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Kelly Vance on February 9, 2022
Why do police in the U.S. kill so many unarmed Black people? Why are some states openly trying to suppress the vote in neighborhoods of color? How can someone demonstrate against the removal of Confederate monuments, while carrying a sign declaring that slavery had nothing to do with the Civil War?
Jeffery Robinson, a legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, has thought long and hard on questions like these, ever since he was an African-American child growing up in the Civil Rights era in Memphis. And now Robinson is the writer, producer and director of a remarkable new documentary, Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, based on a series of lectures he delivered in auditoriums before the pandemic.
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Sergio Lopez on February 9, 2022
It’s nighttime in Memphis and rain is pouring. Inside the Lorraine Motel, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lies with a fever and sore throat. Earlier—unknowingly, hours before his death—he had given his final speech, telling the audience at Mason Temple: “I’ve been to the mountaintop.”
While the speech became one of King’s most famous, we rarely think of its opening words. After being introduced by a colleague, King said, “I listened to [t]his eloquent and generous introduction and then thought about myself, I wondered who he was talking about.”
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Grace Stetson on February 9, 2022
There’s nothing quite like seeing a queen in all her glory—and this week, the South Bay has a chance to see why one wears so many crowns.
This Wednesday, beloved performer Bob the Drag Queen takes the stage at the San Jose Improv for one sold-out showcase of all that she has to offer. The Season 8 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race is known for her wealth of talents, going back to her 12-plus years in New York City as host and performer at Barracuda Lounge. She starts 2022 with more projects than ever.
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Elliott Sky Case on February 9, 2022
The vibrant, original and somewhat contradictory form of competitive performance known as the Poetry Slam has grown into an international beast from its roots in 1980s Chicago, and San Jose Poetry Center brings it to the digital realm for all to safely enjoy. This month’s featured poet is Alex Tha Great (Given Real Encouragement Amongst Turmoil), a 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam finalist, playwright and public speaker who has given keynote speeches at universities around the country. Viewers can sign up to flex their own poetic prowess—or call the shots as audience judges.
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Elliott Sky Case on February 9, 2022
Vyacheslav Gryaznov is a busy man. Over the last two decades, he’s performed internationally as a soloist, played with the Russian Philharmonic, authored several arrangements and piano transcriptions and recorded three studio albums. Steinway Society hosted his West Coast debut in 2016, and Saturday’s warm welcome back includes works by Mozart, Mahler and Liszt, as well his own transcriptions of Rachmaninoff, who he has studied and performed extensively. Tickets are available for the in-person performance, as well as a livestream of the event.
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Beibei Xu on February 9, 2022
Opera San Jose’s extravagant new production of Bizet’s Carmen pairs an exciting cast and classic tale with flamenco music, world-class singing and a children’s choir, all under the reimagined stage direction of the award-winning Lilian Groag. The enduring story of one woman’s unceasing search for freedom and passion—and her tragic, operatic fall—Carmen is led by veteran conductor Joseph Marcheso, features mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz and brings the acclaimed Flamenco Society of San Jose on board for a truly vibrant production.
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Alec Adams on February 9, 2022
No instrument creates an aura of intimacy like the ukulele. The delicate instrument demands audiences listen closer than normal, and its rich history and depth of tone are a wonder to behold in the hands of a true master. Daniel Ho is that kind of dude. The Hawaiian legend is a recurring character in the Grammys World Music category—including a win for Ikena with Tia Carrere—and deftly transports his instrument to hard rock, jazz and classical settings with ease. For his performance at San Jose Jazz Winter Fest, he plays Bing Studio accompanied by cello and percussion.
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Grace Stetson on February 9, 2022
Is there anything better than trivia night? How about one hosted by San Jose’s best and brightest queens? This Thursday, S27 Alehouse hosts Drag Queen Bingo, with prizes for teams to compete for and no cost to join in the fun. As guests strive to answer snappy questions about local sports teams, Bay Area haunts and pop culture, local drag star Jackie Layshun will keep the crowd’s spirits high. Guests and competitors alike can add on to the fun of the evening with sips of Fruited Hefe, Average Joe or Brave Noise, all topped off with plates of tacos from TacoTime
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Grace Stetson on February 9, 2022
With a career spanning seven decades, Judy Collins doesn’t clown around. This Friday and Saturday, the New York-based singer-songwriter brings her long-recognized talent to Montalvo Arts Center for two special performances, playing a blend of folk, pop and country from her dozens of albums. Though she is perhaps most known for her 1975 version of the recently-passed Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns,” Collins has plenty more dulcet tones to provide on classics like “Both Sides Now” and “Someday Soon.” Fans can also catch some of the singer’s new work from her forthcoming Spellbound, out Feb 18.
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Alec Adams on February 9, 2022
For bands with a theatrical bent, an aura of mystery goes a long way. Douglas Von Irvin’s Carnival, a band whose members are largely disguised by hospital masks and skulls, dives right into this philosophy, drawing fans into their musical intrigue and matching it with an energetic stage show. They also have a member considered their “spiritual advisor.” The end result is a musical product that sounds like the Misfits’ answer to They Might Be Giants. The group drop into San Jose community pillar Art Boutiki for a lively performance with local act Hot Laundry.
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