Rhan Wilson || Altared Music with Friends

This is a photo of my buddy Rhan Wilson with his Baritone Ukulele. People that have followed my postings on Humble Uker know that Rhan (pronounced: Ron), was the music guru whom created Ukulele University (or UkeU) which was a group class with ukulele players who wanted to improve their abilities over a 10 week course meeting once a week.

This experience was the best musical experience of my short musical life. The group included two people with 30 years of playing experience: Jay Holiday (guitar) and Judy Plicka (uke & bass) and Rhan's lifelong creative musical experience. We also had Pete the percussionist. The rest of us were ukulele players: Robbie, Sheila, Chuck, Bob, and myself. Each of us worked on a song or two for our personal performances in the band. We had so much fun that we morphed into a garage band for about 18 weeks and culminated in a on stage performance that was near the Elkhorn Slough close to Monterey.

Enough about that, Rhan is the story here. He and I converse regularly even though I live up in the east San Francisco Bay Area and he's in Tropical Santa Cruz, California. He is the creator of An Altared Christmas show which performs a Christmas show with all of the songs altered into minor keys. Rhan is multi-instrumentalist and performs regularly in a variety of ensembles, but his main band has been ROMP, link.

Here's another one of Rhan's videos that looks like it includes Olaf S. on drums and the lovable lady Patti Maxine on the lapsteel, and Matt Bohn on Bass. Take a look at some of the special guests on the performer's list below.

Rhan Wilson presents this "altared" version of the song, "Truckin'" at the "Have You Ever Been Altared" show, April 20th (420), 2010 at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA.
Performing:
Rhan Wilson - Guitar, Vocals
Matt Bohn, Bass
Olaf Schiappacasse - Drums
Patti Maxine - Lap Steel
Dale Ockerman - Keyboards (Doobie Brothers)
Rick Zeek - Vocals
Jerry Martini - Sax (Sly and the Family Stone)
Ernie Rideout - Trombone
Modesto - Trumpet
Videotaped by Ron Hollman

For information about the other Altared shows, go to: www.altared.com

Rhan has also taken on the duties of the Santa Cruz and surrounding area music news. If you're local and would like to receive then please contact Rhan: rhanw@altared.com. You may have also noted that Rhan is the man behind one of my 3 blog-links, called: "All in Good Time" which is a place for many us to get some musical inspiration. And a good place to ask musical questions.

Rhan Wilson || Altared Christmas || What if all Christmas Songs were played in Minor Keys?

Rhan is my friend and music teacher. He started UkeU and I was in the first graduating class with a group of fantastic folks from Santa Cruz. Rhan has an amazing annual Christmas show at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz. It is a fresh and darker take on Christmas and Santi Claus. All is done in good fun in the spirit of Minor Keys. There are ukes in the production but not in this specific song. This is a fresh cut from the 2010 show.

RHAN WILSON presents AN ALTARED CHRISTMAS

Rhan Wilson has posted a clip from last year's An Altared Christmas Show. Christmas songs in minor keys. I went for the first time last year and Wendy and I are going again this year. This clip features one of Santa Cruz's great wonders -- Patti Maxine -- singing, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

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Rhan has his genius, his way of bending things to make for unexpected treats. He also has compiled a cast of truely wonderful entertainers. It is THE EVENT and most of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz attends with hundreds of others inspired to Rhan's madness like a moth to a flame.

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December 12, 2009

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Rio Theater, Soquel Ave., Santa Cluz

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http://www.altared.com/

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No ukes in this video. But ukes are in the show.

Patti Maxine is well know for her lap steel playing.

It such a treat to hear her sing too.

Rhan Wilson's Altared Christmas Show 2009

If you've been following this blog over the last year you'll know a bit about my friend and musical -yoda, Rhan Wilson. This Altared Christmas production is quite a festive event. Christmas songs in minor keys, brilliant musicians, excitement, creativity, festivity...
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Don't miss it.

For more stupendous info...

http://www.altared.com/

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RHAN WILSON / AN ALTARED CHRISTMAS

RHAN WILSON (pronounced 'rawn')

AN ALTARED CHRISTMAS

Friday, December 12, 2008, Rhan Wilson has put on his 4th annual “An Altared Christmas” Concert at the Rio Theater on Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz. I have really just gotten to know Rhan over the last few months at the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz and at one of his rhythm classes with African Drums. He is one of the many talented musicians in the Santa Cruz community. But I think this Christmas show shows so much more of his overall talents as a creative artist.

I brought my wife, Wendy, son, Kyle and his girlfriend Caitlin (who is a UCSC banana slug freshman). The Rio is a very well kept old theater house on Soquel Ave. As we enter, there is a tall blue man dressed like a Venetian boat gondolier playing the accordion.

The Altared Christmas Show is compilation of so many treats that it’s impossible to describe in their fullness of color. Rhan is a master of the elements, combining street artist talents with extremely talented singers and musicians. Take a look at http://www.altared.com/live/

Of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz members I recognized, Rhan showed off his personal prowess on the ukulele, electric guitar, guitar and African drums. Patty Maxine was her usual best on the Lap Steel and lovely voice. Ukulele Dick performed with is usual flair on, well, the ukulele of course. Celina, in a rare performance with shoes on her feet, stomped, sang and performed various skit performances.

Perhaps my favorite song was Melee Kaliski Vodka which is a parody of the Hawaiian tune Mele Kalikimaka. My wife preferred the “Rudolph” parody base on The Police’s “Roxanne”. This show was more than just Christmas tunes and parodies though as there were some jazz selections that had impressive and Sax and Clarinet solos.

There’s so much more to tell about this show but I think I’ll just recommend going to the 5th annual show next year.

http://www.rhanwilson.com/