Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

The review of “Sound Poems” by The Word-Music Continuum began in San Francisco’s China Basin at McCovey Cove. It was carried by a reviewer into a building at Pier 48. The planned route along the Embarcadero was not used. The above-mentioned reviewer emerged from the building joined by two other reviewers. Both of them were [...]

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…is Vallejo still at the point of having to declare bankruptcy, which has been blamed in large part due to its union-negotiated contracts with the police and fire departments? Why is there no ongoing mention of it in local, state, or national media? With the exception of the ongoing reports posted by the Vallejo Independent Bulletin [...]

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In anticipation of revisiting one of my favorite historical periods, I waited in line to see “The Other Boleyn Girl,” directed by Justin Chadwick. New perspective, what’s not to like, I thought. I even invited one of my friends to join me at the Metreon cineplex south of Market Street. After the preview, Barry and [...]

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photo by eric chazankin In the past, I often dreaded Mamet?Äôs repetitive text. I will not go into my distaste for his characterization of a certain type of gender in some of his other plays. But, Mamet’s “Boston Marriage” diminished my past sourness for his work. I find this piece to be the most engaging [...]

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According to www.allmusic.com, there are currently seventy-two recordings of the Gene McDaniels composition ?ÄúCompared to What?Äù listed at its website. The song, primarily associated with Les McCann and his many versions of it (his live one with Eddie Harris that opens the 1969 Atlantic Records album ?ÄúSwiss Movement?Äù is a personal favorite), has been featured [...]

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And the number one with a bullet (OK, it rhymes with ?Äúbullet?Äù) topic in Vallejo this week: yes, folks, once again it?Äôs bankruptcy. With a capital ?ÄúB?Äù and that rhymes with ?ÄúP?Äù and that stands for ?ÄúPLEASE FILE.?Äù Bankruptcy in California has a long history that goes back to the early days of its admittance [...]

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“Vantage Point” is the new political thriller from Columbia Pictures, directed by Pete Travis, and it does hold your attention on more than one level. Leaders of several countries gather in Salamanca, Spain, for a conference on “terrorism.” The city’s central square holds up to 20,000 people and it is crowded as the American president [...]

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I do not know which aspect of the 2008 Presidential Campaign is considered more annoying: the ultramarathonlike length of the event, which began at least a year ago for most candidates and even earlier for others, or the inevitability of the choices of front-runners (Old School Senator John McCain versus New Changes Senators Barack Obama [...]

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AlfroSolo Theatre Company presents the San Francisco premiere of the award-winning one-man show “Walkin’ Talkin’ Bill Hawkins, In Search of My Father,” written and performed by W. Allen Taylor, from Feb. 14 to March 2, 2008. Photo credit: Averie D. Cohen Most families have secrets or skeletons in the closet. Some families have important connections [...]

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Da’Mon Vann and Peter Macon in “Sonny’s Blues.” Photo by Clayton Lord. An exhilarating theatre experience, Sonny’s Blues is the latest production of the Word for Word Performing Arts Company, in association with the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Performances continue through March 2nd, 2008. “Sonny’s Blues” was written by James Baldwin, America’s native son, novelist and [...]

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A quick glance at the songlist on the back cover of ?ÄúWelcome to Electricrazyland?Äù by The Craig Easley ?ÄòXperiment might allow a potential listener to expect a recording of Jimi Hendrix-inspired rock music. Titles like ?Äú?Ķand the gods went crazy,?Äù ?ÄúWelcome to ElectriCrazyland,?Äù and ?ÄúVoodoo Rider?Äù more than hint at Hendrix songs like ?Äú?Ķand the [...]

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Valentine’s Day approaches upon this week. Naturally, everyone tries to celebrate their relationship. Or perhaps, couples entertain the thought of evaluating their relationship. In the contemporary one act musical, “In This House,” a young newlywed couple find themselves taking refuge with an older couple on New Year’s Eve. The older couple make their annual return [...]

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OK, how about some free music now that you?Äôve dipped into the music budget to pay for a Valentine?Äôs Day gift and card? And by ?Äúfree?Äù I mean ?Äúfree and legal downloads of music from a computer website that agrees to remove any music per artist request or demand.?Äù One of my favorite websites with [...]

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?ÄúAll night the sound had/come back again,/and again falls/this quiet, persistent rain.?Äù –Robert Creeley, ?ÄúThe Rain?Äù Elias Negash, speaking on behalf of the Ethiopian Arts Forum, was introducing the Either/Orchestra and their special guest Mulatu Astatke at Historic Sweet?Äôs Ballroom in Oakland on Saturday night, February 2, 2008. The introduction was in English, which had [...]

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It was not by design that the CD reviews for January 2008 have all featured recordings by members of The Band. I never know from week to week what I am going to choose as a subject. The past three weeks?Äô reviews of the music of Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Robbie Robertson have inspired [...]

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