In response to the fires that have devastated Southern California this month, CalArtians will host and perform at two relief benefit concerts happening this Friday, Jan 31, and another on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Orenda Records, founded by CalArts alum Dan Rosenboom (Music MFA 07), has teamed up with The Three Clubs in Hollywood, California, to present a benefit concert on Friday evening. The program boasts an impressive triple-bill showcase, beginning with Nicole McCabe’s quartet featuring bassist Spencer Zahn, keyboardist Zach Tenorio, and drummer Max Jaffe (Music MFA 21). Jaffe also joins guitarist Dave Harrington’s trio, along with saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi.
Rounding out the evening is the debut of Rosenboom’s new septet, comprising musicians with whom he has worked for nearly two decades: saxophonist Gavin Templeton (Music MFA 08), keyboardist John Escreet, guitarist Jake Vossler (Music MFA 08), bassist Jerry Watts Jr., and drummer Gene Coye (Music BFA 07), and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on five-string electric violin.
Attendees will also be able to pick up a copy of a new music photography book by Eron Rauch (Art MFA 06) on Orenda Records, praised by Rosenboom as “utterly stunning.”
All profits from the show will be donated to nonprofit organization MusiCares. Donation stations for other relief funds will be posted around the club for patrons wishing to contribute additional resources. Please note that the event is 21+.
Also happening on Friday evening is a benefit concert for music educators in Val Verde, California, featuring performances by a CalArtian duo: Jazz Studies BFA student Thomas Blumberg and Jazz Studies MFA student Arno Kristensen. Blumberg and Kristensen—playing guitar and piano, respectively—will perform compositions featuring the jazz traditions and world music “from each of [their] ethnocultural upbringings.”
The concert is sponsored by Groupmuse, through which attendees may RSVP for $5 (RSVPs are not required, but attendees without RSVPs are not guaranteed seating). Find the full program, parking information, and RSVP link at Groupmuse.
Blumberg and Kristensen’s performance takes place as part of the duo’s two-week long tour of Northern, Central, and Southern California, with 100% of the proceeds going toward fire relief for educators who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire. Their next concert takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 pm at The Fret House in Covina, California.
