Reigning Cats and Dogs Juried Exhibit
2024-09-06 - 2024-10-13 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Reigning Cats and Dogs is a love-of-life, all medium juried exhibition of 50 original and unique 2D and 3D artworks celebrating dogs and cats. Congratulations to the following award winners:
First Place: “Aria’s Gaze” – Chiachen Wang (pictured above)
Second Place:”Basking” – Roberto Zavala
Third Place: “Olive Side Eye”- Anna Chambers
Honorable Mention: “Come On…Throw the Ball!” – Erlinda Montano-Hiscock|
Honorable Mention: “The Ratter” – Stephanie Langley
Honorable Mention: “Hare of the dog with a dane chaser…” – Will Bullas
Honorable Mention: “A Dog for All Seasons” – Kenneth W. Newman
Honorable Mention: “Modern Bastet with Ancient Cell Phone Necklace and Earbuds” – Polly Osborne

VIEW ONLINE EXHIBIT

Learn the Healing Art of Japanese Reiki
2024-09-25 - 2024-10-16 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
In this course, you will learn and be attuned to level one of Usui Shiki Ryôhô which focuses on self care as well as healing for friends and family. You will leave the course having a concrete understanding of the application of the Reiki healing system to begin your practice. This course is over four Wednesday evenings.Benefits of reiki practice include: Relief from anxiety and stress, enhanced sleep facilitated healing of physical and emotional issues heightened awareness and presence, increased focus and clarity, grounding and expanded creativity.
LEARN THE HEALING ART OF JAPANESE REIKI
SHODEN LEVEL ONE | $425
WEDNESDAYS | 6–9 PM
OCTOBER 2 | OCTOBER 9 | OCTOBER 16 | OCTOBER 23
Reserve your spot visit emptyspacereiki.com or
email info@emptyspacereiki.com

2024 Open Studios Art Tour
2024-10-12 - 2024-10-20 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts will again participate in the Open Studios Art Tour. The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) will be taking over the tour previously run by Arts Habitat. For more information about the event, please follow this LINK.
Week One: October 12th & 13th – “Reigning Cats and Dogs” exhibit featuring 50 works from across the nation. Artwork available for purchase. Hours: Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm
Week Two: October 19th & 20th – Open house featuring works by Ruth Carroll, Linda Elling, Suzanne Elliot, Guna Hebbar, Katie Mackin, and Willamina Strupat. All artwork available for purchase. Hours: Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Rick Forschino Trio Plays the Music of Enrico Pieranunzi
2024-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Two years after their sold-out performance honoring the music of Michel Petrucciani, Rick Forschino and his trio, featuring Bill DeLap on acoustic bass and Mike Shannon on drums, return to present compositions by the brilliant living Italian pianist, Enrico Pieranunzi, on Sunday, October 27th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are $35, available on Eventbrite.com.
Enrico Pieranunzi is not only an incredibly sensitive pianist with a touch akin to that of Bill Evans, but also a particularly lyrical composer of uniquely beautiful harmonies. Rick became aware of Pieranunzi’s talented genius in 1987 with the release of “Deep Down” which featured bassist, Marc Johnson, and drummer, Joey Baron. Since then, Enrico has produced over sixty albums that include well over three hundred of his own original compositions. This concert will showcase a personal selection of these compositions, including his famous 1978 piece, “Nightbird,” which gained fame in 1987 when he recorded it with Chet Baker. Baker went on to record and perform this tune multiple times throughout his career. By introducing Pieranunzi’s compositions at The Cherry, this trio will demonstrate how he has devoted his life to establishing a body of work worthy of the collection of standards we now know and love by the famous composers of the 20th century.
Rick Forschino is a well-known jazz musician on the Monterey scene who is drawn to the more lyrical players who experiment with lush unusual harmonies. Over the many years, Rick has played monthly with Bill DeLap at the Carmel Art Association and other venues around the Peninsula with multiple artists. They’ve developed a friendship with a shared special interest in the music of Michel Petrucciani and Enrico Pieranunzi.

Salon Jane Celebrates Ten Years: Photography Reimagined
2024-11-01 - 2024-11-30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Salon Jane is honored to present its ten-year celebration exhibit at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, an important part of Carmel’s artistic history and culture, set in a vital region of photography. The exhibit opens Friday, November 1st, with a reception from 5-7pm. In addition, a walk through with the artists will be offered from 2-3pm on Saturday, November 9th.
The exhibit and events are free and open to the public.
Salon Jane is a six-member artist collective formed in Monterey, California, in 2014. The photographer members are Martha Casanave, Susan Hyde Greene, Jane Olin, Anna Rheim, Robin V. Robinson, and Robin Ward.
Over the past 10 years, the members of Salon Jane have created an intimate bond, facilitating a safe and inspiring environment for their artistic risk-taking and creative evolution. At their regular meetings, they share feedback about their work through hours of in-depth discussion and hold space for art-related life challenges.
The Monterey Peninsula has a long tradition of straight photography set forth by Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and others. However, the artists of Salon Jane inhabit an island of innovation that pushes against these strict boundaries. Each member artist nods to photography but expands on it in diverse and unexpected ways.
From aerial to underwater, abstract to representational, digital to darkroom, wall art to books, the work produced by these artists is wide ranging. In content and process, each artist’s work transcends the ordinary and taps into mystery. While they have evolved beyond formal straight photography, the members are equally concerned with artistic and photographic excellence and are grounded in historical processes. salonjane.com
VISIT ONLINE EXHIBIT
Pictured: Salon Jane by Martha Casanave

SOLD OUT The Bob Phillips Review - George Gershwin
2024-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, the composers who wrote them don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of three concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, will take us on a musical review highlighting three composers whose writings became mainstays in the world of jazz.
Bob will begin this musical journey with the works of George Gershwin and many of his signature compositions such as “A Foggy Day (In London Town)”, “Embraceable You” and others. Sunday, November 17th at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. $35.00, available on Eventbrite.com.
Joining Bob will be Adam Astrup on guitar, vocalist Malinda DeRouen, Ross Garren on harmonica, bassist Dennis Murphy, and drummer Mike Shannon.
The series will continue on February 9, 2025 featuring the works of Henry Mancini, with a final performance on April 27, 2025 showcasing one additional musical genius.
Meet the Musicians:

Bob Phillips: Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Adam Astrup: Originally from Minnesota, guitarist Adam Astrup is an active performer in the Monterey area jazz scene. He has worked with renowned artists such as Bruce Forman, Greg Gisbert, Matteo Sabattini, Gary Meek and Drew Zaremba, and many others.
Malinda DeRouen: An extremely versatile vocalist, Melinda is no stranger to the world of jazz. She has also excelled in cinema and numerous musical productions and was most recently seen as Billie Holiday in the acclaimed Lady Day with the New Canon Theatre Company. Her first performance on the outdoor stage was over 24 years ago as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Ross Garren: Harmonica player, keyboardist, composer and record producer Ross Garren lives in Southern California. He has recorded with a host of notable artists including Bon Iver, Kesha, Ben Folds, Brad Mehldau, Rita Coolidge, and Keb’ Mo’. Garren’s sound has been described as “a meeting of vintage Americana, retro-futurism, classic song craft and whimsical surrealism.”
Dennis Murphy: Since the mid-eighties, bassist Dennis Murphy has been touring worldwide with various national and international artists. A three-time GRAMMY Nominee with international Smooth Jazz Artist Acoustic Alchemy. Dennis has recorded or played with The Greg Kihn Band, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Shirelles, and Kenny Rankin, among others.
Mike Shannon: Based out of Central California, drummer Mike Shannon has performed and/or recorded with many world renowned musicians including: the Hristo Vitchev Quartet, Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, Rick Allen of Def Leppard, Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, Stanley Jordan, Pat Bianchi, Gary Meek, Mike Lent (Barry Manilow guitarist), Brian Charette, Tammy Brown, George Young, Steve Ezzo, Dann Zinn and many others.
This series is bound to be one of the most enjoyable and delightful Jazz At The Cherry experiences!

Along Came Betty
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back Along Came Betty for another round of what has become a traditional December treat. Join us Sunday, December 8th, for some great music, wine and light fare–all included in the ticket price. This year’s program will pay tribute to pianist and prolific composer Biff Smith who passed away in June. Doors open at 1:30pm; performance begins at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available online at eventbrite.com.
Spark up your holiday spirit with some of the best bebob and straight-ahead jazz on the West Coast. Along Came Betty will delight you with their rich harmonized sax and trumpet, backed by the classic piano, bass and drums rhythm section.
This group of highly talented musicians (Bill Spencer, piano; Brian Stock, trumpet and flugelhorn; Paul Tarantino, saxophone; Pete Lips, bass; Patrick Tregenza, drums) has performed at many local and national jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Big Sur Jazz Festival. Since 1998, they have been celebrating the spirit of hard-bop, a seminal movement of 50s and 60s jazz.
BUY TICKETS NOW

Make Merry at The Cherry Holiday Open House
2024-12-13 16:00 - 18:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts invites you to our annual art fundraiser and holiday celebration, Make Merry at the Cherry, on Friday, December 13th, from 4:00-6:30pm. Catch the holiday spirit as you mix and mingle with friends old and new. The event will feature reasonably-priced art by noted local artists, raffle prizes that include a large collection of fine wines, gift certificates to local restaurants, and other seasonal goodies.
Artists participating in this year’s fundraiser include Pam Carroll, Carol Chapman, Jim Dultz, Mary Liz Houseman, Barbara Johnson, Andrea Johnson, Ken Parker, Kris Swanson, Jan Wagstaff, Robin Winfield, Rodney Winfield, and many more. Following the open house, art will be for sale through Saturday, December 21st, during gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 4:00pm or by appointment.
Proceeds will support The Cherry’s ongoing contribution to the arts community of Monterey County. The event is free and open to the public. Wine donated by Scheid Vineyards. For more information, please call (831) 624-7491.
Pictured: “Bowl of Persimmons and Squash” – Pam Carroll

The Cherry Trio Plus One
2025-01-01 15:00 - 16:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Join The Cherry Trio — Elizabeth Gaver (baroque violin), Penny Hanna (viola da gamba), Michael Peterson (harpsichord) and guest David Wilson (baroque violin) — to ring in the New Year with music from seventeenth century France, Germany and England. The performance will be held Wednesday, January 1st, at 3:00pm. Tickets are $35, available on eventbrite.com.
The ensemble will perform “D’Apotheose de Lully,” by François Couperin – a suite of short pieces with French texts depicting Lully’s meeting with Apollo and ascension to Parnassus where he meets Corelli. Two musicians play the same melody accompanied by the other in turn – Lully in the French style, Corelli in the Italian. In the spirit of reconciliation, Apollo convinces them that the joining of both styles represents perfection in music, and they close with a trio sonata “The Peace of Parnassus.” The concert will also include a trio sonata by Purcell, pieces by Abel for solo viol, and preludes by Couperin for harpsichord.
David Wilson – Baroque Violin
Please join us after the concert for a reception.

Brush and Chisel
2025-01-10 - 2025-02-15 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Brush and Chisel, an exhibition of painting and sculpture by Robin and Chris Sawyer, opens Friday, January 10th, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The exhibit pairs artworks from the Sawyers in unexpected ways, sometimes crossing boundaries and exploring the two mediums through the investigations of color, surface, and optical perception. Robin Sawyer’s paintings, conversely, engage with her husband’s sculptural concerns by taking up ideas long associated with three-dimensional art, such as balance, composition and context. By combining elements of painting and sculpture, these works exist beyond well-known restrictions of what art can do and upset the balance of previous ideas of what art can be.
Brush and Chisel can be seen through February 15th during gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4pm or by appointment.
About the Artists:
Robin Sawyer’s abstracted figures and landscapes seem to present themselves with an inherent mystery that begs the viewer to look further. In all her work, she is primarily interested in gestural expressiveness and dynamic color juxtapositions. Robin’s paintings have been widely exhibited in California, and both nationally and internationally collected. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the Monterey Museum of Art, the Triton Museum of Art, various corporate collections, and the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Robin was juried into the Carmel Art Association in 2021.
Artist Chris Sawyer enjoyed two successful careers in functional three-dimensional works of art—furniture design and fine home building—before devoting himself full time to sculpture as fine art. Chris began working with clay as a young boy. His high school education provided excellent background in the mechanical and industrial arts. He later took studio courses in sculpture at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. In his retirement he is now free to explore stone cutting, woodcarving, fabricated steel and cast bronze full time. He derives his abstract imagery from animals, the human figure, and geometric forms. He was juried into the Carmel Art Association in 2013.

Krapp's Last Tape and Rockaby
2025-01-23 - 2025-01-26 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
An Evening of The Absurd at The Carl Cherry

Samuel Beckett, playwright known for “Theatre of the Absurd” will come to life in this one weekend-only performance by Dennis Leroy Kangalee of the Kangalee Arts Ensemble in NYC & Justine Stock of New Canon Theatre Co, Monterey. A double bill of Samuel Beckett’s plays, Krapp’s Last Tape, an early masterpiece from 1957, and Rockaby, one of his rarer, later gems written in 1983. Directed and Performed by Dennis Leroy Kangalee and Justine Stock, both plays deal with the angst of memory within the mystery of aging; they ask us to consider what the culmination of a life experience is, or can be. Four performances only:
Thursday, January, 23rd @ 7:00 pm (Preview Night)
Friday, January, 24th @ 7:00 pm (Opening Night Post-Show Reception)
Saturday, January 25th @ 7:00 pm
Sunday, January 26th @ 2:00 pm
This is a 1 hour performance, each show will have a Q&A post show.
Tickets are $35.00, available on Eventbrite.com. Recommended for ages 14 and up.
A special evening of two Samuel Beckett plays presented in an exclusive double-bill of his most accessible and challenging pieces for solo actors determined to make a connection with a live human audience. Titled “Technology & The Human Cry,” J. Stock Productions and Kangalee Arts Ensemble bring both Krapp’s Last Tape and Rockaby to the stage in one unforgettable hour-long program.
Founder & Artistic Director of Kangalee Arts Ensemble shares, “Because while the world is suffering with many things, one thing we as artists can combat is the information overload; the bombardment of spectacle in our arts and entertainment. In an attempt to kickstart the new year with pared down, simple “chamber plays” that are exquisitely rendered by the Master of the Absurd and the great comic folly of human behavior, Samuel Beckett, Technology & The Human Cry aims to redirect the focus of acting and drama from the grand sweep of spectacle to the epic of human thoughts and emotions. In a time where nothing seems to make sense and the only thing guaranteed is aging or death, our bliss fleeting but attainable, Stock and Kangalee return to the theater with intimate works that illustrate the real wars are internal.
Aesthetically, both plays wrestle with the idea of the human voice dueting with a recorded voice. Beckett was curious, if not obsessed with technology itself — especially how recording mediums can refract our own lives back to us.
In each mono-drama the solo performer must listen to his or herself – on a recorded tape – and not only react, but allow it to influence how they view their life. Krapp’s tapes and nameless woman W’s voice (“V”) in Rockaby – emanate as “recorded ghosts” in a way… enabling enormous joy, but also overwhelming pain.
Written by: Samuel Beckett
Directed by: Dennis Leroy Kangalee, Kangalee Arts Ensemble
Produced by: J. Stock Productions & Kangalee Arts Ensemble
Production Designer: Edith Raw
Sound Designer: Carlton King
Stage Manager & Design Coordinator: Sean Aten
Cast: Dennis Leroy Kangalee (Krapp’s Last Tape) Justine Stock (Rockaby)

SOLD OUT The Bob Phillips Review Performing the Music of Henry Mancini
2025-02-09 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, the composers who wrote them don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of three concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, will take us on a musical review highlighting three composers whose writings became mainstays in the world of jazz. Bob’s most recent performance for Jazz At The Cherry showcased the wonderful music of composer George Gershwin
The next stop on this musical journey will take us into musical world of composer Henry Mancini on Sunday, February 9th. Joining Bob will be singer/songwriter Julie Capili and some of the Peninsula’s finest jazz artists, including guitarist Adam Astrup, sax player Paul Contos, bassist Dennis Murphy and drummer Mike Shannon.

The final show for this series will take place on Sunday, April 27th featuring another musical genius.
Sunday, February 9th at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.

Bob Phillips: Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Julie Capili’s creativity and playfulness are evident in her music, bringing a sense of joy and wonder to her performances. Her subtlety and exquisite control display a maturity beyond her years. Her influences are eclectic, including artists such as Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Eva Cassidy, and Tori Amos. And although her voice has drawn comparisons to many great singers, she possesses a style of her own.

2025 Thinking Out Loud Regional Art Competition
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-22 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is proud to announce Thinking Out Loud 2025, a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their lives. Each year, students from across Monterey County are invited to display their artwork across a wide range of media for exhibition in our gallery.
Thinking Out Loud will open with a reception for the student artists on Saturday, March 1st, from 2-4pm. The event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 pm or by appointment. The exhibit will close Saturday, March 22nd.

Established in 1948, the mission of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality and diversity of artistic, educational and cultural programs in Monterey County by encouraging public programs and interactions between artists and the community.
Thinking Out Loud is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and funds from:
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Dion and Judith Dow
Gibson Family Foundation
Mitchell Family Charitable Fund
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Pictured: “Cereal” – 3D artwork by Sawyer Vogel, Santa Catalina School
First Place, 2024 Thinking Out Loud Art Competition

Soapbox Stageworks Presents: Winter One Acts
2025-03-20 - 2025-03-29 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Soapbox Stageworks Presents Winter One Acts, four brand new plays performed on four different nights:
Thursday, March 20th, Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22 and 29. The house opens at 6:30 for pre-show libations. Performances start at 7pm. Tickets are, $35, available on Eventbrite.com. 10% of all proceeds will go to the Carmel Youth Center
Each performance will feature the following plays:
“Ruby” by Donald Luftus – An afternoon on the Thames River takes a turn.
“Forward Pass” by Lawson Caldwell – It’s 1969 after the Stonewall riots in NYC. Two mothers in a small southern town must defend their sons.
“Lenny and Jenny” by Mike Byham – An intense situation makes two people realize things aren’t always as they seem. Trigger alert for language and violence.
“A Winter’s Eve” by Karen Devaney – During a snowstorm in a small cabin, a couple attempt to get their marriage back on track. The secrets revealed may destroy them for good.

Witness: The Expanding Worlds of Manuello Paganelli
2025-04-04 - 2025-04-26 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Witness: The Expanding Worlds of Manuello Paganelli, opens Friday, April 4th, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts with a reception from 5-7 pm. A photographer’s walkthrough will be held Saturday, April 12th, from 2-3pm. Both events are free and open to the public.
This dynamic installation provides new perspectives into Mr. Paganelli’s expansive body of work by exploring six distinct geographic regions, bringing together narratives of influence, innovation and humanity from 40 years of his work.
VISIT ONLINE EXHIBIT
Manuello Paganelli grew up in Santo Domingo, Italy and Puerto Rico. After a mentorship with Ansel Adams, he worked as a photojournalist at the Chattanooga Times. In 1989, he began to explore Cuba, its land, its people, and its complex relationship with the United States. In 1995, he had the first solo photo show of his work on Cuba, and that same year earned him a fellowship grant.
The Washington Post wrote, “Manuello Paganelli’s Cuban photographs are a brilliant window on a land and people too long hidden from North American eyes. Working in the tradition of Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank, Paganelli brings an artist’s eyes and a native son’s sensibility to his superb photographs.” In the early 1990s, Paganelli started work on his Black Cowboys series with a selection being featured at the Annenberg Space for Photography. In the summer of 2012, this same series was selected for the Photo Vernissage at the Manage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Paganelli’s award-winning work has graced the covers and pages of many well-known magazines including Bloomberg Business Week, Forbes, LIFE, Newsweek, Men’s Journal, People, Time, Reader’s Digest, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and many more. He was Ansel Adams last student before death in 1984.
Paganelli’s fine arts work is represented by the iconic Weston Gallery in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Obscura Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He lives in Carmel and in Los Angeles.
Pictured: “Hands of Freedom #3” – Manuello Paganelli

2025 Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards
2025-05-03 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards program was designed to recognize and promote excellence in high school poets and develop an interest in creative expression through the written word.
A reading and ceremony honoring this year’s award-winning student poets will be held 2:00pm on Saturday, May 3rd, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel.
The program (formerly the Robert Campbell Monterey County High School Poetry Awards) was renamed last year to honor Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, who provided inspiration and writing instruction to thousands of area high school students.
Cherry Center Poet-in-Schools:
Patrice Vecchione
Our Poet-in-Schools, Patrice Vecchione, is the author of two collections of poetry and three nonfiction books, most recently My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth. Patrice has taught poetry in local schools and elsewhere for many years. patricevecchione.com.
Sponsors:
The Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards are held each year in conjunction with Thinking Out Loud, the Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibition. Both programs are made possible through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Friends of Patrice Vecchione
Gibson Family Foundation
Hazen Family Foundation
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Monterey Public Library Foundation
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

SOLD OUT - The Bob Phillips Review Performing the Music of Johnny Mercer
2025-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, their composers and lyricists don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, has been taking us on a musical tour highlighting luminaries whose works have become mainstays in the world of jazz. Bob’s third and final concert on this journey will feature the works of famed lyricist, Johnny Mercer. Highly talented vocalist and stage performer Malinda DeRouen, and special guest vocalist Lee Durley, will be joining Bob for what is sure to be another outstanding Jazz At The Cherry production.
Sunday, May 4th at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.

Bob Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Admired for his exceptional technique and on-stage liveliness, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.

Through Forests of Every Color
2025-05-09 - 2025-05-31 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
“Through Forests of Every Color,” an exhibit celebrating the life of trees and western landscape in painting and photography, opens Friday, May 9th, with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 pm. An artists’ walkthrough will be held Saturday, May 17th, at 2 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
The exhibition will include recent paintings by Paul Roehl, Tom Nakashima, Elizabeth Murray, Patrick Ahern, Deanna Forbes, Pat Mahoney, Thomas Paquette, Jeffrey Becom and John Figura; sculpture by Polly Osborne and photography by Kenneth Parker.
Organized to explore various styles and themes in landscape painting and photography, “Through Forests for Every Color” investigates the relationship between abstraction and landscape painting, the effects of photography on landscapes, and the consideration of the materiality in both mediums. The exhibit reflects the complex and ambiguous relationship between humans, trees and the environment—a relationship of particular importance here in the West.
The exhibit can be seen Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 pm or by appointment through May 31st.
Pictured: “Dancing Madrones” – Elizabeth Murray

The Life and Writings of John Muir with Barbara Mossberg
2025-05-17 16:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
An Exuberant Evening with Barbara Mossberg and John Muir . . . and Louisa Wanda!
Join us Saturday, May 17th, for a magical evening of poignancy and lift in performance arts with Dr. Barbara Mossberg at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $15, available on Eventbrite.com.
An international scholar of John Muir, teacher of eco literature, and California laureate Poet-in-Residence Emerita (Pacific Grove), Mossberg brings her poetry and scholarship to imagine and help correct the historical record of how purple prose led to public policy and civic commitment to preserve the wilderness. What does love have to do with it? Or a devoted wife? A world premiere concert recitation of a new historical musical drama on John Muir.
Join Barbara and our Cherry community for rounds of cakes and ale (always cake!) and merriment following the presentation.
Dr. Barbara Mossberg
Forest image above: goseedoexplore.com

Age is Only a Number
2025-05-30 - 2025-06-21 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
All New!
The Laugh’s on Us!
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
A Comedy
Another glance at age and aging with a wink.
A new play by
TOM PARKS
May 30th – June 21st
Fridays and Saturdays: 7:30pm
Sunday matinees: 2:30pm
Tickets $35
Call (831) 717-7373

Juxtapose
2025-06-20 - 2025-07-26
A Delicious Concoction of the Sublime and Absurd.
“Juxtapose,” is an inventive, immersive, two-person exhibition featuring paintings, mixed media and assemblage art by Stephanie Langley and Robert Armstrong. The exhibit opens Friday, June 20th, with an artist’s reception from 4:30 – 6:30pm. An artist’s walkthrough with Robert and Stephanie will be held Saturday, June 28th, from 3:00-4:00pm. Both events are free and open to the public.
From the guest curator:
Meeting Stephanie Langley for the first time and walking into her studio was an experience of pure joy! It was as if I had entered into a subliminal realm where images, patterns and painting styles from different eras and disciplines played happily with and off each other. Her work is delicate, surprising, balanced and exciting. In short, her work is remarkable.
When my friend, Robert Armstrong, invited me over to his house and had me open a small green vintage suitcase from the 1950’s filled with 100+ works of what he explained were influenced by “semiotics” (signs and meaning) that he had made in the mid 1970’s- 80’s, I was astounded! I truly had never seen anything quite like it. The work was very funny, very odd, and extremely clever. There was more to it than you could get your head around at first glance. After a while, most pieces evoked laughter, followed by revelatory, “Ah ha!”
This, then, is a very unique, one-of-a-kind, two-person exhibition, with close to 100 works of art, in a small gem of a gallery surrounded by a serene Zen sculpture garden. A juxtaposition all on its own.
I am very excited to have been asked to curate this show, and be able to bring these artists to you.
Jim Dultz

The Michael O’Neill/Tammy Hall Quartet
2025-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry
Proudly presents
The Michael O’Neill/Tammy Hall Quartet
San Francisco Bay Area jazz artists Michael O’Neill and Tammy Lynne Hall have put together a truly heavyweight group of musicians for this very special Jazz At The Cherry performance. A gifted saxophonist, Michael O’Neill will be leading the way along with much sought-after pianist and vocalist Tammy Lynne Hall. Rounding out the quartet are two of the Monterey Peninsula’s favorite artists, the sensational drummer Leon Joyce Jr. and talented bassist Steve Uccello. This stellar group of artists has performed at numerous venues in the SF Bay Area, and while this will be a JATC first for O’Neill and Hall, both Joyce and Uccello have had several Cherry appearances in the past. This is bound to be one of the hottest ever straight-ahead jazz shows to come to our stage, and you surely won’t want to miss it!
Sunday, June 22nd at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.
Michael O’Neill
Saxophonist Michael O’Neill is a mainstay in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene where he now leads several jazz groups. A San Diego native, Michael began studying clarinet at age eight. He took up the saxophone at thirteen and studied composition and arranging in college. Following graduate school in Texas, he returned to the SF Bay Area and studied with the great Joe Henderson. It didn’t take long for O’Neill to make a name for himself. He signed on to several steady, high-profile gigs including a thirteen-year engagement at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, a seven-year stint at Cetrella on the coast, and a six-year steady gig at the Sofitel on the San Francisco Peninsula. He has played and/or recorded with Idris Muhammad, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Michael Wolff, Rodney Jones, Kenny Washington, Jackie Ryan, Tony Lindsay, Akira Tana, Michael Bluestein, Nicolas Bearde, Smith Dobson, and many others. O’Neill’s first three jazz albums featured the world-renowned SF Bay Area vocalist Kenny Washington. Their partnership spans over 20 years, and the two have performed together in many notable venues including the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. O’Neill performs frequently at Yoshi’s and many other major venues in the SF Bay Area.
Tammy Lynne Hall
Tammy Lynne Hall began playing the piano at age four in Dallas, Texas where she was raised by two grandmothers, a grandfather and numerous aunts and uncles. Her earliest memories of the piano were of climbing onto the piano bench and picking out the notes to tunes she heard either on the radio, record player or something the choir sang at church. She attended the prestigious Mills College in Oakland, CA from 1979 to 1981. In pursuit of developing her own voice and the experiences of a ‘Jazz’ life, Tammy left Mills College and began working with local bands in the SF Bay Area. A visit to Brussels turned into a two-year stay. During this time Tammy along with saxophonist, Dr. Josylyn Segal, formed the quintet Touche Differente (Different Touch), playing in numerous venues and festivals, including the Brussels Jazz Club, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Antwerp, France, Holland and Ibiza as well as performing and recording with saxophonist Noah Howard. A truly versatile pianist, Tammy Hall’s own compositions, arrangements and improvisational style are always crowd pleasers. Tammy’s impressive accompanist skills made her a top choice for many well-known singers. She is equally gifted in Classical, Gospel, Latin, R & B and Jazz. Her major influences include Tania Maria, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mary Lou Williams, Joe Sample and Thelonious Monk. Tammy brings virtuosity to the piano that is never ostentatious, and her approach to the music is always genuine and fresh.
Leon Joyce Jr.
Well-known on the local jazz scene, drummer Leon Joyce Jr. is a native of Meriden, Connecticut where he received his musical training through private instruction under John Oblon and Jimmy Rozelle. While still in high school, he toured Connecticut and Massachusetts with the Greater Hartford Community College Theater Group, performing the Broadway musical Hair. As a drummer, Leon has worked for a wide variety of top artists, including Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, Monty Alexander, Clark Terry, Conte Condoli, Ellis Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, and Pete Fountain. Leon performs regularly with his own groups as a trio, quartet or quintet format. He has also appeared with the Jamie Davis Quintet, Nicolas Bearde, Rhonda Benin, Destiny Muhammad and Tiffany Austin. Leon has also performed at many of the top International Jazz Festivals, including Montreux and Lugano Jazz Festivals in Switzerland and the Villingen Swing/Jazz Festival in Germany. Nationally, he has appeared in the Monterey Jazz and Blues, Playboy Jazz and JVC Jazz Festivals in California, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Louisiana, JVC Jazz Festival in Colorado, Chicago Jazz, the South Shore Jazz and the Heritage Festivals in Illinois. He has also appeared in the Dijon, Lyon and Paris Blues Festivals in France, the Luzern Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Zacatecas and Oaxaca Blues Festival in Mexico and the Rhythm & Blues cruise.
Steve Uccello
As a freelance bassist, Steve plays gigs around the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas. Steve is the bassist in The Latin Jazz Collective with John Nava as well as Monterey’s beloved group, Along Came Betty. He has played gigs with The Roger Eddy Band and legendary guitarist, Bruce Forman. Steve was also a featured soloist with the Monterey Bay Jazz Orchestra in 2009 at the 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival as well as with The Andy Weis Monterey Jazz Allstars at the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival in 2017. Steve has played in the Dottie Dodgion trio as well. He can be regularly found playing musical theater engagements at The Western Stage and The Pacific Repertory Theatre. Additionally, he is also the steady bassist at Santa Cruz’s First Congregational Church’s Jazz/Gospel service. Steve studied music formally at Cabrillo College under jazz trumpeter/arranger Ray Brown and Latin percussionist Mike Strunk. He completed extensive coursework in performance, theory, and musicianship, and was the principal bassist in the Cabrillo orchestra for two years. Steve completed his B.A. at CSU Monterey Bay, where he studied with world-renowned bassists Stan Poplin and Ray Drummond and legendary saxophonist Paul Contos.

Soapbox Stageworks Presents: Summer Comedy Kickoff!
2025-06-27 - 2025-06-29 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
It’s time to celebrate the carefree days of summer, and what better way than a night of comedy! Soapbox Stageworks presents four hilarious one-act plays that will lift your spirits and leave you laughing for days. Friday, June 27th through Sunday, June 29th. Curtain time is 7:00pm for the Friday and Saturday performance, and 2:30pm for Sunday. Tickets are $35 general admission, available on their website, SoapboxStageworks.org.

“Break a Leg” by Max Jackson- An understudy is thrust into a performance with a notorious Diva actress, let’s just say, things get interesting.
“Gentlemen’s Agreement” by Rich Rubin – When two Irishmen wrangle over the selling of a couch an unexpected past arises.
“Elephant in the Room” by Kacie Michele- Four strangers get stuck in an elevator and how they cope is less than conventional.
“Judy’s Place” by Karen Devaney- A beloved pub is in danger of getting bulldozed when its owner suddenly dies. Friends and patrons gather as a far fetched scheme is devised to save the place.

Living Art: Jean Cacicedo, Janet Lipkin and the Evolution of Art to Wear
2025-07-12 17:00 - 19:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center is thrilled to present the new documentary “Living Art: Jean Cacicedo, Janet Lipkin & The Evolution of Art to Wear” about two of the founding members of the “Art to Wear” movement in 1970s’ New York. Hear the artist’s talk about their processes of making garments that use the body as a sculptural armature, which comes alive when the body moves through space.
Please join us for this delightful 28-minute film, along with a moderated Q and A with Janet and Jean. This will be followed by a reception in our lovely gallery space and sculpture garden with wine, artful appetizers, a fashion show of their creations and, of course, the artists, themselves.
Janet and Jean each have their remarkable wearable textiles in the permanent collections of some of the most prominent Art museums in the country (and the world), including The Metropolitan Museum (NY), The De Young Museum (SF), The Museum of Art and Design NY, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Hong Kong Design Institute.
They have been featured in three documentaries and their work has been included in 25 books about Wearable Art.
This is a rare opportunity meet these wonderful creators of an optimistic and fanciful future, at time when we need it most.
This film was produced by Textile Arts Council of the deYoung Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Saturday evening at 5:00 pm, July 12, 2025. $20 admission includes wine and appetizers. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.

Mattias Thedens
2025-07-18 19:00 - 20:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Mattias Thedens stands as one of Norway’s emerging talents on the Hardanger Fiddle, Norway’s national instrument. Raised in a musical family, Mattias immersed himself in the world of folk festivals from a young age. He successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts in Hardanger Fiddle performance at the esteemed Norwegian Academy of Music, benefiting from the guidance of distinguished mentors such as Knut Buen and Håkon Høgemo.
In 2023, Mattias won the National competition, Landskappleiken, in Hardanger fiddle class B, and was promoted to the elite A class where he is currently one of its youngest competitors. He is dedicated to keeping the Hardanger fiddle tradition alive, exploring different regional styles and techniques while making sure the music always stays true to its roots.
Friday, July 18th, at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25, available on Eventbrite.com.

Cherry Jam in the Garden
2025-07-26 15:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Get ready to Jam! A special event benefitting the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.
This extraordinary afternoon will feature live music by the incomparable Rick Forschino and Friends, delicious wine from Scheid Vineyards, and light fare.
BUY JAM TICKETS ONLINE
Auction and Chance Drawing
Don’t miss your chance to win unique items and experiences in our silent auction and chance drawings! Here’s a glimpse of some of the fantastic prizes:

Full-Day Use of the Carl Cherry Theater, Gallery, and Gardens ($1200 value): Imagine hosting your next event in this beautiful space! With its Santa Maria stone fireplace and redwood beams, the gallery offers the serenity and timelessness of old Carmel. The Cherry Center is complemented by a 50-seat theater and a sculpture garden in a setting of Monterey Peninsula native plants and coastal live oaks. A venue perfect for staging a performance, film or literary event!

Three-Day Private Residential Artist’s Retreat in Cachagua ($1250 value): Escape to a 54-acre wooded property for a three-day, private artist’s retreat. Perfect for artist, writer, or anyone seeking a personal retreat, this residency offers the time, space, and quiet needed to create. You’ll stay in a snug cabin with expansive views of the Los Padres National Forest, adjacent to hiking trails and world-famous vineyards. The retreat includes support from artist Kris Swanson, who will be available to guide and assist your art project as requested. The property also features an outdoor stage for performance art and a mountain yoga platform for meditation, yoga, or writing. Enjoy late afternoon drinks and hors d’oeuvres with your hosts and fellow artists on the deck.

Custom Portrait Sitting with Kim Weston ($2500 value): Private Portrait Session with Master Photographer Kim Weston. This is a truly exceptional offering – Kim Weston, renowned master of traditional black and white photography, is donating something he rarely offers: a private portrait session in his Carmel gallery followed by his personal darkroom work to create a museum-quality 8×10 silver gelatin print.
Portrait by Mary Liz Houseman ($1000 value): Portrait by acclaimed local artist Mary Liz Houseman. The portrait can be done in pastel or acrylic from a sitting or photograph.
Season Passes to Jazz at the Cherry ($540 value): Two season passes to 2026 Jazz at The Cherry performances. Enjoy reserved tickets to six concerts held in our intimate Cherry Hall venue.
One Pass to the Carmel Jewish Film Festival ($220 value): This package includes one pass to six films, two VIP receptions, and panel discussions with community leaders. This year’s theme is, “Celebrating Culture, Social Action & Diversity in Contemporary Judaism.” November 2: Opening Celebration at the Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel.
Festival Dates, November: 6th, 8th, 9th;13th, 15th, 16th.

Take home a piece of singular, expansive, and evocative contemporary art. The artw0rk was donated by the artists from the Cherry Center’s current exhibit, Juxtapose, which combines text, graphics, humor, and verve.

Artwork by Stephanie Langley – Select a work of your choice (up to $500) from the current exhibition.

Artwork by Robert Armstrong – Choose a unique piece (up to $500) from the gallery showing.

Tickets are $60, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com, at the door or by calling (831) 624-7491. All proceeds will go to the Cherry Center’s general fund.

To Look Under the Lens
2025-08-08 - 2025-08-23 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
“To Look Under the Lens” is an exhibition featuring historical photographs, poems, and artwork by our founder, Jeanne D’Orge (Mrs. Carl Cherry). To complement the exhibit, a poetry reading will be held Saturday, August 16th, at 4pm. The event will feature reading by Elliot Ruchowitz Roberts, George Lober, and Rachelle Escamilla. Tickets are $15, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491. Use this link for more information about the event.
Pictured: Untitled – Jeanne D’Orge

Ukulele Melee - A Celebration of the Uke!
2025-08-09 14:00 - 15:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Ukulele Melee is a celebration of the world’s friendliest four-string instrument: the uke! The event will feature performances by local musicians Ukulele Dick, Steve Mortensen and Dixie Dixon, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Karen Lehman, Bruce and Pamela Forman, and the Haole Harmony Trio. There’ll also be a special guest (or two), audience sing alongs and more. It promises to be a fun afternoon for all ukulele fans that’s not to be missed!

Sandor Nagyszalanczy

The original Ukulele Melee was created about 15 years ago by Dixie Dixon as a celebration to honor the legacy of her husband Daniel Dixon, a noted local author and musician. The 2025 Ukulele Melee continues this popular celebration for a new generation of ukulele players and enthusiasts.
Saturday, August 9th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com.

"Only to Look: Under the Lens" - Postponed
2025-08-16 16:00 - 17:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
This event is postponed due to illness. Please check back for new date and time.
“Only to Look: Under the Lens,” a Poetry Reading with Rachelle Escamilla, George Lober and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts will be held at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts on Saturday, August 16th, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15, available on eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Each summer, the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts illuminates the connection between the artwork and poetry of Jeanne D’Orge (Mrs. Carl Cherry) and contemporary local artists and poets in celebration of the center’s seventy-seventh year.

About the Poets:
Rachelle Escamilla is a Chicana poet from the Central Coast of California. She is the author of three books of poetry: Imaginary Animal (Willow Books, 2015 & 2021), Me Drawing a Picture of Me[n] (Willow Books, 2019) and Space Junk from the Heavenly Palace (Nomadic Press/Black Lawrence Press 2023). Rachelle is the founder of a number of organizations and literary programs; was the producer and host of the longest running poetry radio show in the US; was a visiting scholar at the Library of Congress, Hispanic Division where she conducted research around her grandfather’s 1969 testimony for the fair treatment of migrant laborers in California. Rachelle is a Jeffers Fellow and the 2024/25 Poet Laureate of Monterey County.
George Lober teaches English at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from San Jose State and his master of Arts in English from Fresno State. He is a recipient of the nationally awarded Ruth Cable Memorial Prize for Poetry. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. George is the author of three books of poetry, including the recently released, Rainbow Eucalyptus. He lives in Carmel, California.
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts is Professor Emeritus at Monterey Peninsula College where he taught composition, literature, public speaking and humanities for 32 years. He serves as President of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel, California. Ruchowitz-Roberts coordinates the Foundation’s annual Prize for Poetry, annual reading series, and serves as a tour docent. He coordinated the National Endowment for the Arts, “The Big Read: The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers,” during which he read and performed Jeffers’s poetry at venues throughout Monterey County, including local libraries, high schools and colleges. The Carl Cherry Center’s high school poetry contest is named in his honor.

The Dick Whittington Trio Presents Music from the Great American Songbook
2025-08-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back to our stage one of the Monterey Peninsula’s most well-known pianists, Dick Whittington. Joining Dick will be another local favorite, drummer Leon Joyce Jr. Rounding out the trio will be the versatile and creative bassist, Dan Robbins. Sunday, August 17th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com. Be sure to buy yours today – this year, every performance has sold out.
Dick and his trio will treat us to an array of tunes from the Great American Songbook, featuring works by composers Harold Arlen Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers, as well as Jazz Standards by Dizzy Gillespie and John Lewis.
Dick Whittington
Dick Whittington grew up in Los Angeles, and while earning a degree in elementary education at Cal State Northridge, he was working gigs with: Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Criss, Barney Kessel, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Haden, Scott Lafaro, Gary Peacock, and Billy Higgins. Dick later went on to accompany vocalists Anita O’Day, Ernestine Anderson, Dinah Washington, and Mel Torme. Over the last five decades, he has performed with many jazz greats, including: Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Eddie Harris, and Chet Baker.
Leon Joyce Jr.
A local favorite, drummer Leon Joyce, Jr has worked for a wide variety of top artists, including Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, Monty Alexander, Clark Terry, Conte Condoli, Ellis Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, and Pete Fountain. He has also performed at many of the top International Jazz Festivals, including Montreux and Lugano Jazz Festivals in Switzerland and the Villingen Swing/Jazz Festival in Germany. Nationally, he has appeared in the Monterey Jazz and Blues, Playboy Jazz and JVC Jazz Festivals in California, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Louisiana, JVC Jazz Festival in Colorado, Chicago Jazz, the South Shore Jazz and the Heritage Festivals in Illinois. He has also appeared in the Dijon, Lyon and Paris Blues Festivals in France, the Luzern Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Zacatecas and Oaxaca Blues Festival in Mexico and the Rhythm & Blues cruise.
Dan Robbins
Dan has played and recorded in settings ranging from solo, duo, trio, etc. to big band and orchestra, and is known for driving, creative, harmonically and melodically rich background and lead parts on bass. He doubles on both acoustic bass, and four, five, six, and seven-string electric bass, in styles ranging from solo jazz chord-melody arrangements, to hard-swinging jazz double bass accompaniment, acoustic and electric funk, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Carribean, rock, R&B, blues, tango, Indian, and fusion styles, as well as arco (played with the bow) classical and contemporary interpretations of composed music. When you hear Dan perform his energetic and spellbinding solos, you will understand why he is one of the most in demand musicians on the west coast and beyond.
