Celebrating the jazz art form in Sonoma County for 21 years!

Motema Music Night at the Raven Raven Theater Healdsburg, CA Share this event: Get Tickets There are no active dates for this event. Powered by     Tickets on sale at venue on the day of event, subject to availability. Not Available Event Motema Music Night at the Raven At a time when record labels have largely abandoned jazz, Motema has become a welcoming beacon, documenting brilliant improvisers who are avidly expanding the art form. This program, essentially a mini-festival, showcases some of the artists who have made critically acclaimed recordings for Motema. All of these illustrious artists are generously donating their talents to ensure the festival's future. The triple bill features a solo recital by revered pianist Geri Allen, whose ravishing solo session "Flying Toward the Sound" was selected by numerous critics as one of 2010's best releases (as was her astonishing quartet album "Geri Allen & Timeline Live"). Firmly connected to the advanced mainstream tradition, she cites Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, and Bill Evans as some of her deepest influences. One of jazz's most acclaimed pianists over the past three decades, Allen is also comfortable mixing it up on the music frontiers, such as her fruitful collaboration with avant-garde patriarch Ornette Coleman. New York-based pianist Marc Cary is a fearless musical explorer with a gift for leading adventurous ensembles. Constantly in demand, Cary has collaborated with an impressive array of artists, including a long run with Abbey Lincoln. The ferociously inventive band Focus Trio has released a series of albums on Motema, most recently "Focus Trio-Live 2009," a thrilling session that captures Cary's intricate and irresistibly grooving compositions. Powerhouse drummer Babatunde Lea presents A Tribute to Leon Thomas with captivating vocalist Dwight Trible, keyboard great Patrice Rushen, and propulsive bassist Gary Brown. A creative catalyst on the jazz scene for three decades, Lea was inspired to honor the late vocal explorer Leon Thomas after hearing Trible with Pharoah Sanders. "It was like he was channeling the spirit of Leon Thomas," says Lea. The group features mostly the same cast as "Umbo Weti-A Tribute to Leon Thomas," a tremendously exciting Motema album recorded live at Yoshi's. While pianist/keyboardist Patrice Rushen is far better known for her pop and R&B hits, she is a world-class improviser who first made her mark in the early '70s. Be prepared for lots of surprise guests in this set. Location Raven Theater 115 North Street Healdsburg, CA 95448 United States Categories Music > Festivals Music > Jazz Kid Friendly: No Dog Friendly: No Non-Smoking: Yes! Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! Contact Email: support@brownpapertickets.com