Trio performs
The Fortuna Concert Series continues its 2026 season on Saturday with a performance by the James Zeller Trio, a jazz ensemble known for its interpretations of classic American songs, jazz standards and original works.
Founded in New York City in 2010, the James Zeller Trio has performed at myriad venues, including the Rainbow Room, Waldorf Astoria, and the Lincoln Center, and held a residency at Bar Pleiades at Café Boulud. Since relocating to California, the trio has continued to perform at festivals, private events and concert venues throughout the state. Now based in Arcata, the group brings its polished and engaging performance style to audiences across the North Coast.
Led by multi-instrumentalist James Zeller, the trio features vocals, trombone and guitar, supported by talented musicians on upright bass and guitar. Zeller’s career includes performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and collaborations with notable jazz artists, including Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Monday Club, 610 Main St., Fortuna. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The performance runs approximately two hours and includes a 15-minute intermission. Refreshments will be available during intermission by donation.
Tickets are available at the door. General admission is $15. High school students are admitted free. There is still an opportunity to become a season ticket holder for the remaining seven concerts of the 2026 season for $100, offering a savings for those who plan to attend multiple performances.
The Fortuna Concert Series is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to bringing high-quality live music to the Eel River Valley. Community support and business sponsorships help offset artist travel and performance costs and make these concerts possible.
Band performs
The Back Seat Drivers will play at the historic April 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Logger Bar in Blue Lake. There is no cover charge.
Frank Anderson, Alan Glaseroff, Patrick Cleary and Ann Lindsay will play Delta Piedmont blues and handmade topical songs.
Music for percussion
The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt will present “Contemporary Music for Percussion” performed by the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble and “Samba of Bahia” performed by the World Percussion Group.
The performances are directed by Howard Kaufman and will take place April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets are $15 general, $5 for children and $5 for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at tickets.humboldt.edu/dance-music-and-theatre.
Kaufman is enthusiastic about the evening’s program.
“I so appreciate the love and support that Humboldt County has shown us for the 40-plus years I have been a part of the percussion experience on campus and in the community. Please come out to this concert, support our students and the unique live music that the percussion ensembles perform. You won’t be disappointed,” he said.
The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble program will feature three works, including “Sin Fronteras (without Borders)” by Rick Dior, which has never before been performed on the North Coast. This piece features keyboard percussion instruments, including marimbas, vibraphones, glockenspiel and drum set. The composition explores rhythmically complex themes using jazz harmony, improvisation, odd time signatures and modern Latin rhythms, which gives it a modern jazz-fusion character.
Another work on the program, “Catching Shadows” by Ivan Trevino, like “Sin Fronteras,” features keyboard percussion instruments, along with two cajons, box drums originally used in Spain, South America and the Carribbean.
A third piece, “Sear-Ching,” composed by Cal Poly Humboldt professor and percussionist Eugene Novotney, was written for a 19-tone diatonic scale played on four tube-a-phones. Each tube-a-phone has six aluminum tubes cut to different lengths that correspond to a 19 tone scale with some duplicated pitches. Novotney constructed these instruments and then composed this piece.
Additionally, members of the Percussion Ensemble will be performing two duets and three solo works for percussion, including “Dance of Water” by Justin Bunting, a piece inspired by the sound of a dripping faucet with two different drips, irregular, yet mesmerizing. The two performers play multiple patterns that increase in rhythmic intensity as the piece progresses, move through several time signatures, and eventually come together in the end.
“A Vision From My Dream” and “With A Mazy Motion,” two movements from Tim Huesgen‘s “Trilogy: Three Movements For Solo Vibraphone,” are works of art that showcase the full range of the instrument.
The concert ends with a high-energy finale as the World Percussion Group brings the vibrant sounds of Brazil to life with samba grooves from the Bahian region. Inspired by the legendary Bloco Afro group Ilê Aiyê, the ensemble will ignite the stage with the powerful rhythms of Samba Afro, Samba Reggae and Ijexá.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.times-standard.com ’
