For those of a certain age, Judy Tenuta was, is, and will always remain the "Petite Flower and Love Goddess" who wielded an accordion, and embodied a spirit of optimism with her catch phrase, "It could happen!" With nearly 30 years in the entertainment business, she's done it all: TV chat show appearances, the club circuit, tours in large halls, HBO comedy specials, film roles, repeated collaborations with "Weird Al" Yankovic, and the founding of her own religion: Judyism. In this conversation, ...
Sep 18, 2012•32 min
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 1st, the Queen Mary is hosting the Shoreline Jam, an all-day all ages Reggae festival starting at 11 AM and ending just before midnight. The organizers did a great job of combining local, national, and international talent, including the masters of Jamaican dub, Black Uhuru, and the band whose name is perhaps most synonymous with Reggae, The Wailers. The Wailers are best known for backing Bob Marley and, since his death, they've continued to work as both an entity u...
Aug 30, 2012•17 min
Tricia Allen has been traveling the world for more than 20 years, studying and working to preserve Pacific Island tattoo traditions. With a background in Art History and Anthropology, and early encouragement by the famed tattoo artist Ed Hardy, Tricia has created unique works for nearly 11,000 people. Tricia, who lives in Hawaii, will be working with clients at the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum today, Wednesday May 9th, through Sunday. After that, she'll travel South to Oceanside. She's also ...
May 09, 2012•56 min
The Beat arose in England in the late 70s and concocted a unique amalgam of punk, ska, and pop into an explosively popular style that, by the early 80s, swept the popular charts. With smart and sometimes caustic humor they catalyzed a generation of teenagers fed up with strident punk ire. 30 years later, Dave Wakeling lacks pretense, but knows that good music is timeless. In fact, in this interview he takes some pleasure in pointing out that several of his songs, now more than 30 years old, have...
May 07, 2012•26 min
Spring is in the air, the Grand Prix is over, and the third Saturday in April is nearly upon us. One can almost feel a palpable sense of excitement as the anticipation of this year's Record Store Day grows. It isn't an old tradition. It started, more or less, with a performance by Metallica at Rasputin Music in San Franscico. Still, every year, independent record stores around the world pull out all the stops, with special sales, offerings of limited edition merchandise, and presenting in-store ...
Apr 18, 2012•17 min
The Downtown Residential Council, which represents 6 neighborhood associations and has 150 members, hosted a 2nd District Candidate Forum at the Museum of Latin American Art on Monday, March 26th. Participating candidates included Janet Ballantyne, Mike Kamer, and incumbent Suja Lowenthal. The conversation was lively, and everyone was on point. Questions came from the DRC, and from members of the audience.
Mar 27, 2012•47 min
Peter Frampton, as part of his 35th Anniversy tour in celebration of the release of Frampton Comes Alive!, will be performing tonight at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. Frampton assembled many of the original musicians who played on that Grammy nominated album to join him. Stanley Sheldon has a long history as a professional musician. He's performed along side folk-pop icon Melanie, and played with Warren Zevon, Lou Gramm, and Foreigner. He will always be best known, however, for his role in the...
Mar 13, 2012•13 min
While Ulrich Krieger may not be a household name, he's a star in the world of experimental music. By day, he is a mild mannered professor at the California Institute for the Arts, teaching composition and sax. When he's not teaching, he works with luminaries like Lou Reed, Lee Ranaldo, LaMonte Young, Christian Marclay, Ensemble Modern, the Berliner Philharmoniker, and the Soldier String Quartet. In fact, the reason why I got an opportunity to speak with Ulrich is that, starting this Friday, musi...
Jan 25, 2012•34 min
Many know Al Williams as the owner of the Jazz Safari, which opened in the shadow of the Queen Mary in 1976. Some know him as the owner of Birdland West, which was hailed by critics, fans, and musicians as the best jazz club in the country. He's also known as the mastermind of Rainbow Productions which, for 24 years, has produced the Long Beach Jazz Festival and, more recently, the Long Beach Bayou Festival. Others know Al as the leader of the Al Williams Jazz Society, a straight ahead quintet t...
Jul 08, 2011•19 min
Norton Wisdom arose, as an artist, from the tumult of the late 60s, when everyone was finding new ways of self expression, and of connecting with others. Through a series of experiences, he discovered the power of painting as a subversive, political act, one that called people to question their beliefs about what art is, and its roll in culture. Much of his current work in ephemeral, taking place on stage with musicians as they perform. He works on an illuminated mylar surface, sort of like a hu...
Mar 31, 2011•24 min
Lee Ferrell is one of those working musicians who may not be famous, but has played with everyone at one point or another. From his early days with Dick Dale, to his years on the road with The Righteous Brothers, to regular stints at the big Las Vegas lounges, he's at ease in any context. A consummate entertainer, his love of music and performing is plainly evident. In this interview he talks about his travels, his kids, and what it means to be a man on the road. Lee performs regularly at McKenn...
Mar 17, 2011•28 min
Denise Clayton-Leonard, founder and CEO of Artful Healing, is the Artist in Residence at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach. In this interview, she speaks about the work she does at the hospital, and an exciting partnership with the The 26th International City Bank Long Beach Marathon, which will be using art created by hospital patients on the mile markers used throughout the race. These mile markers will be auctioned at the Marathon's free Health and Fitness Expo at the Long Beach Conven...
Oct 11, 2010•29 min
It is almost unbelievable that yesterday was the 'official' five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. While governmental officials made speeches, much of the devastation that swept through the region has yet to be addressed. Still, there were signs of hope, and recovery. Then, on April 20th of this year, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and effectively destroyed one of the few industries still flourishing in the Delta region: Fishing. Michelle Mangione is a singer, songwriter, and multi-...
Aug 30, 2010•19 min
The Long Beach Opera is presenting three performances of John Adams' celebrated opera, Nixon In China, at the Terrace Theater. The first performance takes place this Saturday, March 20th, with a matinee and evening performance the following Sunday. On the surface, it tells the story of Richard Nixon's landmark visit to China in 1972. He arrived with high hopes but soon it becomes clear that his great ambitions for normalization are unrealistic. Mao, aged and infirm, speaks indirectly, and little...
Mar 15, 2010•42 min
When I sat down to speak with Enrique Arturo Diemecke, I had some idea that the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra was in trouble. There had been rumors, and the occasional press release, hinting at real problems, and few solutions. Still, my intention was to speak with Maestro Diemecke about music. Although incredibly active, leading 3 orchestras, and guest conducting around the world, his whole being radiated a deep and abiding love of music. As we talked about the opportunities and challenges of b...
Jan 13, 2010•47 min
Lee Adams has more talent in the tip of her pinky toe than most amass in a life-time of effort. From her early days as a child performer, singing and dancing in a top hat and tails, to her later work as singer/songwriter/bandleader, she has brought artistry, intelligence, and class to everything she's done. Her work as a novelist is no exception. On Saturday, November 14th, at 7 PM Lee will be celebrating the release of her second novel, Nighthawks. Join her at Porfolio Coffeehouse, located on t...
Nov 11, 2009•4 min
I met Rychard Cooper back in 1982, when we were both enrolled in the Electronic Music & Audio Engineering programs at Long Beach City College. He and I would spend hours in the lab, programming the huge Moog modular synthesizers they had, and exploring various recording and tape manipulation techniques. Good times. Flash forward to present day, and he's teaching at CSULB's Cole Conservatory of Music. He also played a significant role in the on-going exhibition of Brian Eno's 77 Million Paint...
Oct 22, 2009•35 min
Christopher Scoates, Director of the University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, has worked diligently during his four and a half years there to present works and artists that reflect a kind of modernity not often seen in established art exhibition spaces. Works that blend technology, interactivity, and narrative are often featured. In this audio interview, Scoates talks about the exhibition of Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings, which includes a series of prints, and real ti...
Sep 02, 2009•21 min
For more than a decade, Larry Bott has been a driving force behind the East Village Arts District. Through investments in artist live/work spaces, and the creation of the first cooperative gallery in the district, he helped shape the concept and the reality. Larry recently announced his resignation as Director of Gallery 117. His departure creates a void that, hopefully, will be filled before the gallery closes it's doors permenantly. I met with him at his home in the East Village, and we had a ...
Aug 28, 2009•51 min
Since the inception of Long Beach record label Sounds Are Active, mastermind and musician Chris Schlarb knew that musical diversity was its cornerstone. Free Jazz, Hip Hop, Noise, Punk, Progressive Rock, and Electronic genres live happily side by side and, occasionally, merged into new amalgams. Artists on the roster include Soul-Junk, Bizzart, Viva Voce’s Kevin Robinson and, in September, a CD release from legendary guitarists Nels Cline (Wilco) and G.E. Stinson (Shadowfax) titled Elevating Dev...
Jul 30, 2009•56 min
From his early Jazz explorations with brother Alex to his work in support of artists such as Willie Nelson and Rickie Lee Jones, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline has constantly pushed the boundaries of his abilities as an instrumentalist, composer, and improviser. Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top 20 guitar gods, and "World’s most dangerous guitarist" by Jazz Times, his work is consistently diverse, adventurous, and really good. G.E. Stinson was a founding member of the influential, ge...
Jul 30, 2009•1 hr 11 min
Patrick West, City Manager for the City of Long Beach, talks about the current municipal arts funding model, some of the successes, opportunities, and challenges that face the Arts Council for Long Beach, and explains the cuts in the upcoming budget.
May 20, 2009•23 min
Transformation II is a unique multicultural art exhibition featuring work created by artists from Cambodia, and the United States. The opening reception, taking place on Saturday, April 11th, from 6-9 PM at the 2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space, showcases sculpture, photography, painting, mixed media, and installation works. The show coincides with the celebration of the Cambodian New Year, and will include a second reception on Friday, April 24th, that includes film screenings an...
Apr 10, 2009•13 min
On Saturday, March 28th, The Arts Council for Long Beach, in conjunction with the Economic Development and Cultural Affairs bureau of the City of Long Beach and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, presents "Create Long Beach," a community forum that's seeking community participation in formulating the City's Cultural Master Plan. This document will help guide municipal leaders in advancing existing cultural and artistic assets, and in using them to improve the quality of life for everyone. R...
Mar 25, 2009•49 min
Artist and curator Lisa Wibroe walks me through a gallery show featuring 12 artists whose works span a variety of media and styles. At the end, we're joined by Mary Grace, a ceramic artist, and host of the show.
Mar 13, 2009•19 min
Robin Cox is on the faculty of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. For more than 10 years his ensemble, which features cello, marimba, vibraphone, bass clarinet, and Cox on violin, has performed original and commissioned music that defies easy categorization, but is consistently pleasing to both the novice and discerning ear. As part of the Faculty Artist Series, The Robin Cox Ensemble is performing this Friday, January 30th, at 8 PM in CSULB's Gerald R...
Jan 27, 2009•26 min
Raindog Armstrong is a poet, publisher, and pied piper for poetry. With his Lummox Press, he published the Lummox Journal as a monthly magazine, which showcased artists from around the country, and around the world. Publishing both poetry and in-depth interviews, the Journal has now moved onto the internet. This has freed him, at last, to publish the first of several volumes of his own work, the first of which is called Fire & Rain. It reaches back to some of his earliest work, and spans nea...
Sep 09, 2008•51 min
What do jazz greats like Luis Conte, Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, Tom Scott, and Ernie Watts have in common? Long Beach native son David Witham has lent his talent and artistry to each, and many more. He’s the principal pianist for Wicked at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, and was the long time band leader for George Benson. He recently released a CD of original compositions titled Spinning The Circle on the Cryptogramophone label. The playing is stellar, and the writing diverse: In turns e...
Sep 09, 2008•41 min
Steven Glaudini, Associate Creative Director and producer for Musical Theatre West, talks about the 08/09 season, and shares some insight into the opportunities and challenges of presenting great musical theater.
Sep 08, 2008•20 min
