Zen Tea

Chamblee, GA
Saturday, April 7, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Map here

The terrific Ben Wakeman I will play the first half of this evening, and John Cable and Richard Dean will take over for the second.

Richard is our special guest this evening, all the way from Colorado. He and John have been writing and performing together since the 1960s, and the chemistry between these two artists is truly special. Richard is making the trip out here just for this performance. You don’t want to miss it! Check out some of their music here.

Join us for a spectacular evening of original tunes and a few favorite covers at our favorite “Zenue”!

Chamblee, GA
Saturday, January 14 2012
7:00 p.m.
Map here

Ashley Filip and I will play the first half of this evening, and John Cable and Lindsay Petsch will take over for the second. Join us for a spectacular evening of original tunes and a few favorite covers at our favorite “Zenue”!

My set starts at 9:00 P.M. but be sure to come before 8 to hear he astounding, astonishing, ridiculously talented (no hyperbole) JIMMY GALLOWAY. This guy is so good on the guitar all you can do is drop your jaw and laugh. That’s what I do anyway. He’s also a very, very good songwriter and singer, and entertaining to boot. Check him out (videos and such) on his website at : jimmygallowaymusic.com.

Venue Info: Lena’s Place Coffeehouse is Atlanta’s longest running monthly coffeehouse… since 1984!
Central Congregational United Church of Christ, in the fellowship hall
2676 Clairmont Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30329 [MAP]
Web: www.lenasplace.com
$5 donation requested, goes to a local charity each month.

Coming up . . .

THIS SHOW POSTPONED
Ragamuffin Music Hall
With Pat Walsh and Louis Robinson

Saturday, July 2, 2011
Check back for new date to come soon!

45 South Cafe
Cyndi & Allison (The Ukes of Hazard) and Billy Gewin

Saturday, July 23
Two sets starting at 7:00
Charming downtown Norcross, Georgia. Directions and details here!

Hungry Ear Coffee House
Enhanced in the round with Cyndi Craven and Billy Gewin
Split bill with Bob Bakert!

Saturday, Aug 6, 2011
Show starts at 8:00
Northwest UU Congregation
1025 S. Mt Vernon Hwy
Sandy Springs, GA
One of the area’s best monthly coffeehouses. We love playing there and cross our fingers that we’ll be asked every year. Directions and details here.

Ragamuffin Music Hall
With Cyndi Craven, Jerry Brunner, and Lindsay Petch

Saturday, August 20, 2011
More details to come!

Our Place Café
Enhanced in the round with Ashley Filip and Billy Gewin
Saturday, Apr 23, 2011
Two sets starting at 7:30
Our Place Bakery Café
3387 Main Street
College Park, GA 30337
A new venue for us! Come out and discover Main Street College Park and all its loveliness. Our Place has a terrific menu, from sammitches and baked goods and breakfast served all day to coffee, beer, and wine Directions and details here!

Zen Tea
Enhanced in the round with Cyndi Craven and Lindsay Petsch
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Two sets starting at 7:00
Our ZENue!
5356 Peachtree Rd
Chamblee, GA 30341
678-547-0877
We love love love this place. Come find out why! Directions and details here.

Ragamuffin Music Hall
With Pat Walsh and Louis Robinson

Saturday, July 2, 2011
More details to come!

Hungry Ear Coffee House
Enhanced in the round with Cyndi Craven and Billy Gewin
Split bill with Bob Bakert!
Saturday, Aug 6, 2011
Show starts at 8:00
Northwest UU Congregation
1025 S. Mt Vernon Hwy
Sandy Springs, GA
One of the area’s best monthly coffeehouses. We love playing there and cross our fingers that we’ll be asked every year. Directions and details here.

Ragamuffin Music Hall
With Cyndi Craven, Jerry Brunner, and Lindsay Petch

Saturday, August 20, 2011
More details to come!

Lena’s Place Coffee House
Second Set – More details TBA!
Saturday, Sept 6, 2011
Show starts at 8:00
Central Congregational Church
Back in the woods about 1/3 mile south of I-85 at 2676 Clairmont Road, between LaVista & Briarcliff Roads.
The area’s longest-running monthly coffeehouses. I heart Lena’s! Directions and details here.

We love Zen Tea!

Can you tell? Allison in the round with Lindsay Petsch and Cyndi Craven
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Two sets starting at 7:00

We love this place! So peaceful and warm and happy. Join us and enjoy some very civilized tea, scones, and great music. Zen Tea is at 5356 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341. Directions and details here.

With Bruce Gilbert and Cyndi Craven
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Doors open at 7:30 and the music will be performed from 8:00 until 10:00.

This is the finale in a series of house concerts hosted by my dear friends Bruce and Lex Gilbert. This evening I will be performing with Bruce and with Cyndi Craven!

All proceeds will go to Team Fox, which is the organization that funds the activities of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Admission to the event is free, and it’s the Gilberts’ hope that folks will contribute whatever amount is comfortable for them. There are seats for 40 guests. If you would like to come, please email bgilbertmusic@gmail.com or telephone at 404-474-0869 as soon as possible. If you have friends or family that you would like to bring, we would be delighted. Just make sure you sign them up also.

A little more than two years ago, my dear friend and longtime music partner, Paul Jean, died very suddenly and prematurely. Paul played piano with Paige Parvin and me for six years as the trio Local Honey. We did a number of my original songs and an eclectic variety of cover tunes that we just enjoyed playing and singing. Here is a tribute I wrote in memory of Paul just after his death in April 2008.

What I didn’t know until after he was gone was that Paul’s body had suffered the ravages of Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative illness that attacks the central nervous system, affecting motor skills, the voice and speech, and other countless physical and mental functions. It’s a devastating disorder, and Paul’s life was utterly transformed by it in ways that I witnessed but did not understand. He was a very private person, and only a select few knew of his illness before he died.

A few months after Paul’s passing, I met someone whom I was sure was sent to me from God, or maybe even Paul himself. It was during our first conversation that Bruce Gilbert said to me, “I just moved here. I’m a piano player, and I have Parkinson’s disease.”

Bruce invited me to back him up on a couple of his original songs at an open mic at Eddie’s Attic. His writing, I quickly discovered, is magical, and his playing is tasteful, soulful, skillful. I was happy to do it. From our first performance together, Bruce and his wife Lex have become an integral part of our beloved community of music makers here. They regularly host our Sunday night songwriters’ gathering in their home, and Bruce has played gigs with all of us, all over town. He plays on our recordings (just wait til you hear what he does on mine!). He helps us with our recording projects and technology in his own studio. He and Lex come out for our gigs even when he isn’t playing. Even when he isn’t feeling so hot.

Bruce and Lex have for many years been active and passionate supporters of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. This fall, they are hosting a series of monthly house concerts in their beautiful Lake Claire neighborhood home to benefit Team Fox, the organization that funds the activities of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. Admission to the event is free, and it is their hope that folks will contribute whatever amount is comfortable for them.

The performers will be Bruce with two members of our little songwriting community (see below for the full roster) per evening. I will be playing with him and Cyndi Craven on Saturday, November 6. And I’ll be playing for Bruce and in memory of Paul.

If you’ve never attended a house concert, you’re in for a treat — it’s cozy and intimate and, maybe because of that, the performances, without fail, are typically inspired.

There is seating for 40 guests per night. If you would like to come, we are asking that you sign up as soon as possible for the evening of your choice (the seats are going quickly, and it’s first come-first served). If you have friends or family that you would like to bring, just make sure you sign them up also.

The doors will open at 7:30 and the music will be performed from 8:00 until 10:00.

Please  RSVP as soon as you can to bgilbertmusic@gmail.com or telephone at 404-474-0869.

If you cannot attend but would like to donate, please go here.