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Tuning in the Tarabinis
Dynamic duo is some of the ‘indigenous talent’ on display at Copia
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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The Tarabinis are becoming regulars on the Napa music scene, much as they were back in the ’50s and ’60s around the Bay Area.

Al and Gloria Tarabini re-emerged on the show biz scene in 2005 after a hiatus of at least two decades.
Almost every time they are set to appear, something new has been added. Their upcoming performance at Copia is no exception.

The Jan. 11, show is the latest in a series of concerts featuring what Copia’s music guru Richard Miami terms “indigenous talent” — that is, from the Napa area. Every Thursday is “locals night” at Julia’s Kitchen, Copia’s highly rated restaurant.
The ensemble features Al Tarabini on accordion along with wife Gloria on vocals. Their regular sidekicks Yancie Taylor on vibes and Terry Hilliard on bass were joined recently by guitarist-vocalist Leigh Wyckoff, a Napa native who presented his own Moonlight Dance Band at Copia in November.

“Leigh has added a whole new sound to the group,” said Tarabini. “It’s more of a George Shearing sound now.”
For this gig, add Napa’s gentleman of jazz, saxophonist Philip Grady Smith, who adds a New Orleans flavor to some of the tunes the Tarabinis plan to program.

“I’ll back up Gloria on a couple of tunes and do some feature pieces,” said Smith. “We’ll cover a broad spectrum.”

Al Tarabini caught Smith and his group at Uva, one of their regular haunts, and asked him to join them for this special concert. “It’s good to see there’s more local jazz being presented,” said Smith.

“Gloria does some blues-oriented songs like ‘Basin Street’ and ‘Mood Indigo,’ and we thought it would be nice to have a clarinet playing background,” he said.

Tarabini said that with two nearly hour-long sets planned, the added variety will be an audience pleaser.

As a budding young musician, Al Tarabini listened to the great jazz accordionist Art Van Damme to help develop his own career, and cites the lesser known Ernie Felice as being a major influence. Gloria was a regular on bandleader Del Courtney’s television show, “Search for Songs.”

To further augment the evening’s proceedings, insert the mellifluous tones of former radio guy Ward Glenn. He’ll serve as the evening’s emcee. Glenn, with an extensive career in broadcasting, once served as announcer for Del Courtney in San Francisco.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance are available in advance or at the door the night of the performance for $20. Info, 259-1600.
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