Friday, May 29, 2009

Too much fun!

I have been doing some serious research and the results are clear: The glass is definitely half full! Maybe even overflowing... Doing less and enjoying it more is obviously exactly what is needed.

Tonight FRI May 29, 6:30-7:30
Come to Kakes Dance Studio for Sheldon Sands "Afro-Klez" . We will be playing klezmer (including James Hoskins, Anthony Salvo) with African drums! The occasion? A benefit for Karen Marx medical expenses. Karen is well known in Boulder as a drummer and for her work with Mali Assistance Project. Ni Arma and others will be there as well. Now its time to show support for Karen!

SUN May 31, 3pm anyone who can - really owes it to themself to see Tim Duffy at Cleo Parker Dance in Denver. On board are Kim Stone, Bob Rebholtz, Brad Goode and more. Im sad to be missing it.

TUES June 2, 6:30-9:30
at St Julien Hotel (9th & Walnut, Bldr) its the Dexter Payne Quartet
:
Bill Kopper, Francisco Marques, Raoul Rossiter, Dexter Payne will play Brazilian music, traditional & modern, choro and more.

Come on out and say hi!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Summertime is now!

Summer is undeniably here. Time to relearn the art of enjoyment. Music, anyone? This weekend I get to work with two exceptional songwriters George Inai and Laurie Dameron. They both have some beautiful songs, check out their websites. With great musicians in a nearly acoustic setting. See you there!


SAT May 23 2009
, 6:00 PM El Centro Su Teatro 4725 High St Denver, CO 80216
George Inai & his Curious Ghost Orquestra: Eric Moon, Ryan Ellison, Derek Banach, Dexter Payne and Terry Dane

Tickets: $10 (under 12 - free!) www.georgeinai.com
(I-70 to Brighton Blvd N; right off Brighton on 47th; left on High St.)



MON May 25 2009, 12:30 PM Gold Hill Inn Memorial Day BBQ Gold Hill, CO
Laurie Dameron Quartet
followed by the Informants and the Deltasonics.
Music $15, BBQ $12, Kids 1/2 price www.goldhillinn.com

FRI May 29 2009, 6:30-7:30 PM Kakes Dance Studio, 2115 Pearl St. Boulder, CO
Sheldon Sands Klezmer Orch with Anthony Salvo, and James Hoskins

Benefit for Karen Marx

TUE Jun 2 2009, 6:30-9:30 PM St Julien Hotel Walnut & 9th, Boulder, CO
Dexter Payne Quartet with Bill Kopper, Francisco Marques, and Raoul Rossiter

Brasil roots: Choro and more. All Ages Free

Friday, May 8, 2009

Balkan dance music: Veelah Saturday. Happy Mothers Day!

The AfroPop Ensemble gave a great performance last week at the Naropa University Music Department Final Concert. I was very proud - the end to a great first year! Many thanks are due: to Janet Feder and Emily Harrison, the heart and soul of the Music dept. To Adje Abankwa and Kofi Mawuko of the Bao Bao Festival, who gave meaning to the whole project, as well as lots of sweat and love.

How did life get so busy? In spite of the doom and gloom, weird fears and what not... here goes another busy weekend! It began tonight (sorry folks, I was remiss) with the first ever parade of the newly named Bateria Alegria. Whats that? Picture 30 people strolling the Boulder Mall at 7:30pm on a warm (spring?) evening ... with Brazilian drums, bells and a whistle. You got it - just like carnaval - loud, and fun! We were all grinning from ear to ear and by the looks on faces of young and old, Alegria is a pretty good name to descibe what goes on. I promise to tell in advance next time. Then I raced to Denver to play with Joao Junquiera and Amy (2/3 of Samba Song) at Enoteca in LoDo. Joao's last gig in the states till next fall. OK, enough of the stuff you cant do anything about...

SAT May 9: Balkan brass band music by Veelah in a great house concert. 6pm potluck, music at 8. $15 suggested donation. Reservations and directions: dhf2000@comcast.net or else call Dan at 303-886-9887. What is Balkan music? This is an all too rare appearance so dont miss it! Listen to our CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/megyorkveelah to get what its all about...

SUN May 10. Mothers Day Tea Dance 2-5pm @ Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe(Bldr) with Susan Rogers, Eric Moon, Mike Fitzmaurice and Dexter Payne. Free dance lesson at 1:30. (303-440-8303, avalon@villageartscoalition.org )


Happy day to those make all this possible! Spring is definitely here!!!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Afropop... and Veelah!

Its a very exciting time for me, the culmination of this semester's Naropa University Afropop Ensemble: 16 students who have really exceeded everyones expectations including their own. This group backed singer/composer Kofi Mawuko from Ghana in the 6th Annual Bao Bao Festival at Boulder Theater. And now...

SUN May 3, 7pm - Naropa Music Student Concert (Naropa PAC, Arapaho Campus)
Including Afropop Ensemble, directed by Dexter Payne

As if that is not enough, next Sat, May 9, will be highlighted by a rolicking house concert with the Balkan brass sound of Meg York & Veelah. Veelah plays intensely exciting music from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Jewish Klezmer, Turkey, and the Roma traditions, featuring mesmerizing rhythms and sizzling solos. One of the Front Range’s hottest Balkan bands, Veelah is:
Meg York & Dexter Payne, clarinets and saxophones; Dave Willey, accordion; Jesse Manno, percussion/vocals; and Brian Mullins, tuba. Don’t miss this!

SAT May 9. 6pm potluck ... music 8pm. Suggested $15 donation. RSVP: (dhf2000@comcast.net)
(At a very special house in So Boulder - host to many fine concerts over the last year or so.)