Learn some jazz history and enjoy the funky Latin jazz of Charged Particles! Of the band, reviewers have said: “A tight and enormously talented trio.” (Jazz Times Magazine) “Charged Particles is definitely dazzling.” (Jazz and Blues Report) “Fresh, energized jazz that showcases the trio’s individual technical mastery.” (Jazz News Magazine) “Tight interplay, spark, and personal flair.” (Los Angeles Times) “Something special: inventive, invigorating, mesmerizing, and virtuostic.” (Downbeat Magazine) The Ventura County Reporter called them "Tight, sophisticated, and playful. They showcased their camaraderie as much as their musicianship, gliding through their repertoire like the seasoned professionals they are and joyfully riffing on each other's improvisations. Not sure if the musicians or the audience had more fun, but a good time was definitely had by all."
What began as a concert celebrating John Coltrane’s birthday on September 23rd, 2023, at the Oaktown Jazz Workshops, eventually evolved into a full-blown recording project titled “The Last Trane to Africa,” which was released worldwide on January 23rd. Percussionist/bandleader Ian Dogole and his world-class collaborators will present an Afro-infused homage to the luminous legacy of one of the most important figures in twentieth-century music – John Coltrane. Merging Ian’s array of African percussion instruments and other indigenous percussion in concert with more traditional Jazz instruments such as piano, double bass, saxophones and drum set, attendees will enjoy a transcendent musical experience that is sure to uplift the spirit and delight the senses. Pieces will include “Africa,” “Tunji” and “Dahomey Dance” by John Coltrane; “John Coltrane,” by Bill Lee (Spike Lee’s father); “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria, “Out of This World,” music by Harold Arlen, “Blue Nile,” by Alice Coltrane and “Togo,” a traditional piece originally arranged by drummer Ed Blackwell.
This Easter Sunday, Yoshi’s Oakland is honored to welcome the legendary Fred Hammond for an unforgettable night of praise, joy, and soul-stirring music. Hosted by KDYA Radio personality Steven Parker, the evening promises two uplifting shows filled with spirit and celebration. Making his first-ever appearance at Yoshi’s, Fred Hammond will deliver a heartfelt performance featuring gospel classics and fan favorites, including: No Weapon, You are the living Word, We’re Blessed, Love Never Fails, Make Me Like the Moon …and more timeless songs that have inspired generations. Widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary gospel, Fred Hammond is not only a celebrated singer but also a gifted bass guitarist and record producer. His artistry blends gospel with the sounds of R&B, hip-hop, and even disco—creating a dynamic style that continues to move audiences worldwide. Join us for a night of faith, fellowship, and music that will lift your spirit and make this Easter truly unforgettable. Presented by Mark Elliott & The A-List Musiq Circle – Your Bay Area’s Who’s Who Entertainment Network and Steven Parker of The Steven Parker Show. FRED HAMMOND For more than 40 years, music lovers around the world have known Grammy Award-winning artist Fred Hammond as a gifted vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger. But as his peers and supporters alike have so reverently declared, he is without debate the architect behind the creation of a phenomenon in Gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship—a genre of gospel music that did not exist prior. As a result, Fred Hammond has become one of the most respected names in the music industry! In fact, Essence Magazine (2017 Collector’s Edition) names Fred Hammond in the esteemed list of the 50 Greatest Male Singers of All Time! Fred Hammond has been hailed as an Inspirational Music Icon whose music STILL reaches people from all walks of life. Chance the Rapper recently performed his remake of Hammond's hit song “Let The Praise Begin" (entitled “Blessing/Are You Ready") on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Jamie Foxx performed Hammond’s signature hit anthem “No Weapon” during his acceptance speech at the NAACP Awards and elaborated during an interview (on Jimmy Kimmel Live) about how the song had such an incredible impact on Quentin Tarantino, Kerry Washington, and the cast of D’Jango as they were shooting some of their most intense, heart-wrenching scenes. And in a recent Instagram post, Pop/Hip-Hop Music Icon Justin Bieber declared Hammond’s “No Weapon” to be his “…favorite song!”
IVY ROOM PRESENTS SUNDAY APRIL 5TH—JOHN DOEplus special guests6pm doors / 7pm showAdvance Tickets AvailableJOHN DOE—As one of the founding members of the Los Angeles punk band , John Doe was one of the most influential figures in American alternative rock during the early '80s. In 1990, he stepped out as a solo artist, blending the uncompromising spirit of punk with country, folk, and roots rock flavors to create music that had a personality of its own without losing touch with the sensibility of . Possessing one of the richest and most expressive voices in American punk, Doe's vocal abilities were adaptable to the diverse roots rock sounds of 1990's Meet John Doe and the more introspective singer/songwriter approach of 2000's Freedom Is … Doe indulged his interest in classic country music on 2009's Country Club, recorded with Canadian roots rockers , and 2016's The Westerner and 2022's Fables in a Foreign Land showed him comfortably transitioning into a contemporary folk artist with a keen eye as a songwriter.John Doe was born John Nommensen Duchac in Decatur, Illinois on February 25, 1953. Doe spent time in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Maryland and earned a degree at Antioch College in Baltimore before he relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1976. Doe was interested in poetry and was attending a poetry workshop in Venice, California when he met a fellow aspiring writer named . Around the same time, Doe, who had played bass in bar bands before moving to California, had answered an ad in a local newspaper from a guitarist eager to start a punk rock band. The guitarist was Billy Zoom, and when Doe brought to a rehearsal to show off some poems he thought would make good lyrics for a song, the band that would become began to coalesce. With the 1980 album Los Angeles, became the most talked about band in Los Angeles, thanks to the off-kilter harmonies of Doe and , the supercharged rockabilly guitar of , and the clattering rhythms of Doe and drummer D.J. Bonebeak. Four more albums would appear between 1981 and 1985 before left the band after Ain't Love Grand -- an experiment in pushing their music into a hard rock/metal direction, which failed to give the commercial breakthrough they desired. (Doe found time during this period to record with a pair of side projects, the acoustic country-folk combo – which also featured and Bonebrake – on 1985's Poor Little Critter on the Road, and 's group , popping up on their 1981 masterpiece A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die.)In 1987, returned with the album See How We Are, introducing new guitarist , and while the album received positive reviews, it once again failed to break the band to a larger audience. After bringing out a live set, 1988's Live at the Whisky a Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip, the band split up. By this time, Doe had been dabbling in acting, appearing in 's Salvador (1986), Allison Anders' and Kurt Voss's noir-ish L.A. scene drama Border Radio (1987), and the blockbuster Road House (1989). He had also been playing gigs on his own, and he signed a solo deal with , which had released his debut, Meet John Doe, in 1990. Doe butted heads with the album's producer during the recording sessions, and when it failed to sell to 's expectations, Doe was dropped. As it happened, 's breakthrough with Nevermind in 1991 led to plenty of major labels taking a second look at many noted underground bands of the '80s, and signed a reunited (with on guitar) for a new album, 1993's Hey Zeus! ' imprint stepped up to bring out Doe's next solo project, 1995's more rock-oriented Kissingsohard, which appeared the same year as Unclogged, a semi-acoustic live set from . Not long after the release of Unclogged, quietly broke up, though in 1998, to the surprise of many fans, the original lineup of Doe, , , and Bonebrake reunited for a handful of shows in Los Angeles. The reunion gigs were wildly successful, and continued to tour periodically from then on, when the schedules of the members permitted. While acting kept Doe busy for much of the rest of the 1990s (his résumé included roles in Pure Country, Wyatt Earp, Georgia, Boogie Nights, and Brokedown Palace), he recorded an EP in 1998 for the indie label, For the Rest of Us (it included a track Doe co-wrote with , "This Loving Thing"), and he reissued it in an expanded, album-length version in 2006 as For the Best of Us.In the 2000s, Doe devoted more time to working as a solo recording artist, offering a casually personal sound on Freedom Is…, released by the label in 2000. For 2002's Dim Stars, Bright Sky, issued by . Doe recorded his first acoustic album as a solo artist, though he brought in a number of guest stars to help, including , , , and . Doe signed with the respected roots music label for 2005's Forever Hasn't Happened Yet, a low-key but forceful set with appearances from , , and . Doe stayed with for his next two albums as well, 2007's A Year in the Wilderness and 2009's Country Club, where he was co-billed with Canadian roots band . A new solo album, Keeper, recorded at the Way Station and New Monkey studios in Los Angeles and featuring guest appearances from , , Smokey Hormel, Don Was, and , appeared in 2011. The album featured the rocking lead-off single "Never Enough."In 2012, Doe teamed up with his harmony partner for Singing and Playing, a low-key album featuring new songs as well as interpretations of favorites from the catalog. In 2014 released The Best of John Doe This Far, a collection of highlights from his solo career. In the spring of 2016, Doe found himself looking back and looking forward; he released a new solo album, The Westerner, while also publishing a memoir. Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of LA Punk offered an inside look at the scene that produced , with contributions from a number of his musical peers. A second autobiographical effort, More Fun in the New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of L.A. Punk, appeared in bookstores in 2019. In 2020, released their first album of new material since 1993 (and the first studio effort with since 1985), Alphabetland, which was hailed as an exciting re-creation of the band's powerful original sound. Doe and were invited to sing vocals on the song "Destroying Angels," which appeared on the expanded edition of 's 2021 album No Gods No Masters. Doe returned to his solo pursuits with 2022's Fables in a Foreign Land, an upbeat and stripped-down exercise in folk-rock that included an acoustic version of "Destroying Angels" with and contributing backing vocals. It was Doe's first LP for , which had issued 's Alphabetland. ~ Mark Deming & Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
This Easter Sunday, Yoshi’s Oakland is honored to welcome the legendary Fred Hammond for an unforgettable night of praise, joy, and soul-stirring music. Hosted by KDYA Radio personality Steven Parker, the evening promises two uplifting shows filled with spirit and celebration. Making his first-ever appearance at Yoshi’s, Fred Hammond will deliver a heartfelt performance featuring gospel classics and fan favorites, including: No Weapon, You are the living Word, We’re Blessed, Love Never Fails, Make Me Like the Moon …and more timeless songs that have inspired generations. Widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary gospel, Fred Hammond is not only a celebrated singer but also a gifted bass guitarist and record producer. His artistry blends gospel with the sounds of R&B, hip-hop, and even disco—creating a dynamic style that continues to move audiences worldwide. Join us for a night of faith, fellowship, and music that will lift your spirit and make this Easter truly unforgettable. Presented by Mark Elliott & The A-List Musiq Circle – Your Bay Area’s Who’s Who Entertainment Network and Steven Parker of The Steven Parker Show. FRED HAMMOND For more than 40 years, music lovers around the world have known Grammy Award-winning artist Fred Hammond as a gifted vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger. But as his peers and supporters alike have so reverently declared, he is without debate the architect behind the creation of a phenomenon in Gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship—a genre of gospel music that did not exist prior. As a result, Fred Hammond has become one of the most respected names in the music industry! In fact, Essence Magazine (2017 Collector’s Edition) names Fred Hammond in the esteemed list of the 50 Greatest Male Singers of All Time! Fred Hammond has been hailed as an Inspirational Music Icon whose music STILL reaches people from all walks of life. Chance the Rapper recently performed his remake of Hammond's hit song “Let The Praise Begin" (entitled “Blessing/Are You Ready") on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Jamie Foxx performed Hammond’s signature hit anthem “No Weapon” during his acceptance speech at the NAACP Awards and elaborated during an interview (on Jimmy Kimmel Live) about how the song had such an incredible impact on Quentin Tarantino, Kerry Washington, and the cast of D’Jango as they were shooting some of their most intense, heart-wrenching scenes. And in a recent Instagram post, Pop/Hip-Hop Music Icon Justin Bieber declared Hammond’s “No Weapon” to be his “…favorite song!”
ivy room presents TUESDAY APRIL 7TH—PRISM BITCHLADY STARBEASTFUZZ KIT—Doors 7:00pm / Show 7:30pmAdvance Tickets Available / $15 Door—IVY ROOM860 San Pablo Ave, Albany • 21+PRISM BITCH—Life tilts from one extreme to the next. PRISM BITCH does as well. The Albuquerque for now trio—Lauren Poole [bass, vocals], Chris Walsh [guitar], and Teresa Cruces [drums, vocals]—hop from robust riff-ery to sticky sweet hooks before dipping back into moments of distorted bliss and warm melodies. With no shortage of unexpected thrills, they construct something of a sonic rollercoaster on their 2021 independent full-length debut, Perla. "We’re an aggressively friendly band," smiles Teresa. "We cover a spectrum of topics. The music can be serious and existential or super fun—just like real life". "When you listen to us, maybe you feel like we visited you at home, listened to what you had to say, and even helped you clean up," laughs Lauren.Lauren and Chris first met as members of a small theatre company, where they dreamed up a plan for a performance art project in the guise of a band. In 2015, they crossed paths with Teresa. Their initial project idea soon morphed into an actual band, which they named Prism Bitch. The group wanted to take "bitch" back and hold that word with pride. "When Lauren asked me to be a part of this performance art project, we wanted to make sure the songs were really good, which pushed us to focus more on the songwriting than the actual story," explains Chris. "This led to the creation of our band more so than a theatre project".Prism B!tch made their introduction with 2017's The Getaway EP before unleashing the self-titled Prism Bitch EP a year later. Along the way, they’ve amassed over 100K cumulative streams, won three Weekly Alibi "Best of Burque" Music Awards, and ignited iconic stages, including The Whisky A Go-Go, The Roxy, and Webster Hall.LADY STARBEAST—Defying traditional genre and embodying idiosyncrasy, Oakland-based dark pop artists Ilana Magill and Marc Martell join forces to form the project Lady Starbeast. Ilana is the songwriter and vocalist; Marc creates the instrumentation; and together they record and produce. Ilana combines sultry, powerful vocals with operatic background harmonies, dark, eerie and intricate melodies and a wild, irreverent spirit. Her lyrical content explores the introspective particularities of mental health, while using a broad lens to remark on the human condition. Marc’s dramatic electro-pop instrumentation gives the listener a glimpse into the inner-workings of their minds and hearts, making for a raucous and haunting experience.FUZZ KIT—Fuzz Kit is a SF Bay Area post-punk band, formed in 2023. With vulnerable lyrics and overdriven guitar, they compress sonic explorations into tight, hard-hitting songs. They harness the intensity of living in this world, with moody vocals over fuzzy guitar hooks and powerful beats.
ivy room presents THURSDAY APRIL 9THPlanet Booty's presents: Booty Camp Spring Break—PLANET BOOTYTOP SECRET ROBOT ALLIANCE—Doors 7:30pm | Show 8:00pm—IVY ROOM860 San Pablo Ave, Albany • 21+—Planet Booty's presents: Booty Camp Spring Break their second ever Bay Area residency and first since 2022. Happening the last four Thursday's in April each night features a dance heavy lineup of funk, disco, R&B, and comedy that will celebrate all aspects of their eclectic community. Complete with merit badges - every night will have a theme ranging from radical joy, body positivity, inclusivity, and living your best life - Booty Camp will be the ultimate escape from the tumult of our times but also a melting pot of the people that make the Bay Area so special... all while working your glutes in the best way possible. Need to get away? Buy your ticket(s) to Booty Camp Spring Break before it's too late.PLANET BOOTY—Planet Booty’s sound is a divine mixtape of pop, R&B, 90’s house, 70’s funk and classic hip-hop that might have been made by your strangely attractive high school gym coach. Their sexual diversity, unrelenting energy, showmanship and body positivity transforms any venue into an inclusive, sensually charged safe space.TOP SECRET ROBOT ALLIANCE—There's nothing funny about seriously good dance music.Lucious Sandstone - guitar, crucial harmonies, soft yet edgy flairDion Thunder - bass, beats, synth, sultry chants, the best power thrusts this side of LV-426
About Bassist/Composer/Bandleader Fred Randolph brings his quartet of first call Bay Area musicians to Bird & Beckett for an evening of original compositions and arrangements. Check out Fred's cds at: https://fredrandolph.bandcamp.com/