Media Center Presents
Studio Session

Andre Thierry, a phenomenal French Creole talent, is among the top accordion players in the nation. While staying true to traditional Louisiana-born Zydeco rhythms, Andre blends the old with the new and merges Zydeco sounds with blues, funk and rock. "Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic" was named “Best Zydeco Group” by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. The Palo Alto-based Midpeninsula Community Media Center hosted the band as part of a grand Open House celebration of the Media Center's 2011 Hometown Video Festival Award for "Best Community TV Station in the Nation." As the late great Clifton Chenier once said about Zydeco, “If you dance, your aches and pains will disappear.”

The Media Center Studio Session is proud to host Taylor P. Collins, twice-nominated Best Female Vocalist at the South Bay Blues Awards. Taylor's style of blues is sophisticated, powerful, and funky with jazz overtones, and presented as only Taylor can with her commanding stage presence, flash and glitz, and a riveting 7-pc band

The Channing House Harmonica Players practice every Saturday on the 5th floor of the Channing House retirement community in Palo Alto. The group has 18 to 20 members, ranging from 80 to 93 years old, with an average age of 86. The focus is on fun and not perfection. The group has over 100 songs in their repertoire.

Songs by O2 & Paper Son from their album "Charles".

MC Studio Session is honored to host the mesmerizing jazz/soul artist Wendy Waller and her 8-piece band, including backup singers Roberta Donnay and Daria, the "Licketts" of Dan Hicks fame. Wendy is a classically trained coloratura soprano, who's often cited for using her voice like an instrument. This fall, at the Download Music Awards 2009, Wendy was honored in Great Britain as one of 10 finalists selected from over ten thousand entries for the Rising Star 2009 competition.

Join us for a sampling of Congolese culture, with Fua Dia Congo, a Congolese dance company which promotes understanding of African art forms.

This program won a WAVE award for best Performing Arts Coverage (Professional Division) in 2009.

The Wobogo Jazz Ensemble performs musical director Vulindlela Wobogo's arrangements of classic jazz standards, including immortal melodies by Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, & Herbie Hancock.

Latino dance band Orquesta Pacheco performs Caribbean rhythms of salsa, merengue, and cha chas.

Dan Cantrell fronts Megaband, featuring eclectic sounds from Eastern Europe, with influences from Asia Minor. Mira Betz adds further enchantment with her accompanying belly dance.