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Jazz is Peace: Love Songs for the Weary

Arcata Playhouse

“They’re All Love Songs” James Zeller Sings for Peace, Love and Community with special guest Oliviah Obidah, Matt Seno, piano, Ramsey Isaacs, drums, Ian Taylor, bass.

Creative Sanctuary presents another great show in their Jazz is Peace series. In this show series host vocalist/trombonist James Zeller and special guest vocalist Olivia Obidah have selected a handful of songs to sing with a particular intention in mind. For example, in Stevie Wonder’s beautiful ballad “If it’s Magic” the line “if its precious, then with it why aren’t we more careful?” takes on a particular urgency in a world where scientists tell us the effects of fossil fuel consumption will wreak havoc on the world we leave for future generations, and, when science tells us there is still hope for change the line “like keeping danger from a child,” seems a call for social action.

Don’t expect too much talking, James promises “no sermons this time”, but don’t expect this show to shy away from the angst the artists feel, rather, look for this occasion to do something music doesn’t always do: shine a light on the elephants in the room, provide a soundtrack for our pain, fear and angst, and perhaps a little healing, some, as Stevie also sang “Joy inside My (Our) Tears”.

Songs will range from odes like “I’m Glad There Is You” to modal mantras that are vehicles for joy and self-expressive free improvisation, like Abbey Lincoln’s “The Music is The Magic”, to the cathartic and ironic Stephen Sondheim classic “Send In the Clowns”. Composers will include the above plus household names like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and some beautiful rarely heard lyric versions of songs by Jazz writers Kenny Dorham and Thelonious Monk.

You may not leave this show having forgot your troubles, but perhaps you’ll leave feeling you spent time with them the way you might spend time with a troubled loved one, by sharing some love with them, in this case, in the shape of love songs. They’re all Love Songs.

DATES/TIMES

WHERE

• Arcata Playhouse

PRICE

• $15
• $30 sliding scale