THE SHOWROOM SESSIONS: Streaming LIVE from Piedmont Piano Company
Maria Muldaur’s
Christmas at the Oasis
As an antidote to the sappy sentimental Christmas tunes we are all inundated with every holiday season, Maria Muldaur has collected some wonderfully hip, swinging, humorous, and irreverent Christmas songs by her favorite Jazz and Blues artists. Join Maria & her stellar Jazzabelle Quintet as they romp through a swingin' set of upbeat Christmas music they like to call "Xmas Tunes for Hipsters" – guaranteed to get you in a Holiday Groove that lifts your spirits and chases those Xmas Blues away!
Watch the LIVE STREAM on youtube or facebook
Donations/tips accepted via paypal.me/mariamuldaur
Maria Muldaur is best known world-wide for her 1974 mega-hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” which received several Grammy nominations, and enshrined her forever in the hearts of Baby Boomers everywhere; but despite her considerable pop music success, her 56-plus year career could best be described as a long and adventurous odyssey through the various forms of American Roots Music.
In the 46 years since “Midnight at the Oasis,” Maria has toured extensively worldwide and has recorded 41 solo albums covering all kinds of American Roots Music, including gospel, R&B, jazz, and big band, recently settling comfortably into her favorite idiom, the blues. In 2018, Maria released her 41st album DON’T YOU FEEL MY LEG The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker, garnering her 6th Grammy nomination!
In 2019, The Americana Music Association awarded Maria “The Lifetime Achievement Americana Trailblazer Award” for her lifelong work of covering the depth and breadth of American Roots music, and for being one of the pioneers who laid the groundwork for what we’ve come to call “Americana Music.” Maria continues to record and perform worldwide. mariamuldaur.com
Saxophonist Kristen Strom has been a mainstay on the Bay Area music scene for more than two decades, acclaimed for beautifully rendered melodies, exceptional tonality, and accomplished musicianship. Her latest album, Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett, was listed as one of Best Jazz Albums of 2018 by The Mercury News and has gotten national and international airplay. Her touring schedule has included performances across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.
Danny Caron began his musical career in Austin, TX playing with singer/pianist Marcia Ball on the “Crawfish circuit”, eventually moving to Lafayette, LA where he performed and recorded a Grammy award-winning album with Zydeco King Clifton Chenier. In 1981 he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, freelancing with many bands and artists till he helped resurrect the career of legendary blues artist Charles Brown. Danny served as Brown’s guitarist and musical director from 1987 till Brown’s death in 1999.
He has performed and recorded with numerous artists including Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur, Ruth Brown, Etta Jones, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Little Milton, John Hammond Jr., Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, and many others. He’s also the featured guitarist on the Van Morrison/John Lee Hooker album, “Don’t Look Back”. Danny has played for numerous jazz festivals throughout the US and Europe, several tours to New Zealand, Japan, and even Borneo, with great artists like Robben Ford, Charlie Musslewhite, Duke Robillard, Bettye LaVette, and Dan Hicks. Recent projects include the release of his fourth album “Make Beauty”, and performing at Lincoln Center in “The Tribute To Cannonball Adderly”. He keeps a busy touring schedule, performing most recently with Tom Rigney, Barbara Morrison, Maria Muldaur + others, and teaches at The Jazz School in Berkeley, CA.
Pianist John R. Burr is a musician of wide ranging and diverse style. Although firmly rooted in Blues and Jazz, he is heavily influenced by his love of vocal music ranging from the Beatles to traditional Celtic folk songs. He is a sought-after accompanist and arranger on the Bay Area music scene, regularly appearing with Jackie Ryan, Kenny Washington, Nicolas Bearde and Kitty Margolis.
Through his touring and recording with vocalist Maria Muldaur, he became enamored with the piano stylings of New Orleans piano masters James Booker, Professor Longhair and Dr John incorporating their influences in his musical makeup. He soon became a presence on the” New Grass” music scene, touring and recording with Grammy Winning Banjo legend Alison Brown for nearly 20 years.
His 1998 solo piano recording “Piedmont Avenue” received critical acclaim, and his song “For The Asking” was featured on two Windham Hill recordings, Piano Sampler II and again on “Sundown”. He co-authored the Grammy Nominated song “ Under The Five Wire” with Alison in 2007.
John R has played and recorded with Blues Greats Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Henry Butler, Maria Muldaur and Jimmy Witherspoon, and Jazz artists Kenny Washington,Paul MacCandless, Dennis Chambers, Steve Cardenas and Jeff Beal. He currently lives in Pleasanton and has a thriving teaching practice, mentoring many young aspiring jazz pianists.
Ruth Davies, a Bay Area native, has performed with jazz and blues greats Charles Brown, Clark Terry, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Jay McShann, Van Morrison, Maria Muldaur, Linda Tillery, Barbara Dane, Barbara Morrison, Etta Jones, Elvis Costello, Eric
Bibb, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmy Witherspoon and Little Jimmy Scott. Her discography (including several Platinum and Grammy-winning recordings) covers various jazz and blues styles as well as movie soundtracks. She has recorded with Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Sammy Hagar, Clark Terry, Vassar Clements, Toots Thielemans, Ernie Watts, Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Jackie Ryan, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, among others.
Ruth toured the world for ten years with the late Charles Brown, performing at major jazz and blues festivals, clubs and concerts as well as radio and television broadcasts worldwide. She has recorded and performed internationally with Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, Elvin Bishop, Barbara Dane, and others. Lately she has returned to the roots and traveled the last eight years with the Elvin Bishop Band.
Derrick “D’MAR” Martin is simply a force of nature. D'MAR is a musician, producer, songwriter, singer, educator, entertainer and motivational speaker. He traveled the world for 17 years as the lead drummer for the legendary Little Richard. D'MAR has also worked with a number of other artists such as: Dorothy Moore, Bobby Rush, Vastie Jackson, Ali Woodson (The Temptations), Big Jack Johnson, Carla Thomas, Billy Preston, Roy Gaines, Mitch Woods, Jackie Payne, Syl Johnson, Bob Margolin and Tutu Jones just to name a few. As a producer D’MAR has produced and played on quite a few records over the last 20 years. He is also passionate about music education which is displayed in his own Music Lecture Series entitled Drums & More. This is an informative and energetic program that is covers the history of the drum set and helps inspire students to embrace arts & education. D’MAR is currently a member of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.