Brent Johnson and The Call Up will play blues tunes today at Comma Coffee.
As a child growing up on the southern coast of England, Carl Sonny Leyland was drawn to the American music he heard on LP records. At age 15, he discovered boogie-woogie, went to the piano, and began on a path that would lead to his induction into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame. As part of the Carson City’s Jazz and Beyond festival, Leyland will take the stage from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Brewery Arts Center, 511 W. King St.
Leyland performed in Carson City for the first time at last year’s festival. Admission is free, but for a donation, attendees get a chance to win a door prize. For more information about Leyland, go to www.carlsonnyleyland.com.
Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson St., is also hosting a Jazz and Beyond event today.
Brent Johnson and The Call Up will play blues, blues rock, roots rock, and Americana from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Comma Courtyard. South Texas-born Johnson moved to New Orleans in his teens, where legendary “Braille Blues Daddy” Bryan Lee recognized his virtuosity, drive, and dedication. Johnson has recorded and toured internationally for the past decade with Lee and the Blues Power Band. Johnson has played major Jazz and Blues Festivals around the world and with blues artists Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, Eddie Shaw, Gatemouth Brown, Michael Burks, David Maxwell, Bruce Katz, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Howlin’ Wolf associate Hubert Sumlin. The band features Johnson, guitar and vocals; Bill Blok, bass; and John Perkins, drums. For more information about Johnson and The Call Up, go to https://www.reverbnation.com/brentjohnsonband.
Also today, the Jazz van Gogh duo will play smooth jazz and Latin, blues, contemporary, Flamenco and classical styles on flute and guitar from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tahoe Ridge Winery & Bistro, 1105 S. Carson St. Mike Beck, cowboy singer featured at The National Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Elko, will play solo acoustic guitar from 6 to 9 p.m. on the verandah at Café at Adele’s, 1112 N. Carson St.
The performances are part of the Jazz and Beyond Carson City Music Festival, which continues through Aug. 23. For a festival schedule, call 775-883-4154, or go to JazzCarsonCity.com.