The events start April 5 with First Friday downtown, followed by the Wildflower and Nature Festival on April 6 and culminating in the Paws For A Cause fundraiser for the Northwest SPCA on April 7.

First Friday

Downtown Oroville changed April’s First Friday event on April 5 from its traditional Spring Fling theme to Wags and Wildflowers to tie the other two events together to make it a “full weekend of delightful activities for the community” said Robin Zanon, the business association’s vice president.

“The Wildflower and Nature festival and Paws For A Cause are two great annual events,” said Zanon. “We wanted to support both of them so we decided to change our annual April First Friday theme to help promote both events and give the community a head start on the fun.”

During First Friday, which starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m., participating downtown businesses will be open late and welcoming human as well as well-behaved canine on leashes into their stores. Some will even have treats for people’s pups. The business association will also have a booth located at the corner of Bird and Meyers streets where they will be accepting donations of non-perishable dog and cat food for the Northwest SPCA. Folks who bring a donation will have a chance to win gift cards from Union and Provisions restaurants. Those who spend $20 or more at any participating business may also bring their receipts to the booth to receive a free wildflower and a raffle ticket.

The Feather River Recreation and Park District will be joining the event this year with a booth where they will be handing out flyers with a map and information on the vendors, activities and entertainment at the following day’s festival.

Wildflower and Nature Festival

The 16th annual Feather River Recreation and Park District’s Wildflower and Nature Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. at Riverbend Park, 50 Montgomery St. and runs until 4 p.m. April 6.

In addition to the sights and sounds of nature including spring’s new green foliage and the rushing Feather River at this free event, attendees can also enjoy shopping, education, free activities and food at 70 different vendor booths and food trucks. The Native Sons of the Golden West Argonaut Parlor No. 8 will be hosting a beer garden for those 21 and older. Smokey Bear will be hanging out in the special area just for kids were youngsters may enjoy playing in a bounce house, having their faces painted and visiting with animals from Kirshner Wildlife Foundation.

Live music performances are scheduled in the amphitheater throughout the day with the Feather River Gypsies performing at 10 a.m., the Stringtown Band at 12:15 p.m. and, at 2:15, the Ragtop Rockers will wrap up the day’s live entertainment.

The Wildflower and Nature Festival has grown in popularity through the years with an average of 3,500 people from throughout the county and attending annually.

“The Wildflower and Nature Festival continues to be a favorite among Oroville and Butte County residents,” said Kendyle Lowe, FRRPD executive administrator. “We’re proud to continue to host this family-friendly event that showcases Butte County’s natural resources and homemade products. We’re also excited to see its growth over the past years and are looking forward to seeing it continue to grow this year and in future years.”

Lowe also said FRRPD was also “happy to partner with Downtown Oroville to promote all the weekend’s events” and appreciated Oroville Chamber of Commerce, California Department of Water Resources and Explore Butte County sponsorship of this year’s festival.

Paws for a Cause

Rounding out the weekend festivities, the Union Patio Bar and Grill, 2053 Montgomery St., is hosting the second annual Paws For A Cause benefit for the Northwest SPCA from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 7.

The funds collected from the event’s $5 cover charge plus 10 percent of all proceeds during the five-hour event will be donated to the local animal shelter. The event also includes a “ton of raffles with really big prizes,” said Jordan Vogel, general manager.

“The money from the raffles will also be donated to the Northwest SPCA,” said Vogel. “Last year we raised over $8,000. Our goal this year is $10,000.”

The event, which will be emceed by a DJ playing music throughout the day, features food and beverage specials and vendors including beer and alcohol merchants giving away swag. The Northwest SPCA will also be on hand with dogs looking for forever homes and the winner of the Butte County Pooch Playoffs, an annual bracket-style dog portrait competition that benefits the Northwest SPCA, will be announced.

“We host this event because we’re all animal lovers here at Union. Union is a big part of the community and we want to do our part to help support our furry friends,” said Vogel. “There will be great music, food and drinks in a really fun atmosphere and it’s just a great way to spend a Sunday.”

For more information on the weekend’s events visit www.downtownoroville.com, www.frrdp.com and www.unionfork.com.

The term “Big Time” is “the regional term for what people in the Midwest would call a powwow,” said Leo O’Neill, president of the Butte College Native American Club.

The event took place at the Butte College main campus and featured dance performances, Supaman’s headlining show and vendors selling traditional Native American items and food.

Supaman is member of the Apsaalooke Nation and is known for his fusion of traditional Native American music and contemporary rap.

“I love Supaman,” O’Neill said. “His lyrics, his dancing, his beats: it touches the soul.”

This is the second annual Big Time put on by Butte College and Supaman’s second time headlining the event. Attendees filled the bleachers of the gym where he performed while groups of young school children sat on the floor smiling and cheering.

Supaman’s story and message

Supaman’s performance involved callbacks with phrases such as “prayers up, tobacco down” and “love each other, no matter what the color.”

At one point, Supaman opened up about his upbringing living on a reservation in Montana. His parents were both alcoholics and his father was abusive. At a young age he and his siblings were put in foster care.

He shared that he lost his father to suicide, but that his mother is now sober. The crowd cheered when he talked about his mother’s sobriety, and cheered again when he said that DJ Element, the DJ he performed with, is 10 years sober.

According to the American Addiction Centers, “There are several factors that affect American Indians and Alaska Native communities, which can increase their risk of developing alcohol addiction. Some of the major risk factors that these communities face include historical trauma, lack of easy access to healthcare, lower educational attainment, poverty, housing problems, unemployment, violence, loss of connection to culture, and mental health issues.”

Supaman said he never got into alcohol because he saw the harm it caused those around him.

“It’s a good choice,” Supaman said about sobriety. “It doesn’t make us better than anyone but it’s a good choice.”

Throughout his performance he harped on the message of equality and love.

Feather River Tribal Health had a table at the event offering Narcan and information on wellness services.

“We really try to integrate culture and healing,” said Feather River Tribal Health wellness director Ashley Weiss.

Weiss said it is important to have support and community when reaching out for help with addiction.

“I think there’s nothing harder than struggling alone,” Weiss said.

Traditional jewelry

Vendors at the event sold ornate jewelry, ribbon skirts and and a variety of crafts. Tables covered in black cloth displayed what appeared to be millions of glistening beads and shells.

Vendor Rose Alley didn’t start making jewelry until after she had open heart surgery. During her recovery she had extra time, and filled it with jewelry making and crocheting.

Alley said events like the Big Time bring the community together, those of Native American descent and those not of Native American descent.

“I’m probably related to all of them,” Alley said about the attendees. “I’m getting to meet all my cousins.”

Alley has one Native American parent and one white parent. She said she is a descendent of multiple tribes, but mainly Mechoopda.

“I was what they called a ‘half-breed,'” Alley said. “So I wasn’t rejected by both sides.”

Food

Food vendors sold various items including fry bread, Indian tacos, corn and rez dogs.

Fry bread is a traditional Native American bread that is puffy and can be eaten plain, with powdered sugar or with meat and vegetables which makes it an Indian taco. A rez dog is a hot dog wrapped in fry bread.

Debbie Steele wore an apron with a picture of her grandma on it as she made countless orders of fry bread with Bald Rock Fry Bread.

“I get nervous every time I make it,” Steele said. “Everybody says it turns out real good. They like it.”

Steele, 68, has been attending Big Time events her whole life.

“It’s like our church,” Steele said. “It’s real spiritual …  lots of love, lots of love.”

This is a family-friendly show celebrating dance and the performing arts from around the north state. Chico Community Ballet was established in 1984.

Chico Community Ballet and community guest choreographers designed the program with different styles such as contemporary, classical ballet, hip hop, tap, flamenco, Middle Eastern and a Native American performance.

“We are very excited about this performance as it is an opportunity to express our joy for dance through all the many different styles represented at Keeping Dance Alive,” said Chico Community Ballet Senior Company dancer Annie Gonzales. “And it’s an amazing time to bring our community together.”

There will be guest performances by Chico Creek Dance, Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, Hype Studio Fusion Co. and Essence Company. There will also be a variety of desserts available for purchase at the performance.

A free fieldtrip performance is offered Thursday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. Teachers can sign up if they want to have their classes attend. If interested in the fieldtrip performance, call Phil Morgan at 530-624-5873.

“This amazing event is great for the whole family and I truly hope that everyone who loves dance will join us and experience for themselves the true joy and power of live dance and theater,” said Chico Community Ballet Artistic Director Deborah Jorritsma.

Community performer and front desk manager and Chico Creek dance instructor Kayla Wright is looking forward to the performances.

“This annual event commemorates our collective passion for dance and the arts,” said community performer and front desk manager and Chico Creek Dance instructor Kayla Wright. “What I think is most special about KDA is the opportunity it affords to not only engage with the Chico community but also to forge connections with other performers whom I might not typically get to engage with.”

Keeping Dance Alive costume designer Julie Gonzales is looking forward to the performances.

“I am so excited for Keeping Dance Alive 2024 because we have a wonderful concert of various performing arts that will be gracing the stage of the CFA at PV,” said Keeping Dance Alive costume designer Julie Gonzales. “This year we have some very talented local artists that have come together to celebrate the performing arts in our community. I love seeing the broad range of ages of performers from as young as age five all the way up to adults.”

The show starts at 7 p.m. today and continues Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place at the Center for the Arts on the Pleasant Valley High School campus at 1475 East Avenue. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at tututix.com/chicocommunityballet or at the door.

Surprised by the question, I said, “Yeah … but it wasn’t to watch a show. I was on the stage.”

The look on her face told me that, for the first time in many years, I actually had a story that I hadn’t already told her.

So I told her, and today (for reasons we’ll get to in a few hundred words), I’m telling you, too.

It was December 1984. I had driven to Los Angeles with two of my closest friends, Jeff Gravitt and Rob Crawford. The trip wasn’t for a happy reason; our good friend Stan Greene — just 25, like the rest of us — was in UCLA Medical Center, dying of leukemia.

I’ll always be glad we made the trip. It gave us a final chance to see Stan, who we lost about a month later. And since he would have been the first to say, “Please don’t spend your entire trip visiting the sick guy in the hospital,” we also squeezed a good amount of adventure into those couple of days. Picture three small-town guys cruising all around Hollywood in a Dodge Charger in 1984, having no clue where they were going or what dangers might be lurking around the corner.

Yep, that was us.

Sometime between visiting Tower Records and accidentally ripping our pants on nails strategically stuck into the chairs at the Whiskey a Go Go, we headed west on Hollywood Boulevard. That’s when I first saw the Hollywood Bowl sign.

“Hey, the gate’s open — let’s just drive on in,” I suggested. Hearing no strong objections, I pulled my Charger up the hill toward the iconic shell. Eventually, thanks to a series of fortuitously unlocked gates, I somehow managed to drive right up to the back of the stage.

Nobody was around. It was as if Wallyworld was closed, but they’d left a key for the Griswolds.

Now, Jeff and I never went anywhere without our guitars and an amplifier in those days. We immediately figured this was probably the best chance we were ever going to get to play the Hollywood Bowl. So Jeff grabbed his orange and purple Rickenbacker 360 out of the trunk, I grabbed my cherry red Gibson SG and a Gretsch tube amp, and the three of us walked onto the stage, staring out at thousands of empty seats and benches.

We plugged in and tuned up and looked at each other. We’re on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. What do we do now? 

Easy. Play “Twist and Shout,” just liked the Beatles opened with when they played there in 1964.

So we launched into the song, the racket from our one shared amplifier reverberating around the hillside. And in no time at all, other people started showing up.

Looking up the hill to the left, I first noticed maybe five folks walk in. Then a dozen more. Oddly enough, they started pulling out cameras and taking pictures of us. Finally, after maybe 40 people had assembled, one guy walked in and started talking. He saw us on the stage, did a double take, shrugged and continued his spiel.

He was a tour guide, and the “crowd” was a group of tourists who (unlike us) had actually paid money to see the inside of the place.

They must have thought we were part of the act, because they walked closer to the stage and just kept taking photos. So after launching into “Squeeze Box,” we started posing — a leap here, a windmill there. When one guy yelled “Smash your guitar!” I knew we had ’em eating out of the palm of our hands.

After a few minutes, the group went on its way, and we decided it would probably be a really good idea if we left, too. All I know is, somewhere out there in this cluttered old world, probably in boxes in long-forgotten dusty storage lockers, there must exist hundreds of photos of me, Jeff and Rob onstage at the Hollywood Bowl, and at least one shot of me pretending to smash my guitar.

My point for all of this (and once again, thank you for reaching it) is this: Forty years after my last visit to the Hollywood Bowl, I’m going back. There’s a special Jimmy Buffett tribute concert April 11, and to say it’ll be a star-studded affair would be an understatement. The lineup includes Paul McCartney, the Eagles, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Johnson, Pitbull, Eric Church, Brandi Carlisle and Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, all united to making his dying wish — “keep the party going” — a reality.

I’ve already bought tickets, and I guess it’ll be interesting to finally see the Bowl from the audience’s point of view.

But I’m bringing a guitar, just in case.

Mike Wolcott is the editor of the Enterprise-Record. He can be reached at mwolcott@chicoer.com.

The movie shows a complete performance of Swift’s Eras Tour show. It is compiled from performances that took place at three separate Los Angeles concerts.

In her 3.5-hour-long Eras Tour show, Swift performs songs from each of her albums. The show consists of multiple costume changes and dance routines.

At the Eras brunch, Discovery Bar served 10 specialty cocktails that each represented a Swift era, and displayed the movie on a large screen for this special themed brunch. The drinks were named playfully after Swift’s songs including “Teardrops on my Margarita” and “Champagne Problem.”

Piver saw the Eras Tour live in Vegas, and plans to see it again later this year in New Orleans.

The tour, and later the film, became a meteoric cultural phenomena that continues to sweep the nation. Multiple attendees at Discovery Bar’s Eras brunch saw the live concert and had seen the movie multiple times.

However, the brunch consisted of more than just diehard “Swifties” (the name given to Swift’s fans).

Jenifer Stockwell, who accompanied Piver to the brunch, had never seen the movie or the concert.

“I am fully open to embracing all of it,” Stockwell said.

What Piver and Stockwell do have in common is their affinity for Discovery Bar and the trivia nights that take place each Tuesday.

Zachary Thomas, like Stockwell, hadn’t seen the movie prior to the Eras brunch and didn’t know the movie was going to be shown Saturday morning. He said Discovery Bar has a good brunch and it seems like a lot of people don’t know about it.

Elizabeth Aguirre-Quezada, who donned a black-and-white Taylor Swift shirt to the brunch, came with her husband Adrian. Her favorite Taylor Swift Eras are the albums “Red” and “Folklore.”

“I think you can see the crowd’s a lot older than people think her fans are,” Aguirre-Quezada said. “(The Eras Tour movie) is everything that maybe you didn’t get a chance to see when you were younger and you’re getting to see it now.”

Aguirre-Quezada didn’t think there was that big of a Swift following in Chico, but when she went to see The Eras Tour movie “all the shows were like jam packed.” When she saw the movie attendees were out of their seats dancing.

“(The movie theater employees) came in and shut the show down, and said ‘you guys got to sit down because of safety’ which is totally understandable,” Aguirre-Quezada said.

Swift will continue performing The Eras Tour throughout the year, ending in Vancouver, Canada on Dec. 8.

Heimlich, who has been teaching at Butte College for 3 years, recently received the California Music Educators Association John Swain College/University Educator of the Year award.

“I love working with him,” said Butte College student and saxophone player Mathew Lor. “He has a lot of passion, a lot of fire in his energy.”

Students, community

Heimlich’s favorite part of his job is “the students,” and seeing them succeed.

The hardest part of his job is, “the students,” he said with a laugh.

“I mean, I’m kind of joking but you know there’s a lot that needs to happen in order to to see their success,” Heimlich said.

Butte College student and guitar player Sean Harrington said Heimlich gives good “constructive criticism.”

“It doesn’t feel like he’s ever just telling you, ‘Oh, yeah, you’re doing good’ and not helping you improve,” Harrington said. “And it’s also like, he’s not being just mean and telling everything you’re doing wrong.”

One of Heimlich’s student’s, Ryan Cotton, used to go to Chico State for its music program. He said Chico State felt more individualistic, and that he feels a bigger sense of community at Butte College.

Cotton said a big part of the Butte College’s music program is the support Heimlich offers each student.

“He has a way of connecting with people, where he can connect you with the right people that you need for success,” Cotton said. “He’s also just a great person.”

At his Tuesday Jazz ensemble class, Heimlich encouraged students to use earbuds to protect their ears, listen to their assigned music and practice.

“Taking the instrument home doesn’t magically make it practice,” Heimlich said.

During the class Heimlich walked around the room singing the beat of the songs they played, and shouting to cue in sections and give praise

In between songs and sections he asked students to rate their performance, say what they did well on and what they could improve on. He lightheartedly joked with students and encouraged creativity.

“Rhythm section I want you to do something you feel is ridiculous,” Heimlich said.

Background

Heimlich wears many musical hats. In addition to directing the concert, jazz and pop bands, as well as teaching studio instruction and music theory, he is the Performing Arts Department Chair.

Outside of Butte College he plays clarinet in the North State Symphony. He is also in a band made up of teachers called Rigamarole, though he said they don’t play very much these days.

Heimlich is originally from Mammoth Lakes, California. After getting his Bachelor of Arts in music from UC Berkeley, he moved to Chico in 2005 to get his Master of Arts in music at Chico State.

Heimlich grew up in a family that loved music. In fourth grade, he started playing clarinet with his music teacher George Vest whom Heimlich described as, “excellent.”

“He really got me excited about it and I just never stopped since then,” Heimlich said.

The award

The California Music Educators Association is an organization made up of music teachers that promotes diversity and equity in music education.

CMEA is a state-wide organization broken up into nine geographical sections. Heimlich won the award for the northern section, which includes 15 inland Northern California counties.

The award Heimlich received is named after John Swain, who worked in the music department at Cal State Los Angeles for 19 years in various roles. Swain died from colon cancer at 52 years old.

“Ryan Heimlich was chosen for this award based on his wonderful work at Butte College with our future music educators,” said CMEA executive administrator Trish Adams. “More students have access to a high quality and meaningful collegiate music education because of the efforts of Ryan Heimlich at Butte Community College.”

“I started writing jokes in my early twenties,” Stone said. “I thought, I’m not getting any younger, so I figured doing stand-up would be a fun thing to try, so I did and got hooked.”

Chico may get hooked on him as well. He’s set to perform at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. next week after last playing here six years ago.

Before becoming a comedian, Stone was a police officer in Atlanta for five years. Originally from a small town in Georgia, he started his comedy career in 2006.

Stone said his comedy is autobiographical, sometimes with a theme of lessons he’s learned growing older.

“I realized I don’t know as much as I thought I knew,” Stone said. “It’s more of a story then a joke. I also tell jokes about growing up in the south, which is a re-occurring theme. I pull from different life experiences. There’s a technique to telling a story in comedy form with jokes and laughs along the way.”

He became a headliner in 2008 and started working around Atlanta. He did that until 2012 and then moved to Los Angeles, where he still lives. He began performing and traveling out of town when he became a feature act in 2008 and began working regionally as a featured artist.

Stone said laughter from the audience is definitely “motivating.”

“Laughter is a form of approval from the audience,” he said. “I want people to trust me and for me to trust them. If I get more laughter I have the freedom of going off script.”

His comedic influences incoude Patton Oswald, Louis C.K. and David Cross.

“They got me excited to try it,” Stone said. “CK is one of the greats, although his is not a popular name to drop.

“It’s fun to make people laugh,” Stone continued. “Comedy is like a super power. If things go right you make people laugh their butts off whether they want to or not.”

Stone’s friend Ryan Singer is a comedian as well. Singer has known Stone for 15 years and they met through performing stand-up.

“There’s a common bond that forms among young comics,” Singer said. “We are drawn to people who are funny. I had a ‘comedy crush’ on Dave. I thought he was talented from the first time I saw him.”

Singer also lives in L.A. and performs anywhere from two to seven times a week. He said Stone’s comedy style is “home cooking.”

“It’s personal and relatable and hyper specific to his life,” Singer said. “He story tells with southern charm and in shows in characters he plays. He’s a natural storyteller and joke teller. He appreciates the craft of comedy.”

Singer loves to observe Stone’s comedy.

“Dave is a huge fan of stand-up comedy and that shows,” Singer said. “His love for stand-up comes through during his performances.”

Andy Sandford, another comic, is another fan of Stone.

“Dave and I started in Atlanta around the same time and he’s my longest comedy friend,” Sandford said.  “Comedy wise, he has never wavered in honing his material to be more and more authentic. I think that’s why people listen to his podcasts every week and go see him every time he plays their town. He is always a genuine article with whatever he’s talking about.”

Stone will be performing March 21 at the Big Room at Sierra Nevada. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Also appearing are Tony Zavala from SF Punchline, Emma Haney from SAC Punchline and Maryam Moosavi from Laughs Unlimited.

To purchase tickets, visit https://sierranevada.com/event/dave-stone. Tickets are between $30 and $45.

Sing along with ‘Garth’

It’s not quite the real thing, but it’s probably as close to Garth Brooks as we can get.

The Oroville Concert Association — now in its 70th year — is presenting “Key of G Live! A Garth Brooks Tribute” on Friday, at 7 p.m. at the Oroville State Theatre.

The group is led by AJ Bistro on lead vocals and guitar, backed by a 6-piece band. Bistro is said to have an “uncanny resemblance” to Brooks’ sound.

More information and tickets are available at https://orovilleconcertassociation.org.

Huss is an oboe player and has been named first chair in the California All State Music Educators Conference Symphonic Band and Northern California Honor Band, while also earning first place in the North State Symphony Young Artist Competition and the Paradise Symphony Orchestra Arlene Harms Young Artists Competition. Huss is grateful for every opportunity.

“My dream is to become a professional symphony musician, and all of these opportunities to play with such talented musicians and conductors have really made a big impact on my life,” Huss said. “I’m so grateful that this journey has led me here, and I hope to become even more immersed in the beauty of music.”

Huss is the first Chico High School student chosen for the All-State ensemble since the 2012-13 school year, according to a press release. Huss was singled out for her talent by world-renowned conductor and composer Julie Giroux. Huss has also been studying music privately with well-known Chico music teacher Susie Lundberg for years. Lundberg plays first chair oboe for the North State Symphony.

“This recognition speaks volumes about Catalina’s commitment to her craft and her ability to excel in competitive environments,” said Chico High School Instrumental Music Director Ruben Morales. “It’s a testament to both her talent and her hard work.”

Huss has also earned opportunities to perform and grow. She has been invited to perform with the North State Symphony as a featured artist, and at the Paradise Symphony’s May 5 concert. Huss has been awarded a full scholarship to attend the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop at Cal Poly Humboldt this summer.

Huss and Morales each expressed gratitude to the Chico High School Music Boosters for paying entry fees to the contests and conferences.

“The support we get from our community is crucial for our individual musicians and our entire music department,” Morales said.

Huss began playing music in the fifth grade and has been playing consistently since then. She joined the school band. She said her parents have been really supportive of her.

“My mom is a musical theater teacher at Chico Junior High School and grew up in L.A,” Huss said. “She was really into music and wanted to be an opera singer. Arts have always been a big part of my life.”

Morales is very proud of Huss.

“Catalina is an incredible musician,” Morales said. “As a teacher it’s nice to see a student who pushes themselves that hard. She really wants to be the best she can be.”

Huss practices every day, sometimes for up to four hours. She is also taking classes at Butte College and Oregon State for music theory.

Huss plans to become ta professional musician, which she started aspiring to in the seventh grade.

“Becoming a classical oboist is my dream,” she said.

Huss’ next goal is join the Sacramento Youth Symphony.

The concerts are free of charge and are played by faculty members. This upcoming one will take place in the Arts Recital Hall in the Arts Building at Chico State.

David Dvorin is the composer of the music in the concert. Dvorin is the composer of the concert and a performer. The music is all original.

Dvorin teaches composition at Chico State.

There will be jazz and blues music with chamber music. Dvorin plays electric guitar. One of the musicians will be playing a contra-alto clarinet in place of the bass.

“It’s a huge clarinet,” Dvorin said.

Dvorin said there will be improvisation, where the musicians will invent new melodies on the spot.

“Everyone can invent new things through music,” Dvorin said.

Dvorin said the music is inspired by hardboiled detective fiction from the 1920s through 1950s, primarily the lingo and slang used in detective novels.

“I wrote a suite of original music,” Dvorin said. “There are glimpses of things in stories, what the characters invoked in music, such as Raymond Chandler and Benny the Think, who was a sly, nefarious character.”

There is another one called the flim flam man — a con artist.

“They turn their thumb on the scales of justice to avoid their legal fates,” Dvorin said.

The group playing Sunday consists of quartet of players led by Dvorin. The drummer is Tim Bulkley. On the saxophone is Matt Langley. The alta-clarinet will be played by Randy McKean. Dvorin will play the electric guitar.

Dvorin has played with some of the musicians before.

“The free recitals are awesome,” he said. “It’s a great thing for the university to extend to the community.”

There will be one more concert March 31.

More information can be found at https://www.csuchico.edu/hfa/news-events/23-24-events.shtml#Mar3.

First up is the Paradise Symphony concert at 3 p.m. March 10 called “Around the World in 80 minutes” — a whirlwind tour of music.

Hear music from all over the world, including the music of the flamenco from Spain and the Mogul emperors of India through the composer’s imagination.

The grand notes of Crown Imperial were played during the coronation of King Charles III in England which is included in the concert.

The concert will take place at The Paradise Performing Arts Center located at 777 Nunnely Road in Paradise. Visit ParadiseSymphony.org for more details. Tickets are $15 for adults and children 12 and under receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Butte Baroque

In Chico, Butte Baroque will perform at 1 p.m. March 16. Butte Baroque is a new group of musicians playing music from the 17th and 18th centuries. Jeffrey Cooper directs.

The spring concert will feature music for the harpsichord, pipe organ, oboe and string instruments. There will be works by Baroque composers Bach, Vivaldi and Buxtehude, along with contemporary composer Walter Piston’s “Prelude and Allegro” for organ and strings.

Cooper studied organ at Chico State under David Rothe before earning masters and Ph.D. degrees at Notre Dame and the University of Houston.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity with Butte Baroque to share an exciting mix of neo-Baroque works by 20th Century composers, alongside the familiar and esteemed masterworks of Bach and Vivaldi,” Cooper said.

Tickets for the concert are available at www.BrownPaperTickets.com or by email at buttebaroque@gmail.com. The concert takes place at John the Baptist Catholic Church at 435 Chestnut St.