Musicians Larry Vuckovich and Jackie Ryan are bringing their 30-plus years of musical collaboration to the stage one more time for a celebratory performance later this month.
Ryan is a legendary local vocalist who was born in the Bay Area, though her voice is heavily influenced by her family’s Mexican, Irish, French and Spanish roots. She will sing accompanied by Vuckovich on the piano.
Now 88 years old, Vuckovich absolutely cannot wait to get his hands back on the piano for yet another performance of the countless amount of pieces amassed in his lifetime. Vuckovich brings with him nearly nine decades of experience listening to and playing alongside some of the greatest jazz musicians of history. He plans to regale his audience and pour all that experience—and his heart and soul—out onto those black and white keys.
“I learned from the great masters…and whenever you play, you have to play back to masters,” said Vuckovich. “I’m happy that, in my 88th year, the concerts I play let me acknowledge what the masters gave us because without them we wouldn’t be here.
“Vince Guaraldi, for instance,” continued Vuckovich. “Well, everyone could tell that he was tuned in to the real kinds of music: Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, blues, everything…whenever I play, I also mix the music from a diverse program, but always with blues and American masters in mind.”
Guaraldi was a famous American jazz musician best known for composing the music for the Charlie Brown holiday specials. Vuckovich fondly recalls Guaraldi calling on him to become his piano partner, which was a rarely bestowed honor in the world of old San Franciscan jazz.
Now, those decades of musical experience are making their way from San Francisco circa the 1950s to the Mill Valley of today.
“What’s interesting about Mill Valley is that my mentor, who is mainly known for Charlie Brown music, lived in Mill Valley,” said Vuckovick. “And Jackie Ryan, the great singer I’m performing with, she lives in Mill Valley, too.”
“The venue is in a wonderful setting called the Mill Valley Community Church,” Vuckovick added. “The acoustics are really good there, and I’d like to thank the pastor [Rev.] Dr. Carol Manahan, who believes in this music. We are very happy that she supports these programs.”
The Mill Valley Community Church is conveniently located downtown, right next to plenty of restaurants, parking and (of course) the Throckmorton.
“The important thing is that people keep the music going and keep the feeling with the right emotion,” said Vuckovich. “When you leave a concert, the music should stay with you because it’s deep in your soul.”
The Vuckovich and Ryan performance will take place from 4 to 6pm on Sunday, Oct. 20. Donations of $25 from those who attend the performance are appreciated. The Community Church of Mill Valley is located at 8 Olive St. To learn more, visit the website at communitychurchmillvalley.com or call 415.388.5540.
