the hum / By Bob Doran

Grapevine

You’ve heard about hot yoga. Well, on Friday, Dec. 19, try WoMama’s Winter Hot Box, a sweat-inducing all-ages blast at Redwood Raks featuring Afrockers WoMama plus the Janky Mallets‘ samba drumline, and worldbeat DJ Whitebeard (who lives down the street from me). “Come add to the fire,” urges Jesse J, singer for WoMama and leader of JM.

As part of a jazzy weekend, head over to Muddy’s Hot Cup Saturday evening, Dec. 20, to hear BillAllison’sRedwood Jazz Voices, an ensemble featuring Bill on piano leading a group that includes vocalists Calista LaBolle (Mike’s daughter), Lorenza Simmons (Madi’s daughter and a member of AkaBella) and Bill’s son, Clay Allison, with Bill Andrews on bass and Brian Blakely on percussion. Allison has been doing a jazz piano brunch at Muddy’s in recent weeks, including pieces done with some of his voice students (ranging from eight-year-olds to grown-ups). “Sunday’s are more straight-ahead jazz, familiar tunes, some of my favorites,” said Allison. Redwood Jazz Voices is something different. “It’s a body of work that comes out of my work for the last 20 years,” said Allison, “progressive jazz with voices as instruments on tunes by Monk, Mingus, Miles, McCoy Tyner and the like.”

After brunch Sunday, head over to the Morris Graves Museum for the afternoon Jazz Jam (from 2-4:30 p.m.) featuring pianist Darius Brotman with bassist Shao Way Wu and drummer Ed Campbell and young Rose Armin-Hoiland on vocals. I’ve heard Rose sing a couple of times — she has a fine and mellow jazz voice and will surely go far. And in case you were wondering, they will not be doing any Christmas music. “You can count on that,” promised Brotman.

Around this time last year we were telling you about Eureka homegirl Sara Bareilles coming home for the holidays and a sold-out show at the Eureka Theater. She’s back this weekend, this time playing two nights at the Arkley Center — both sold out almost instantly. For those who have not been paying attention, Sara’s career has taken quantum leaps since she was here last. Her hit single “Love Song,” had already gone to No. 1 on the charts, and hung in the top 10 for weeks, now it’s in the running for a “Song of the Year” Grammy. It doesn’t get much bigger than that. But wait, she’s also in the running for “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance,” and Apple announced that her album, Little Voice, ranked in the top five for iTunes sales in 2008.

Former Weary Boy Mario Matteoli will be at the Jambalaya Monday Dec. 22, for a long-awaited Jackson Brothers reunion. In case you’ve forgotten former locals Detroit, Mudpit, Harpdog and MotorcycleJackson, they’ve moved on to fame and fortune with The 3 Heads, Ignit and of course The Weary Boys. Like Sara they’re home for the holly-daze, ready to play.

Last week we were talking about Making Blindness Fashionable 2008, the comp assembled by James Forbes to benefit Humboldt Council of the Blind. The disc is an awesome yet poignant snapshot of the Humboldt indie scene at a particular point just passed, poignant since many of the bands have since split and/or moved on (as almost all bands do). HCB’s Peggy Martinez’No Not Yet is on there (she’s off to Seattle). You’ve got The Ian Fays and The Broken Hearts (both moved), Eureka Garbage Co. (split), The Buffy Swayze (split), plus Dynamite Sweater singing about opening for The Buffy Swayze. And James has a couple of his ex-bands on there: Arrogant Hare and Henpecker (both split). You’re not going to get all those Humpty Dumpty bands back together again; this will have to do. Get one at an indie music store near you, at the Lighthouse of the North Coast in Eureka, or with PayPal on myspace.com/methbogrecords.

With that shopping tip, I bid you season’s greetings and adieu. I’m off ’til Xmas. Look for a sub-Hummer next week. Peace.

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