Anthology

An Interview with Mindi Abair

by: Casey Pukl

For Mindi Abair, San Diego is more than just a stop on her tour. For Abair, San Diego feels like home. Crediting the city with her start in the music business, Abair still celebrates album releases, tours, and more right here. We couldn’t be any luckier. Next week, Abair returns to Anthology to see her old friends and fans and delight audiences with three shows.

Read on to find out who Mindi grew up listening to, what she’s working on these days, and what piece of advice Phil Woods gave her that she still remembers to this day.

CP: What have you been working on lately? 

MA: This year so far has been a little bit of touring for my band. We’ve done a couple shows in Florida, a few festivals, a few things out here in Seattle, all kind of tour dates so it’s been busy. In the middle of those tour dates, I’ve been writing and planning and scheming for my next CD. So I’ve been going back and forth between traveling and being creative. I’m just seeing what songs come up and what sounds come out of me. I’m just starting to see what this next record is going to sound like. It’s very exciting to get started on that journey.

CP: For sure— that’s the best part! Read the rest of this entry »

An Interview with Robert Glasper

by: Casey Pukl

I think we’ve found our generation’s Miles Davis. Is that a bold statement? You bet. But jazz pianist Robert Glasper has a clear mission— to update the face of jazz and remind listeners what it was all about to begin with. Jazz is about innovation; it’s about being fresh, and according to Glasper, we should all, “make it cool again”— just like Miles did.

Bringing jazz up to speed is Glasper’s mission. His latest release, Black Radio, is a celebration of his hip-hop and soul inspired roots that culminates in a glorious record of collaborations. The record is one of the most buzzed about of 2012, and to date it has reached the #3 slot on iTunes in nine countries  and debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. In a genre where Glasper is repeatedly finding himself in competition with dead musicians, that’s a pretty solid start. Read on to find out more about Glasper’s vision and just why it was so important to make this record at this point in his career.

CP: How did you get your start in music? I know you went to HSPVA, which has a pretty incredible track record for producing some incredible artists. Where did you begin? Read the rest of this entry »

Delicate, Bold, & Beautiful

by: Casey Pukl

A little bit tart, a little bit sweet, yet packed with a lot of flavor— that’s the beauty of grapefruit. White, pink, or red, this sour gem comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and each type has its own unique characteristics. These different varieties each have subtle differences such as the level of acidity, sweetness, and tartness. Grapefruit is typically in season from October through June, which means now is the time to enjoy them before they’re out! You can juice them (one of my favorite combos is grapefruit, strawberry, orange, and apple), add the segments to salads,  add the zest to desserts, you name it!

Today, both our Sous Chef Kristen Williams and beverage manager Marc Canzoneri have come up with some fantastic grapefruit dishes and cocktails that are sure to refresh you! Read the rest of this entry »

An Interview with Laurence Juber

by: Casey Pukl

Two-time Grammy Award-winning Laurence Juber embraces all kinds of music. The former Wings guitarist is not only steeped in the rock and roll tradition, but he also embraces jazz, pop, folk, video game scores, movie scores, and anything else he can get his hands on. His philosophy on music is simple— play what’s appropriate in the moment, and be inspired by a wide set of eclectic influences. The result of this philosophy is a nearly four decade career decorated with awards and accolades that are far too long to list. Read on to find out what he’s been working on lately, and just what exactly it is about Anthology that makes it his favorite venue.

CP: What have you been working on this year?

LJ: I do a lot of touring, and I also do a lot of recording. I have a new album coming out in April, which is a retrospective. I’ve gone back and re-recorded a lot of my original tunes that fit a certain kind of mood. It’s more along the romantic lines, although it’s not necessarily love songs; it just has a certain kind of romance to it. I’m also working on a subsequent album that’s going to be a jazz/blues project. I’m getting into that kind of guitar noir mode. But then I’m just getting out there and enjoying playing.  I always like coming back to San Diego. It’s always a great crowd out there, and I love Anthology. It’s such a great venue.

CP: We’re looking forward to having you back! I know you also do a lot of composing for film and TV as well. Have you been doing much of that recently? Read the rest of this entry »

Delicious, Crisp, & Functional

by: Casey Pukl

Ah, the cucumber. Good raw, pickled, or grilled, this wonder veggie is both incredibly easy to digest and contains plenty of vitamin k! (Side note: Vitamin K helps your blood coagulate regularly, helps build strong bones, and also prevents calcification of the arteries). Their flavor is incredibly mild which makes it a great complement to many bolder flavors. What more could you ask for?

Read the rest of this entry »