Wednesday, August 16, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

Andre Thierry & His Accordion Soul Music! 

Although born and raised in Richmond, California, Andre’s French-Kreole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana. He embarked on a path with specific knowledge and extraordinary talents at a very young age. True to his culture and love of music, he has crafted a career well beyond his years as an artist.

Andre grew up experiencing the French Kreole (La-La) dances his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church. The best Zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer traveled to California to play at these dances. The exposure allowed him to develop his love for traditional French Kreole music. Andre regularly played with visiting bands, such as the late John Delafose and many local Zydeco and Cajun bands, including the late Danny Poullard (California Cajun Orchestra). By age twelve, Andre formed his band, “Zydeco Magic.” Andre is self-taught and constantly increases his repertoire.

In his 30’s, he had already been deemed a legend. There is widespread agreement that he is an exceptional, multi-dimensional musician with a finely honed ability to merge his accordions with musical mastery.

The Washington Post called Andre “A master at pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can’t be lumped into Zydeco’s old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rap-inspired one: He and his band lay down both soulful, traditional slow-dances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.”

Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, considered the definitive book on the history of Zydeco music, wrote,”In America, great migrations produce great music. Just as Delta musicians took Highway 61 to Chicago and electrified their blues, so did the Kreoles and Cajuns migrate to California and establish vital dance communities. Now the California scenes rival anything back home in Louisiana, and that’s due to players like Andre Thierry, a standard-bearer for the new generation. Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition.”

Andre’s style isn’t conventional; he and his accordions provide a signature sound by creating magnetic, sonic landscapes. The rhythmic songs drive an atmospheric blend, giving his band a powerful edge, naturally building a dedicated following through performing, touring, and a string of album recordings like “It’s About Time,” “A Whole Lotta Somthin” and “Are You Ready To Learn”.

Thierry leaves his musical imprints on recordings like “Live! At the Woodshop”, “Kreole United, Non-Jamais Fait” and “Kreole United, Tu Kekchause A’ Korrek”, even when singing, songwriting, and producing with a collective of artists, while their contributions are discernible,

In his “Bouncin With The Blues” album, Thierry performs songs written or popularized by music legends:  Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Clifton Chenier. Breaking all accordion stereotypes, unforgettable performances with Sammy Hagar (gritty hard Rocker) and David Hildago (influential Latin singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist) showcased fabulous fusion with Andre in his musical zone and pumping genre-bending sounds.

The Accordion defies all national and continental borders. Andre Thierry was the first American artist to perform in the Akkordeonale, International Festival (Program 2016). Representing the USA — Impelling Blues with Kreole Roots- Andre celebrated with audiences touring Germany, delivering awe-inspiring performances, coming together with musicians in a vivid interchange. Though the musicians came from different cultural backgrounds and musical styles, they shared the language of music, creating a thrilling coexistence on stage.

Forthcoming about his journey, Andre Thierry’s music creations are intoxicating and timeless. Enjoy the unfolding of this charismatic artist as he vibrates Accordion Soul, raising the frequency with stimulating beats, attracting any music lover to the dance floor!

Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music | Award Winning Kreole Musician

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

Kai Lyons’ Lucid Botanical Changüí and Rumba! 

Featuring:

Kai Lyons- tres

Einar Leliebre (Tito)- vocal, percussion

Tobiah Gaster- percussion

Javier Navarrette- percussion

Rumba and Changüí are two distinct and vibrant genres of Cuban music, each with its own unique characteristics and cultural heritage. When these two styles meet, it can lead to an exciting fusion of rhythms and sounds that showcase the richness of Cuban musical traditions.

Rumba is a rhythmic and percussive genre of Cuban music that originated in the Afro-Cuban communities during the colonial era. It is deeply rooted in African rhythms and traditions brought to Cuba by enslaved Africans. Rumba typically involves complex polyrhythms, call-and-response vocals, and dynamic dance movements. There are three main styles of Rumba: Yambú (slow and solemn), Guaguancó (more energetic and flirtatious), and Columbia (fast-paced and virtuosic).

Changüí is another Cuban music genre that emerged in the eastern region of the country, particularly in Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba. It has rural origins and is considered one of the foundational styles of modern Cuban music. Changüí features a combination of African and Spanish influences and is often played by small groups consisting of guitar-like instruments called tres, maracas, bongos, and güiro. It has a lively and danceable character, with a repetitive and syncopated rhythmic structure.

When Rumba meets Changüí, we can expect a blend of these two distinct rhythmic traditions. The polyrhythmic complexity of Rumba might merge with the syncopated patterns of Changüí, creating a fascinating interplay of percussion and instrumentation. The call-and-response vocal elements of Rumba could also intertwine with the melodic lines of Changüí, adding a layer of vocal interaction to the music.

Moreover, the fusion of Rumba and Changüí may lead to the creation of new dance styles or variations, as both genres are deeply connected to dance forms. The resulting music would likely be infectious, rhythmically engaging, and evoke a sense of celebration and cultural heritage.

It’s important to note that Cuban music is incredibly diverse and continues to evolve through various fusions and influences. The meeting of Rumba and Changüí is just one example of how Cuban musicians continually explore and experiment with their musical heritage. The outcome of such a fusion would depend on the creativity and artistry of the musicians involved, adding their own unique touch to the blend of these two remarkable Cuban music styles.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.