Aaron Rowan: Two great shows in cozy Modesto venues

Over the weekend I had the joy of experiencing two superb concerts orchestrated by some long-running independent arts presenters. John Griswold and “Focus On” magazine presented Brazilian music trio As Tres Meninas (The Three Girls) on Saturday night, in a cozy venue in the cellar beneath Greens restaurant on 10th Street. The trio delivered a vibrant and mesmerizing selection of Latin sounds.

Then, on Sunday afternoon, at the 23rd season finale of the Sunday Afternoons at CBS (Congregation Beth Shalom) series curated by Tina Driskill, Jewish Cantorial soloist Jessica Leash performed a repertoire of Hassidic, Yiddish and other Jewish tunes, as well as 1960s folk songs and even some gospel numbers. Just as Tina had promised, Jessica’s voice soared over the crowd. This concert also took place in an intimate setting at Congregation Beth Shalom.

John and Tina are two great examples of the fact that we need not rely upon larger, more expensive performing arts centers to enjoy top-notch musical programming. I encourage all to look into their upcoming concert seasons. Bravo to both!

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Aaron Rowan: Two great shows in cozy Modesto venues."