Hey there,
Happy new year! If you’ve made it to my site, I thank you and hope you’ll come hear me perform this year, rarities abound–check my gig page for more info on my shows. Here’s a new video just published by Porto Franco Files, Crux of Murder, thanks Peter! I’ll be interviewed this Sunday, January 20th on Outsight Radio by Tom Schulte, check it!
In reverse order: I’ve got a lot going on this vibrant spring including Clarinet Thing’s returning to Old First Church on May 10th. Four of the Bay Area’s best clarinetists, Ben Goldberg, Sheldon Brown, Harvey Wainapel, y moi perform our originals and arrangements of unusual jazz tunes~ and a little classical too–don’t miss our rare appearance.
Another rarity, on April 14th~one of the first bands I joined in….1983… Club Foot Orchestra will be playing two shows, 4pm & 7:30pm, of Richard Marriott’s revitalized score to the new print of the classic silent Fritz Lang’s Metropolis at the SF Jazz Festival in the Miner auditorium in SF. Lost footage has been discovered and a new print made that changes the story of Metropolis and Richard has composed the entire 140 minute score. Club Foot fans will come out of the woodwork for this one!
On April 12-14, The Beth Custer Trio, with David James and Jan Jackson, will be performing my new score for AXIS Dance Company‘s 25th Anniversary performance at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, in downtown Oakland. We’ll perform live April 12th-13th, AXIS will use our recorded score on April 14th; Friday and Saturday will include a Q&A with the audience. It’s been enlightening working with LA choreographer and Guggenheim fellow Victoria Marks and AXIS. Thanks to Meet the Composer for their MetLife award supporting this vibrant new work.
On March 24th I’ll be performing with the fab Rob Reich Quintet at the annual Switchboard Music Festival (performance time TBA). March 3, 8:30pm I’ll be with Graham Connah’s No Porkestra at the Berkeley Jazz School. He doesn’t advertise so there’s no link but if you like lots of horns blowing sparkly music, this is your concert~ and it’s by donation!
On March 1 I’ll be performing a rare solo set opening for one of my favorite Bay Area guitarists David James’s GPS (I also play with GPS) at one of my favorite Bay Area venues, the Red Poppy Art House. Seriously folks, if you’ve never been to a Red Poppy concert, now’s the time. You couldn’t ask for a more magical, intimate neighborhood venue with great acoustics, comfy seats (get there early for those), AND decently priced beverages. I always have a good show there!
On February 16th we’ll be having our first 2013 house concert. The Red House Speak Easy presents Argentine tango favorites Trio Garufa. Last year’s show sold out and tango dancers had a blast so don’t miss a fav of our intimate house concert series.
On January 21 & 22nd last but certainly not least, Undercover Presents Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse. If you missed our sold out shows at Brava Theatre last fall, this is your chance to hear one of the coolest shows I’m honored to be included on with a different band recreating each song of Joni’s seminal album.
And if you made it to the bottom of this little missive, I thank you kindly again and hope all your wishes come true blue in 2013.
With respect as my religion,
Beth