Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Coming Attractions: Balawan, Books, and Bach



On Thursday, June 30th, the Asian Art Museum will be holding its monthly MATCHA party with a pair of short concerts by I Wayan Balawan (above middle), a Balinese rock/jazz/gamelan guitarist who is one of the more amazing musicians in the world right now. He thrilled the audience at San Francisco's Other Minds Music Festival earlier this year, and just did the same at the Melbourne Convention Centre in Australia (click here for an interesting account by Adam May at his Guitar Carnival site). Highly recommended, and it's only $10 to get into the museum for the music, Bali exhibit and festivities.



One of the best Bay Area photographers working right now on the internet is Donald Kinney with his A Photo A Day website, which is more like half a dozen photos a day. He's going to join the dead tree crowd with the publication of his first book, a collection of photos from Marin County's Lagunitas Creek. It's happening Thursday, July 7th, at Modernbook Gallery, 49 Geary, 4th floor, from 5:30-7:30 PM. Free wine is promised.



For those who plan their lives more in advance, the American Bach Soloists and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music are combining forces for a summer Bach festival from July 15th to July 23rd. Performances are at the Conservatory on Oak and Van Ness, and include everything from chamber music to the Mass in B Minor. There is also a concert version of Handel's opera "Ariodante" along with student forces under Corey Jamison performing Bach cantatas, my favorite music by the composer. This is the first summer Bach festival in San Francisco's history and they are hoping the event is successful enough to become an annual affair.

1 comment:

Nancy Ewart said...

That's wonderful news about Donald - I've admired his work for a long time.