Featured Musician: Steve Freund, artist, producer & bandleader
Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1952
Resides In: Vallejo
Favorite Food: Broiled or baked seafood with vegetables from his organic garden
Favorite Book: Man Child in the Promised Land, by Claude Brown
Favorite Song: If I had to pick one song, it would be Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin
Relationship Status: Has a girlfriend
How do you feel about being a musician at this stage of your life?
It’s an economic struggle. There’s no security in performing arts, and the pay scale is not commensurate with the rising cost of living.
What’s your music background?
My mother was a classical pianist, but I’m self-taught. I picked up a guitar when I was 16. I wanted to be a bass player and saw a guitar I wanted to buy, but by the time I had saved enough money, someone else had bought it. I wanted to play so badly that I bought a regular 6-string guitar instead, and never went back to playing bass.
When I was 24 I moved to Chicago to play full time, and lived there for 19 years. I honed my skills by playing with thousands of bands. I got to play with legendary musicians, many of whom are no longer with us. I moved to Vallejo 13 years ago. Playing in the San Francisco Blues Festival in 2003 with Otis Rush was one of the highlights of my career.
When did you know you wanted to be a musician?
At age 17 I was working part time, but I made a commitment to becoming a musician.
Who was your biggest influence?
BB King.
Live Music – August
The Rellik Tavern
therelliktavern.com 707.746.1137
Live music Friday & Saturday nights:
Aug. 5 & 17, 7pm, Aug. 20, 9pm, Aug. 24, 7pm
Featured Bands/Singers: Sin Silver, the Whitney Myer Band, Ali Handal
Upstairs at the Café
firststreetcafe.com/upstairs
707.745.1400
Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 7pm
Featured Bands/Singers: Jim Nunally & Judy Forrest
Historical Museum
beniciahistoricalmuseum.org
707.745.5435
Saturday, Aug. 20 at 8pm
Featuring Russ Lorenson
Kinder’s BBQ
kindersbbq.com/Benicia 707.745.4453
Music on the Patio Thursdays, 6-9pm
Benicia Farmers Market
beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791
Live music every Thursday:
Peter Franklin, Rich Flynn, Fred McCarty, Gypsy Trio
Vino Paladini at The Inn and Spa at Benicia Bay
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 6:30-8:30pm
Featuring: Tony Robins, Bizzy Lewis
Union Hotel
707.746.7847
Thursdays at 6pm
Main Street Martinez
mainstreetmartinez.org 925.228.3577
Friday evening from 6-8pm: Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26
Featured Bands/Singers: Azure Moon, Tone Pony, Voltones, GarageLand Rodeo
Tuesdays Bluesdays from 6-8pm: Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30
Vallejo Hometown Celebration
vallejochamber.chambermaster.com 707.644.5551
Wednesday nights on Georgia Street from 5-9pm Aug. 3 & 10th
Sunday Jazz at the Sardine Can through September
sardinecan.net 707.553.9492
Dinner & Jazz, no cover 5-8pm, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28
Featured musicians: Bob Nadler, Guy
Arrostuto, Wayne de la Cruz, Dalt Williams
Live Mariachis at Favela’s Fusion in Fairfield
favelasfusion.com 707.421.8484
Enjoy authentic Mexican food and live music every First Friday of each month
Oxbow Market in Downtown Napa
Oxbowmarket.com 707.226.6529
Jazz on Friday evenings at 6:30pm & every other Sunday through October 2
