz musicians,” said Roger Glenn, a multi-instrumentalist.