E. Doctor Smith's Blog

Last November, Gadd brought an all star line-up to Yoshi's in San Francisco with keyboardist Joey DeFrancesco, saxophonist Ronnie Cuber and guitarist Paul Bollenback. Now comes a live album featuring that band, "Live at Voce". A well-respected drummer who has appeared in many types of settings in many genres, Gadd's impressive technique and flexibility have been influential during the past 20 years. He started playing drums at the age of three, sat in with Dizzy Gillespie when he was 11, and after extensive study and a stint in the Army, Gadd became an important studio drummer beginning in 1972. Among his more significant jazz associations have been with Chick Corea (starting in 1975), Bob James, Al DiMeola, Tom Scott, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, the group Stuff, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, and his own impressive band (the Gadd Gang) which recorded for Columbia in 1986 and 1988. Gadd's website features a review of the aforementioned album, ...

Next Saturday, September 11, 2010, visionary musician and human rights worker, Michael Franti, along with Guerrilla Management present the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Beginning in 1998, this diverse music, arts, action and yoga festival has become a premiere San Francisco tradition dedicated to educating attendees on issues of social justice, non- violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability. With over 70,000 attendees, PTTP has grown from a local community based event to one of the nation’s largest free annual music festivals in the U.S. PTTP features a variety of international musicians, visual artists, renowned keynote speakers and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors. The Power of the Peaceful movement has reached a new level by gaining international recognition. PTTP is committed to sustainability via innovative recycling programs, initiating partnerships with other sust...