Anthology, San Diego’s Premiere Live Music Venue and Fine Dining Restaurant, is hiring for all positions.
3 years of High Volume Experience Necessary for following positions.
Busser, Expediter, Server, Bar, Hostess, Line Cook, Security.
Apply in Person
Monday – Friday
11:00am – 4:00pm
1337 India St, Little Italy.
“The blues is a leaving, breathing art form,” explains Robben Ford, who has been playing them for most of his adult life. “They have always been sociopolitical.”
The veteran musician, who has received four Grammy nominations, a nod by Musician magazine as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” and has played with the likes of Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Miles Davis, Greg Allman, Phil Lesh and Larry Carlton, puts that observation into practice on his third and latest Concord Music Group album, Truth.
While recognized by his peers and critics as a superlative instrumentalist and technician, Ford insists writing songs has kept his career on an upward trajectory. Truth features superb playing, but more importantly, it tells a story.
“On this album, I am speaking out about the things I believe in, using the language of the blues, but updating it in a modern, evolutionary context,” he explains, with new songs like the first single, “Lateral Climb,” and “Peace on My Mind,” dealing with such issues as the faltering economy and the war in Iraq with a fresh, personal approach.
Ford employs an all-star cast which includes guest vocalists Susan Tedeschi (on Paul Simon’s “One Man’s Ceiling is Another Man’s Floor”) and Siedah Garrett (backgrounds on “You’re Gonna Need a Friend” and “River of Soul”), keyboardist Larry Goldings, bassist Chris Chaney, drummer Gary Novak along with keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and drummer/bassist Charley Drayton, both from Keith Richards’ Expensive Winos. The album also includes songwriting collaborations with Keb Mo (“Riley B. King”), Nashville tunesmiths Gary Nicholson (“How Deep in the Blues [Do You Want to Go]”) and Danny Flowers (“River of Soul”), his wife Anne Kerry Ford (“You’re Gonna Need a Friend”) and his nephew Gabriel Ford (“Too Much”).
“The songs I wrote for this record were naturally inspired by the times,” says Ford. “I once covered one of Willie Dixon’s songs, ‘It Don’t Make Sense, You Can’t Make Peace,’ which he wrote at the time of the Vietnam War. But it’s obviously applicable today.”
“Lateral Climb” is typical of Ford’s approach, a personal song set against a churning blues backdrop; it deals with such modern-day problems as credit card debt and the treadmill of the 9-to-5 rat race.
“That’s about something from my own life,” he laughs. “I make a lot more money then I used to, and I got rid of all my credit cards, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. That’s the blues today.”
The ominous, post-9/11 “Peace on My Mind” is as up-to-date as today’s headlines, with lines like “Who can make sense/Of problems in a distant land” and “When fire meets fire/You burn away the common ground,” Ford creates his own version of a protest song for the times.
“It’s an anti-war song without being too preachy,” Ford explains. “If you’re pointing a finger, no one wants to hear it. It’s a portrait rather than a sermon. The truths I describe are self-evident.”
Ford also tries to subvert and bring new meaning to blues clichés like the evil woman who bedevils her victim in songs like “You’re Gonna Need a Friend” (ironically, co-written with his wife, singer Anne Kerry Ford and “There’ll Never Be Another You,” which expresses that uneasiness with a 7/4 tempo that segues into 6/4 for the guitar solo over lyrics like “Will she poison my coffee/Sweeten my tea?”
“There’s a lot of repetition in the blues, so just a subtle shift can make all the difference,” he says. “That small change takes you to a different place.”
Ford pays tribute to one of his primary influences in “Riley B. King,” an homage to B.B., whom he first saw at the old Fillmore in San Francisco opening for another of his favorite guitarists, Mike Bloomfield’s Electric Flag. He wrote the song in Sedona, AZ, responding to the city’s spiritual energy, then gave it to Keb Mo, who recorded a version of it with Ford and Robert Cray for his album, and made some suggestions to help freshen the chorus.
Two covers help define Ford’s love of southern R&B. His faithful version of Otis Redding’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” a B-side to an early single which spotlights the punchy horn section of sax player Dave “Woody” Woodford and Dan Fornero on trumpet, while his funky take on Paul Simon’s “One Man’s Ceiling is Another Man’s Floor,” featuring a duet with Susan Tedeschi, recalls the original’s use of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section.
“I thought I could do a good job with it,” says Ford of the Simon song. “Susan really sings her ass off. Because I didn’t write it, that made it easier for both of us to do our own thing with it.”
Ford maintains the raw, live sound he prefers on the grinding “Too Much,” featuring Larry Goldings’ distinctive Hammond B3 organ, though he also shifts stylistic direction for the deliberate “River of Soul” and “Moonchild Blues,” a song inspired by a line from a Howlin’ Wolf song.
“The blues is where all my songs come from,” Ford admits. “It just feels good to work with a classic musical art form and keep it alive. I feel part of a tradition, as opposed to being out there all alone trying to create songs out of thin air. It’s unfortunate that people would think of the blues as something that’s ancient. The blues is pretty universal, but there’s a boldness to this record, a language I’ve used to make it new.”
“I want my music to be about something,” concludes Ford. “I have come up with new contexts for my playing… that’s what gives it a purpose.”
Ford speaks the Truth… not just with the sound of his guitar, but the vision behind his music.
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When: Sunday, Jan 18, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Anthology, 1337 India St., Little Italy
Tickets: $32. buy tickets
Now in its eighth year, “Cabaret Dances” is moving to the Anthology supper club in Little Italy – perhaps a more appropriate venue for the jazz and blues-infused, intimate and sultry program of modern dance. The schedule is also a departure for the company; performances will run every Sunday throughout the month.
“We decided to ratchet it up by moving to Anthology, and investing our energy to bringing dance to a space that hadn’t had dance before,” said Isaacs.
The tri-level, 13,000-square-foot restaurant and live music venue is known for hosting renowned jazz, classic rock, blues, Latin and world music musicians. The stylishly appointed space features a stage, two full bars, a patio, outdoor balcony and fireside lounge. It also boasts unobstructed views of the stage and a state-of-the-art digital sound system.
“It’s certainly one of the most expensive sound systems,” said pianist Steve Baker, who will provide music for the performances, along with vocalist Rachel Drexler. “Word from the restaurant is that they spent over $1 million having it designed – that included the acoustic design of the room, the acoustic treatments on the walls.”
Anthology’s nightclub atmosphere also lends itself to a program that Isaacs described as athletic, humorous, sexy, urban and fun. Patrons can enjoy drinks and dining before and during the show, and video screens will provide a live feed of the performance throughout the venue.
“It’s quite elegant, they have a good chef and a good piano. Those are my requirements,” Baker joked.
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Read the rest of the San Diego Union Tribune article here
Learn more about Jean Isaacs’ Cabaret Dances here
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When: Sundays, 5 p.m.; through Jan. 25
Where: Anthology, 1337 India St., Little Italy
Tickets: $15-$35. buy tickets
In addition to writing the music for the Broadway musical hit Spring Awakening, Grammy nominated singer–songwriter Duncan Sheik is collaborating with Playwright Steven Sater on The Nightingale, a musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen classic which premiered during the 26th annual O’Neill Music Theater Conference. Sheik has composed original music for the Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night and for The Golden Rooms of Nero, which opened at the Magic Theater in San Francisco earlier this year. His self-titled debut album on Atlantic Records, was an enormous popular and critical success and spent 30 weeks on the Billboard 200. Other albums include Humming, Daylight, Phantom Moon (Nonesuch Records) with lyrics by Steven Sater and his latest, White Limousine (Rounder Records), Duncan’s songs have appeared in many Film Soundtracks including Great Expectations, The Saint, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Three to Tango, What a Girl Wants, Transamerica and Amazing Grace (a documentary about the late Jeff Buckley). Sheik also composed and produced the original score for the feature film A Home at the End of the World, directed by Michael Mayer and starring Colin Farrell and recently finished scoring Mary Stuart Masterson’s directorial debut, The Cake Eaters.
Duncan Sheik performs at Anthology with original “Spring Awakening” leading cast member Lauren Pritchard on February 18, 2009.
The mission of the San Diego Oceans Foundation is to promote ocean stewardship by leading community-supported projects that enhance marine habitats and encourage sustainable use of our natural resources.
Sophie@ 103.7 had something special under the tree this year – Sophie@103.7’s Green Christmas at Anthology. It was an evening of music with special performances by Alanis Morissette, Marc and Richard from O.A.R., Buckcherry, SafetySuit and Justin Nozuka. A portion of the proceeds, silent auction and raffle will benefit the San Diego Oceans Foundation.
There’s a new club in town….or is it? Its been called a Jazz Club, a Dinner Club, a lounge…..a concert hall?? Lets just call it what it is….Anthology !!! Anthology is as great of a room for fine music and fine dinning, as you will ever see. Comparing Anthology to some of the finest clubs in New York or Chicago would do the club no justice. You would have to cross the Pond to London or Paris to find a music hall so spectacular. For music, it is an unprecedented collaboration of live Jazz, Blues, Soul, Classic Rock, R&B and Latin, which are in harmony with cuisine entirely dedicated to delighting the epicurious. Two world-renowned chefs create California fresh masterpieces, while musicians set the rhythm in a state-of-the-art venue. The “supper club” is back - great music and fine cuisine will never again perform solo. The finest point about Anthology is that it has been a dream of one man, Howard Berkson. It’s not a corporate owned or built club, it’s one mans dream. A dream that through hard work devotion and passion has become reality. When you enter Anthology, you enter and become part of Howard Berkson’s dream. Not only did Howard’s dream include fine dinning and great live music, but the hall itself is a work of perfection. The sound in the room is stunningly incredible. Through working painstakingly on the room’s acoustics, Howard Berkson has created a room where the sound is as perfect in the front row as it is in the farthest reaches of the club. You can be on one of the three levels dinning or on the 3rd level outside balcony enjoying a drink and conversation, and the sound is still perfect. Opening night on June 6th saw Jazz Great Bill Charlap grace the virgin stage. Then on the first Anthology Friday the 8th of June, Jazz legend Ramsey Lewis trio set Anthology down its soon to be legendary path of its own. Anthology is located at 1337 India Street. Check out the website and the clubs schedule and….see you at Anthology 
Great Drinks at the Bar
Amazing Views from All Tables
5 Star Cuisine and Wine
A Treat for the Performer
Uptown Styling San Diego
Anthology San Diego Line Up
Downtown San Diego
Anthology
This Little Italy supper club offers a unique NYE experience with a live Jazz, R&B and Soul performance complemented by champagne and a four-course menu. The Anthology dinner menu features this combination: Amuse Bouche of Seared Foie Gras with maple glaze on crostini; Carrot, Butternut Squash, Chipotle soup with beet oil garnish; Mache/Frisee Salad with pomegranates, mushrooms, roasted parsnips and sweet potato vinaigrette; Monkfish Ossobucco with rosemary broth, carrots, fennel, asparagus, tomatoes and garlic; Chocolate Covered Strawberries with sparkling cider sauce. $90 per guest, 5:30pm seating; $145 per guest, 9:30pm seating; served 5-9pm.
Matt Nathanson performed live at Anthology on December 14, 2008
The Becky’s House Emergency Shelter is a confidential domestic violence shelter offering safety for women and children in immediate danger, providing them with 30 days in a safe environment to determine their next steps.
The Blue Note 7 will make a stop at Anthology on January 27th for a special performance in commemoration of Blue Note’s 70th Anniversary! Full tour listing here
The Blues Foundation today announced the nominees for the 2009 Blues Music Awards, recognized as the highest honor given to blues artists.
Nine Alligator recording artists received a total of 18 nominations. Soul and blues singer Janiva Magness leads the Alligator pack with four nominations:
The Blues Music Awards ceremony and concert will be held May 7, 2009 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. The awards ceremony and concert will be broadcast live by Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville channel. The Blues Music Awards will be shot in HD for a DVD to be released in 2010.
Please be sure to vote for ALL your favorite Blues Artists this year. Its real easy. Go to www.blues.org and do it now. Deadline for votes is March 2, 2009 Kids!!!!!
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When: Saturday, January 3, 2009, 10:00pm
Where: Anthology, 1337 India St., Little Italy
Tickets: $18. buy tickets
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- Dec. 16 & 17. (Tues. & Wed.) Spyro Gyra. The contemporary jazz icons and nine-time Grammy nominees celebrate the holidays with material from their new CD, “A Night Before Christmas.” Singer Melissa Morgan is also on the bill. Anthology (619) 595-0330 http://anthologysd.com
Chris Chambers hosted a fabulous soul event at the beautiful Anthology, where the supper-club style music venue was transformed into a nightclub with a VIP section holding many of the Chargers big names. Spotted were LaDainian Tomlinson, Stephen Cooper, and Shaun Phillips, to name a few. In addition to the star studded VIP section, the rest of the guests attending looked fabulous in designer gowns & three piece suits and sipped on Pave, the world’s first diamond distilled liqueur. This luxurious evening was enhanced even further by the SoulHop music theme, boasting big names like Prysless, Right hand man to infamous musician and producer Timbaland. Also seen on stage was Dwele, a returning performer at Anthology, who performed smooth R&B tracks while perusing amongst the crowd throughout the first floor of the venue. With the beautiful crowd, the all-star music line-up, the diamond filtered drinks, and the glitz and glamour of the red carpet, what a great night at Anthology it was!
Read more here
