Overwhelmed is what we felt when we were offered tonight's evening by an extraordinary lineup of musicians. Their write up of the evening is noted below:
Gratitude. That’s what comes to mind when Marin County musicians reflect upon their experiences performing at the crown jewel of the county – the 142 Throckmorton Theatre. So many highly gifted, local musicians have graced the Throckmorton stage over the last seven years and the impact of these experiences has been extraordinary on their careers and their evolution as artists. Now, during such economically challenging times that threaten the very existence of prized community cultural oases such as our beloved “142,” the musicians of this community want to demonstrate their support in the form of a benefit concert and reception with 100% of the proceeds going to the theatre.
Tonight's event organizer Ian Dogole feels an especially profound sense of gratitude when considering the importance of 142 Throckmorton on his development: “In 2003, I had the honor of launching my group Hemispheres at the theatre to a packed house that lifted us right into the stratosphere that evening. (That performance, documented on a DVD entitled Ian Dogole & Hemispheres in Concert, will be offered as a gift to all who attend this benefit event.) I can say without hesitation that the support of the 142 Throckmorton Theatre over the years has been critical to the ongoing success of our group.
Additionally, Lucy Mercer has been so open to my input toward bringing in some of the most accomplished jazz and world music artists on the planet, opening the door for performances by the legendary Hamza El Din, Tito La Rosa, Oregon and David Friesen, just to name a few. The decisions to book these artists were made primarily in recognition of their immense talents and a desire to bring these special performers to our community, not on the sales potential of the acts. That steadfast commitment to culturally vibrant programming is one very compelling reason this theatre is such a local treasure, and must be nurtured at all costs.”
So, please come out and show your support. It promises to be an extraordinary evening.
Ian Dogole - percussion Si Perkoff, Gary Malkin - piano Max Perkoff - trombone, piano Blake Richardson - bass Jackie Ryan, Deborah Winters & Karen Drucker - vocals
Musician Bios
Ian Dogole – For 30 years, Ian Dogole has articulated his vision of Global Fusion Music as a multipercussionist, bandleader, composer, recording artist, producer and educator. He has released six recordings and a DVD as a leader and has recorded and performed with artists such as Hamza el Din, Paul McCandless, Richie Cole and Tito La Rosa. Ian’s global array of percussion instruments includes udu, cajon, hang, talking drums, global drum set, mbiras and dumbeks. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music (SFFCM), along with multiple grants from the Marin Arts Council. Ian has been very active as a music educator, presenting programs to over 50,000 elementary school students as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program, and has served on the faculty of the Sierra Jazz Society's summer Jazz Camp. Website – www.iandogole.com
Karen Drucker – Karen has been a singing mermaid, a singing casket and was literally “elevator music” when she was hired to sing and play piano in a moving elevator. She was the music director for three different New Thought churches, and was honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Music for her work within the Religious Science Community, and a “Grace Note” award for her work within the Unity Movement. She has recorded 13 CDs of her original inspirational music and recently released her first book, “Let Go of the Shore: Stories and Songs That Set the Spirit Free.” Karen sings, speaks and leads workshops at women's retreats, mind-body & health conferences, and various churches around the country. She loves making music, making a difference and touching hearts. Website – www.karendrucker.com
Gary Malkin – Gary is an award-winning composer, producer, performer, and public speaker. During his highly successful 30-year career, Gary has received seven Emmys, six ASCAP awards, and two Clios. He studied extensively with the famed Indian Classical Sarod Maestro, Ali Akbar Khan, and has subsequently collaborated, orchestrated, performed and/or produced songs with musicians from all over the world, including Tito La Rosa, Ian Dogole, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Loggins, Kieth Carradine, Roy Rogers, Matt Eackle, and Rhiannon. He conceived and created the internationally acclaimed book and CD set, “Graceful Passages: A Companion For Living and Dying”(with co-author Michael Stillwater). He also produced and created the best-selling album, The Music of the Great Smoky Mountains,” through the Real Music label. Gary is founder of Wisdom of the World, (a life-enhancing media production company and website). Websites – wisdomoftheworld.com, musaic.biz, garymalkin.com, and careforthejourney.net
Max Perkoff – An active musician in the San Francisco Bay Area, Max continues to tour the west and east coasts of the USA, including New York City, Los Angeles, Reno, Nevada and throughout the state of Oregon. In 2009, Max performed in New York City at The Iridium Jazz Club with Linda Kosut, at The Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival (Mammoth, CA) with Cami Thompson & The Cosmopolitans and at the Indy Jazz Festival in Indianapolis with vocalist Amanda King. He has also performed in New York City at Jazz At Lincoln Center, The Triad, La Mama Theater, The Encore & The Metropolitan Room and The Angry Squire. 2007 included the release of Max’s sixth CD as a leader, “Infinite Search,” and 2006 included the release of “Monk’s Bones,” on which Max teamed with legendary trombonist Roswell Rudd. The CD reached #10 on the national jazz radio play list. Website – www.maxperkoff.com
Si Perkoff – Born July 25, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, Si Perkoff has been prominent on the Bay Area Jazz scene since the early 1960s, when he was house pianist at the legendary Bop City. Si’s playing is rooted in Bebop and the Blues. His influences span the history and breadth of Jazz, from Jelly Roll Morton to Bill Evans. Si plays with Bay Area bands led by Mike Vax, Mal Sharpe, Max Perkoff, Marlina Teich, and many others. He is the musical director of Chuck Bernstein’s Monk’s Music Trio, featuring the compositions of Thelonious Monk. Si is much in demand as an accompanist for Jazz vocalists, such as Wanda Stafford, Cami Thompson and Regina Pontillo. His CDs are available at CDBaby.com. Website – www.siperkoff.com
Jackie Ryan – “Jackie Ryan is one of the outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation and, quite possibly, of all time, rivaling the dexterous sass of Sarah Vaughan, the instinctive smarts of Carmen McRae, and the scintillating verve of Diana Krall.” – Christopher Loudon, JAZZTIMES Internationally acclaimed jazz singer, Jackie Ryan, a native of Marin County, started singing as a small child and has since toured the world, selling out such prestigious venues as Jazz At Lincoln Center in New York, Ronnie Scott’s in London and Yoshis in Oakland. Her last 2 CDs went to #1 on the national jazz charts, with the last CD, “Doozy,” staying in the #1 position for 7 weeks. Website – www.jackieryanmusic.com
Deborah Winters – Recording artist and vocalist Deborah Winters is a vibrant performer who combines the elegance and sophistication of her extensive Jazz background with total command of a wide variety of popular music styles. With an emotionally captivating vocal quality and exquisite songwriting skills, her musical evolution has taken her from the contemporary jazz world into an inspiring place of songwriting in the new thought community. Her first release, “live in session,” is the first recording of her original material. Recently, Deborah completed a new project in collaboration with producer Gary Malkin, entitled “Inspired,” which will be released shortly. Featuring new and original material, this recording reflects the latest stage in the evolution of this stellar voice. Website – www.deborahwinters.net
