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Photos from Travis Sullivan’s Björkestra performing live at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 6, 2008.

Photos from Joe Bagale’s CD Release Party live at the Great American Music Hall on April 4, 2008.

Photos from the Shotgun Wedding Quintet live at the Great American Music Hall on April 4, 2008.

A little more than a week ago, I was lucky enough to attend the first annual Switchboard Music Festival live at Dance Mission Theater on March 30, 2008. It was a full day of inspired music that’s best described in their own words:

The Switchboard Music Festival is an eight-hour music festival bringing together composers and musicians who are all pushing the boundaries of their respective genres. No other Bay Area music festival or concert series is dedicated to the idea of bringing together such an eclectic, genre-crossing/-breaking/-bastardizing group of experimentalists, innovators, and musical omnivores.

Some of the finest musicians in the Bay Area played over the course of the eight-hour music marathon, including Aaron Novik, Amy X Neuburg, Christopher Adler, Dan Becker, Del Sol String Quartet, Jeff Anderle, Edmund Welles, Erik Jekabson, Gamelan X, Ian Dicke, Ian Dickenson, Inner Ear Brigade, Jonathan Russell, Robin Estrada, Ryan Brown, and Slydini.

This really turned out to be a tremendous day of live original music, so please enjoy the photographs and this audio sample of Erik Jekabson’s trumpet solo (using a delay) called Opening Fanfare, which was the appropriately-named first song played at the festival (thanks Erik!). And don’t forget to help support this very-worthy festival when it comes around next year.

 Opening Fanfare [6:03m]: Play Now | Download

Photos from the Darren Johnston / Evan Francis Quartet live at Chez Hanny in the Haight on February 24, 2008.

Darren Johnston, Trumpet
Evan Francis, Tenor Sax
Eugene Warren, Bass
Smith Dobson, Drums

Here’s a killin’ video clip featuring Realistic Orchestra with special guest Dublin on vocals during their recent live album recording session last Tuesday night March 4, 2008. As usual, the Jazz Mafia crew was lighting up Bruno’s just like they always do, so make sure to head down there on Tuesday nights for a good time, and definitely keep an eye on their website for updated info about when their new live album will be released.

Here’s a few photos and audio samples from a recent Classical Revolution show played live at the Revolution Cafe on January 27, 2008. If you haven’t ever experienced this now-weekly classical jam session in the Mission, you really should because it’s a great example of some of the amazing live music that’s taking place in the burgeoning Mission creative music scene. They play late every Sunday night at the Revolution Cafe, and you can check their website for more up-to-date info.

Paul Hindemith, String Trio #2 (1935)
I. Massig Schnell
II. Lebhaft
III. Langsam-Schnelle Halbe

Albers Trio
Laura Albers, Violin
Becca Albers, Viola
Julie Albers, Cello

Brahms Sextet #1 in B Flat Major, op 18 (1860)
II. Andante, Ma Moderato

Classical Revolution
Jory Fankuchen & Edwin Huizinga, Violins
Charith Premawardhana & Becca Albers, Violas
Julie Albers & Adrian Fung, Cellos

 I. Massig Schnell (Hindemith) [7:34m]: Play Now | Download
 II. Lebhaft (Hindemith) [6:44m]: Play Now | Download
 III. Langsam-Schnelle Halbe (Hindemith) [8:25m]: Play Now | Download
 II. Andante (Brahms) [10:15m]: Play Now | Download

Here’s a short video clip and some photos I shot from a recent recording session on January 5, 2008 at the House of Cubes.

Mike Abraham, Guitar
Sameer Gupta, Drums
Henry Hung, Trumpet
Darren Johnston, Trumpet
Mitch Marcus, Tenor Sax
Dayna Stephens, Tenor Sax
Eugene Warren, Bass

* Audio courtesy of the musicians, Producer Stephen Barncard, and Recordist Adrian Wong. Photography and Video by BayTaper.com

 MP3 Audio Sample [1:27m]: Play Now | Download