Music in the Gardens: Hot Club of Palm Springs
Sunnylands Center & Gardens presents its annual Music in the Gardens concert series beginning Sunday, March 4, and continuing every Sunday throughout the month. The public is invited to stroll in the Gardens or bring a lawn chair and have a picnic on the Great Lawn while enjoying a different musical act each weekend.
Every performance is free and takes place from 11 am to 1 pm at Sunnylands Center & Gardens, 37977 Bob Hope Drive, in Rancho Mirage.
While guests are invited to bring food and picnics to Sunnylands, large coolers, ice chests, grills, and alcohol are not permitted.
March 4--Hot Club of Palm Springs opens the season with everything from the Great American Songbook to Parisian swing treatments of modern hits. Performing for the first time at Sunnylands, this band is led by veteran musician string player Bob Hamilton. Bob wil play guitar and banjo with bassist/vocalist Bill Saitta, saxophonist Craig Yancy and multi-instrumentalist Don Reed.
March 11--Barry Baughn Blues Band. Well-known in the Southern California blues circuit, Barry Baughn is lead guitarist and vocalist. Barry has worked with long-time rock and blues bassist-vocalist, Bob Gross. Over the course of 53 years, Bob has played with Albert King, Delaney Bramlett, Bobbie Gentry, Jim Stafford, Charo, Hank Thompson, and many more. The BBBB's will bring infectious grooves and have the crowd tapping their toes
March 18--Three Micks and a Chick is a is a traditional Irish band, that features elements of traditional Irish music with storytelling and danceable tunes. Mick Lynch, Andrea Bond, John King, Don Reed and Mark Berres use traditional Irish instruments, including the Bodhrán drum, fiddle, concertina, and the Bouzouki and produce a blend of traditional and more modern sounds.
March 25--Jazzgrass returns by popular demand. In 1999, Idyllwild resident Barnaby Finch put the band together to honor the newer and more progressive side of Bluegrass music. In 2011, Barnaby recruited some talented locals to play with him. Don Reed on mandolin, dobro, and guitar is a famous Idyllwild virtuoso who's performed with numerous artists. Sam Zorn on fiddle is a promising young player who covers everything from jazz to Celtic music. On bass is Bill Saitta, one of the busiest musicians in the Desert, joined by Jeff Olson on drums, who plays with David Benoit. Pianist Barnaby Finch is the musical director, formerly music director and touring member of Lee Ritenour's band. Barmaby has played with Ronnie Laws, Alphonse Mouzon, Boz Scaggs and Lionel Richie. His piano was featured on the Lionel Richie/Diana Ross hit Endless Love. From 1982 to 1989 Barnaby toured with George Benson, for whom he was conductor and musical director from 1987 to 1989.