February 2, 2006

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

Philip Hii has been called “the Heifetz of the classical guitar.” Submitted photo

Malaysian guitar sensation in solo concert

Jefferson Classical Guitar Society will sponsor classical guitarist Philip Hii (pronounced Hee) in a solo concert at the First United Methodist Church, 175 North Main St., in Ashland on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 seniors, and $5 students. Children under 12 years of age are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at CD or Not CD, 343 E. Main St. in Ashland or at Central Arts Supply, 101 N. Central, in Medford. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Hii will present a master class the Saturday at 10 a.m. in the choir practice room in the SOU Music Building. Auditors are welcome, $10 general $5 student. For more information, call 552-9515.

GSP recording Artist Philip Hii has performed extensively in the United States, Mexico, Germany, and New Zealand. His Bach CD has received rave reviews from critics in Germany, England, Japan and the US. It was chosen as one of Guitar Player Magazine’s picks of the month which says, “His passionate rubato and penetrating tone contribute to a thrilling performance.” The Washington Post calls the CD “exciting” and “dazzling.” and Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls him “the Heifetz of the classical guitar.”

A native of Malaysia, Philip Hii started playing the guitar at age ten. After winning a national competition in Malaysia, he left for New Zealand to study law. Hii won the New Zealand National Cup and appeared on national television. He furthered his studies in England and Germany before coming to the United States in 1983. Philip holds a B. Music degree from Victoria University of Wellington as well as a jazz arranging diploma from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas.

Philip Hii has published numerous articles in Soundboard, Guitar International, Gitarre und Laute, and American String Teacher and is a former Guitar Forum Editor for the AST. Six of his Bach transcriptions have been published by Guitar Solo Publications.

For more information call 552-9515 or see the Web site www.JeffersonGuitar.org.

Alice Di Micele is known for her strong vocals and earthy anthems. Submitted photo

Alice Di Micele returns from the river

Folk/ blues/rock singer/songwriter plays at the Siskiyou Brew Pub Friday

Alice Di Micele will be performing with her band members, bassist Rob Kohler and Drummer Brian West at the Siskiyou Brew Pub on Water Street in Ashland Friday at 9 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10. Seating is limited and early arrival is recommended to insure getting a seat.

Di Micele has a voice with a five-octave range that has been described as intense, sensual, rich and soulful.

Whether singing a jazzy-folk number, belting a sassy blues, or rocking out on one of her trademark rhythmic earthy grooves, Di Micele is a vocalist that moves people. An accomplished guitarist as well, whether playing solo or with a band her acoustic guitar conjures percussive poly-rhythms, bass lines, and melodies that perfectly frame her vocals.

With seven solo recordings to her credit her songwriting has covered a lot of ground. Her early albums are filled with folky anthems to the earth and as her music has grown so has her ability to express universal themes touching on politics and environmental concerns, human relationships and emotions all in a very musical way.

In 1988, Alice Di Micele started touring the country performing at venues large and small: from Festivals such as the Strawberry Music Festival, the Whole Earth Festival, and the Oregon Country Fair to venues such as the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, the Roseland Theater in Portland, and the Fineline Music Cafe in Minneapolis to countless coffeehouses, pubs, cafes, community halls, and even house concerts. Alice has shared the stage with folks like Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Ian, David Grisman, Michael Franti, and many more. A true Independent musician, she has gained critical acclaim from press, a dedicated fan-base, and her contemporaries all the without the help of a record contract, agency, or management.

In 2002, after almost 15 years on the road, Di Micele decided it was time to take a break. Having ended an 11-year love relationship and having fallen in love with the sport of white water kayaking, Di Micele went to river-guide school and learned to row a raft. Instead of touring, she has spent the last couple of summers working as a river guide. “I’ve always been in love with the river. I have so many songs about rivers and water so that when a friend put me in a kayak it just clicked and I knew that this was something I needed to put energy into. I was on the road for so long that I felt like I had lost perspective. Here I was singing about the incredible beauty of the planet but I barely had time to take a hike in the woods. I would sing about how we needed to take care of ourselves and each other, but I was living an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle”.

Between traveling and doing all the phone calling, mailing and other business that needed to be done in order to keep the tours going, Alice got tired. “I had done an interview for Magical Blend magazine in the fall of 2001 and I got to talking to the interviewer about how if I ever felt that I was out of balance with my career that I’d have to walk away. By the time the article came out in July of 2002 I was already on sabbatical. I read the article and just laughed. In life, like in music, timing is everything. When I’m playing music I am careful about where I place sounds in relation to the other sounds and it became apparent to me that I was needing to listen and be silent for a time”.

Rested, in balance, and deeply inspired, Alice Di Micele is integrating her passionate relationship with music and performing with her passionate relationship with nature, rivers, and kayaking. She is starting work on a new album of original songs as well as an album of songs by one of her all time favorite songwriters (more on that later.)

For more information visit www.alicedimicele.com

The Wailers hit the stage at the Historic Ashland Armory on Feb. 9. Submitted photo

‘Stir It Up’ with the Wailers

Reggae greats mark the birthday of Bob Marley at the Historic Ashland Armory

Renegade productions presents Jamaican reggae at its finest — The Wailers, Bob’s original band at The Historic Ashland Armory Thursday, Feb. 9, for a show to celebrate the birthday of Bob Marley. The armory is located at 208 Oak St. and is an all-ages venue. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. and show time is 8:30 p.m.. Advance tickets are $23.

“No Woman No Cry,” “Stir It Up,” and “Jammin” are just some of Bob Marley’s tunes that will be performed by his original band. The Wailers’ promoters emphasize that Bob Marley was a member of the band The Wailers and it was only later in their career that billing was changed to Bob Marley and The Wailers. The Wailers do, and will, perform many of the Bob Marley and the Wailers hits as well as old and new unrecorded songs. Since members of the Wailers wrote and co-wrote many of the Bob Marley and the Wailers songs, the Wailers live set will give the audience exactly what they paid to hear.

The Wailers, led by Aston “Familyman” Barrett, plan to carry on the spirit and musical dominance that was created by Bob Marley and Familyman. Recognized throughout the world as the architect of reggae, Familyman created a music genre that rose to world domination when he teamed up with Bob Marley as his bassist and musical director.

The name Wailers first applied to groups led by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in the mid-sixties, when ska was the ruling sound in Jamaican music. By the end of the decade this triumvirate had teamed up with the Barrett brothers and began to dominate the early reggae scene, recording untold hits for producer Lee “Scratch” Perry. After signing to Island Records in 1971, the name Wailers referred to Bob Marley’s backing band. When Peter and Bunny then left the group two years later, it was officially passed onto Aston Familyman Barrett and his late brother Carlton, who died in 1987. Bob Marley and the Wailers would then go on to break musical history by selling well over 250 million records worldwide.

Familyman is the sole beneficiary of The Wailers’ mantle and whilst other long-standing members still record and tour with the band, it is Marley’s former bassist and musical arranger, Familyman, who continues to spearhead his musical legacy.

The lead singer is former City Heat vocalist Gary Nesta Pines, who is widely regarded as the Wailers best front man since the late, great Bob himself.

The Wailers remain the world’s ultimate roots rock reggae outfit. No other band can match them for either the depth or quality of their hit songs and widespread appeal.

Advance tickets can be purchased in Ashland: Lowdown and Music Coop, in Medford at Bad Ass Coffee; in Williams at the General Store; and in Grants Pass at Listen Here, in Mt. Shasta at Mountain Song and also at all Ticketswest outlets.

Online at www.renegadeshows.com; ticketswest.com and jambasetickets.com For more info or credit card phone order contact Renegade Productions at 530-583-2801 or 775-337-8344.

Cross-eyed Rosie, above, and Jackstraw, below, perform at the Mobius Friday. Submitted photos

Bluegrass double-header at the Mobius

Cross-eyed Rosie and Jackstraw will bring a taste of Telluride to Ashland

Two bands fresh from stages like the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Bluegrass on the River and countless others are sharing an evening at the Mobius in Ashland. Cross-eyed Rosie, the Portland-based band that is taking bluegrass to a new level of creativity and originality, is sharing the bill with the high-energy, rippin'’ bluegrass of Jackstraw at The Mobius on Friday.

Jackstraw has been pursuing music that delivers a fresh take on the energy, vigor and soul of bluegrass, while remaining true to it’s spirit and tradition. Professional-level picking with stellar harmonies, this young band has wowed fans and players alike across the country.

Seen at Telluride in 2005, Cross-eyed Rosie arrives in town after a slot at the River City Bluegrass Festival, headlining in the Oregon Bluegrass Association’s “Gospel Night” and on-route to the San Francisco’s Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival.

Cited by Bluegrass Unlimited as a “refreshing” band that “pushes the envelope,” Cross-eyed Rosie combines traditional bluegrass compositions with a contemporary mix of guitar, fiddle and mandolin, along with the clarity and sweetness of three part harmonies. The result is a sound that has been described as both “edgy” and “imaginative.”

The Mobius is located at 281 Fourth Street between A and B streets.For information call 488-8894.