the hum / By Bob Doran

Acid Jazz at the Fox

“An mbira player since the age of five, Musekiwa is also an accomplished ngoma (drum) player in the Shona tradition, and he excels in playing hosho (gourd shakers), singing and traditional dance,” says Ian, adding, “Musekiwa has recently started a project, Serevende Music and Cultural Arts Center, where visitors can come and learn in depth about mbira, singing, dance and other aspects of Zimbabwean music. It’s aimed at helping orphans and other impoverished people in his village in Zimbabwe to attend school, attain life and literacy skills and sell their crafts.” And in that part of the world those are crucial thing. Musekiwa will also be teaching classes locally May 18-19. For details check in with Ian at northcoastmbira@gmail.com or call 228-0372.

Band name of the week: Flowers From the Man Who Shot Your Cousin (actually just one guy, Morgan Caris). He plays alt. folk Monday at the Pearl Lounge with Jenny Jenkins from Olympia and locals The Gnarwhals.

More on the dub front: DubConscious from Athens, Ga., offers their version of dub Wednesday at the Red Fox, mixing in a touch of Afrobeat and lots of straight-ahead reggae.

CenterArts closes its ‘07-‘08 season this Thursday with a return engagement at the Van Duzer by the iconic Lily Tomlin, the smart comedienne from Laugh In, who’s on an eternal search for intelligent life in the Universe. Think she’ll find any in Humboldt? Perhaps.

After that CenterArts takes a break. Over the summer, brochures go out with offerings for their ‘08-‘09 season. One show that won’t be in it is The Black Crowes Sept. 10 show at the Van Duzer with Howlin’ Rain opening. The Crowes want their whole “Euphoria or Bust” tour offered at once, which means those tickets go on sale May 31. Incidentally, semi-locals Howlin’ Rain, who are doing the whole Crowes tour, also play next Wednesday, May 28, at the Jambalaya with Arrogant Hare and Zak Institute. Act fast. Tickets for both of these shows will be snapped up quickly.

Details on the season proper have not been released, but it’s not hard to find out who’s coming — just check the online version of Pollstar, the concert bookers guide. Among the shows listed for early in the season: Gipsy Kings, Aug. 21 at the John Van Duzer, The Waifs at JVD on Aug. 26, with Steel Pulse the same night at the Kate Buchanan, “Weird Al” Yankovicthe next night, Aug. 27, again at the Van Duzer. Do not call the box office asking about tickets, they are not on sale yet — and with the exception of Crowes’ tix, they will not be for some time.

One more thing: There’s info in our Calendar section about the final Redwood Jazz Alliance show of the season featuring Ben Allison and Man Size Safe. I forgot to mention that Allison will also present a free workshop entitled “Composition and Improvisation: Two Sides of the Same Coin” on Friday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m. in HSU’s Studio Theater (Theatre Arts Rm. 115). One local jazz singer told me these workshops border on religious experiences. Go. Get religion.

1 2 3 SHARE