Music Notebook: Intersections series debuts; Wu-Tang’s GZA does ‘chessboxing’; Balboa Park Beatles tribute


“6 & 88” featuring Irving Flores, Tina Chong and Joshua White

An eclectic new concert series is always welcome, as well as concerts at intimate new venues in downtown San Diego.

Welcome to Intersections, a new interdisciplinary event series that kicks off its first concert series on Friday night at the 200-seat Guggenheim Theater in the cultural hub of Park & ​​Market in downtown UC San Diego.

Presented by the Department of Extended Studies at the University of California, San Diego, the series debuts with performances by three of San Diego’s leading pianists: Irving Flores, Tina Chong, and Joshua White.

A triple focus of concerts focused on classical, Latin and jazz should shine. These styles match the strengths of Chong, who regularly performs with the San Diego Symphony, Flores, and the award-winning White, who recently returned from a European tour.

The Intersections concert series is hosted by violinist, author and filmmaker Yale Strom. Yale Strom is the international authority on Klezmer, Romani and other string-based music genres made by the Nomads. Strom will have his post-performance Q&A session with three pianists after tonight’s performance.

The monthly concert series will feature performances of Hindustani classical music on February 16 with tabla player Samir Chatterjee, sitarist Paul Livingston and the veena, an Indian stringed instrument that resembles the sitar in some ways. Follow Suman Raha. sarod.

7 p.m. Friday. Guggenheim Theatre, Park & ​​Market, 1100 Market Street, Downtown. (858) 534-1010, parkandmarket.ucsd/events

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 6: Wu Tang Clan rapper GZA performs on stage during the final night of the “New York State of Mind Tour” at Petco Park in San Diego, CA on October 6, 2022 . (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

(Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Chess Boxing’ With GZA, Featuring DJ Symphony

Whether or not you attended the Wu-Tang Clan’s Oct. 6 concert at Petco Park, the game-loving San Diegan will have a unique chance to mingle with 31-year-old New York hip-hop group co-founder GZA. I have a method

He will be back here alone on Sunday. But instead of throwing raps on the mic, GZA freestyles on a chessboard.

It has long been recorded that Wu Tang was passionate about chess as an analogue of life. Or, to quote the beginning of the group’s 1993 song “Da Mystery of Chessboxin'”: A game of chess is like a sword fight / You have to think first before you move.

Additionally, GZA’s 2005 album ‘Grandmasters’ with DJ Muggs includes chess-inspired numbers such as ‘Advance Pawns’ and ‘Queen’s Gambit’.

By all accounts, 55-year-old GZA (born: Gary Grice) is an accomplished player. how good?

If you’re one of the 20 people willing to pay the $400 price on Sunday, you can check in person. GZA plays up to 20 chess games, but individually rather than simultaneously, as is common in speed chess games.

DJ Symphony provides the musical portion of the evening. It remains to be seen if he will sample Bobby Charles & The Checkmates LTD songs. But if DJ Symphony does, I’d suggest a mashup of “Let’s Do It” and “Everything Costs Too (Expletive) Much.”

7 p.m. Sunday. Holding Company, 5046 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach. General audience admission $25. $75 VIP Audience Admission. $400 VIP Chess Match Player (Limited to 20, sign in at 6:30 PM). He must be 21 or older to participate. (619) 341-5898, theholdingcompanyob.com

San Diego citizen organist Raul Prieto. May 15, 2022

San Diego Civic organist Raul Prieto Ramirez will be featured with musical guests at the free Speckels Organ Pavilion concert at Balboa Park on Sunday afternoon.

(Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

‘All You Need Is Love’ Spreckels Organ Society Honors The Beatles

If you want to hear four classics by San Diego civic organist Raul Prieto Ramirez, singer Lauren Lee Martin, drummer Richard Larson, and the Choir of St. James by the Sea, conducted by Alex Bestelli Let’s go back to Balboa Park. .

Her repertoire includes “Let It Be” and “Lady Madonna”. This may be the first time the classic “Helter Skelter,” the Beatles’ heavy metal archetype, has been sung anywhere by the St. James His By The Sea choir.

2 p.m. Sunday. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Road E., Balboa Park. free. sprinklerorgan.org


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *