Story Swap, In Terms of Music

Our Story Swaps are loosely based on The Moth, in that people tell true life stories. In October, in conjunction with our Leonard Bernstein at 100 exhibition, we have four diverse storytellers who have a range of musical experiences from Blues harmonica player, classically-trained singer, Ska-punk musician and jazz band leader of music from 1920s-40s—all coached by Cassandra Sagan, a professional storyteller and Maggid-Educator. This is a not to be missed evening!

Our In Terms of Music Storytellers:

Richard Basi is the band leader of The Cherry Blossom Orchestra a group of premier musicians who specialize in the jazz created during what they consider its most important period: the 1920s to the 1940s. Based out of Portland, The Cherry Blossom Orchestra were formed as a direct result of Louis Armstrong’s visit to the city in 1965 and he is one of many inspirations – which also includes Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, WC Handy, Spencer Williams, the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, and Fletcher Henderson among others.

Anya Kalina is a classically-trained singer, active performer and music educator. She is the Executive Artistic Director and Soprano soloist with Portland Chamber Music, a local nonprofit that brings classical music performances to underserved communities, and Piano/Voice faculty member with Rose City Music Academy.

Eric Ward is a singer-songwriter who grew up in the Los Angeles hardcore scene in the 1980s. As the original singer of the band that would later become Sublime, Eric helped define the musical hybrid now called Ska-Punk.

Bruce Goldberg currently plays harmonica and percussion with Homebrew featuring the Terrapin Horns, an 11 piece band playing fine varietal rhythm and blues hand crafted here in the Pacific NW. In the past he has played harmonica and guitar with a number of country and western, bluegrass, rock and blues bands, many of whom remain in witness protection programs.