Joe Payne

Musical tastes and interests know no bounds. And now, thanks to our modern technology, we have regular access to a cornucopia of musical genres to pick and choose from. A benefit concert for Temple Beth El in Santa Maria has brought two unlikely tastes together to round out a diverse—and above all fun—show called “More […]

What the printing press was to literature, the piano was to music. The flourish of creativity known as the Neoclassical Period during the 1700s was when the piano came into its own, having very public love affairs with composers as renowned as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig von Beethoven. The Central Coast Music Teachers Association […]

October is when we all prepare for the oncoming holidays and enjoy the last bit of warmth afforded before the onslaught of winter. It’s also the time we justify dressing in a variety of costumes on Halloween, and a local venue is giving us several chances to play dress up and enjoy live music at […]

Northern Santa Barbara County enjoys a diverse musical palette, a reflection of the diverse musical and cultural world we live in. But when was the last time you really stopped and pondered what music is, how it works, and what it’s good for? To understand music, we must first understand sound. It’s nothing more than […]

What sets a “Pops” orchestra apart from any other kind of orchestra? The Lompoc Pops Orchestra has been performing for Lompoc for years, and is now entering its 15th season of providing regular concerts that keep the community involved and excited. “The Lompoc Pops is patterned after the Boston Pops,” said Anthony W. Fox, president […]

Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents its new 2011-2012 season of free cultural and educational performances with debut performer Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños del Son, Los Angeles’ hottest salsa singer and orchestra. The group is slated to perform at three venues in Santa Barbara County: a show at Isla Vista School on Sept. […]

Bands have always had trouble getting alternative music out of the garage. Unique music needs a home, and if a community doesn’t have an open-minded venue, said music can’t flourish. But there is O’Sullivan’s Pub, owned and operated by local Josh Snow, which has been providing a space for more adventuresome musical endeavors. “When we […]

Art has always been a reflection of time and place, and new artistic endeavors abound. In the old town of Nipomo, east of Highway 101, a new business venture called The Pastry Cutter celebrates its debut as not just a new shop, but as a live music venue. Its debut concert will feature the new […]

Each note reverberated, clearly, echoing in a way that carried the sound of the modestly sized baby grand piano far throughout the large halls of the Santa Maria Town Center. Passersby turned their heads toward the stage in front of Macy’s, where the pianist was weaving harmony like a tapestry. Some listeners sat at the […]

A good friend of mine was seriously injured. There had been some blunt trauma to the head, and she was unable to communicate with me. I knew she would recover completely, however, with help from a specialist, a local by the name of Gene Betts. I should admit that my friend is a mandolin, and […]

Folk music is defined as any music made by the common or working people. In contrast, art music is made by those who have received a thorough musical education. America has a rich history of folk music that is kept alive by musicians world-wide. A group of just such artists will be gathering locally thanks […]

Our world is full of music. Some cultures and tribes have music intended to accompany every task of the day, but the oldest kept records of traditional music have always been the spiritual. Two very learned musicians and historians—Anton Mizerak and Laura Berryhill—will share music that spans time, space, and spirit in their concert on […]