Tumble! 9-28-23

Drawing inspiration from the groups Oregon, Codona, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and musicians such as John Coltrane and Thomas Mapfumo, the quartet’s intricate compositions combine folkish melodies and driving rhythms with an improvisational sensibility.

Robert Heirendt provides the core of the group’s sound on the mbira, the Zimbabwean instrument similar to the kalimba and sometimes referred to as the thumb piano.  Heirendt’s interest in African music began in the 1980s when he heard artists like Talking Heads, Brian Eno and Peter Gabriel incorporating elements of it into their own.  He already had many years of performing under his belt as a keyboardist with the synth band Challenge the Light, but seeing percussionist Colin Walcott play the kalimba with the jazz/world fusion quartet Oregon, and attending concerts by African legend Thomas Mapfumo, led Heirendt to acquire an mbira.  He subsequently studied with Erica Azim, an expert on the instrument and the traditional music Zimbabwe that uses it.  Heirendt uses music in his work with children as a therapist with Nevada County Behavioral Health.

Randy McKean met Heirendt through mutual acquaintances, but the two cemented their friendship after multiple encounters at Grass Valley’s Clock Tower Records, in which they discovered their similar musical interests while prowling through the used record bins.  Intrigued by the possibilities of combining reeds with the mbira, McKean asked Heirendt to perform with him at a concert at Menlo Macfarlane’s gallery in 2013.  

The duo became the trio Tumble in 2014 when local guitar fiend Sean Kerrigan, another aficionado of jazz and world music who has performed with Gary Snyder, Ludi Hinrichs, the Belfry Brothers and the Burls, and who has spent extensive time in Central and South America, joined their ranks.

The trio’s musical journey began with Robert teaching his partners a traditional Zimbabwean mbira trance tune.  Subsequently, Heirendt and McKean contributed original compositions with echoes of their heroes John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter of Weather Report, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.  Kerrigan also began to write for the group, bringing in ideas with unusual meters and advanced jazz harmonies that the group helped fashion into intricate compositions through long jam sessions. 

The trio began performing at venues in Northern California, and continues to enjoy performing together and with others, recording, and creating their unique, distinctive and enchanting sound.

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About Wild Eye Pub:

Wild Eye Pub is a family-friendly event venue, with a restaurant and bar. The Pub offers freshly crafted food from local & organic sources, and a full bar with regional brews, wines & spirits, with nightly entertainment in a comfy 'supper club' style with an easy vibe.  Depending on weather, event may be on our creekside stage, or on our large dining room stage. We serve events in a "supper club" style: Table service of food and drinks is (quietly) offered throughout the event. For this event, seating and service begins1 hour ahead. 

*Tickets and reservations are always recommended!* This is a ticketed, indoor event. Our limited event seating often fills up before the day of the show. 

We charge a sliding scale ticket or cover fee for most shows. We don't "turn over tables" to serve more diners, so attendees keep their tables for the evening. The cover fee helps us pay and feed the nightly performers. 

Sliding scale tickets for this event *start at $10 per person, *but, if you can, please consider adding a few extra dollars to your ticket purchase. This helps us to feed and pay the performing artists better. Thank you for supporting live performing artists, and supporting what we do!  xo

Pub has free parking. There is more free public parking nearby, at the corner of Mill & McCourtney, a 2-minute walk. And across from the Pub, French Ave has parking up and down the street on a gentle hill.   

Questions? 530-446-6668 or info@wildeyepub.com. You can leave a message by phone or email, 24/7.