Monthly Meeting Recap – August 2023

Dear Guitar Fans:

Last Thursday’s meeting was rich and full with a wide range of music. The evening breeze moving through the Paschal tasting room and the fading Summer light made the atmosphere magical.

PROGRAM

Laurel & Milton Bloombaum – Lahaina Luna (Kui Lee), You Gotta Feel Aloha (Alan Naluai)

John Swinnerton – Untitled, Americana (originals)

Bob Bath – Classical Gas (Mason Williams), Etude in A (Sor)

Steve Bismark – Canción Parameña (Efraín Silva), Manhã de Carnaval (Luis Bonfá)

Brian Paris – When I Call Your Name (Vince Gill), Farewell Tarwathie (George Scrogie), Farewell Angelina (Bod Dylan)

~ Intermission ~

Neil & Elizabeth Holland – Banana Song, Allison (originals)

Grant Ruiz – Satin Doll, as a tribute to Hersch King (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer, arranged by Grant)

Grant & Dan Fellman – Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho (Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia), Spain (Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, arranged by Grant)

Ian Scionti – Granadinas (trad. flamenco), Bulerías (original), Pedro Moreno (original)

Mark Turnbull – Branches, Roots, and Vines; Shark Island Bound; Love is Always Young (originals)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Grant announced that the GSSO is expanding its mission to include outreach activities, particularly to underserved communities in the region. You can read the new mission statement and charter at guitarsocietyso.org/pages/about-us/. The intent is to have local and visiting guitarists play for these communities. (Bob Bath and Grant have already started doing so on behalf of the society.) Also, Matt Dorris will be leaving the Board at the end of the year, so the Board will be looking for people to help continue moving the society forward and to fulfill our new mission. Board elections are in December, so stay tuned!

Jennifer Babineaux announced that there will be a Gypsy jazz house concert at a private residence in the hills of Ashland at 7pm on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The artists are Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis and American guitarist Jimmy Grant, who will just have finished headlining at the DjangoFest NW 2023 Festival. Attendance will be limited to 60. The guitar society is helping to organize the concert, so our email list will have first crack at signing up. Please keep your eye out for an upcoming email on how to make reservations.

Hersch King passed on at the age of 91 on July 3 at his home in Maui. He and his wife Liz Vesecky were avid supporters of the guitar society from its beginning until they moved to Hawaii in 2015, and even after that they would keep tabs on us from afar while receiving our emails. Grant gave a tribute to Hersch during the meeting. You can read Hersch’s obituary at ashland.news/obituary-herschel-hersch-king/.

Grant and Dan will perform from 5-7pm on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Tap & Vine in the Medford Center across from Tinsel Town.

Mary La and Grant Ruiz (LaRui Duo) will perform from 6-8pm on Thursday, Aug. 24 at Paschal Winery’s monthly Witchy Nights event.

Grant and Dan will perform from 5-8pm on First Friday, Sept. 1 at Gallerie Karon in Ashland.

Bob Bath will perform at 6pm on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Grants Pass Museum of Art as part of the Cultural Coalition Trust awarding of grants. Arturo Ville may join him.

The Siskiyou Music Project (siskiyoumusicproject.com) is presenting two concerts at Grizzly Peak Winery this Fall that may be of interest: the Ron Jackson Trio (with 7-string guitar) at 7pm on Sunday, Sept. 24, and Pearl Django (with Gypsy jazz guitar) at 7pm on Friday, Oct. 27.
Respectfully submitted,
Grant Ruiz
Flamenco and classical guitarist
Secretary, GSSO
flamencopacifico.com
duoflamenco.com
541-261-3811