Bay Area Entertainment

RED DRAGONFLY PRODUCTIONS (rhondalucile@comcast.net) has compiled a list of great concerts & shows to see in California -  Bay Area this week. The music management firm knows many of the performers  and often even books their acts. Here are a few they recommends in clubs you may have heard of such as  Freight & Salvage in Berkeley  and Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland and San Francisco.

Doug Benson with Dan Gabriel @ The Punchline in San Francisco

Wednesday, December 27, 2011 at 7pm & 9:30pm
Thursday, December 28, 2011 at 7pm & 9:30pm
$22.50

It would take too long to cite all of his credits, but here's a small sampling: He has his own documentary called "Super High Me" based on a joke from his standup act. How does a little show called NBC's "Last Comic Standing" grab you? Doug was a series regular on four seasons ofVH-1's Best Week Ever. He makes recurring appearances on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. His second Comedy Central Presents half-hour special premiered in January'09. He had the nerve to hit on Jennifer Aniston on the classic sitcom Friends, is a character on The Sarah Silverman Program, and oops, almost forgot, got Larry David in a headlock on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The Punch Line Comedy Club
444 Battery St (between Washington & Clay)
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.397.0644

Anna Estrada @ Sausalito Seahorse in Sausalito

Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 7:30pm
Free

It's Anna's birthday! She'll be bringing her eclectic mix of Brazilian & Latin standards, sprinkled with some jazz, pop, & original tunes to Sausalito Seahorse. The restaurant is a great music venue... plenty of space... good food... very nice wine list.

Sausalito Seahorse
305 Harbor Drive
Sausalito, CA 94965-1415
415.331.2899

Vienna Teng @ Freight & Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley

Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 8pm
Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8pm
$28.50/advance and $32.50/door

An exquisitely virtuosic pianist, a graceful vocalist, and a composer of evocative songs with smart, fresh lyrics, Vienna Teng returns to the Freight for a memorable musical retrospective. Over the course of the decade between her debut album, Waking Hour, and the release of her recent Inland Territory, Vienna has created some truly beautiful music, a rich, complex blend that sets her classical background and folk sensibilities within a contemporary pop framework. Tonight, we'll hear gems from throughout her career, from lush instrumentals to deeply thoughtful personal narratives.

Freight & Salvage Coffee House
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
510.644.2020

Leftover Salmon @ Great American Music Hall in San Francisco

Thursday,, December 29, 2011 at 9pm
$29/advance and $34/door

The sound of Colorado's legendary Leftover Salmon is unmistakable: fluid, loose-limbed, and simultaneously rootsy and daring. Fusing an unrivaled improvisational fervor to a dizzying combination of bluegrass, Cajun, funk, Southern rock, boogie, Caribbean, Latin, and jazz influences, Leftover Salmon has earned a legion of diehard fans, critical accolades, and a reputation as one of the most exciting, engaging concert experiences to ever hit the road.

Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.885.0750

Brian Culbertson @ Yoshi's in Oakland

Thursday, December 29, 2011 8pm & 10pm $35
Friday, December 30, 2011 8p & 10 pm $35
Saturday, December 31, 2011 8 pm $50 & 11pm $100
Sunday, January 1, 2012 7pm & 9pm $35

Brian Culbertson began his quest in music at the age of 8 on piano, adding drums at 9, trombone at 10 then bass at 12. He grew up in Decatur, IL, loving genre-crossing jazz-pop artists such as Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, the Brecker Brothers, David Sanborn, Yellowjackets and Maynard Ferguson. So naturally gifted was Brian, his 7th grade piano recital consisted of all original tunes.

Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607
510.238.9200

Duo Gadjo and "When Harry Met Sally" @ The Empress Theatre in Vallejo

Friday, December 30, 2011
Duo Gadjo from 6:45pm to 7:45pm
Movie at 8pm
$9/adults and $6/youth and seniors

Romantic Jazz with a French Twist

Isabelle Magidson – guitar, washboard, vocals
Jeff Magidson – guitar, vocals

France has a long history with jazz. From smoky Paris jazz clubs to the streets of New Orleans, the music pulsates with its own individual sound. Duo Gadjo presents their interpretation of this music as a union of two cultures. Jeff is originally from San Francisco and Isabelle is French. After performing professionally in France for the past 15 years, they are now bringing their act to the Bay Area. Duo Gadjo accompanies themselves on guitars, and sing in both French and English. Their repertoire includes many standards from the American Songbook, and also some swinging Louisiana Blues featuring Jeff on slide guitar and Isabelle on Washboard.

The Empress Theatre
330 Virginia Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
707.552.2400

The Xmas Traveling Rock & Roll Review @ Slim's in San Francisco

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8 pm $33
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 9 pm $50

The perennial L.A. punk-rockers, X, bring their annual holiday show to Slim's. Billed as the "Xmas Rock n Roll Revival" the original four X band members will be joined by the gospel duo, Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss, The Black Tibetans and Rock n Roll rebels.

Slim's
333 11th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.255.0333

Doug Hauser @ Upstairs at First Street Cafe in Benicia

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8pm to 11:15pm
Free

Doug is back Upstairs to get your new years' celebrating started a bit early. Lots of fun - sing along...bring your friends, bring your sweetie. Enjoy wonderful appetizers and desserts while listening to all of your favorites. His repetoire is all over the place- including the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and the list goes on & on.

Upstairs at First Street Café
440 First Street
Benicia, CA 94510
707.745.1400

Comedy Off Broadway Oakland @ Miss Pearl's Jam House in Oakland

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8 pm
$10

Comedy Off Broadway Oakland presents comedians featured on Comedy Central, HBO, BET, the late night talk shows and more, plus local heroes and up-and-coming stars, at Miss Pearl's Jam House (at The Waterfront Hotel) in historic Jack London Square in Oakland. The club has food, a full wine and bar service, and validated parking.

Comedy Off Broadway Oakland
Miss Pearl's Jam House (The Waterfront Hotel)
One Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
510.214.2626

John Santos Sextet @ George's in San Rafael

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 9pm
$16-$25

Five-time Grammy nominee, John Santos, is a highly respected bandleader, composer, recording artist, producer and educator in the Bay Area since the mid 1970s. His stellar Sextet is composed of some of the finest, most creative musicians, composers and arrangers in the field and sheds light on the historical and cultural significance of Latin Jazz.

842 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.226.0262

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra "Main Stage Series"

Friday, December 30, 2011 8pm at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco
Saturday, December 31, 2011 8pm at First Congregational Church in Berkeley
Sunday, January 1, 2012 3pm at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto
Free, but requires a reservation!

Benjamin Simon, conductor
Robin Sharp, violin

Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony #2 in D major, Op. 36
Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

I like Ludwig—don't you? Join the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra as they ring in the New Year with music of Ludwig van Beethoven. His Second Symphony shocked contemporary audiences in 1802; one critic called it "a hideously writhing, wounded dragon that refuses to die." Nor was Beethoven's Violin Concerto popular at first, but these two youthful compositions were groundbreaking works of incredible genius. Robin Sharp, the SFCO's brilliant concertmaster, is a featured soloist.

Make your reservation online or call 415.692.5258

Terry Bradford with Kellie Fuller & Mike Greensill @ Silo's in Napa

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 7 pm $75
7pm $75 and 10pm $100
Cabaret seating

SILO'S is the perfect place to ring in the New Year. This year's celebration features SILO's very own TERRY BRADFORD. Singing from the highest, most unbelievable note to the deepest, most inescapable emotion, Terry's performs one show at 7:00pm and a completely different show at 10:00pm. Come to his early show and be home in time to watch the Times Square ball drop or join him at his late show which sings in the New Year at midnight.

Silo's
530 Main Street #C
Napa, CA 94559-3379
707.251.5833

Bryan Simmons Trio @ Sticky Rice Bistro in Fairfield

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 6:30pm and 9:30pm
Free

Bryan Simmons has played piano for over 5 years; receiving formal piano lessons form Guy Arrostuto. He is most influenced by the work of Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. Simmons works as Director of Music at Bright Futures Non-Profit Daycare in El Sobrante Califronia.

Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar
Green Valley Executive Center
5030 Business Center
Fairfield, CA 94534
707.863.7500

Ozmati @ Uptown Theatre in Napa

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 9 pm
$50-$85

Jump start the new year with a dance party at the Uptown Theatre! Kick off 2012 with a New Year's Eve show featuring Ozomatli, La Santa Cecelia, and special guest appearances by Gabriel Iglesies aka Fluffy and his Stand-Up Revolution Comedians! The Uptown Theatre will provide free appetizers from 9-10pm, a complimentary glass of champagne, and a balloon drop at midnight! Those who purchase $85 tickets get a chance to win entrance into the Soundcheck Party, which includes a very special meet and greet with the band!

Uptown Theatre
1350 Third Street
Napa, CA 94559
707.259.0123

New Years Eve Masquerade Ball with the San Francisco Symphony @ Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 9pm
$85-$195

It's a madly mysterious, stylishly sensational party—a concert with the San Francisco Symphony, some bubbly, dancing on the stage, and you. The symphony supplies the masks, you create the memories! At 8pm it begins with swingin' music of the Martini Brothers in the lobby. After the concert enjoy complimentary La Marca Prosecco and desserts, dance to "Tainted Love" on the First Tier, or to the Peter Mintun Orchestra on the stage of Davies Symphony hall. The revelry really heats up at midnight, when the New Year is on the brink, and anything is possible.

Doors open and entertainment begins at 8pm. Concert begins at 9pm.

Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.864.6000

New Year's Day Comedy Show with Sammy Obeid @ my home in Benicia

Sunday, January 1, 2012
5 pm potluck dinner
6:45 pm comedy with Sammy
$15 donation requested for Sammy

A potluck dinner at 5 pm (bring your favorite dish to share or a bottle of wine) and Sammy will entertain at 6:45 pm. Lebanese American Sammy K. Obeid was born in Oakland California. A professional, nationally-touring comedian at 27, Sammy's style has been described as 'refreshingly intelligent', 'hopeful and inspiring', and 'a youthful perspective that reaches all ages'. Recently placing in the top 3 of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, Sammy's national appeal earned him 'Best of the Fest' in the Arab American Comedy Festival in New York, as well as the Out of Bonds Festival in Austin. Sammy is the youngest member of the national touring troupe, CoExist Comedy, the founder of his own comedy group and enterprise, KO Comedy, as well as the first comedian ever to appear on the Food Network telling jokes.

A $15 donation is requested with 100% of the donation to go to Sammy for gas money. Contact 707.747.0320 or rhondalucile@comcast.net for reservations and directions.