We have certainly entered the part of the summer where our nostalgia for the bright and lazy days of late June is colored by the scent of wood smoke and over-ripened fruit. The kind of sensation that curls over our nostrils and into our brains like the tendrils of cigarette vapors from Rick Blaine’s ashtray […]
Strange Meeting
Posted inThe Setlist
Lazarus and Co.
Last Sunday, I found myself with my arms spread against the wood-paneled base of the chromatic brass battlements of the pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka, my left ear pressed against the wood, while the tubes roared out beautiful sounds after the morning mass. I am not necessarily endorsing this behavior — I […]
Posted inMusic
Music Tonight: Tuesday, June 23
I’m going to send this out again for those who may have missed it. Strange Meeting isone of the finest local groups we have, a collective full of some of the best jazzmusicians in the area, unofficially helmed by savant trumpeter Nicholas DominicTalvola. For some time, they have used the closed Tuesday off-night at the […]
Posted inMusic
Music Tonight: Tuesday, June 9
The experimental jazz ensemble Strange Meeting has been having a regular practice meet up on Tuesdays at the Basement — when the joint is closed — for some time now. This has allowed the trumpeter Nicholas Talvola, sax player Russ Thallheimer, key-man Alex Espe and bassist/drummer rhythm section duo Ian Taylor and Shane Fox to […]
Posted inThe Setlist
Sideways
This one goes to a hard deadline and print on the first Election Day of 2026 for us Californicators, so bear that in mind while reading whatever comes next. Regarding the gubernatorial race, I am tempted to write “whoever wins, we lose,” but that’s not my exact sentiment. I’ll be cautiously optimistic if Tom Steyer […]
Posted inThe Setlist
Message in a Bottle
I’m writing to you from the murky depths of last week, ahead of a quick retreat away from wi-fi and glowing things, so apologies if I have missed some massive earth-shattering event in the news cycle. What that could be is anyone’s guess, as we have all learned time and again that things that should […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Music Tonight: Saturday, Aug. 16
There’s a very special event happening at the Arcata Playhouse tonight at 7 p.m. that has been a long time in the making. Some of the most skilled jazz musicians in our community are gathering for an evening of improvisation and live compositional recitation after many months of practice and development. Trumpet player Nicholas Talvola, […]