Sunday, July 3rd, Doubleheader

4:30 & 5:30 pm (two sets)

The Buena Vista Jazz Band

A “Trad Jazz” celebration of Independence Day & a nod to the birth of the great Louis Armstrong (often cited as July 4, 1900 — which makes for a good story regardless of whether it is absolutely accurate).  Regardless of Louis’ precise actual birthday, for most of us there could be no better epitomization of America, its idea, its essence and its existential reality.

This date with the Buena Vista Jazz Band, a joyous annual tradition at Bird & Beckett, features Chris Bradley, cornet; Don Neely, clarinet; John Hunt, trombone; Duncan James, guitar; Larry O’Leno, piano; Mike Kenny, bass; and Steve Apple, sitting in for Greg Gotelli on drums.

With a front line comprising Bradley, Neely and Hunt, this band boasts some of the most acclaimed players of early jazz that the Bay Area can claim, and the four-man rhythm section provides expert backing of the highest caliber.

Join us on this 4th of July weekend to celebrate the music in grand style!

preceded at 3:00 pm by

An Intermedia Spoken Word Event

Poet Nicholas Karavatos
and electronica guitarist
Jeff Kelley

Unrehearsed, spontaneous collaborations between Karavatos and Kelley. They’re on a road trip — a long road indeed, since Karavatos calls United Arab Emirates homebase these days…

Karavatos learned his chops as a poet at New College, under the tutelage of the great David Meltzer and others, and spins out his poetry in the interstices between class sessions teaching literature and writing at the American University of Sharjah.  Kelley hails from somewhere or other, and is said to be a sharp-witted songwriter and guitarist known from such bands as Dreadful Grapes, The River Rocks, Primordial Stew, Deltron 9, Fred & Wilma, The Miracle Show, The Vanishing Pints and innumerable solo acoustic appearances.

In their collaborations, the guitarist weaves a complex fabric of pitched signals, layering sound upon sound in conversation with the poet’s recitation.  Each stop on the road can be expected to produce a unique experience, often augmented and shaped by the contributions of additional participants picked up along the way.

Whatever the format, we’re always glad to hear from Nicholas when he passes through San Francisco… If the 4th is about freedom, well this is about as free as it gets…