RAJA October 2, 2010

Raja is an Emerging San Francisco bay area jazz vocalist with influences ranging from Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae and Ella Fitzgerald, among others. Raja will be sharing the stage with her mentors and teachers.

Guest artist - Herbert Mims, Jr. on Saxophone, Mr. Mims has performed with Chaka Khan, Regina Belle, The Whispers, John Handy, Jon Faddis, Steve Turre, Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays and many other blues and jazz artists. Herbert is currently a professor of music at the College of Alameda, located in Alameda, CA. Most recently, he was inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame.

Maestro Curtis on Piano, has played with such jazz masters as Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie and was the youngest musician ever to play with the Count Basie Orchestra under Dr. Frank Foster (musician), Phyllis Hyman, Will Downing, Lenny Williams, George Benson and the O'Jays and has produced with legendary music producers such as Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire founder) and Hubert Eaves III (the other half of the hit-making duo D-Train). www.stro-ra.com

Fran Curtis is a budding bassist and vocalist currently residing in the San Francisco Area. She is experienced in playing gospel, european classical, and jazz. These styles are major influences in her playing, and if you listen closely you can detect each style within her music. Her bass playing can best be described as unique with influences ranging from Bach and Beethoven, to Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, and Ron Carter. Some of her vocal influences are Sarah Vaughn, Donny Hathaway, and Betty Carter (and countless others). Fran has performed with poet/activist Bryonn Bain and Babatunede Lea. She is the current host of a radio show created and produced by her, featuring her bands' music (WSUir). Fran is a freelance musician with her father's band the Jazz Hieroglyphics (www.maestrology.net).

Tom Babbitt – Drummer, formed the jazz piano trio SoulJazz and played all around the Bay Area jazz circuit. They were recorded in a live setting during their weekly gig at the DogPatch Saloon by Betty Canter of Grateful Dead fame. Their CD Live & Lovin' It is critically acclaimed for it's sonic beauty.
Tom has several credits over the years as a producer and writer. His primary instrument being the drums, he also plays the guitar and piano. He has studied and played many different genres of music - funk, blues, rock and jazz. He has taken lessons from David Garibaldi, Peter Erskine and Billy Cobham.

Suggest you reserve seating 650-365-3226, Dinner starts at 6:00PM