GuitarWitt Plays Hotel Californian: Luxury Santa Barbara Beach Hotel

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It was an honor to perform a special set of Jewish Music, setting the tone for the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara's - Women's Philanthropy Luncheon at the spectacular new venue, Hotel Californian. Over time, after producing a Yiddish Folk Music Legacy album, and building up Jewish repertoire playing the the Red Sea Rhythm Rockers Band, as well as various Jewish Weddings, GuitarWitt devised a very special selection of arranged instrumental solo guitar pieces. This included songs that would celebrate Israel at 70 years, such as Yihye Tov by David Broza, Zog Nit Keynmol and other classics like Tum Balalaika, Shalom Rav and Tanz Tanz Yidelekh.
Pastry Chef Ben Kunert, Executive Chef Alexander La Motte, previously of The French Laundry | Thomas Keller Restaurant Group), and Chef de Cuisine James King are prepared exceptional service for the luncheon. Above photos by Santa Barbara local photographer extraordinaire - Kelsey Crews Photo

Auction sponsors included but not limited to:
Cos Bar https://www.cosbar.com/ 
RéVive Skincare https://reviveskincare.com/ 
SR Hogue and Co. Forist http://www.hoguefloral.com/ 
Majorelle http://www.thehotelcalifornian.com/santa_barbara_spa/ 
Evolutions Spa http://www.evolutionsmedicalspa.com/
http://www.occhialieyewear.com/ 

This is a great article about The History of Santa Barbara and Hotel Californian being an integral point of our history.  https://www.independent.com/news/2017/sep/21/santa-barbaras-hotel-californian-opens/

#womensphilanthropy #santabarbarawomen #seesb #Israelat70 #remarkablewomen #JewishMusic #HotelCalifornia #HotelCalifornian

Guitar Performance Santa Barbara Wedding at University Club/Riviera Mansion

It was a warm and breezy occasion, which made for a beautiful back drop for the #drinktotheminks big day this Spring in Santa Barbara. Thanks to Gavin Roy Presents for hooking up the sound during ceremony. Gavin is fun to work with and a perfectionist with his work. This video is a portion of the processional where GuitarWitt performs a Leo Brouwer composition. Leo Brouwer is the foremost Cuban classical guitar composer, who incorporates gorgeous Cuban folk melodies into a somewhat dissonant, color rich, Avante-garde approach. He is well respected in the classical guitar community and a musical celebrity in Cuba.  Later on GuitarWitt played an upbeat set of Spanish music for the cocktail hour.

GuitarWitt and the Acclaimed Santa Barbara Folk Orchestra

Tickets are selling fast! Be sure to get your tickets in advance. The Scottish program is expected to be our best yet! 2 Shows! At El Presidio de Santa Barbara, 125 E. Canon Perdido St.
Thursday, November 30, 7:30-9:30pm GET TIX NOW!!
&  Sunday, December 3, 4:00-6:00pm  SOLD OUT!!!

The final program of the Folk Orchestra's inaugural season is Scottish! Come and enjoy the gorgeous acoustics of the Presidio and join us for a tasty beer from Telegraph Brewing at intermission.
Flower of Scotland, Scotland the Brave, Ca the Yowes, The Skye Boat Song (Outlander Theme) and MANY MORE! Here are links to the TWO DIFFERENT event pages:  https://www.facebook.com/folkorchestrasb/ 
THURSDAY - https://folkorchestrasb-scottish11-30.brownpapertickets.com/  GET TIX NOW!!

SUNDAY -  https://folkorchestrasb-scottish12-3.brownpapertickets.com/  SOLD OUT!!!

GuitarWitt warming up on his Larrivée Guitar before his folk orchestra performance at the El Presidio Chapel. The acoustics are incredible at this historic venue, built in 1782, with about 30 amazing acoustic musicians at the helm of SBFO Director, Adam Phillips. This is truly a unique experience for both the musicians and the audience, which we encourage participation. Thanks to our sponsors, such as craft brewery - Telegraph Brewing and the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Performance of Freight Train

Michael learned this song when he learned Travis Picking method early in his classical guitar career and the song has become a versatile piece with very deep meaning and connection to his life. Folk blues tradition runs in the Witt family's history and Michael spent part of his musical academia career living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where Elizabeth Cotten was from. The lyrics have deep meaning...

The composer and original performer of Freight Train, Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (née Nevills) (January 5, 1893 – June 29, 1987) was an American blues and folk musician, singer, and songwriter.

A self-taught left-handed guitarist, Cotten developed her own original style. She played a guitar strung for a right-handed player, but played it upside down, as she was left-handed. This position required her to play the bass lines with her fingers and the melody with her thumb. Her signature alternating bass style has become known as "Cotten picking".

The guitar, a Sears and Roebuck brand instrument, cost $3.75. Although self-taught, she became proficient at playing the instrument. By her early teens she was writing her own songs, one of which, "Freight Train", became one of her most recognized. She wrote the song in remembrance of a nearby train that she could hear from her childhood home. The 1956 UK recording of the song by Chas. McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey was a major hit and is credited as one of the main influences on the rise of skiffle in the UK. See GuitarWitt's repertoire page for more songs arranged for instrumental guitar that will work for your joyous event, or wedding.

Wedding performance at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse (above).