Events

Los Angeles band Hello Stranger comes to modesto to play their infectious brand of electro-pop dance music. Also playing are local modesto bands Femmebotz, Tapestry and Moon Trent. bands playing HELLO STRANGER » read more

In January 2004, Paula West tied with Dianne Reeves for the New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist. The San Francisco-based chanteuse is arguably one of the finest jazz vocalists to emerge in the past decade. West masterfully navigates the waters between jazz and cabaret. Often compared to Billie Holiday and Lena Horne, West's voice moves easily from her familiar luscious contralto to a strong midrange soprano. With a particular dusky soulfulness, West has captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike from coast to coast. Known and respected for her creative and distinct repertoire, West adds her own depth and drama to whichever song she chooses for the moment, creating whole new frameworks of meaning for American favorites. From the Plush Room in San Francisco to the Oak Room in New York, West delights audiences with her diverse repertoire, which includes her trademark song "The Snake", inspired by the Oscar Brown fable about caring women and the reptiles they attract. West also lends her signature style to songs from Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Hoagy Carmichael. Putting a personal spin on every performance, West infuses her work with a unique feeling and gutsiness that makes classic favorites "new". Her critically acclaimed CD’s include "Temptation", "Restless" and "Come What May", which received the California Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Album. "When this mischievously sexy jazz singer applies her swinging expertise and thick velvety voice to (songs)...the earth moves...a jazz natural...the more aggressive the rhythm, the harder she swings ..." - Stephen Holden, The New York Times "It's doubtful that anyone is singing better than Paula West these days...this extraordinary jazz singer wears each song like perfectly fitted silk." - Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle » read more