Music

The late novelist Pearl S. Buck once said that to find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.  That idea seems to apply to singer/songwriter/musician Nick Lowe, who is riding high with Indoor Safari, his...

The Academy of Language and Music Arts (ALMA) in Orinda sets out to offer lessons for all ages in a thoughtful, rich and meaningful fashion. The school was founded by Dr. James Fiatrone—also known to students as...

The walls of 10341 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito are coated in decades of music history. Nearly 50 years ago, musician and archivist Chris Strachwitz bought the modest building and began filling it. He had spent...

Three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito is rarely hesitant to travel. Since winning the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest from among 7,000 entrants with a one-take video in 2015, the musician—born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz—has taken his...

Clayton Call was capturing musicians on film long before he became a professional photographer. “I saw every classic band between ’66 and ’76, without taking a photo,” he said. “My mom bought a new Pentax in the...

For years, organizations in Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, Moraga and beyond have hosted free outdoor summer concerts—vibrant gatherings that foster community engagement while celebrating nature, culture and local support. Whether hosted by their city or partnering organizations, these...

For the casual music fan, the transition at SFJAZZ from the organization’s founder, Randall Kline, to trumpeter Terence Blanchard has been a seamless affair.  Week by week, the roster of artists performing in the SFJAZZ Center’s 700-seat Miner...