MEET THE MUSICIANS -SUNDAY SALON

AT THE SONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER 

This Sunday afternoon series is your opportunity to meet, listen to  and ask questions of some of the Bay Area's finest jazz musicians.

Ever wonder how they got started?

Who is their favorite musician?

Who is the most fun to work with? 

You'll find answers to these and many other questions plus hear some great music at each SUNDAY SALON

Tickets : $20

$18 for SVJS & Community Center Members

All programs 3pm

March 21st -

3pm

Benny Barth

A product of the small but talent-laden 1950s Indianapolis jazz scene, veteran drummer Benny Barth paid dues with the legendary jazz siblings Monk, Buddy and Wes Montgomery. In 1957 Barth was a founding member of the popular Mastersounds ensemble, a melodic and easy listening bop group, which included vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery, pianist Richie Crabtree and electric bassist Monk Montgomery. The band caught on for a few years, cutting ten records in four years for Pacific Jazz, World Pacific, and Fantasy. He’s been a Bay Area mainstay for five decades.

 Saxophonist Kent Cohea

Kent’s performance credits include David Sanborn, Al Jarreu, Bobby McFerrin, B.J.Thomas and Steve Miller. He has his own CD entitled “In A Sentimental Mood” and is a featured artist on Jamie Davis’ Recording, “It’s All About You”. He is an arranger and saxophone soloist on two of Pamela Roses CDs, “Every time I’m With You” and “On the Jazzy Side of Blue”. He spent two years with The Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra and can be heard on their “Thirteen Souls Out of Control” release. He is featured on “Mr. Ears” by Kenneth Nash and the great big band CD by Full Faith and Credit.

Kent studied at the State University of Iowa under Classical great Gene Rousseau and attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston Massachusetts. He was also fortunate to be able to study with jazz giant Joe Henderson in San Francisco.

While living in the Los Angeles area he played with the Don Ellis big band and toured with the Curtis Brothers Soul Review throughout California and Nevada. Since moving to Northern California he has played extended engagements in San Francisco at the Hilton, Fairmont, Hyatt Regency, Park Hyatt, Westin St. Francis and the Sir Francis Drake Hotel were he was a member of the Starlight Orchestra. He also performed with the Steve Miller Band at the San Francisco Blues Festival.

Recently he produced and performed in a tribute to Stan Getz called “As Good As It Getz” at the Copia Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa.