Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
An Evening with Bruce Hornsby Sunday, Nov. 25, 7pm Sunset Center, Carmel E ver since the multi-platinum success of the single "The Way It Is," and its album (which single "The Way It Is," and its album (which also included the top 5 hit "Mandolin Rain") in also included the top 5 hit "Mandolin Rain") in 1986, Bruce Hornsby has seemingly been flying 1986, Bruce Hornsby has seemingly been flying 1986, Bruce Hornsby has seemingly been flying under the radar. But just because he hasn't had under the radar. But just because he hasn't had another hit on the level of "The Way It Is" another hit on the level of "The Way It Is" (admittedly a hard one to top), doesn't mean (admittedly a hard one to top), doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. He won the 1990 Grammy he hasn't been busy. He won the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and the 1994 Award for Best Bluegrass Album and the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, recorded and toured as a solo Performance, recorded and toured as a solo Performance, recorded and toured as a solo act, played bluegrass with Ricky Skaggs, collabo- act, played bluegrass with Ricky Skaggs, collabo- rated with Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Don rated with Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley and the Grateful Dead, and performed as a session and guest musician on innumerable recordings. His easygoing, keyboard-driven sound encompasses a multitude of genres, including jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, Motown, gospel, soul, rock and jam band. Despite his early success, he's still one of the most under- rated musicians of his era. To this day, the piano intro to "The Way It Is" is one of the most memorable in rock history. www.sunsetcenter.org. Jake Shimabukuro Friday, Dec. 7, 8pm Golden State Theatre, Monterey T he humble ukulele has only four strings and a two-octave range, but in the right hands it a two-octave range, but in the right hands it can sing, soar and sound like an instrument with can sing, soar and sound like an instrument with 12 strings and a four-octave range. And the right 12 strings and a four-octave range. And the right hands would belong to the most celebrated hands would belong to the most celebrated "uke" player in the world: Jake Shimabukuro. The "uke" player in the world: Jake Shimabukuro. The Japanese American native of Hawaii got his first Japanese American native of Hawaii got his first Japanese American native of Hawaii got his first uke at age 4 from his mom. He's been playing uke at age 4 from his mom. He's been playing since, and not just at home, but in concert halls since, and not just at home, but in concert halls and festivals around the world, including such and festivals around the world, including such iconic venues and events as the Hollywood iconic venues and events as the Hollywood iconic venues and events as the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, Bowl, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, Wolf Trap, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and the Playboy Wolf Trap, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and the Playboy Jazz Festival. He exploded on the world music Jazz Festival. He exploded on the world music scene in 2006 when a YouTube video of him playing a stunning version of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" went viral before that term even became in vogue. He also writes his own songs for uke, but his covers of tunes such as Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and The Eagles "Hotel California," have become fan favorites. He's won 16 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammys, and as many Hawaii Music Awards. He's been called the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele, with one difference. He won't be burning his ukulele anytime soon! www.goldenstatetheatre.com. Dweezil Zappa Saturday, Dec. 8, 8pm Golden State Theatre, Monterey D weezil Zappa learned music from one of the most iconic and innovative musicians in rock history, his father Frank Zappa. In fact, for the first dozen years of his life, the only music he was exposed to was his father's music or music his father listened to. With the surname Zappa, it would be hard to get out from under his father's immense shadow as an artist on his own, so he did the next best thing, he went out on tour first as Zappa Plays Zappa, playing from his father's vast and eclectic cat- alog, then under the cheeky moniker "50 Years of Frank: Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the F@%k He Wants—the Cease and Desist Tour" after the He Wants—the Cease and Desist Tour" after the He Wants—the Cease and Desist Tour" after the Zappa trust headed by his brother Ahmet sued to Zappa trust headed by his brother Ahmet sued to Zappa trust headed by his brother Ahmet sued to prevent him from using the Zappa name. An accomplished musician and guitarist in his own right—he's played guitar for everyone from Todd Rundgren and "Weird Al" Yankovic to Spinal Tap and Pat Boone (yes!)—Dweezil does his dad proud and carries on his rich legacy with this tour. www.goldenstatetheatre.com. An Evening with Branford Marsalis Saturday, Jan. 12, 8pm Sunset Center, Carmel H is older brother Wynton may get most of the recognition and press, but saxophonist Branford Marsalis is a jazz giant in his own right. A musical chameleon, Marsalis has performed and recorded not only jazz, but funk, classical, Broadway and rock. He was rocker Sting's saxo- phonist for several years, played with Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and Herbie Hancock, played with the Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band several times and has even appeared as an actor, including in the Spike Lee film "School Daze." He's a three- time Grammy Award-winner and received doc- torates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and St. Mary's University of Minnesota and, with his family, was awarded the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award. The intimate Sunset Center should be an ideal space for his lush tone, subtle phrasing and visceral improvisations. sunsetcenter.org. Jake Shimabukuro will be performing December 7 at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 81 Branford Marsalis will be performing at Sunset Center in Carmel on Jan. 12. Sunset Center in Carmel on Jan. 12. Photo: Palma Kolansky Photo: Palma Kolansky