UPPER LAKE — The Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake will present its fifth season of monthly Saturday evening “Concerts with Conversation” beginning Jan. 29 and extending through May 21.
The Tallman series brings some of Northern California”s finest musical talent to this Lake County venue. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the concerts are held in the intimate meeting house next to the hotel, which will seat up to 45 people.
Ten percent of all proceeds from the concerts will be donated to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre Fund, which has converted the old single-screen movie theater in Lakeport into a performing arts center.
“These informal musical events are always a lot of fun,” Tallman owner Bernie Butcher said, “but I think our program this year will be something special. The artists are not only world-class musicians, but also great entertainers and personalities. I think our guests will be treated to a truly unique musical experience.”
The 2011 season kicks off on Jan. 29 with acclaimed Cuban pianist Elena Casanova, who has delighted audiences at the Tallman in previous appearances. This time she will be joined by violinist and vocalist Margie Salcedo Rice. Rice is the concertmistress of the Ukiah Symphony and her vocals can be heard on CDs of her classical, traditional and original music. For more information, see www.ElenaCasanova.com and MargieSalcedoRice.com.
The remainder of the 2010 season features the following group of musicians:
Feb. 26 ? Bob Culbertson is one of the few masters of the Chapman Stick, a 12-string instrument that is neither strummed nor plucked, but tapped with two hands on a wide fretboard. Culbertson will be joined by solo bassist Michael Manring. For information, see StickMusic.com and www.ManThing.com.
March 26 ? Country-folk music performer Rita Hosking”s guitar and vocals will be backed by Sean Feder on banjo and dobro. For information, see www.RitaHosking.com.
April 24 ? Grammy Award winning reed instrumentalist Paul McCandless will make his third appearance in the Tallman series. In addition to his solo and small group work, McCandless has been integral to the ensemble sound of two seminal world music bands, the Paul Winter Consort and the quartet, Oregon. Fresh off a tour of Japan, McCandless will be joined by jazz harpist Motoshi Kosako. Kosako now lives in California where he performs locally and with the Stockton Symphony Orchestra. For information, see www.PaulMcCandless.com and HarpMusician.com.
May 21 ? Keyboard artist and entertainer Kelly Park is known to patrons of the Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant next to the Tallman Hotel as part of the David Landon Blues Band from San Francisco. But Park is also the musical director for the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko and he said that his real love is connecting with small audiences through the medium of jazz. Joining Park as part of the KP3 Jazz Trio will be Daniel Fabricant on bass and John Lazarus on drums. For information, see www.KellyParkMusic.com, www.myspace.com/fabdan and johnlazarus.com.
Tickets are $25 plus tax and include coffee and cookies served at the concert venue. For more information, call the hotel reception desk at 275-2244 or check the Web site at www.TallmanHotel.com/.
