Recap of the JCGS Music Meeting March 6, 2018

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We enjoyed a very full evening of excellent music and camaraderie at the beautiful Paschal Winery in Talent on Tuesday, March 6. There were many loving tributes made to our dear president, Sam Cooper, who passed from this world on Monday, March 5, the day before the meeting.
 
As a reminder, Wenjun Qi, the SOU guitar instructor, has invited us to an OCA (Oregon Center for the Arts) guitar concert TODAY at 3:00pm in the SOU music recital hall. It will include classical, jazz, and pop guitar repertoire with various instruments.
 
PROGRAM
 
Joe Thompson – Mysteries of the Universe/I’m an Old Cowhand by Joseph Thompson, a tribute composed in Sam’s honor that day
 
Rob Rhodes – Frog Galliard by John Dowland
 
Bob Bath – Choros by Heitor Villa-Lobos
 
Bill Graham – Danny Boy, words by Frederic Weatherly (1913), a favorite of Sam’s and one that he would sing
 
John Swinnerton – Paschal by John Swinnerton, in commemoration of our sweet home, Paschal Winery, which Sam loved
 
Brian Parris – Someday Soon by Ian Tyson
 
Grant Ruiz – Tango to Evora by Loreena McKennitt, words by Sam Cooper and Grant Ruiz
 
Steve Berman – A medley of Polonaises from the 1700s played on nyckelharpa, an instrument Sam played among many others.
 
Arturo Ville – Cuando Se Va un Amigo (When a Friend is Gone) by Alberto Cortés. (Arturo also played a video message from Laurel and Milton Bloombaum expressing their condolences.)
~ INTERMISSION ~
 
Classical guitarist James Bishop-Edwards and violist Kimberley Fitch treated us to a mesmerizing set of 21st century duets:
 
Tryptich by Jason Heald, music director of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg
Three pieces from “Big Sur Suite” by James Bishop-Edwards
Sonate by Erik Marchelie, contemporary French composer
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Grant Ruiz will play with jazz guitarist Dan Fellman on Sunday, March 11 at RoxyAnny Winery in Medford with Dan,1-4pm; solo guitar on Thursday, March 15 at Kindred Spirits in Talent, 6:30-8:30pm; Thursday, March 22at Millennium Music in Portland with Flamenco Pacifico at 7pm; Friday, March 23 at the Majestic Theater in Corvallis with Flamenco Pacifico at 7:30pm; and Saturday, March 24 at the Hawthorne Theater Lounge in Portland with Flamenco Pacifico at 8:30pm. The shows with Flamenco Pacifico will include powerhouse dancer Melissa Cruz from the San Francisco Bay Area. 
 
Grant’s flamenco guitar teacher Pedro Cortés (3rd generation Spanish gypsy guitarist) will perform on Sunday, March 18 at 8pm at the Analog Café in Portland. He will perform with Seattle dancer Savannah Fuentes, whom the society has sponsored in concert in the past.
 
Matt Dorris will play solo classical guitar at Belle Fiore Winery on Saturday, March 31 from 6-8pm.
 
GFA Youth Competition winner Travis Johnson will be our featured artist at the April meeting.
 
The Britt Festival has opened up enrollment for their Guitar Weekend June 22-24. Seven instructors will teach seven styles for two hours each over three days. The fee also includes admission to guitar concerts that weekend. More information at brittfest.org/gw. 
 
Treasurer Rob Rhodes reminded everyone to pay their dues, $20 for the calendar year, and they can be paid any time of year. Dues help support our ongoing expenses (state and federal fees, venue insurance, and website hosting) plus additional efforts like bringing guitarists to the area for concerts. Even though it’s voluntary, we ask that everybody who attends our meetings pays dues.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Grant Ruiz
Flamenco and classical guitarist
Adjunct guitar instructor, SOU
Secretary, JCGS

Recap of the JCGS Music Meeting February 6, 2018

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We enjoyed another very full evening of excellent music and camaraderie at the beautiful Paschal Winery in Talent. There were 36 people in attendance.
 
 
PROGRAM
 
Rob and Karma Rhodes – Carollan’s Farewell by Allen Alexander, Mrs. Farrell by Turlough Carollan
 
Rob Rhodes – Be Thou My Vision (Irish trad.)
 
Bill Graham – Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair (American trad. of Scottish origin), A Tribute to Rodrigo (original)
 
Bob Bath – Borsalino by Claude Boling, What a Wonder World by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss
 
Steve Bismark – Manha de Carnival and Gentle Rain by Luis Bonfá
 
~ INTERMISSION ~
 
John Swinnerton – Untitled original
 
Joe Thompson – Cantiga by Anonymous, Fantasia-Sonatina by Joseph Thompson
 
Steve Berman – Tumbalalika (Yiddish folk song)
 
Steve and Arturo – Along the Road, Kalinka (Russian trad. songs)
 
Arturo Ville – James’ Song by Arturo Ville (for his son)
 
Grant Ruiz – Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman by Bryan Adams
 
Brian Parris – Sweet Thames Flow Softly by Ewan McCall
 
Norm Fletcher – The Well (from “Platero y yo”) by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, inspired by poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Steve Berman and Arturo Ville will play Russian music at the 2018 Russian Potluck Winterfest in Grants Pass to celebrate the sister city relationship with Rubtsovsk, Russia. It goes from 5-8pm this Saturday, February 10. You can find more information at grantspass-sistercity.org/winterfest-2018.html.
 
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an afternoon concert featuring classical guitarist Dr. Wenjun Qi and flutist Lisa Nichols on Sunday, February 11, from 3 – 4 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Ashland, 717 Siskiyou Blvd. Nichols and Qi will play Carmen Fantasy by Francois Borne, Milonga No. 5 by Fernando Carlos Tavolaro, and Three Italian Love Songs from various operas. With a nod to Mardi Gras, Nichols will also perform A Night in New Orleans by Erik Ewazen. Suggested donation is $15. For more information about this concert, please call 541-778-6715.
 
Grant Ruiz will play this Friday, 2/9 at J’s Bistro with Dan Fellman, 6-8pm; this Saturday, 2/10 at Belle Fiore with Dan, 5-7pm; Wednesday, 2/14 at the Winemaker’s Dinner at Belle Fiore with Dan, 5:30-8pm; Thursday, 2/15 at JPR’s 37th Annual Winetasting, 6-9pm at the Ashland Springs Hotel; Saturday, 2/17 at a house concert in Portland, 7:30-10pm, with Berto Boyd celebrating his birthday. If you’re interested in this last concert, RSVP to casadellazisa@gmail.com.
 
Guitarist James Bishop-Edwards will perform works of John Downland with singer Pat O’Scannell on Saturday, February 24 at 7pm and Sunday, February 25 at 4pm. See musicamatrix.org/events/23/18-2-24/ for more information.
 
Wenjun Qi, the SOU guitar instructor, has a guitar orchestra that meets at SOU on Friday afternoons (1-2pm) with the goal of performing March 11. Please contact her at chee887@gmail.com for more information.
 
Guitarist/singer Komac Tapp performs at El Tapatio Mexican restaurant on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5:30-8:30pm.
 
James Bishop-Edwards will be our featured artist for the March 6 meeting. GFA Youth Competition winner Travis Johnson will be our featured artist in April.
 
JCGS Board member John Swinnerton was approached by a staff member of local radio station KSKQ about having a slot there for his playing. He is thinking it could be an opportunity for guitar society members to share their music over the airwaves.
 
Treasurer Rob Rhodes reminded everyone to pay their dues, $20 for the calendar year, and they can be paid any time of year. Dues help support our ongoing expenses (state and federal fees, venue insurance, and website hosting) plus additional efforts like bringing guitarists to the area for concerts. Even though it’s voluntary, we ask that everybody who attends our meetings pays dues. If everybody who attended tonight paid dues, we would have raised $720.
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
Grant Ruiz
Flamenco and classical guitarist
Adjunct guitar instructor, SOU
Secretary, JCGS

Recap of the JCGS Music Meeting January 9, 2018

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