Page 68 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

OSouthern (Sonoma County) Girl n a rainy day at her studio, a renovated barn where she teaches and
records, Sarah Estalee Baker says she’s “looking forward so much” to playing at the Occidental Community Center. The March 25 show is part of a celebration of Women’s History Month.
Baker, currently living in Rincon Valley, will lead on vocals and keyboards, backed by Sonoma County’s acoustic guitarist supreme, Nina Gerber, and Mona Gnader, longtime bassist for Sammy Hagar, who’ll also share the vocals. The show will begin with blues songs written by women of the 1920s-30s, including Mississippi blues icon Jesse Mae Hemphill, whom Baker met at the Portland Blues Festival in the ‘70s. Hemphill mentored her in old-style Delta blues and they “sang together quite a bit and became fast friends,” Baker says. More contemporary songs, largely Baker originals, will follow.
Baker grew up between Memphis and Nashville,
near the Tennessee River, which greatly a ected her music. “Life on the river
is peaceful, and very important in spreading the blues. I love the rhythm of the river.
“I grew up in gospel,” she adds. Her father, a gospel singer, took her
to country church
revivals in nearby towns from age ve, where “I learned a lot about harmony.” She got her middle name from her grandmother.
Baker’s life in music has covered a lot of territory. “I love all kinds of music,” she says. While studying opera in New Mexico, even winning a couple of regional auditions for the Met, she encountered a bunch of rock musicians, dropped LSD, and began playing in bars with bands like Dolly & the Lama Mountain Boys, with whom she later moved to San Francisco in the ‘70s.
There, she connected with members of The Family Dog including Chet Helms at the Tribal Stomp in Monterey, played at parties at Bill Graham’s house, and performed with her band at the Fillmore. She signed with London Records, the Rolling Stones label at the time, for two albums. Renowned music critic, Ralph J. Gleason advised her to “play anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances.” “It worked,” Baker says.
“Sometimes I want to be more intellectual with music. I have a thorough background in arranging, composing, and voice.” Baker completed her PhD
in music and language, and has composed music for a string quartet, and co-written two musicals. She also studied jazz at Sonoma State, joining a jazz fusion band with Petaluma’s Peter Welker in the ‘80s. Her music has been used in TV, lms, and radio.
Currently leading three bands – Sarah Baker & the Cake, the Sarah Baker Trio, and the Wa Girls, Baker is also a performance coach, which she de nes as “someone who supports and nurtures a person who’s interested in being a professional musician; somebody who tries to light a re under somebody.”
This show promises to be a celebration of these three unique women and the artful interplay of their music.
More at sarahbakerstudios.com
Auditions Opportunities
Mar 6 Deadline ~ Live at Juilliard Concert Series Now accepting band submissions for the 2017 Live at Juilliard concert series. Jessica 707-543-4674.srcity.org/
Music by Date:
Mar 2 ~ Santa Rosa Symphony Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, Special guest Eric Dahlen, cellist from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Especially good for young people with an interest in music. Lasts about an hour with no intermission. $10. 7:30p Cloverdale Performing Arts Center 209 N Cloverdale Blvd, cloverdaleperformingarts.com or 707- 894-2214.
Mar 11 ~ Dirty Cello -High energy band plays blues, rock and bluegrass like you’ve never heard it before: funky, sexy, electric, textured, fiercely rhythmic and only occasionally classical. $20 Advance/$25 at door, 8p, Occidental Center for the Arts. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, occidentalcenterforthearts.org/ 707- 874-9392.
Mar 11 ~ Cash & King - Bene t
for Spreckels Theater - New high energy concert in 2 acts paying tribute to two of the most important figures in popular music history, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. www.stevenkentmusic. com Event begins at 6:30p with concert at 8p spreckelsonline.com 707-588- 3400 JGriego@rpcity.org . Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Codding Theatre 5409 Synder Lane, Rohnert Park,
Mar 11 ~ Healdsburg Community Band Pops Concert - Songs of the American West -Selections of light classics and favorites from stage & screen, $10, children under 12 Free, 7:30p. The Raven Theater, 115 North St, Healdsburg, 415- 407-5474 healdsburgcommunityband. org
Mar 11 ~ Sonoma County Bluegrass & Folk Festival - 17th Annual festival features six to seven bluegrass, old time, and folk acts. 1-8p - Sebastopol Community Center 390 Morris St. Sebastopol hoglemoon@comcast.net 707-479-5529
Mar 11 ~ Blues Night in Cloverdale - Rock and roll with the fun Cloverdale community! Doors open at 7p. Walk in musicians can sign up at the door for the second set. $5 - 7:30 - 9:30p - Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery 204 N. Cloverdale Blvd. 707-894-2738
Mar 11 ~ Brad Mehldau - Three Pieces after Bach -Three Pieces after Bach an innovative work of reflection and contrast, commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Starting at $25, 7:30p Weill Hall at the Green Music Center 1801 East Cotati Ave. Rohnert Park 1-866-955-6040, gmc. sonoma.edu
Mar 11 ~ Live Music: Dead Again Plays at the Museum - Sonoma County-based Grateful Dead tribute band. $0-$10, 12- 4p History Museum of Sonoma County 475 7th St. Santa Rosa
Tiffany Austin Quartet with Muziki Roberson, Heshima Mark Williams, and Sly Randolph, exploring the great jazz singer’s songs and legacy. Free 6:30 – 9:30p., Hotel Healdsburg 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg
Mar 12 ~ The Yale Slavic Chorus - Perfect for International Women’s History Month, Music of Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia among other regions. $15., 5p., Occidental Center for the Arts. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental, occidentalcenterforthearts. org/707-874-9392.
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MUSIC cont’d on page 69
Mar 2 ~ SSU Faculty Composers Concert
Composition Professor Thom Limbert curates an evening of experimental music, klezmer, jazz and even a world premiere! $0-$8, 7:30p, Schroeder Hall, SSU - 1801 East Cotati Rd. Rohnert Park
Mar 2 ~ The Ray Obiedo Quartet Hosted by the Cloverdale Arts Alliance $15- $20 7:30-9:30p. 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, 707-894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org/the-jazz- club, info@cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
Mar 3 ~ Blues in America with Marcus Shelby and Terrie Odabi - in a celebration of African-American music, from Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Mahalia Jackson to Abby Lincoln, Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, and Marvin Gaye. Sales benefit Music Education Program - $10 -$20 7p The Raven Theater 115 North St, Healdsburg,800-838-3006 and at the door
Mar 3 ~ SSU Jazz Combo Concert - Featured guests to include composer bassist Ben Allison and his group, Think Free. $0-$8 , 7:30p, Schroeder Hall, SSU -1801 East Cotati Rd. Rohnert Park
Mar 4 ~ Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Ensembles Concert Internationally recognized Baroque violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock is the featured guest soloist $5-$15. 3p. Weill Hall, Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org, 707-546-8742
Mar 4 ~ Suzy Thompson & Aux Cajunals: Mardi Gras Dance Party! Suzy Thompson , Eric Thompson and vocalist daughter Allegra & more for some foot-stomping, smoking Cajun/ blues dance music $20 Includes Dance lesson at 7:30 p! 8p Start. Occidental Center for the Arts 3850 Doris Murphy Ct occidentalcenterforthearts.org, 707- 874-9392.
Mar 5 ~ First Sunday Love Fest - What do you Stand For? - Live music, drumming, dancing, poetry, creating, discussions, Beer-Wine, Food trucks, Beauty, Solutions, Good Vibes, Common Ground. Free 2-6p Sebastopol Community Cultural Center Center 390 Morris St,
Mar 11 ~ The Music of Billie Holiday