Erika Paul

May is active and busy for Erika Paul Carlson. On Saturday, May 1, 2010, she’ll be at the Northwest Reno Library, 2325 Robb Drive at 11 a.m., with her jazz trio, representing the Pioneer Center Youth Program featuring her “100 Years of Toe-Tapping Jazz interactive concert for all ages. Erika will be on piano and vocals, Gary Douglas on bass and Andy Heglund on drums. The concert presentation will last 45 minutes and is open to the community at no charge. Then off to the Little Flower Catholic Church to play the music and sing for a private wedding at 2 p.m. and then off to Gardnerville with her husband Dwight to play with the Sierra Swing Band for a dinner/ballroom dance fundraiser for St. Gall Catholic Church located at 1343 Centerville Lane in Gardnerville. Tickets are $30 per person and includes dinner and dancing to the live 16 piece Sierra Swing Big Band led by Russ and Judy Lindquist and features vocalists Ronda and Max Shen. To join us, contact Rocky Barth for tickets and information at tel. 775.782.2852.

On Sunday, April 25, 2010, Erika was featured jazz artist, outdoors at the Wild River Grille, 17 S. Virginia St., Suite 180 at Mill Street and the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada from 2 to 5 p.m. The weather was beautiful and the day was an attendance success. And as always, the Wild River Grille is one of the area’s leading providers of GREAT food. GREAT service. GREAT staff. GREAT local live music and GREAT friendly atmosphere with NO COVER. Always keep checking back to Erika’s Calendar page on her website, www.erikapaul.com, for her next gig and we look forward to having another awesome summer of outdoor food, great service, live music and fun together at the Wild River Grille. So far, Erika’s NEXT two gigs at the Wild River Grille are scheduled for Sunday, May 23rd at 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 27th at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. See you there!

On Friday, April 23, 2010, Erika was featured artist on piano and vocals at the Great Basin Brewing Company at Victorian Square in Sparks, Nevada. The Great Basin Brewing Company and Erika’s Jazz Trio go back 15 years playing music for this venue, one of the area’s best independant micro breweries, serving delicious food by a terrific staff and still has that great party atmosphere. Never a cover. Erika will be back performing music there on Friday, July 9th from 8 to 11 p.m. outdoors on the plaza stage.

On Monday, April 19, 2010, Erika’s Jazz Trio visited Katherine Dunn Elementary School in Sparks, Nevada, representing the Pioneer Center Youth Program featuring her “100 Years of Toe-Tapping Jazz” interactive concert assembly with Erika on piano and vocals, Gary Douglas on bass and Andy Heglund on drums. The kids were thrilled to learn about America’s original music art form known as Jazz and to groove to the music. On Thursday, April 22, 2010, Erika was invited to visit an amazing new middle school out in southwest Reno, Nevada called Depoali Middle School, known for their passion for education, where some of the brightest most inquiring kids engaged themselves in valuable discussions about educational preparation, academically and privately, for a successful career in music. Erika’s presentation gave the kids a great deal of information and understanding about a subject they were all very interested in and they were thrilled to receive cds to keep them inspired throughtout the year. And on Friday, April 23, 2010, Erika’s Jazz Trio visited Westergard Elementary School in Reno, Nevada, representing the Pioneer Center Youth Program, featuring her “100 Years of Toe-Tapping Jazz” interactive concert assembly with Erika on piano and vocals, Gary Douglas on bass and Andy Heglund on drums. The students of Westergard were excited to learn about America’s original art form of music called Jazz and some of the history behind the music. For more information, contact Erika at www.erikapaul.com. To request Erika’s Jazz Trio for your school’s next assembly, contact Dennyse at dennyse@pioneercenter.com.

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, The Sierra Swing Band held their monthly ballroom dance at the Elks Lodge in Reno, Nevada. Great music and fun dance arrangements were performed for a full dance floor of dancers by this real, LIVE 16 piece big band. Dance lessons were also given an hour before the band started the music. On piano, Erika joins her husband Dwight on guitar as they fill out the rhythm section of this swingin’ group. Erika also sang and announced at the event for regular vocalist Ronda Shen. For more information, search and contact Judy and Russ the Sierra Swing Band in Reno Nevada or visit Erika’s website at www.erikapaul.com. Come join us at the Elks every third Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.!

On Thursday, April 8, 2010, Erika was featured career music artist for Shaw Middle School’s Annual Career Day in Sparks, Nevada. The terrific kids at Shaw asked tons of questions and learned a great deal about how to prepare, through higher education and private training, for a career in music and engaged in eye-opening discussions of the many different opportunities out there for work to assure success in the field of music performance and education. Follow and Contact Erika and her music at www.erikapaul.com.

Starting on Saturday, April 3, 2010, Erika held her 3rd annual Jazz Recital in celebration of April National Jazz Month at the Steinway Gallery in Reno Nevada featuring guest bassist Hans Halt playing with 14 of Erika’s talented and dedicated piano and vocal students. Erika joined in on piano for the singers for a delightful afternoon of toe-tapping jazz.On Monday, April 5, 2010, Erika’s Jazz Trio visited Brown Elementary School in Reno, Nevada, representing the Pioneer Center Youth Program event featuring a her “100 Years of Toe-Tapping Jazz” interactive concert assembly with Erika on piano and vocals, Gary Douglas on bass and Chuck Hughes on drums. It was a huge success and these bright students were engaged and excited about hearing music and learning the history of America’s original music called Jazz.Stay informed by contacting Erika at her website, www.erikapaul.com, for calendar events, available cds and open dates for concerts and presentations in your area. Contact Dennyse at the Pioneer Center Youth Program to book Erika’s Jazz Trio for your next school assembly at www.pioneercenter.com. And Happy National Jazz Month!

On Friday, April 2, 2010, at The Arbors, 2121 Prater Way in Sparks, 3 p.m., Erika is featured artist on piano and vocals for the benefit of alzheimers residents. Experience the amazing effects of music to unlock good memories and healing. For more information, visit www.erikapaul.com/calendar

On Monday, April 5, 2010, at Brown Elementary School, 1:30 p.m., the Erika Paul Carlson Jazz Trio, representing the Pioneer Center Youth Program will perform for over 600 schoolchildren from K-6th grade in an assembly event featuring Erika’s “100 Years of Toe-Tapping Jazz“ interactive concert“ featuring Erika on piano and vocals, Gary Douglas on bass and Chuck Hughes on drums. For more information, visit http://www.jazzqmusic.com/web/calendar.php. This talented and successful trio has performed jazz concert assemblies for over 60 schools since 1996.

On Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Steinway Gallery in Reno, Nevada at 2 p.m., the 3rd annual Erika Paul Carlson Private Music Studio Spring Jazz Recital will showcase the lifelong benefits and joy of private music lessons. This private event, featuring guest bassist Hans Halt playing with Erika’s piano students and also with Erika for her vocal students will prove to be an afternoon of toe-tapping jazz in celebration of April National Jazz Month. For more information and possible invitation, contact Erika at www.JazzQMusic.com.