Saratoga News

Folksinger Dan Fogelberg plays the Mountain Winery this summer in a new Summer Series sponsored by Villa Montalvo.

Summer series at Montalvo, Mountain Winery announced

By Carolyn Leal

New Age maestro John Tesh, blues legend Ray Charles and country singer Willie Nelson will be among the eclectic performers this summer at Saratoga's historic Mountain Winery. The Summer Series marks a renewal of music at the vineyards. The venue has been silent for two years as the winery property changed ownership.

Recently, Villa Montalvo signed an agreement with Ravi Kumra of Monte Sereno, owner of the Mountain Winery, to renew the Summer Series. Kumra reportedly is charging no rent for the first season.

This summer's concerts have been booked by impresario Bruce Labadie, under the sponsorship of Villa Montalvo, which will stage a record 82 concerts at four venues: the Montalvo Carriage House Theater, the Garden Theater, the Front Lawn and the Mountain Winery.

The 16-concert Mountain Winery season starts June 5 with Al Jarreau and Boney James, followed by Chris Isaak, June 18 and 19; John Tesh, June 25; Boz Scaggs, July 9-11; Dave Brubeck and David Benoit, July 25; Dan Fogelberg, July 30-31; Willie Nelson, August 14; Hiroshima and The Braxton Brothers, August 22; A Bluegrass Reunion with David Grisman, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan and Herb Peterson, Sept. 7; Chicago, Sept. 9-10; Alison Krauss, Sept. 14; Manhattan Transfer, Sept. 18-29; Ray Charles, Oct. 2; Peter, Paul and Mary, August 24, The Doobie Brothers, Sept. 30-Oct. 1; and Los Lobos, Oct. 5.

With the addition of the Mountain Winery, Montalvo has grown from a regional arts center to a "national destination for the arts," Executive Director Elisbeth Challener said. This year marks the 42nd year of Montalvo concerts and will offer "the most extensive concert season of any center in the country," Challener added.

The series embraces such big names as Johnny Cash and relative unknowns, such as Cubanismo!, a Cuban band, and the St. Petersburg String Quartet from Russia; classical artists such as Kathleen Battle, who headlines the Aug. 3 gala, and children's entertainers such as the Missoula Children's Theater and the Pickle Family Circus.

Montalvo's season starts April 13 in the newly renovated Carriage House Theater with pianist Kyoko Tabe, followed by Masters of the Slack Key Guitar, April 24; La Tania dance company, May 2; The Battlefield Band from Scotland, May 8; Cubanismo!, May 11; folk singers Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, May 23; St. Petersburg String Quartet, July 18; Jesse Cook and Faranak Shabroozi, July 26; New Beginnings, readings to music by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Sept. 5; the Jazz Tap Ensemble from Los Angeles, Oct. 5; Mystical Arts of Tibet, Oct. 10; Poncho Sanchez, Oct. 12; Baba Yaga, Oct. 17; the Brubeck Brothers, Oct. 19; Irish Fire stepdancers, Nov. 13; and Little Red, a children's play, Nov. 22.

The Garden Theater features Dr. John and Keb Mo, blues artists from New Orleans, on June 6; Grover Washington Jr., June 12; Johnny Cash, June 13; the Pickle Family Circus, June 15; Shawn Colvin, June 17; Gladys Knight, June 18; Tom Jones, June 29; the Missoula Children's Theater doing The Wizard of Oz, July 3; Michelle Shocked, July 11; Andy Narrell and David Rudder, July 13; Ottmar Liebert, July 16-17; Anne Murray, July 24; Sista Monica's Battle of the Blues Divas, August 1; Merola Opera, August 8-10; Los Trocaderos, August 15; The Rippingtons, August 21-22; Dave Koz, August 27-18; Zap Mama and Mayim, an a capella group, August 29; Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, Sept. 4; the Labeque Sisters, Sept. 7; Joe Lovano Celebrates Sinatra, Sept. 11; David Benoit, Sept. 12; Spyro Gyra, Sept. 14;David Sanborn, Sept. 19; Miriam Makeba, from South Africa, Sept. 21; Tuck & Patti and Michael Hedges, Sept. 26; guitarists the Romeros, Sept. 28.

Front Lawn performers are Guitars and Sax and More (Peter White, Craig Chaquico, Richard Elliott and Rick Braun), June 8; John Denver, June 22; KKSF Jazz Festival, July 26-27; and the Neville Brothers, August 24.

Tickets for the 1997 season go on sale at the Villa Montalvo Box Office April 13. Tickets will be available in advance to those on the Villa Montalvo mailing list. To get on the mailing list, send a postcard to Villa Montalvo, P.O. Box 158, Saratoga, 95071.