January 6, 2022
FOREVER
Dutch documentary maker Heddy Honigmann took us on a mesmerizing tour of artists’ graves in Paris’ famous
Père-Lachaise cemetery, but what could have been a morbid exploration of dead icons became instead a moving
celebration of the living. Honigmann followed the men and women who made pilgrimages to the cemetery, unearthing their sometimes sad, sometimes uplifting stories. There were those who came to tend the graves of their loved ones – lost husbands, wives and parents – and those who left offerings for their favourite writers and musicians – Chopin, Proust, Ingres and Jim Morrison. Occasionally, we followed these pilgrims home, or to work.
January 8, 2022
STEPHEN PRUTSMAN - SOLO PIANO
Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time. Moving easily from classical, to jazz, to world music styles as a pianist, composer and conductor.
He presented a program called “BACH & FORTH†, using J.S. Bach as a reference point and juxtaposing compositions of his with works by other major classical composers as well as with jazz greats such as Charlie Parker and perhaps an Uzbek folk song in one of his own artful arrangements.
February 24, 2022
ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS
For his feature debut, 24-year-old Louis Malle brought together a mesmerizing performance by Jeanne Moreau, evocative cinematography by Henri Decaë, and a now legendary jazz score by Miles Davis. Taking place over the course of one restless Paris night, Malle’s richly atmospheric crime thriller stars Moreau and Maurice Ronet as lovers whose plan to murder her husband (his boss) goes awry. A career touchstone for its director and female star, Elevator to the Gallows was an auspicious beginning to Malle’s eclectic body of work and established Moreau as one of the most captivating actors ever to grace the screen. (1958, 91 min., in French w/English subtitles).
March 19, 2022
HAROLY LOPEZ NUSSA TRIO
Walk the streets of Havana on any day and you’ll hear the soul of Cuba: music pouring from private homes and bustling restaurants, windows rattling with the parties thrown inside, nightclubs pulsing with throngs of people dancing. On his vibrant and spirited third recording for Mack Avenue Records, Havana-based pianist and composer Harold Ló pez- Nussa set out to capture that stirring sensation with an exhilarating marriage of jazz and Cuban pop music.
April 2, 2022
HOLLYWOOD PIANO TRIO
The trio was formed in 2018 and is comprised of three of LA’s most outstanding musicians. Each of the three have distinguished careers as concerto soloists in LA’s musical landscape. Cani is Concertmaster with the LA Opera, Byers is founding member of the Calder Quartet, and Faliks is Head of the Piano and Professor of Piano at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Each brought their unique, multifaceted international experience and their vibrant personalities to the medium.
April 14, 2022
LIFE & LIFE - Film & Concert with Reggie Austin
LIFE & LIFE follows Reggie Austin's personal journey from drug addicted reformed convict serving 35 years inside California prisons, to free man facing his tattered connections to society and family. While Reggie’s story exposes the impact on men of color of harsh sentencing and parole practices, the film also provides emotional uplift in his perseverance in in putting his life back together. Combining breathtaking musical performances, and scenes of raw emotion adjusting to life outside, the film opens up a range of pertinent issues for our time with grace and soul, through the immersive vehicle of music. Directed by N. C. Heikin. (2021, 81 min.)
April 16, 2022
JACKIE RYAN TRIO
Vocalist Jackie Ryan brought her trio to THE 222 for one show only on April 16. The uncommon configuration of vocal, trumpet and piano, sounded beautiful with the acoustics of this new venue. Her band included Erik Jekabson on trumpet and John. R. Burr on piano. Jackie’s show included the classics from the Gershwins, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Benny Goodman, to the Brazilian standards of Antonio Carlos Jobim and also included surprises of seldom heard gems.
Jackie “is one of the outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation and, quite possibly, of all time. She is the thoroughbred vocal equivalent of the Triple Crown, rivaling the dexterous sass of Sarah Vaughan, the instinctive smarts of Carmen McRae and the scintillating verve of Diana Krall.†--- Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times
April 23, 2022
JOHN MARKOFF - WHOLE EARTH
Author and former New York Times reporter John Markoff writes about the intersection of technology and culture. On Saturday, April 23 he read from his latest book, a new biography of Stewart Brand, of Whole Earth Catalog fame.
Markoff’s book profiles the iconic serial visionary, unfolding the rich, twisting story of Brand’s life. He traces the relationship between the 1960’s agent of the Bay Area counterculture, and over decades the evolution of the “eco pragmatist†(Brand’s own words.) Steward Brand’s journey blended environmental consciousness, hacker capitalism and, while challenging purists in the fight against climate change, an embrace of technologies like nuclear power and genetically modified organisms.
Markoff was a member of the New York Times staff group that won a 2013 Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on Apple and other technology companies’ business practices. Among his other books are What the Dormouse Said: How the 60s Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry (2005) and Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots (2015) and is featured in the 2001 documentary, The Secret History of Hacking.
May 21, 2022
BENNY GREEN
On Saturday, May 21, THE 222 was swinging when Benny Green performed a solo jazz piano concert on the amazing, new Yamaha concert grand piano. Benny has been hailed as perhaps the most exciting, hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. An expert in piano technique with decades of real-world experience, he’s played with no less than the most celebrated artists of the last half century, counting Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson among his influencers.
Benny Green is the bearer of the torch and guardian of a legacy handed down to him by his musical mentors. Since emerging under the tutelage of Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Ray Brown in the early 1980s, Green has become a highly regarded pianist and bandleader. His efforts to expand upon the language of the classical jazz canon have placed him not only among the best interpreters but also among the vanguard of musicians keeping jazz’s evolution going.
June 25, 2022
JOHN HEARD TRIBUTE
THE 222 hosted a very special evening of music and art honoring John Heard, the world-renowned bassist and artist who passed away last December. Join us for a beautiful, heartfelt tribute and a wonderful meeting of the arts!
The evening featured music by The John Heard Tribute Trio, with pianist Danny Grissett, drummer Lorca Hart and Essiet Essiet on bass. They were joined by a special guest, to be announced.
A slide show and an exhibition of John Heard’s art were on display. Attendees had a chance to share stories, thoughts, and feelings about John, to be captured on video for John’s grandchildren, who attended with other family members.
Produced by THE 222’s jazz programmer, Jessica Felix was a very close friend of John and his family. Heard’s Trio played at the Hotel Healdsburg Lobby from 2003-2008 while Felix was artistic director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
July 23, 2022
BOBBY WATSON QUARTET
Saxophonist and jazz great Bobby Watson returned to Healdsburg after many years. For this special concert, he'll reunite with pianist Edward Simon and bassist Essiet Essiet, former members of Bobby’s highly acclaimed band "Horizon." Jazz drummer Akira Tana completed the quartet of stellar musicians.
August 20, 2022
Romero Lubambo & Chico Pinheiro
THE 222 brought together two of today’s leading Brazilian jazz guitarists, Romero Lubambo and Chico Pinheiro. Lubambo is a prolific recording artist who, Jazziz wrote, “may be the best practitioner of his craft in the world today...[his] facility, creativity and energy are in a class all their own.†Hailing from São Paulo, Pinheiro is the most widely acclaimed Brazilian guitarist to emerge in the past two decades. An esteemed composer and bandleader, he’s collaborated with artists such as Placido Domingo, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Brad Mehldau, Esperanza Spalding, Joyce and Chris Potter. Together they featured intricate interplay, breathtaking improvisational flights and a sublime repertoire.
August 21, 2022
222 Anniversary Celebration with Romero Lubambo, Chico Pinheiro, Claudia Villela & Pamela Driggs
The evening began with a champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by Brazilian jazz guitar and vocal virtuosity, as Romero Lubambo and Chico Pinheiro returned for a second night’s performance – this time with the unique Brazilian singer, pianist and composer Claudia Villela and vocal favorite Pamela Driggs. The New York Times describes Claudia Villela’s voice as â€remarkable, beautiful, towering.†Driggs’ voice has been called “impeccably gorgeous.â€
September 10, 2022
Gerald Clayton
“Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today,†— Blue Note President Don Was
Gerald Clayton searched for honest expression in every note he played. With harmonic curiosity and critical awareness, he developed musical narratives that unfolded as a result of both deliberate searching and chance uncovering. Expansion had become part of Clayton’s artistic identity. His music is a celebration of the inherent differences in musical perspectives that promote true artistic synergy. The six-time GRAMMY®-nominated jazz pianist/composer brought his magic to THE 222.
The son of beloved bass player and composer John Clayton, Gerald has performed and recorded with such distinctive artists as Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, John Scofield and the Clayton Brothers Quintet, and tours and records with saxophone legend Charles Lloyd.
September 23, 2022
Mesa-Yakushev Duo
“One of the Top 10 Classical Music Events of the Year†- San Francisco Chronicle
“…little short of heroic†- New York Times
THE 222 brought together two exceptional talents for an evening of mesmerizing musicianship and amazing synergy. The recipients of multiple honors and awards, Cuban-American cellist Thomas Mesa and Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev are known not only for their extraordinary musical talents but also for their charismatic stage presence and audience rapport. Mesa has appeared in concert from Carnegie Hall to the Supreme Court and Yakushev has performed internationally, including with the SF Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.
October 6, 2022
Honeydripper
“An extremely independent filmmaker, John Sayles has been making films for more than 40 years. The writer/director has spent his life examining various subcultures. Set in an Alabama juke joint, I’m betting the audience will be up and dancing during this joyful film!†– Eleanor Nichols, Film Programmer
Iconoclastic filmmaker John Sayles (The Return of the Secaucus Seven, Matewan, Lone Star) continued his extraordinary examination of the complexities and shifting identities of American sub-cultures. Here, with his usual understated intelligence, he tells the story of a juke joint owner in 1950’s Alabama who recruits a guitar-playing drifter to help him save the club. In this music-driven drama, Sayles captures the moment when the blues became rock and roll. “I’ve always been fascinated by musicians – some follow the music wherever it takes them, or wherever the popular taste goes, others make a stand within a certain genre and let that define them,†Sayles says. With Danny Glover, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Vondie Curtis Hall, Dr. Mabel Johns, Keb Mo, Stacy Keach, and Mary Steenburgen. (2007, 122 min)
October 29, 2022
Reverso - Chamber Jazz
“Accessible and thoughtful, lyrical and cerebral... Keberle and his bandmates weave their voices together with supple ease and understated grace to conjure a collective sound that embraces the listener while rewarding closer attention.â€â€” Shaun Brady, Downbeat
Reverso, a trans-oceanic chamber jazz ensemble co-led by trombonist Ryan Keberle and pianist Frank West, presented their original chamber jazz in concert. Reverso looked to bridge the divide between jazz and chamber music realized by an outstanding trio which also included the acclaimed French cellist Vincent Courtois.
Keberle and West showed us that jazz and "classical" music have become even more intertwined in today's music world, since they began to intersect among Ravel and his contemporaries such as Satie, Stravinsky and Milhaud over 100 years earlier.
Reverso's repertoire featured original compositions by Keberle and West. They celebrated music from their upcoming new album inspired by Fauré, Harmonic Alchemy (OutNote Music) due out in November.
November 3, 2022
The Edge of Heaven
“To my mind, Fatih Akin is one of the most interesting and skilled filmmakers working today. He’s been making films for 20 years and is in his late ‘40s. Born in Germany to Turkish parents, many of his films look at double origins, with crossing borders a recurring theme.†– Eleanor Nichols, Film Programmer
Fatih Akin, the critically acclaimed director, was born in Germany to Turkish parents in 1973, and his best work explores these double origins. The Edge of Heaven weaves overlapping tales of friendship and sexuality into a powerful narrative of universal love. Six characters are drawn together by circumstances – an old man and a prostitute, a young scholar reconciling his past, two young women falling in love, and a mother putting the shattered pieces of her life back together. Akin’s piercing sense of the human condition and contemporary world events charge these hyperlinked stories into a multicultural powder keg. A.O. Scott of The New York Times says, the film “has a cumulative power, both intellectual and emotional...by the end, you know the characters in it so well that you can’t believe you’ve seen the movie only once, yet on a second viewing it seems completely new.†(2007, 116 min, in German and Turkish w/ English subtitles
November 5, 2022
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
“The OIGC and the singers in it are uplifting, spiritually and musically nourishing, soul sparkling, and absolutely joyous!!!†– “Cindy†from OIGC’s Facebook page
The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir weaves together a family of singers from a wide range of faiths, races, and cultures-- joined in the mission to inspire joy and unity in all people through Negro spirituals and black gospel music. The choir and its dynamic director, Terrance Kelly, have captivated audiences across the world, from Israel to Norway to Australia to the Deep South. Before each show, choir members call out their wishes to send joy, love, and hope to everyone in attendance. And when the choir starts singing, audiences can’t help but jump to their feet, lift their hands, and allow the glory of the music to uplift them.
The award-winning Choir’s exquisite harmonies and stirring gospel repertoire have led to performances with a wide variety of esteemed groups, such as Joshua Nelson, the Prince of Kosher Gospel; the Five Blind Boys of Alabama; and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The Choir also appears on Grammy-winning albums by Linda Ronstadt, MC Hammer, Tramaine Hawkins, and others.
November 11, 2022
Viano String Quartet
“Huge range of dynamics, massive sound and spontaneity†— American Record Guide
Viano String Quartet is the First Prize Winner of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition and the current Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet-in-Residence at the Curtis Institute of Music. Formed in 2015 at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, the quartet has performed all over the world.
November 19, 2022
Django Festival Allstars
“Sensational... Standout performance... Hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival†– Downbeat Magazine
“The highpoint of the entire weekend of the Playboy Festival at The Hollywood Bowl was The Django Festival Allstars†– LA Scene Magazine
Direct from France, Django Festival Allstars brought the music of the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt fully into the twenty-first century. This brilliantly cohesive group of musicians with their unique, high-energy performances paid tribute to Reinhardt, who is considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time and known for playing with an unmistakable cool and jumping joie de vivre.
The music speaks of Paris in the 20s and 30s when “gitane†music filled the air, in the cafés, the streets, in the countryside, a romantic Paris with lovers, campfires, a time of Montmartre, la belle époque, le Boudon café, café au lait, luscious pastry, and a great glass of wine. Django was "king". He teamed with Jazz Violinist Stephane Grappelli and made musical history.
Reinhardt’s driving, swinging style became known as hot jazz. With its roots in American popular music and reverence for Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and other American jazz greats, hot jazz enjoys world-wide popularity. The Allstars honor the traditions while adding their own interpretations, arrangements, and original compositions with stunning virtuosity. They swung like crazy and broke your heart with a ballad!
December 1, 2022
The Shop Around the Corner
“It’s easy to love this classic film populated by flesh and blood characters with a huge helping of nuance and tenderness, as well as dazzling verbal and visual wit!†– Eleanor Nichols, Film Programmer
“Close to perfection – one of the most beautifully acted and paced romantic comedies ever made in this country. It is set in the enclosed world of the people who work together in a small department store. Margaret Sullivan and James Stewart are the employees who bicker with each other, and in no other movie has this kind of love-hate been made so convincing. Their performances are full of grace notes; when you watch later James Stewart films, you may wonder what became of this other deft, sensitive pre-drawling Stewart. As for Sullivan, this is a peerless performance: she makes the shopgirl’s pretenses believable, lyrical and funny. The script by Samson Raphaelson is a free adaptation of a play by Nicolaus Lazlo, and though it’s all set in a Hollywood Budapest, the director, Ernst Lubitsch, sustains a faintly European tone.†– Pauline Kael. The dazzling supporting cast includes Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, and Felix Bressart. (1940, 99 min)
December 4, 2022
THE 222 Bi-Annual Poetry Night
Poetry gets to the heart of human experience in a way that few other written forms do. During this “open-mic†poetry reading, we invited you to share poems that speak both to and from your heart. Bring a poem you love, or an original work authored by yourself, and share in a brief exchange with the audience how the poem speaks to you. This event was free to the public, and all were welcome to attend. Please indicate if you planned to share a poem in your RSVP.
December 11, 2022
Sacred & Profane - A Chamber Chorus
Sacred & Profane, an a cappella chamber choir, performs traditional and emerging choral works with superior execution. Their challenging repertoire spans the musical canon, including contemporary and highly demanding works.
Into its 45th season, Sacred & Profane invited you to discover the power of music to bring solace as well as inspire us to create positive change. Their new season began by exploring dreams and visions of a more just world.
December 17 & 18, 2022
Marc Cary
In a jazz world brimming with brilliant and adventurous pianists, Marc Cary stands apart by way of pedigree and design as one of New York’s best jazz pianists. None of his prestigious peer group ever set the groove behind the drums in Washington DC go-go bands, nor are they graduates of both Betty Carter and Abbey Lincoln’s daunting bandstand academies.
“There isn’t much in the modern-jazz-musician tool kit that Marc Cary hasn’t mastered, but he has a particular subspecialty in the area of groove