E. Doctor Smith's Blog

The incredible Sonny Rollins comes to Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall, next Thursday, April 3rd, and begins a world tour that will take him to Japan, Europe and Brazil. When Rollins picks up the tenor saxophone, the world listens. "The last jazz immortal," according to the Village Voice, he is the most formidable of all improvisers and a living inspiration to musicians and listeners alike. Rollins first recorded in 1949 and today, he is one of the few surviving icons from a golden era of jazz that will probably never be equaled. Rollins chooses to "live lightly on the planet," and at the core of his humble lifestyle is a demanding practice regime, essential because of the tremendous demands he places on himself. Rather than exploit his fame, he chooses his creative venues carefully, working only when he likes and recording sporadically. Consequently, every Rollins live appearance sparkles like a rare gem, to be admired and treasured. Theodore Walter Roll...

The Bay Area is home to some of the most talented and eclectic musicians I have ever seen; tonight at Berkeley's famed Cafe Trieste comes another such talent, the seven stringed bass virtuoso Edo Castro. Castro has performed with a plethora of jazz greats; Roy Haynes, Ed Thigpen, Johhny Griffin, Armando Peraza, Stu Hamm and Mark Egan, just to name but a few. His talented quartet, featuring the amazing saxophonist Charles Moselle, guitarist Erik Lindquist and drummer Alex Aspinall will be joining him and performing selections from his first album, the self-titled "Edo" as well as his critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated latest, "Phoenix". For those who have yet to see this incredible talent, tonight's performance is another wonderful opportunity you won't want to miss. A native San Franciscan who grew up in the Haight-Ashbury during the 60’s, Castro has been called "an eclectic modern instrumentalist borrowing from jazz, ambient, fo...

The group Ten Mile Tide first came to my attention via their wonderful guitarist Jason Munning and his work with Berkeley songwriter Cas Lucas and his band. Munning's laid back, yet beautiful, fluid style really complimented Lucas' originals, so much so that it compelled me delve into his own group, Ten Mile Tide. What I found I was a musical triumph amid personal tragedy. The last two years have been a rocky ride for this San Francisco-based Americana/Fiddle-rock sextet. Their band has gone from national success to burnout to tragedy and back again. Their first shows of 2008 began at the Fillmore's famed Poster Room last Saturday and continues through Sunday at Potrero Hill's Connecticut Yankee. In January 2006, Ten Mile Tide was nominated for a Jammy for the New Groove of the Year. In March, they released their third and much anticipated self-titled album that redefined the band’s sound, and was met with strong reviews to debut in the Top 50 Americana c...