Musicians to stage Night of Jazz Standards

Musicians Sara Mussen and Adrian Demain invite the community to let them “take you back a few decades” at a Night of Jazz Standards concert in First Congregational Church at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13.

Mussen, a Ramona native and Ramona High School graduate, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in music from San Jose State University and her master’s in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She has performed with the Grossmont College Jazz Ensemble and the San Jose State University 186 combo.

Past performace credits in opera include Alma March in “Little Women” and Belinda/First Witch in “Dido and Aeneas.” Offstage, Mussen has been a stage manager and assistant director for several productions and recently directed her first fully staged opera in Colorado.

Demain was a professional skateboarder in the mid to late 1980s and rode for Powell Peralta as part of the Bones Brigade with the now legendary Tony Hawk. In the early ‘90s, he toured extensively through the United States and Europe with the band Forbidden Pigs. After leaving the Forbidden Pigs, he began touring with bassist Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats and recorded two albums with Rocker.

A working musician, Demain plays throughout San Diego County in several groups with varying styles, including Hawaiian music, country, blues and jazz. He also plays monthly in a solo called Exotica-Tronica.

Mussen and Demain have shared the stage with Demain’s Hawaiian band The Cheap Leis around San Diego and on Warped Tour. The debut performance of their new collaboration will be in Ramona on Aug. 13. First Congregational Church is at 404 Eighth St. at the corner of Eighth and D streets.

Admission to the concert is free, but tips will be accepted.