From our March issue

Concert Seasons, Past and Future
Dale and Laurie Gee

Lakeside’s Into the Woods for Performing Arts started in spring 2005 to bring the performing arts to Lakeside and the Santa Cruz Mountains, a venue where musicians and artists can perform while raising funds for entertaining and teaching. In partnership with the school, the profits from these concerts will provide seating, lighting, and other amenities that will make the facility useful to the whole community.

Seven successful concerts have been produced. Now the community is invited to share their ideas and join in planning the 2007/2008 concert series on Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m., at the Lakeside Community Center.

February 10 marked the seventh concert hosted at the Lakeside Community Center. The past concerts featured artists primarily in the folk and jazz-fusion genre, but the last one featured rockin’ blues by Blues Cadillac. Led by Steve Welch on guitar, the band covered classic rock and roll and blues tunes ranging from Muddy Water’s "Sweet Home Chicago" to Chuck Berry’s "Johnny B. Goode." While the crowd arrived chilled by cold and rainy weather outside, they quickly warmed to the band’s high energy and straight-ahead style, enhanced by Ray DiFazio, who connected with the audience by roaming and dancing with them while playing his baritone saxophone. Other performers included Jerry Cash, who played the blues with a strong B.B. King style, Alan "Eye Bone" Eglington on harmonica, Doug Mancini on bass, and Michael "Chip" Chiappari on tenor saxophone. The evening was capped off with a standing ovation and an encore performance featuring Tim Richard’s blazing drum solo.

Erik’s Deli and Whole Foods provided a great spread, complemented by cookies from Beckmann’s Old World Bakery, pretzels and pastries from Sterntaler’s Bakery, Rainbow Orchards fresh-pressed cider, and Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company coffee. Table centerpieces of balloon teddy bears holding red balloon tulips were provided by Justin Gee.

For information about future concerts, check www.lakesidelosgatos.org.