The Wednesday Night Farmer's Market Concert Series - September 23, 2009

The Wednesday Night Farmer's Market Concert Series in Red Bluff, California on September 23rd continues to draw visitors of good food, good deals and good music. Tonight's featured talent is Java Jazz, led by the incomparable pianist John Gonsalves, my grade school music teacher. Not having seen my music teacher for several years, we have been good acquaintances and talk about family and the stuff in our lives. It was great to see Mr. G (as he was called back then) tinkle the ivories once again.

Mr. Gonsalves is one of the most talented jazz pianists in the North State. For decades he hasn't slowed down one bit when it comes to music which is his passion in life and shares it with generous appreciation. He has graced the stage with saxophonist Dave Short and other North Valley area musicians in and around California and is featured on Dave Short's latest album.

Chris Uchibori, the brass, woodwinds and bassist for the group, has been a successful music educator for the past 32 years and past coordinator of the Monterey Jazz Festival's California High School Jazz Band. He has many varied tastes in music such as latin and blues. He's a member of New Zealand's International Society of Bassists and can perform just about any instrument you can hand him. Quite a talented artist himself, he's a big fan of Cecilio & Kapono and Branford Marsalis. A lifelong passion is his excellent sushi-making skills and teaches others at the local California Kitchen & Company on Main Street in Red Bluff. A graduate of the Shirokira school in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he learned most of his craft, he has also studied in Japan and Korea.

Let me first apologize to my readers for failing to obtain any information of the drummers involved with this group. They were both wonderful beat-masters and one was a very talented student along with others, Alan (from Shasta High School) on sax, and Nicole (from U. High, according to Chris) on flute. It's great to see students perfect their musicianship and be seen in front of the crowd. Kudos to all three students!

Next week is the last week for the Wednesday Night Farmer's Market Concert Series and I will be reporting on the Western Fiddlers.