Premiere Show: July 16, 2007
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The audience was riveted as our premiere guests Rob Rodgers, Andrea Carla Michaels and Paul Mehling regaled us with stories from their worlds. Kurt and Rob opened the show with a few moments of primo improv madness, and then Rob's insider views of Cirque du Soleil (it's like being trapped in "Groundhog's Day" after while) were a hoot. Next, we were all appalled to learn that puzzle-mistress Andrea gets paid less for a New York Times crossword puzzle than it costs to buy a latte at Starbucks (ok, it's a little bit of an exaggeration, but close enough). And just how good do you have to be to travel the world as a gypsy jazz sensation? Kurt got Paul "Pazzo" Mehling to talk about it a little, but he preferred -- lucky for us! - to let Le Jazz Hot show us. The answer: amazingly good. Great, actually.
LE JAZZ HOT -- THE TRIO OF THE HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
Le Jazz Hot (Clint Baker, Jason Vanderford and Paul Mehling) celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering Hot Club de France, often called Gypsy jazz. Borrowing the all-string instrumentation of bass and 2 guitars from the original Hot Club, the ensemble breathes new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions. Critics have hailed the group’s playing as “intricate, scorching and often brilliant…”. The Hot Club of San Francisco has the distinction of being the first American Gypsy-swing band to play at the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samoir-sur-Seine, France in 2000. For more about Le Jazz Hot, and to hear (or buy) their fabulous music, check out their website. ROB RODGERS
Rob Rodgers toured the U.S. and Europe in Cirque du Soleil's "Varekai" show, performing clowning, acrobatics, and hand balancing. While iving in Europe, he also directed and taught physical theatre. With Juice Workshops, he applies his improv skills to the corporate world, creating an environment that promotes teamwork, free expression, and innovation. Rob also produces independent works of film, theater, and writing under Portmantoe Productions. Formerly the lead clown for the Pickle Family Circus here in the Bay Area, he recently he wrote and directed "Habitat" for Sweet Can Productions. It's a story of living in the city told through circus, acting, and dance, and the show is being revived for a 2-month run at the end of the year.ANDREA CARLA MICHAELS
Ever wondered how they create crossword puzzles? Andrea Carla Michaels does it, for the New York Times, TV Guide, and a lot of other publications. She's a nationally-ranked Scrabble player and aficionado of puzzles in general. She's also a namer - she comes up with the names of companies and products.