Saturday February 3, 2018

7:30 pm

Guitarist Jim Nichols and vocalist Morning Nichols, meet violinist Kay Stern and pianist Joan Nagano for a musical melding of classical, folk, roots, and a bit of jazz — mixed together for a unique combination of American and European music. Each song has been chosen with care from the vast repertoire of these four talented musicians.

Kay Stern is the Concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, (since 1994) and has performed at music festivals around the world, including the Bard, Olympic, and Grand Teton music festivals. She has appeared on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center, CNN’s Women Today, and as the former first violinist and a founding member of the Lark String Quartet, she performed and gave master classes throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Jim Nichols has an unusual approach to the guitar–he uses a thumbpick and fingers to play everything from Chet Atkins style to modern jazz. His impressive credentials include appearances on tv, radio, concert halls and clubs including Carnegie Hall, The Tonight Show and the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-Seine, France. His solo guitar CD was warmly received and was recognized by Guitar Magazine.

Morning Nichols, is a pure and compelling vocalist. She has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the West Coast Cabaret Convention and has performed with guitar greats Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, and Martin Taylor, Together, the Nichols Duo toured in the US and in Europe, and have eight CDs that reflect the many eclectic styles of music they love to perform.

Joan Nagano, pianist, is a graduate of the music conservatories in Freiburg, Germany and in San Francisco, California. With an emphasis on chamber music, she has been coached by such noted musicians as Menahem Pressler and William Pleeth. A highly sought after musician in the Bay Area music community, Ms. Nagano’s performances have been broadcast locally on KQED and KPFA-FM radio and on Canadian national radio.