WHAT: "An Intimate Evening Of the Blues" Featuring Papa J and Friends With Special Guest, K.K. Martin
WHERE: Encore Dinner Theater & Club - 690 El Camino Real, Tustin (657) 210-3200
WHEN: Thursday, August 9 - 8 p.m. Tickets $20. ($16.50 for Muckenthaler Cultural Center members) - Presented in association with the Orange County Blues Society ABOUT THE ACTS: When it comes to the Blues in Orange County, California, there is perhaps no bigger or more passionate proponent than Papa J (Jeffrey Hudson). For the better part of two decades, the affable harmonicist/vocalist has entertained countless numbers of fans in venues ranging from the House of Blues (both the Anaheim and L.A. locations) to the Doheny Blues Festival and more with a spirited brand of Chicago-style Jump/Blues that once earned him "Entertainer of the Year" from the prestigious 2010 Los Angeles Music Awards. n addition to a tireless performing schedule, Papa J has become a bonafide Blues impresario - first, creating the successful Real Blues Festival Of Orange County, which is now in its third year of existence and has become an annual event; and, more recently, establishing the first Orange County Blues Society, which is presenting its first-ever concert event August 16.
Last Fall Papa J and Friends released an independent CD, "The Big Show" (Houndog Records) to great reviews: "Great CD chock full of Blues standards performed with energy and enthusiasm!" - Barrelhouse Blues
"The Big Show'' is absolutely first-rate with great performances by all involved including Papa J...a big winner that I have no problem highly recommending to Blues enthusiasts." - Blues Underground
"On 'The Big Show' Papa J and Friends are winning over music aficionados with mental images of smoke-filled, Old-School Blues where people celebrate in sharing this fine music genre." -L.A. Examiner
www.papajandfriends.com
K.K. Martin is a fourth-generation Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Musician/ Arranger/Producer/Engineer/all-around Entertainer born in West Monroe, Louisiana. Exposed in the womb to the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Robert Johnson and Hank Williams; he began touring with his parents band at age 10, was transplanted to California in 1969, and cut his teeth on the local L.A. rock scene at age 16 landing a brief stint with the Albert Collins Backup Band. As a stalwart in the 1980's L.A. scene, Martin was a founding member of the band A La Carte, recorded and played with Donald (Duck) Dunn, It's a Beautiful Day, Eric Burden, Booker T, Rick Derringer, Lester Chambers, Andy Johns, The Chambers Brothers, and Shark Island. He shared stages with, Journey, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Black Oak Arkansas, Blondie, UFO, Johnny Winters, Mike Campbell, (of the Heartbreakers) Glenn Cambell, and The Busboys, to name just a few. In the late 90's KK rediscovered his roots, producing, recording and performing Delta Blues in the old solo artist traditions and style. Martin was honored at the 9th Annual HOUSE of BLUES, Los Angeles MUSIC AWARDS being voted "OUTSTANDING BLUES ARTIST". His Delta Blues debut, "Naked Blues" featured Martin's amazing fretwork, the finger styling he learned at his grandmothers knee, but also emphasized his vocal performance and emotion; dark and suffused with undertones of danger. K.K. Martin is a musician's musician who "delivers polished material via its basic components - a man, a guitar, and a microphone." K.K. Martin performs at Real Blues Festival of Orange County 3, Sunday, August 26 in Santa Ana. www.kkmartin.com
ABOUT THE VENUE: The Tustin Theatre was built in 1959 and was the first and only movie theatre in Tustin for many years. It was owned by Saul Mahler until 1976. He had previously been involved in the movie theatre business in the Los Angeles area with many of the well known theatre owners of the 30s and 40s.
In 1978 a group of producers raised capital from local business owners to remodel the building and covert it into a dinner theatre. The construction took about a year. The newly opened Cabaret Theatre was presented innovative and captivating performances of all the loved musicals for all ages for the local audiences for several years. In 1980 the Curtain Call group assumed the reins of the theatre and ran it successfully for approximately 25 years.
The building was in need of a complete makeover. In October of 2011 the property owner, with much encouragement from City of Tustin building officials, set out to completely renovate the theatre. Decorators, structural engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, painters, all went to work in a frenzy of non-stop around the clock construction in an attempt to get the theatre open for a Christmas 2011 show. By some miracle of cooperation between all involved the theatre was able to open on December 6, 2011 with "'Tis The Season",a holiday tribute to all religions which celebrates the miraculous nature of life and regeneration.
Now the theatre could celebrate it's own renewal. With dazzling chandeliers which rise when the shows begin, modeled after the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and an interior reminiscent of a 1940s nightclub, the Encore Theatre provides an entertainment and culinary experience unlike any other in Southern California. The current show which showcases some of the most popular big band swing hits of the late 30s and 40s draws the audience back to a time when patriotism was "in", and the country was unified, things we need to rediscover and build on today. For this reason we have held the Big Band Swing Revue show over in to Summer in order to get the word and the message out to as many people as possible. That is who we are and that is what we are working for. Please tell all your friends and relatives to come and see the show and rediscover what this country is really all about. www.encoredinnertheatre.com
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