UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake continues its 2016 series of “Concerts with Conversation” at 7:30 on Saturday, April 16, with the lively blues, R & B and boogie woogie sounds of keyboard artist Macy Blackman.

Based in San Francisco, the Blackman Trio also includes the saxophone stylings of Nancy Wright with Bing Nathan on bass.

A concert featuring Macy Blackman is like stepping straight into a New Orleans blues and R & B club. He is a master of the music and has been sharing and teaching it in the Bay Area since moving here in 2000 to accept a position at U. C. Berkeley.

“I’ve played at the Blue Wing a couple of times and love coming up to Lake County,” said Blackman. “But the chance to do what I call R & B chamber music in the smaller venue of the Tallman Meeting House will be something special. I love to talk about the music almost as much as I like playing it.”

Tallman owner Bernie Butcher said the timing worked out well for this show. “Macy and Bing were available,” he said, “and Nancy will be up here with her own Rhythm and Roots Band performing the night before at the Soper Reese.”

Nancy Wright came to San Francisco in 1983 and has established herself as perhaps the area’s leading blues and R&B sax player. She has recorded and performed with the best of the best in this genre including John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Elvin Bishop, Joe Louis Walker, and many others.

“What I love about Nancy,” said Butcher, “is how she has blossomed in the past couple of years from such an accomplished supporting player now to front her own Rhythm and Roots Band. This showcases not only her instrumental skills for her songwriting and vocal attributes as well. And she’s a wonderful person to boot.”

Wright said she’s looking forward to her return to Lake County with her own band at the Soper Reese on Friday night but also “to join the great Macy Blackman in playing our version of New Orleans R&B chamber music!”

This is the final scheduled event of the Tallman’s 2015-6 series of Concerts with Conversation. However, a bonus concert has been added on Friday evening, May 20. The renowned Nashville based dobro player Rob Ickes will be at the Tallman together with the rising young country music star Trey Hensley.

Tickets for both the April 15 and May 20 shows are priced at $25 plus tax and may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244 ext. 0. They are also available on line through www.eventbrite.com .