As soon as Thanksgiving passes, familiar melodies seem to weave their way into our lives via radios, television, and, of course, live music. The holiday season has inspired many a song and countless albums that capture the essence of what the time of year means to all of us.
The Santa Maria Town Center has embraced the holiday season wholeheartedly, decking out the large mall with more than 50 living Christmas trees and decorations, but also by providing free, live holiday music to shoppers and the community.
“It’s a festive feel,” said Amber Lease, assistant property manager for the Town Center. “It adds to the ambiance, and it’s something that creates a little bit more of an experience when you are shopping, especially during the holiday season.”
Saturdays will see performances by local ensembles, including a Dec. 15 concert by Three Martini Lunch. The swinging jazz group—made up of drums, bass, and keyboard—will be performing some holiday favorites on the Food Court stage in the mall’s north wing.
“They are a little more of a classic band,” Lease said. “They are jazzy with a Frank Sinatra kind of feel, and they come in their tuxedos, so they kind of bring the whole entire show with them.”
The following Saturday performance will feature the Other Reindeer, an a cappella ensemble performing classic holiday carols.
“The Other Reindeer are old fashioned carolers; they are even dressed in the entire wardrobe of it all,” Lease said. “They will start in the food court and then wander around the mall after that.”
Other than the live bands at the Food Court stage, the Santa Maria Town Center also offers live music by three local pianists, myself included. The other two are Andrew Barnick and Jeff Elliott, the latter of whom performs not just on the piano, but with other instruments, too.
“Jeff can actually play two instruments at the same time,” Lease said. “He switches in between piano and trumpet, or keyboard and trumpet. He is quite a sight to watch.”
Barnick has been the resident pianist at the Town Center since January 2010. His style is rooted deep in the classical piano tradition, but he’s also an accomplished jazz pianist.
“I actually look forward to the Christmas season because I love the Christmas songs and hymns I get to play,” Barnick said, “and there’s so much freedom with the Christmas music, I can really combine my classical style with the modern jazz stuff.”
Each and every selection Barnick performs he arranged himself, meaning he has a thorough knowledge of the melody and harmony of each song—so much so that he’s arranged the harmony and style to his liking.
“There’s this harmonic interplay that just creates a very full sound, and it inspires the sensation of colors and shapes,” he said, “and you can use it in very simple songs that everyone recognizes and you can add to them and give them some substance and make them more flavorful.”
A local student majoring in theology and sacred music, Barnick has experience with many kinds of holiday and Christmas music, which gives him more to choose from when performing. He also chooses from a wide range of techniques to elicit certain sounds and feelings.
“This year I’ve tried something new, almost an impressionistic approach to the Christmas spirit manifested through music,” he said. “By playing more on the sustain pedal and very high on the keyboard, I can make the kind of sound that makes you think of snowflakes. So, not just the status quo Christmas music, but also Christmassy sounding music, which I think is unique and kind of cool.”
Shoppers are free to sit at the many tables in the Macy’s Court area and listen to the pianists who perform next to the stunning tree display, the focal point of which is the 30-foot tall tree gracing the Macy’s Court stage. That, along with the music, creates quite a magical spirit.
“What I really try to do with my music is take people out of where they are and back into memories or nostalgia,” Barnick said. “Childhood for all of us remains kind of this sacred space in our lives, and it’s held a special place in our memories, and the nostalgia of that I hope to inspire within people’s hearts when they hear the music I play.”
A tropical journey
The Lions Peak Tasting Room presents Jon Stephan performing his “Tropical Brazilian Guitar” music on Sundays in December at the Lion Peak Vineyards Solvang Tasting Room, 1659 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. More info: 693-5466 or lionspeakwine.com.
Pick up wine and music
Lucia’s Wine Co. presents live music by local favorite Louie Ortega on Dec. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lucia’s Wine Co. Tasting Room, 126 East Clark Ave., Orcutt.
Young talent
The Ontiveros School Condor Choir presents a holiday concert performance on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Ontiveros School, 930 W. Rancho Verde, Santa Maria. More info: 361-8113 or mwhite@smbds.net.
Lompoc’s masters
The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale, directed by Kathleen Abrams Hacker, presents the concert “A Christmas Journey” on Dec. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lompoc. Cost is $15, $12 for kids. More info: 588-7204 or Kathleen_hacker@hotmail.com.
Singing praises
The Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale, Youth Chorale, and Orchestra presents its 2012 Holiday Concert titled “Hallelujah Amen!” on Dec. 14 at 7:30 pm., Dec. 15 at 5 p.m., and Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Church at the Crossroads, 236 La Lata Drive, Buellton. Cost is $15, $12 for seniors and kids. More info: 350-4241, info@syvchorale.org, or syvchorale.org.
Catch the holiday classic
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra in concert with guest choirs the Coastal Voices and the Allan Hancock College Singers on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg, Santa Maria. More info: 925-0412, george@santamariaphilharmonic.org, or santamariaphilharmonic.org.
Join in on the music
The Coastal Voices presents a special sing-along concert for Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3945 S. Bradley, Santa Maria. More info: 937-3416, coastalvoices@gmail.com, or coastalvoices.info.
Swing it!
The Central City Swing big band, directed by Bob Swayze, presents a “Christmas Concert” on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Unity Chapel of Light, 1165 Stubblefield Road, Orcutt. More info: 937-3025.
Time to play
The Santa Maria Public Library presents Craig Newton performing in the children’s theater, a “Holiday Song Fest” featuring sing-along and audience participation on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. More info: 925-0951, Ext. 320, dhildinger@ci.santa-maria.ca.us, or ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
Make them less lonesome
“The Very Lonesome Boys Bluegrass Show” will feature live bluegrass music by Peter Feldmann and the Very Lonesome Boys on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m., Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos. Cost is $15, $12 for advance tickets. More info: 688-9894, peter@bluegrasswest.com, or bluegrasswest.com.
Wine down
The Addamo Tasting Room and Bistro presents “Wine Down Wednesdays” featuring live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 400 E. Clark, Old Orcutt. Free. More info: 937-6400 or Bethany@addamovineyards.com.
Keeping music live
The Radisson Hotel presents live music every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. with Juan Marquez and Sangria. Sunday brunch with guitarist Mike Tibault is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Ready to jam
The Santa Maria Inn presents live music by Afterall on Dec. 14 and Juan Marquez on Dec. 15 from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Tap Room, Santa Maria Inn, 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More info: 928-7777 or santamariainn.com.
Maverick music
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including live country music by Spun Honey on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” with Owen Johnston is Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 13-20, 2012.