Burgers and Vine becomes the ‘oasis’ for Maria Muldaur ENTERTAINMENT

Burgers and Vine will be pairing the legendary Maria Muldaur with a five-course Meritage pop-up dinner that will also feature wines from Envolve Winery on Saturday, Dec. 13. Best known for her 1974 hit, “Midnight at the Oasis,” Muldaur has quietly released more than 40 solo albums over the years, covering genres such as American roots music, gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, big band and even children’s songs.

Muldaur has also been nominated for numerous Grammy awards over the years for a number of musical styles. The year 2014 marks 40 years since “Midnight at the Oasis” was riding at the top of the charts and to celebrate, Muldaur has created a multi-media retrospective, “Way Past Midnight,” which chronicles her 50-year journey “… to the Oasis and Beyond.”

This special presentation features all her hits and fan faves from every stage of her career, as well as fascinating, entertaining, and often humorous stories of her personal encounters, friendships and collaborations with many of the biggest names in music. As for the dinner, chef Carlo Cavallo will be recreating some of his dishes from the former Meritage Restaurant and laying out a five-course feast that starts with homemade focaccia and olive pesto, followed by crispy Marin miyagi oysters, Sambuca spinach and parma prosciutto.

The salad will be grilled prawns, heirloom beets, micro greens, Blood Orange Napoleon with citron dressing. Entrees include wild mushroom and black truffle risotto served in a parmesan crisp followed by pancetta wrapped pork tenderloin, stuffed with Cypress grove truffle tremor cheese, on a bed of roasted butternut squash, pomegranate reduction and winter vegetable bundles.

Dessert will feature Cavallo’s 150-year-old family tiramisu recipe. All selections will be paired with wines from Envolve Winery and winemakers Danny Fay and Mike Benziger will be in attendance as well. Tickets are available by calling 938-7110 or at eventbrite.com. Dinner is at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 9 p.m. There is also a ticket option to just attend the show after the dinner.

MusicWorks!Sonoma is back in action on Sunday, Dec. 14, at St. Francis Solano Church with a show they’re calling “What Sweeter Music!” Artistic Director James Griewe, with accompanist John Simon, will be performing seasonal songs from the Basque renaissance tradition to contemporary times. The show will include the musical stylings of Paul Ayres, Benjamin Britten, Andy Beck, Mary Lynn Lightfoot and they’ll also have some fun with the Andrews Sisters. Showtime is 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public, with donations gladly accepted.

The Little Fiddlers and the Sonoma String Orchestra, led by Leta Davis, will be presenting a holiday concert and sing-a-long on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Sonoma Women’s Club. Showtime is 4 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.

Rossi’s 1906 in El Verano presents the Christmas Jug Band tonight, Dec. 12. This irreverent crew of stalwart purveyors of the jugabilly mystique is a seasonal assemblage of musical misfits of Commander Cody alumni and others from various Bay Area acts. What originally started as a Wild Turkey-inspired momentary lapse of sanity is now, four albums and 35-plus-years later, an unconventional holiday tradition of highly skewed merriment. Showtime is 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, it’s a holiday reggae party that features Berkeley’s reggae dance band Solstice with special guests Honeyrose and Corrina, backed by the Visionaries. There will also be a guest appearance by Jamaican songstress Jah’Mila, daughter of famed reggae guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith. DJ Saucy1 will also be spinning reggae sets all night. Showtime is also at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, it’s the Tri-Tip Trio for an afternoon show, kicking off at 4 p.m.

If reggae is not your bag on Saturday, Dec. 13, then around the corner in El Verano at the El Verano Inn is another night of epic punk rock that will feature Get Dead, the Quitters, the Sorority, the Remones (Ramones tribute band) and Nite Shades. Showtime is 9 p.m.

The Annex Wine Bar welcomes Acoustic Soul tonight, Dec. 12, for a 7:30 p.m. show. Saturday, Dec. 13, it’s a CD release party with Wildflower Weed. The act will be playing all the new songs off the new disc, titled “From the Forest to the Sea” as well as many other songs. There will also be a Lucia Blu jewelry trunk sale during the event. The night kicks off at 7:30 p.m. There is no cover but the venue is 21 and over only.

The Erik James Tasting Room has music tonight, Dec. 12, with Charlie Hickox, John Hunt and David Sturdevant, kicking off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, it’s Macy Blackman, also for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover either night, but there is a $10 minimum.

The Plaza Bistro presents the John Kalleen Quintet, tonight, Dec. 12, for a 7 p.m. start. There is no cover for the show.

The Epicurean Connection presents the Hellhounds Saturday, Dec. 13, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

HopMonk Tavern Sonoma has Quiles and Cloud tonight, Nov. 12, playing on the tavern stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, the tavern stage welcomes Ten Foot Tone. There is no cover and the shows are family friendly.

Murphy’s Irish Pub presents Tommy Thomsen tonight, Dec. 12, kicking off at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, it’s Kevin Russell and his So Called Friends, also for an 8 p.m. show.

The Blue Moon Saloon has karaoke on Saturday, Dec. 13, starting at 9 p.m. It’s the continuation of the blues jam on Sunday, Dec. 14, starting at 9:30 p.m. There is no cover.

The Jami Jamison Band will be on the road on tonight, Dec. 12, in Napa at Uva Trattoria for an 8:30 p.m. show.

If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. Hit me up at jmberry@sonomamusic.com.

• • •

J. M. Berry knows the local music scene. He also knows website services and social media marketing. Check out his other skills at jmberry.com.

James

Marshall

Berry

jmberry@sonoma-?music.com

B2 – Friday, December 12, 2014

Editor’s note: While there is no shortage of great concerts in Sonoma, sometimes it is fun to get out of the Valley. Here’s what you can hear within 45 minutes of fair Sonoma.