Elegance in Elk 2015

Saturday, December 5, 2015, 2:00 to 5:00
To benefit and celebrate our 30th season

This year the Mendocino Music Festival invites you to gather in the gorgeous home of the late Elizabeth Crahan, on the cliffs of Elk. Enjoy an afternoon of fine music and refreshment, with wonderful jazz singer Kenny Washington; wines from Handley Cellars; and edible entertainment from Assaggiare Mendocino. Admission is $125 per person.

Enjoy Libations, Sensations, Delectables, Treats, and your Festival Community—all in a matchless setting!

Kenny Washington, Vocalist

Recently dubbed “the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. Ravi Coltrane has declared Kenny his favorite male vocalist, and Mark Murphy said in a Jazz Times interview that Kenny was the only contemporary male vocalist carrying on the tradition.

If you have never heard this New Orleans native sing before, get ready for a jaw dropping experience. Kenny is a jazz vocalist virtuoso. Emulating the classic styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and infusing colors of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Kenny’s free, playful approach, with over a four-octave range is awe inspiring. USC CreSCendo Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Lee Bloom, Pianist

San Francisco-based pianist, composer, arranger and producer Lee Bloom has worked with a variety of creative artists in many genres including MADELEINE PEYROUX, PETE ESCOVEDO, HAL STEIN, MARY STALLINGS, JONATHAN PORETZ, TODD PHILLIPS, STEVE HECKMAN, JAMIE DAVIS, DAN HICKS, among others. As pianist, Lee contributed to the forthcoming tribute recording to bluegrass icon Hazel Dickens, accompanying vocalists ELVIS COSTELLO, ROSANNE CASH and MADELEINE PEYROUX, and was producer and pianist on “Spirit!” the 2006 release by saxophone legend HAL STEIN. In addition to leading his own trio and quintet, Lee performs regularly as solo pianist and accompanies many instrumentalists and vocalists. As a composer, Lee attempts to synthesize varied influences – from Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal, and Wayne Shorter to Modernist Architecture, Vaudeville, Floyd Cramer and TV sitcoms.

Food by Assaggiare Mendocino

Assaggiare Mendocino proprietor Julia Conway: “…it’s about connecting to the natural world that nourishes us all. It’s about farmers and ranchers, and the land and the water. It’s about the idea of sharing sustenance with those you care about in the context of a meal. It’s about connecting with the rich cultural history that has been passed on to us through the foods we eat.” She believes that eating is more than supplying our bodies with fuel, though not discounting the value of healthy foods. Instead, eating feeds our souls as well as our bodies. Food provides a context for our history, our lives and our relationships.”

Wines by Handley Cellars

Handley Cellars is a small family-owned Mendocino County winery producing around 12,000 cases a year. “At Handley Cellars, we firmly believe in a conscious and conscientious approach to farming and winemaking. We purchase grapes from small, local, family growers, and whenever possible, we select fruit that is farmed organically. Our winemaking philosophy is to let the distinctive qualities of each vineyard shine through. Working with carefully tended, exceptional sites, we strive to create wines which faithfully reflect the unique characteristics of the vineyards and viticultural region, focusing on our appellation of Anderson Valley. From start to finish, we are mindful of our impact on our rural valley, and the implications of our farming and wine making choices for future generations.”

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