RVANews

Listening Back: Larri Branch Agenda and Steve Kessler

Dean Christesen — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:56:52 +0000

In Listening Back, we chronicle the happenings at The Camel’s free weekly jazz series on Tuesday nights. Be there if you can. But if you can’t, stop by here every Saturday for a recap in sights and sounds. This week, Larri Branch Agenda and Steve Kessler's Fight the BS continued the series.

Listen to Larri Branch Agenda:
[audio:http://media.rvanews.com/Larri%20Branch%20Agenda%20021511.mp3|titles=Live at The Camel February 15 2011|artists=Larri Branch Agenda]

Listen to Steve Kessler's Fight the BS:
[audio:http://media.rvanews.com/Steve%20Kessler%20021511.mp3|titles=Live at The Camel February 15 2011|artists=Steve Kessler's Fight the BS]

On Tuesday, Brian Jones continues the free series. The Camel is located at 1621 W. Broad St. in Richmond, VA. More information is available at thecamel.org.

Listen back to other gigs in Richmond

Photos by Lauren Serpa

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Christmas through song

Dean Christesen — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:00:35 +0000

'Tis officially the season. Christmas is right around the corner and some music is starting to reflect that. You either love Christmas music, hate Christmas music, or totally ignore it, and I choose to love it. I've written a guide to new releases out this year that will be on RVANews, but not everybody records a whole album of seasonal material. Musicians often record only a few tracks, whether it's for fun or to give out as a no-cost gift (I'm guilty of that). Well, some of it is pretty good, and if you like to ring in the holidays through song, then it's a win-win.

Jazz musicians have been using Christmas music as vehicles for improvisation for a long time, like this new track from Joey DeFrancesco with Steve Gadd and Kevin Breit:

[audio: http://media.rvanews.com/Christmas%20Tree%20081016_128K.mp3|titles=Christmas Tree|artists=Joey DeFrancesco]

It sells, too. Like many different parts of the holidays, music doesn't escape Christmas commercialism. Musicians and labels find that it's pretty easy to make a buck off of holiday releases: most the music has already been written, so it can be as simple as performing and recording it. Oftentimes and unfortunately, being creative with the music is a step that they often skip, leaving consumers with lackluster music and a saturated market for the stuff.

The idealist in me wants to believe that all musicians are doing it for the spirit of the holiday and the creative things that can be done with the music. And, hey: Isn't this a good way to bring people into the jazz world?

I know people out there in Richmond are doing this, and we want to hear it. Send a track or two that you've recorded to dean [at] rvanews.com and we may feature it here on the site.

While not jazz, a few local musicians got together to record an album for friends and family, and it reflects a fun and creative way that musicians take on a familiar Christmas tune. Arranged by bassist Brian Cruse, the guys (CJ Wolfe on percussion & vocals, Larri Branch on keyboard, Justin Smith on guitar, Chris Ryan on guitar & vocals, Marcus Tenney on trumpet, Dave Hood on alto saxophone, and Ballard Midyette on trombone) play a reggae "Go Tell It On The Mountain," offering up their voices on the final choruses.

Listen:

[audio: http://media.rvanews.com/07%20Track%2007%201.mp3|titles=Go Tell It On The Mountain|artists=Brian Cruse CJ Wolfe Larri Branch Justin Smith Chris Ryan Marcus Tenney Dave Hood and Ballard Midyette]

A smaller group of the same musicians (Branch, Cruse, Wolfe, and Ryan) performing as Larri Branch Agenda also did "Deck the Halls" and will be releasing it as a free download this December.

Listen:

[audio: http://media.rvanews.com/Deck%20The%20Halls.mp3|titles=Deck the Halls|artists=Larri Branch Agenda]

Who relies on Christmas music to get in the spirit, and who could live without it?

Saturday at Thompson & Grace: Larri Branch Agenda & R2Dtoo

Dean Christesen — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:04:00 +0000

From Larri Branch and Reggie Pace Production:

The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series

The 3rd Concert in the 2^nd Balcony Concert Series will be held Saturday, July 25, 2009.

This concert will feature not one, but two bands. The Larri Branch Agenda and R2Dtoo!

Along with having two bands we have another special treat. After the concert... for a donation, amount to be specified, you can Pie Larri Or Reggie In The Face. Rules will apply.

The party is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

As always there will be a lemonade stand and a grill

The music starts at 2:30 pm and its free!

"The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series was started because Larri Branch and Reggie Pace thought it would be cool to have bands perform on their balcony. The concerts will provide bands and audiences with a different music venue. Its a party. Come out and have a good time...FREE."

rvabalconyconcerts@gmail.com

3426 W. Grace St.,Richmond, VA

On the Corner of Thompson and Grace St.

UPDATE: By the way, this is what pies in the face look like:

Dean Christesen and Bryan Hooten of Verbatim at Thompson & Grace, June 27, 2009

Photos by David Hood

Announcing: Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series 2009

Dean Christesen — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:35:00 +0000

Larri Branch and Reggie Pace Production presents:
The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series

"And...we're back. The balcony concerts will resume on Saturday, May 30, 2009. There will be a lemonade stand to provide you with thirst quenching refreshment. We'll have a grill, so we encourage you to bring some food to throw on it. Oh, and THE GREAT WHITE JENKINS will be there providing the Music!!

"The party is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The music starts at 2:30 pm. IT IS SOOO FREE!!!"

From Glows in the Dark - Thompson & Grace Balcony Concert Series

Co-founder Larri Branch at Glows in the Dark
Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series, June 14, 2008

The complete summer 2009 concert listing will appear here as each is announced:

Saturday, May 30 - The Great White Jenkins

Saturday, June 27 - Verbatim (drum/trombone duo)

Saturday, July 25 - Labrangeda and R2Dtoo (Piano quartet and Tuba-Bone-Drum trio)

For more information, contact:
rvabalconyconcerts@gmail.com

3426 W. Grace St.,Richmond, VA
On the Corner of Thompson and Grace St.

The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series

Dean Christesen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:05:00 +0000

The West of the Boulevard neighborhood is in for a treat on select Saturdays this summer. The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series, created by Richmond musicians Reggie Pace and Larri Branch, will feature local bands on Saturday afternoons playing on a house's balcony on the corner of the two streets. The events are free and open to the public. Says the series' creators, "We're trying to cultivate a party environment. We want everyone to come out and have a good time. Hopefully people in the neighborhood will see what's going on and want to get involved." And if live music doesn't catch the attention of passersby, the lemonade stand sure will.

Glows in the Dark will be the first band to take to the balcony, bringing the corner of Thompson Street and Grace Street to life on June 14. With a brand new album pressed, this gig is being labeled its CD Release Event. (Check out RVAjazz's advance review of the disc on All About Jazz) The party starts at 2 pm, with music scheduled to begin at 2:30 and continuing until 4:00.

Richmond experimental trio Coald Toast will provide the entertainment at the July 5th party.

Although the concert series is only booked two weeks deep right now, Pace and Branch plan on adding bands throughout the summer, striving for a diverse bill. No BS! Brass Band is a potential group to hit the balcony this summer. Keep up to date on RVAjazz and on The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series' information page. For more information, contact rvabalconyconcerts@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Thompson and Grace Balcony Concert Series
feat. Glows in the Dark
CD Release Party
2:00-4:00, music starts at 2:30
Free, all ages
[where: 3426 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23221]