The Downtown Berkeley Association and Jazzschool present the Jazzschool Rising Stars Summer Noon Concerts, a series of four free concerts, Thursdays at noon beginning August 5, 2010  in downtown Berkeley.  Focused on jazz standards and original compositions, these concerts held in Bartlett’s Patio on Kittredge St. next to the Berkeley Public Library, showcase the Jazzschool’s Rising Stars summer workshop. The tenth year of these free outdoor summer celebrations is just a small sampling of the performing arts happening nightly in clubs, cafes, schools, theaters and concert halls in downtown Berkeley.

The Jazzschool is dedicated to the study and performance of America’s indigenous art form — jazz, and related styles of music from around the world. Founded in 1997, the Jazzschool is located in the historic Kress Building on the northwest corner of Shattuck and Addison streets, situated in the heart of the burgeoning Downtown Berkeley Arts District which houses a number of unique resources complementary to jazz study and performance including Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theater, Berkeley Repertory School of Theatre, East Bay Media Center, The Marsh, and the Art & Music Room in the Berkeley Public Library.

Hailed as one of the most comprehensive schools for jazz in the country, the Jazzschool offers instrumentalists and vocalists of all ages and levels a broad spectrum of performance and lecture classes, short-term workshops and private instruction through two distinct educational programs: the Jazzschool Community Music School, encompassing the Adult Music Program and the Young Musicians Program, and the Jazzschool Institute, a post-secondary degree program offering a B.Mus in Jazz Studies. Classes are designed for the professional musician, the serious student, and the jazz aficionado seeking personal enrichment. Jazzschool Books and Records serves as a resource for first-rate reading and listening materials and provides students, educators, and the public with supplemental educational materials, out-of-the-ordinary books, recordings, videos and music-related accessories. The Jazzcaffè and The Jazz Image, a photography gallery featuring works by Lee Tanner, contribute to an intimate setting for faculty and student performances. The Jazzcaffè also serves as a gathering place for musicians and their families and friends to exchange ideas, listen to great music and enjoy a bite to eat. Grab food to-go from The Jazzcaffè or bring a brown bag lunch and join us each Thursday for these noon concerts.

These concerts are the warm up to the Downtown Berkeley MusicFest which runs August 20-29 on 10 nights, with over 40 performances, and at 10 venues in Downtown Berkeley. Enjoy diverse musical styles spanning bluegrass to salsa to rock and roll. These concerts have been made possible in part by a generous gift from David and Beth Sawi. Thanks to AT&T California for sponsorship.

Take BART to the Downtown Berkeley BART station two blocks from the concert site at 2020 Kittredge next to the Berkeley Public Library. For parking and transportation, or other information about Downtown, please visit www.downtownberkeley.org.  Seating will be available.  This event is produced and sponsored by the Downtown Berkeley Association and the downtown business community. The site is wheelchair accessible.

Berkeley, CA, May 11, 2010—Thousands of East Bay residents will have two opportunities to visit the BAM/PFA galleries and also to attend L@TE: Friday Nights @ BAM/PFA free of charge during the summer months of 2010.

BAM/PFA ANNOUNCES FREE FRIDAYS PROGRAM FOR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES

Thousands of East Bay residents now have two no-cost opportunities to visit the BAM/PFA galleries and see L@TE: Friday Nights @ BAM/PFA performances during the summer 2010

Berkeley, CA, April 15, 2010—Thousands of East Bay residents will have two opportunities to visit the BAM/PFA galleries and attend L@TE: Friday Nights @ BAM/PFA free of charge during the summer months of 2010.

Residents from the below East Bay zip codes are eligible for free admission on the two dates listed next to those.  Free Fridays patrons will have access to all of the BAM/PFA galleries and exhibitions, including What’s It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect (through July 18, 2010), Brent Green: Perpetual and furious refrain (May 2 through September 12, 2010), and the interactive indoor seating sculpture Thom Faulders: BAMscape (through November 30, 2011).

The program serves as a way to introduce locals to L@TE: Friday Nights @ BAM/PFA, the newest and most eclectic destination for art and performance in the East Bay.  L@TE programming offers a little something for everyone—musical performances, expanded cinema screenings, performance art, spoken word, and more.   L@TE events begin at 7:30 PM and happen on most Fridays.  To find out more about upcoming L@TE events visit www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/late.

BAM/PFA Director Lawrence Rinder says, “Programs like L@TE and the installation of BAMscape are initiatives that are transforming the museum into a more interactive destination. Free Fridays is a zero-risk invitation to some of our nearest neighbors to share in these new experiences.”

Each visiting adult must show a valid photo ID with proof of residency. The following items or combinations are acceptable: A driver’s license or state ID card; Photo ID plus postmarked envelope, postcard, or magazine label with name and date; Photo ID plus utility bill (gas/electric/cable), bank statement, or letter from a government agency with name and home address (not a P.O. Box). Only residents from the zip codes invited on the designated dates will be admitted free of charge.

The following schedule outlines the program by zip code neighborhoods:

FREE DAYS 2010 SCHEDULE

Dates                                    Area                                                Zip Codes

Jun. 4, Jul. 23                        Berkeley                                    94709. 94710, 94608, 94530

                                    Emeryville/El Cerrito           

Jun. 11, Jul. 30            Berkeley                                    94701, 94702, 94703, 94704

Jun. 18, Aug. 6            Oakland                                    94601, 94603, 94605, 94606

Jun. 25, Aug. 13            Oakland                                    94607, 94609, 94610, 94612

Jul. 2, Aug. 20            Oakland                                    94615, 94617, 94621, 94626, 94643

Jul. 9, Aug. 27            Richmond                                    94801, 94804, 94805, 94806, 94807,

Jul. 16, Sept. 3            Hayward/Richmond             94850, 94525, 94541, 94545, 94803

Community history comes alive through music, song and spoken word!

La Peña Cultural Center Celebrates its 35th Anniversary with the World Premiere of

La Peña - Ayer, Hoy y Pa’lante

La Peña presents the world premiere of La Peña - Ayer, Hoy y Pa’lante, an original suite of music by three time Grammy nominee, Wayne Wallace with libretto by Aya de Leon and performed by the La Peña International Orchestra. This work, integrates La Peña oral histories, archival footage and photos into a contemporary musical suite about the social and cultural movements that make up the La Peña community. ]]> http://www.lapena.org/event/1454 http://www.lapena.org/event/1454 05/05/10 Grupo Raiz returns to the stage where they were born 30 years ago to celebrate La Peña's 35th anniversary.

La Pena's 35 Anniversary Gala Concert with Grupo Raiz

Saturday May 15, 2010. $20 adv. $25 dr. - 8pm
(Strongly recommend buying tix in advance) ]]>