Live Jazz (& Blues) Meetup Group

Considered one of the great Brazilian guitarists of his generation, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Alessandro Penezzi will be featured at this concert, with Jane Lenoir on flute; Harvey Wainapel on clarinet; Ricardo Peixoto on guitar, and Brian Rice on pandeiro. (I'm assuming that Alessandro will play one style of guitar for this concert, although he actually is known for playing both the seven-string and tenor guitar, as well as the cavaquinho, mandolin and flute, so, in reality, he could be alternating among a number of instruments.)

EVENT COST: Advance online tickets for this show are about $23 to $34 per person, depending on whether or not attendees qualify for a senior or student discount

SEATING is general admission.

TICKET LINK: Buy your own tickets in person at the door shortly before the performance, or in advance at this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alessandro-penezzi-with-berkeley-choro-ensemble-tickets-1531280103009?

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Meet near the Will Call desk by about 6:30 p.m. or in the seating area shortly after that, so we can get seats together. (The show consists of two sets with a short intermission. The overall concert goes from 7:00 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. NOTE: I don't know why the Eventbrite page shows the concert lasting until 10 p.m.; I confirmed with one of the musicians that the approximate end time is 8:40 p.m.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm 5 feet tall, in my 60s, with short, salt & pepper hair and glasses (see my photo with my Meetup profile). I'll send my cellphone number to RSVPers beforehand. Feel free to text me if you don't spot me.

PARKING/TRANSIT: Parking is available on side streets. The venue is located between the North Berkeley and downtown Berkeley BART stations. Allow extra time to find parking or for the walk from BART. (If you arrive a half hour before showtime, you should be able to find nearby street parking. If you arrive later, you will likely have a tougher time finding a convenient parking spot.)

ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS:
https://www.hillsideclub.org/getting-to-the-club

MORE INFO:
https://berkeleychoroensemble.com/

Written and arranged by bassist/composer Saul Sierra for his all-star Bay Area quintet featuring pianist Marco Diaz, saxophonist Charlie Gurke, and percussionists Ahkeel Mestayer and Julio Pérez, Caminos is an eight-part Pan-American jazz suite celebrating the diverse musical styles of the Americas. Centered around a single musical theme arranged in a succession of styles, Caminos encompasses Mexican son jarocho, Cuban changui, Puerto Rican plena, Venezuelan merengue, New Orleans jazz, Brazilian samba, Uruguayan candombe and Peruvian lando and festejo. In addition, each song features a special guest, including a number of names well known to Meetup regulars, such as John Santos, Jackeline Rago, Edgardo Cambon, Brian Rice, Anthony Blea (and more!). This should be an excellent concert!!

COST: $1.00 donation to the Meetup organizer (that's me!) to offset the hefty fees that Meetup charges me. Other than that, the show itself is FREE to attend.

VENUE/SEATING: This show is held outdoors in the attractive Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco. The amount of seating that the Festival puts out depends on the show (depending on expected attendance numbers, younger crowds, room for dancing, etc.) Attendees may also bring their own low-backed chairs or beach towels to sit or lie on.

This is a general-admission show, with no tickets or reservations needed.

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: To increase our chances of getting seats together and to have a chance to socialize beforehand, let's meet up by 1:30 p.m. in the seating area. (The performance starts at 2:00 p.m. and goes to 3:30 p.m.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, 5 feet tall, in my 60s, with short, salt-&-pepper hair and glasses. I'll send my cellphone number to RSVPers before the event and will leave the phone on until the first band goes on. I'll post a Comment on the Meetup Event Page giving my location after I get seated, with additional info on how to spot me. Feel free to text me or leave a comment on the Meetup Event page if you don't spot me.

TRANSIT INFO: The performance location is on the route for several SF Muni Mission Street bus lines and is also located 2 or 3 blocks from BART (Take your pick of the Powell or Montgomery stations) and from Market Street bus stops. If you're driving, expect to pay for parking at one of the nearby garages.

ADDITIONAL INFO: People are free to bring their own food or drink to enjoy during the show, or you can buy take-out food at some fast-casual places in the immediate area (in and near the Metreon). Indoor public restrooms are on site at Yerba Buena Gardens complex.

MORE INFO about the concert:
https://ybgfestival.org/event/saul-sierra-quintet-caminos/

PLUS:
https://saulsierra.com/about

MORE LOGISTICAL INFO on driving, parking, etc.
http://www.ybgfestival.org/visitor-info/

See the VISITOR MAP on this page:
https://ybgfestival.org/visitor-info/#seats

Grammy-nominated Orquesta Akokan, consisting of musicians from New York and Cuba, pays tribute to the big bands of 1950s Cuba with their highly danceable mix of sounds.

COST: $1.00 donation to the Meetup organizer (that's me!) to offset the hefty fees that Meetup charges me. Other than that, the show itself is FREE to attend.

VENUE/SEATING: This show is held outdoors in the attractive Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco. The amount of seating that the Festival puts out depends on the show (depending on expected attendance numbers, younger crowds, room for dancing, etc.) Attendees may also bring their own low-backed chairs or beach towels to sit or lie on.

This is a general-admission show, with no tickets or reservations needed.

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: To increase our chances of getting seats together and to have a chance to socialize beforehand, let's meet up by 1:30 p.m. in the seating area. (The performance starts at 2:00 p.m. and goes to 3:30 p.m. There will also be a DJ set beforehand, starting at 1:00 p.m.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, 5 feet tall, in my 60s, with short, salt-&-pepper hair and glasses. I'll send my cellphone number to RSVPers before the event and will leave the phone on until the first band goes on. I'll post a Comment on the Meetup Event Page giving my location after I get seated, with additional info on how to spot me. Feel free to text me or leave a comment on the Meetup Event page if you don't spot me.

TRANSIT INFO: The performance location is on the route for several SF Muni Mission Street bus lines and is also located 2 or 3 blocks from BART (Take your pick of the Powell or Montgomery stations) and from Market Street bus stops. If you're driving, expect to pay for parking at one of the nearby garages.

ADDITIONAL INFO: People are free to bring their own food or drink to enjoy during the show, or you can buy take-out food at some fast-casual places in the immediate area (in and near the Metreon). Indoor public restrooms are on site at Yerba Buena Gardens complex.

MORE INFO about the concert:
https://ybgfestival.org/event/saul-sierra-quintet-caminos/

PLUS:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jul/05/orquesta-akokan-caracoles-review-joyous-cuban-dancehall

MORE LOGISTICAL INFO on driving, parking, etc.
http://www.ybgfestival.org/visitor-info/

See the VISITOR MAP on this page:
https://ybgfestival.org/visitor-info/#seats