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Raj Sodhi. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Christian Center will host “An Evening of Devotion” featuring Raj Sodhi, Matt and Jill Rothstein, and Jazz Mirage on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, 455 S. Forbes St.

Admission is free, and donations will be appreciated.

From 2004 to 2017, Jazz Mirage was one of the most prominent improvising ensembles based in the wine country, featuring a blend of jazz, popular and folk music that delighted clients and audiences throughout Northern California, including gigs at Google, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Beringer Vineyards, Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Mystic Theatre.

On the morning of Oct. 8, 2017, bandleader and bassist Raj Sodhi lost his Santa Rosa home to the Tubbs Fire, and the experience led to a period of searching.

As months passed, Sodhi found himself revisiting some of his earliest musical experiences – listening to his grandmother sing Indian Ragas.

“Those melodies are deeply embedded in my musical ear and consciousness,” acknowledged Sodhi, “and there is great peace and joy that comes from breathing new life into this material through jazz improvisation.”

The result is “An Evening of Devotion,” an arresting program emphasizing traditional Indian melodies, while retaining the jazz, pop and folk elements that previously made Jazz Mirage an enduring success.

“Only Raj could have been the impetus for this music, and that is what excites me most about this project,” noted longtime Jazz Mirage saxophonist Matt Rothstein. “This is a program with great depth, and speaks to themes both specific and universal; themes of displacement, perseverance, hope and love.”

Keyboardist Greg Schlaepfer first worked with Sodhi and Rothstein as a teenager, and is the founder of Orange Tree Samples.

“Greg has mastered a tremendous range of musical disciplines, and appreciates the physics and aesthetics of harmony at an extraordinarily high level,” said Rothstein. “It is a privilege to introduce him to Lake County’s community of astute jazz fans.”

“We are also thrilled to be working with master percussionist Kendrick Freeman,” said Sodhi. “Kendrick routinely creates textures that are otherworldly and engaging, and it is inspiring to play this material with him.”

Enrapturing and insightful vocalist and composer, Jill Rothstein, will join Jazz Mirage on four of the program’s selections.

“There is a different level of focus in the group when Jill is singing,” said Sodhi. “She has an intuitive melodic concept, and brings a sense of order and unique beauty that is unusual in improvising musicians. It really raises the bar for the whole group.”

“An Evening of Devotion” is a 100-minute program that will intrigue and satisfy a diversity of music enthusiasts. Richly textured and compellingly percussive, the music rewards close listening.

All are encouraged to attend, and the program will be appropriate and enjoyable for adults and children, alike.
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‘STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER’ (Rated PG-13)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the “Star Wars” saga began on May 25, 1977, for the first installment in a trilogy that later became known as “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”

Since then, unless one is a diehard fan heavily steeped in the trivia of the franchise, a scorecard of the three trilogies would come in handy to keep track of the important developments. Space doesn’t permit an exhaustive step-by-step rundown in just one article.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” turns out to be Episode IX, which is appropriately noted in the iconic crawl that opens each film. The crawl is revealing in other more significant ways that are better left to be experienced by the filmgoer.

I may not be alone in thinking Episodes I through III are not worth revisiting. Emblematic of miscues with this particular trilogy was the unserious character of Jar Jar Binks, an awkward swamp-dweller who was the punchline to a bad joke.

“The Rise of Skywalker” falls into an improved trilogy that started with “The Force Awakens” and followed with “The Last Jedi,” Episode VIII. Granted, there were some problems with “The Last Jedi,” but we can rise above them, so to speak, with “The Rise of Skywalker.”

With the ninth installment, the primary characters are fully established as heroic figures to the delight of most of the fan base. A contrary view would suggest a complete lack of interest in the wonderful “Star Wars” universe.

Our rooting interest is found in the new vanguard of the Resistance, including Daisy Ridley’s Rey, a scavenger from a deserted planet training to be a Jedi; Oscar Isaac’s Poe, a brash fighter pilot; and John Boyega’s Finn, a former stormtrooper who defected to the good guys.

Just when you thought some of the villains are dead and gone, the first line of the opening crawl is “The dead speak!” In this case, it’s former Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) who happens to be alive and planning a comeback that doesn’t bode well for the rebels.

While the Resistance has had its share of setbacks, to say the least, Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa, formerly known as the Princess who bantered and bickered with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), is still leading the band of rebels.

As Carrie Fisher sadly passed away before the shooting began on this film, it should be a surprise to no one that her scenes are patched together from unused dialogue of previous episodes and clever use of stand-ins to create the illusion of a credible presence.

In a way that seems symbolic of an orderly transition of spiritual leadership, if not actual power, General Leia passes off her own lightsaber to Rey at a critical juncture when the Resistance, which has been badly decimated, has to wage war on more than one front.

First of all, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the errant son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, leading the stormtroopers and wearing a modified helmet that pays tribute to Darth Vader, is as eager to stamp out the rebels as well seeking to thwart Palpatine’s plan to recover his dark rule.

The ghostly appearance of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) arrives at a critical time for as good a reason as to inspire Rey to press on. Fortunately, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) is still on board as co-pilot for the Millennium Falcon.

After an absence of more than three decades, Billy Dee Williams returns as Lando Calrissian, the once slick con artist and owner of the Millennium Falcon, who steps back into a role of helping the Resistance yet again.

Anthony Daniels’ android C-3PO is as fussy as ever, but more importantly he’s the only one who can read a vital clue in an obscure language that he’s being programmed not to translate, and a pit stop must take place on a dodgy planet for his system to be rewired.

A lightsaber showdown between Rey and the conflicted Kylo Ren is seemingly obligatory, and while the confrontation has its own complications rooted in past history and familial ties, the bigger fight is in the skies.

For some time now, the Resistance has been playing defense with its surviving members being on the run from the malevolent First Order. Fittingly, the climactic action is an all-out aerial battle that has the feel of an impossible suicide mission.

Critiquing a “Star Wars” film is risky business. The fan base is emotionally invested in the characters, protective of expectations for the franchise and critical of any perceived deviations from the sacrosanct core of its origins.

Fortunately, director J.J. Abrams, also co-writer of the screenplay, delivers the action and nostalgia that should satisfy the faithful fans.

Now that Disney has firm control of the franchise’s destiny into a new incarnation, one can hope they will find a way to capture the magical vibe of the legacy left behind in the conclusion of the Skywalker saga.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews star in 1964’s “Mary Poppins.” Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, Jan. 3, there’s a party happening and you’re invited.

Come on out to the Soper Reese Theatre and see the original 1964 “Mary Poppins,” with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Wear your favorite PJs, kids and grown-ups too, and enjoy a fun family experience.

Shows take place at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior.

Entry to the film is by donation. Hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn available at the concession stand.

The movie is sponsored by Val Schweifler, Lakeport Kiwanis. Run time is 2 hours and 19 minutes. Rated G.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

Alberto Rios is a highly acclaimed American poet who lives and teaches in Arizona. I found this poem of community and peace in “Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems,” published by Grayson Books of West Hartford, Connecticut.

The most recent book by Alberto Rios is “A Small Story about the Sky,” Copper Canyon Press.

We Are of a Tribe

We plant seeds in the ground
And dreams in the sky,

Hoping that, someday, the roots of one
Will meet the upstretched limbs of the other.

It has not happened yet.
We share the sky, all of us, the whole world:

Together, we are a tribe of eyes that look upward,
Even as we stand on uncertain ground.

The earth beneath us moves, quiet and wild,
Its boundaries shifting, its muscles wavering.

The dream of sky is indifferent to all this,
Impervious to borders, fences, reservations.

The sky is our common home, the place we all live.
There we are in the world together.

The dream of sky requires no passport.
Blue will not be fenced. Blue will not be a crime.

Look up. Stay awhile. Let your breathing slow.
Know that you always have a home here.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2014 by Alberto Rios, "We Are of a Tribe," from Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems, (Grayson Books, 2017). Poem reprinted by permission of Alberto Rios and the publisher. Introduction copyright @2019 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.
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Paul McCandless. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In support of two recent CD releases, Grammy winner and world-renowned jazz superstar Paul McCandless and the Bay-Area jazz trio Charged Particles will be appearing at the Soper Reese Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 11, as part of the theatre’s Saturday Night Jazz club Series.

Tickets are now on sale. $20 open seating.

The show is sponsored by Carol and Steve Schepper.

Known for soaring lyricism and gorgeous compositions, McCandless recently celebrated his 47th anniversary as co-leader of the jazz super-group Oregon.

He plays soprano, tenor, and sopranino saxophones, oboes, English horn, bass clarinet, penny whistles, and a collection of folk flutes, and has released 40 records.

In 1996, McCandless won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

He also won Grammys in 2007 and 2011 with the Paul Winter Consort, for Best New Age Album. And his performance on the Oregon CD “1000 kilometers” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo in 2009.

One of the new CD releases is “Morning Sun – Adventures with Oboe,” billed as “A Retrospective Celebrating 45 Years of Genre-Bending Iconic Mastery” by McCandless in concert with his long-time collaborator: Paul Winter.

The second CD is the 30th album by Oregon, the super-group that McCandless co-founded, entitled “Lantern.”

The McCandless/Charged Particles project is bringing alive McCandless’ repertoire of original compositions that have been featured on his solo records over the years, and the collaboration adds a fresh twist and new energy to McCandless’ music.

The Charged Particles trio features Murray Low, keyboards; Aaron Germain, basses; and Jon Krosnick, drums.

The group premiered together on the main stage at the famed jazz club Yoshi’s in San Francisco in 2014, and their jazz club appearances have included Birdland (New York City), Blues Alley (Washington, DC), Motion Blue (Jakarta, Indonesia), and Spin Jazz (Oxford, United Kingdom). They have taught master classes at Kelowna Secondary School (Kelowna, Canada), MacEwan University (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas), Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK), and Bath Spa University (Bath, UK).

To purchase tickets go online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com, or to The Travel Center, 825 S. Main, or purchase tickets at the theatre's box office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, up to two hours before show time.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

I've been asked if I believe in ghosts, and my answer is, "Well, now, there's very little fun in NOT believing in ghosts."

Here's a poem by Austin Smith, who lives in Illinois, about being encouraged by a father to believe in something that becomes real in the telling.

White Lie

Christmas Eves our dad would bring
Home from the farm real hay
For the reindeer that didn't exist
And after we were finally asleep
Would get out and take the slabs
Up in his arms and carry them
Back to the bed of his pickup,
Making sure to litter the snow
With chaff so he could show us
In the morning the place where
They'd stood eating, their harness
Bells dulled by the cold, their breath
Steam, all while we were dreaming.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2018 by Princeton University Press, "White Lie," from Flyover Country, (Princeton University Press, 2018). Poem reprinted by permission of Austin Smith and the publisher. Introduction copyright @2019 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

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