The Best Custer Ensemble May 26, 2012

The Beth Custer Ensemble will be presenting Custer's award-winning live soundtrack to the 1929 silent film, MY GRANDMOTHER. A benefit movie night for the Oxbow School Film Program.

Forgotten for a half-century, director Kote Mikaberidze's MY GRANDMOTHER (CHEMI BEBIA/1929) is a delightful example of the Soviet Eccentric Cinema movement as well as an irreverent satire of the then still-young Soviet State system. Noted for its anarchic styles—which include stop-motion, puppetry, exaggerated camera angles, animation and constructivist sets—the film unspools the foibles and follies that abound when a Georgian paper pusher, modeled after American silent comic Harold Lloyd, loses his job.

With a score that was originally commissioned by the Pacific Film Archive and recorded with an Aaron Copland Recording Fund award, Beth Custer has created a quick-paced pastiche of American jazz and blues, contemporary classical, and world folk music.

The Beth Custer Ensemble features guitarist David James (The Coup, Spearhead, Afro Funk Experience), drummer Jan Jackson, (Will Bernard, Flaming Groovies), bassist Vicky Grossi (PC Muñoz, Bitches Brew), trumpeter Chris Grady (Tom Waits, Grassy Knoll), cellist Jessica Ivry (Real Vocal String Quartet, Amy X Neuburg), violinist Dina Maccabee (Real Vocal String Quartet, Vienna Teng), narrator Freddi Price (Rube Waddell, Extra Action Marching Band), and clarinets/keyboardist Beth Custer (Trance Mission, Club Foot Orchestra, Eighty Mile Beach) will be performing Custer's score live with this rare film.

Ticket prices are $60.00 Reserve Admission (includes seating & a glass of wine) $50.00 General Admission; $30.00 Student and can be purchased by calling 707.967.8027 or by email, [email protected] Visit www.tressabores.com for more information. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic style dinner (and a dish to share if you like) and a low beach chair and a blanket for the movie. Tres Sabores Wines will be available for purchase (please - no outside alcohol). $10 from every bottle of Tres Sabores wine sold will be donated to The Oxbow Film Program.

Official Website: http://www.tressabores.com