Karen Marguth's latest is 10 year of unreleased material with more than a few Fresno friends
Also, Carlos Montano lands a gig opening for George Lopez and your weekly concerts list.
Karen Marguth was getting press as far back as 2010.
No less than JazzTimes magazine called the singer “Fresno’s Big Secret” in a profile, though she wasn’t a secret in town. Especially to those in jazz scene. She headlined a weekly residency at the Landmark, hosted a radio show on KFSR, was working with a who’s who of local players and had already released a pair of well-received albums.
It was around this time, give or take a year, that Marguth started recording pieces of what would become her latest album, “Until.”
“The album was recorded over the course of ten years, with three different musical groupings,” Marguth, says. A bulk to the tracks were recorded over two different sessions in 2011 and 2015 at Fresno’s Maximus Studios, with a cast of Fresno musicians that included David Aus, Richard Giddens, Pat Olvera, Eva Scow and the late Brian Hamada.
The remaining songs were recorded at What’s For Lunch Records in El Cerrito, save for the final track, “Days of Wine and Roses,” which was recorded live in 2014 at Fresno County Public Library in Clovis.
“Until” was released in October on OA2 Records and is available to buy or download through its website.
Already it’s earned 4 stars and landed as one of DownBeat Magazine’s “Best Album of the Year.” It’s Marguth’s third album to hold that title.
The album “promotes the elevation of the spirit that one demands of a truly outstanding release,” according to the DownBeat review, and “Marguth, with typical control and confidence, carries poetry in music to an enthralling level.”
Carlos Montano + comedian George Lopez
There is some precedent for comedians and musicians sharing the stage. Metallica had Jim Breuer as an opening act on its “WorldWired” tour and apparently it was somewhat of a trend in the early-2010s, according to this story at least.
Still, it was shocking (as in shockingly freakin’ cool) to see Carlos Montano announce he will be opening for comedian George Lopez, April 29, at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. The show is part of Lopez’ OMG Hi tour. As a package, the two performers seem well match in terms of aesthetic and appeal.
Montano keeps busy with his live performance schedule (his trio hosts a Thursday night open mic at Goldstein’s) and recorded output of music and videos. He released “The No Town Hustle,” an album of 11 original songs in November.
Events list Dec. 5-11
55 Toy Drive, Toys for Tots Toy Drive, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, Fulton 55. $10.
OMB Peezy, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, Strummer’s. $20, all ages.
Elder Brother, Speak Low, Cold Moon and Same Side, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, Strummer’s. $13-$15, all ages.
Foo Fighters, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, Save Mart Center. $52.50-$102.50.
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead w/ Death Valley Girls, 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9. Cellar Door, 101 W. Main St., Visalia. $17.
Metalachi, with Leather Serpent and Danziggy Stardust, 8 p.m. Friday Dec. 10, Fulton 55. $18-$22.
Secondhand Serenade, with the Dangerous Summer and Saywecanfly, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, Strummer’s. $22, all ages.
Doc Martin, 9 p.m., Saturday Dec. 11, Fulton 55. $10-$20.
The Locust, Prissy Whip, Cancer Christ, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, Strummer’s. $20, all ages.
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com