Music in the Parks: Almost Blue

The Calaveras Arts Council presents
Almost Blue
at CAMPS Restaurant in Angels Camp

Wednesday,
July 5, 630 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Please contribute

Music in the Parks is free to all, but we rely on the generosity of those who can contribute to make this program available to the community. Please help if you are able. Thank you for your support.

Almost Blue cools off the hot summer night

There once was a music, before Rock n' Roll, that was smooth and chic and cool, baby, cool. Smokey, whiskey-soaked songs for grownups. Broadway melodies and musical theatre standards we all could whistle and hum. Music of elegance and cocktail hours, little black dresses and tunes that poured like honey from the throats of singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Fred Astaire, Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra.
 
The band Almost Blue continues this tradition; lead vocalist Sammy Leverone even likes to dress the part of a chanteuse from another era, wearing gloves, period dresses, and smoothing her hair into a classic chignon when she takes to the stage to pour out her own particular sweetness. Percussionist Scott Leverone goes retro too, when  he backs the trio with “the nearly lost art of brush work.” And keyboard player Jerry Solberg brings passion to this music—the songs of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s— saying that they are his “true love.”

Join Almost Blue for smooth melodies on July 5 at CAMPS Restaurant

Sing along to the Great American Songbook

The members of this trio are passionate about the music they pull from what is often called the Great American Songbook. “We feel like it’s the best music that was ever written,” Sammy said.  “It fits all of our strengths really well."
 
Although they are accomplished musicians in other genres—Sammy is known for her work with the bluegrass band, The Magnolia Rhythm Trio; Jerry has toured alongside Rock and Blues bands like Steppenwolf and Tower of Power; and Scott brings years playing pop, Latin, and Rock to the band— when they met  3 years ago, they knew that  they shared a thing. “There’s a transformation when we sing this kind of music,” Sammy said. “It feels so right.”
 
Almost Blue plays upbeat tunes that people can dance to, but they don’t skimp on ballads and Jazz standards.  Although they play mostly older material—Sammy says her favorite song is Cry me a River. "It’s a little bit bluesy, it has a nice range, and I can put a lot of dynamics and feeling into it."— the trio also plays contemporary songs that fit their style, favorites like Van Morrison’s Moondance, that will make you dance and sing along at the same time. 

My phone says Wednesday night promises to start warm but cool quickly; Almost Blue will smooth the transition. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy the elegance and fun at Music in the Parks at CAMPS Restaurant at Greenhorn Creek.

CAMPS will have wine and beer available, the bar will be open (and you can take your drink out onto the lawn) AND their new outdoor pizza oven should be fired up with pizza to purchase. Take advantage of their lovely restaurant and treat yourself to an early dinner.
​
Picnic baskets and lawn chairs are allowed as always. We encourage you to lighten your load and leave your alcohol at home.