The warmth of the Antiquité Maison Privée (formerly the Lovell’s Antiques building) on P and 21st streets, was a welcome refuge from the downpour that raged outside. Host Derek Keller greeted guests at the door, and he was warm and full of energy about the opening performance of “GEMS (Guitar Expressions Music Series).” Ross Hammond was on the bill for the night with a special guest, critically acclaimed saxophonist Phillip Greenlief. Greenlief has played with practically every recognizable name in jazz and has a penchant for music as cultural expression. Greenlief opened the show with an abstract extreme saxophone piece that I can only define as “a safari of sound” peppered with vocal ou

In the midst of his debut North American tour, highly regarded UK blues guitarist and singer Matt Schofield (Guitar & Bass Magazine picked him as one of the "Top Ten British Blues Guitarists of All Time) electrified the standing-room only audience at Harlow's last night with a showcase of why he is one of the premier blues guitarists of this generation. Accompanied by Hammond organ player Jonny Henderson and the jazzy rhythms of former Robert Cray drummer, Kevin Hayes, Schofield was in stellar form as he demonstrated mastery of the blues guitar in an impressive set that rocked Sacramento on a windy Saturday night.

Democratic Assembly candidate Chris Garland is ringing in the New Year with his announcement that he has picked up the endorsements of key legislative leaders in his race for the Democratic nomination in the 9th Assembly District, including Senator Leland Yee, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. For more information, contact Phil Giarrizzo, 916-737-9325.

Talk about election fatigue. The last general election was just a few months ago. And though most voters aren't even aware of it yet, our tv's and mailboxes will be full of campaign propaganda for a statewide special election scheduled for May 19th. Beyond that, however, the 2010 campaigns for governor and legislature are already underway, particularly here in Sacramento, where an all-out battle for the California State Assembly seat being vacated by termed-out Assemblymember Dave Jones has begun to heat up. First, a bit of background. The District 9 Assembly seat, which encompasses the City of Sacramento and some Sacramento County turf, is safely Democratic. The winner of the June 2010