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Entertainment to experience … or to see!Whatever branch of service you might have served in, you may recall just how much they molded you into being a soldier, sailor, marine, etc ... but they didn't do a WHOLE lot to prepare you for being a civilian once again.Enter Mil-Tree, and their program, "Tapestries of Transformation." The purpose of which is connecting veterans back to their community and reducing chronic loneliness and isolation.The culmination of the program will be a theatrical performance in the spring, which comes together as the culmination of several workshops — drumming, writing and storytelling, acting, and movement. The workshops are coming up QUITE soon — running through February. AND — they're not JUST for veterans.More at mil-tree.org.

John Jorgenson grew up in Redlands (and while at University of Redlands, actually played clarinet with Benny Goodman conducting!!!), and at one point worked at Disneyland — playing in three different bands comprised of the same four guys. He was in The Desert Rose Band, along with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Herb Pederson, who's played with more people than I can name in one breath. He was also in the award-winning Hellecasters, and was invited by Elton John to be part of an 18-month tour, which turned into a 6-year stay. John Jorgenson is also one of the forerunners in the world of Gypsy Jazz.I interviewed him just over a decade ago when he was getting ready to perform in Redlands, though this was before the creation of KVC-Arts. About time I included this one! John is still touring and performing in a number of configurations. More at johnjorgenson.com.

For this edition of KVC-Arts, David Fleming interviews Evan J. Marshall. Beyond his time with Riders of the Purple Sage, Evan is known to many as Mr. Solo Mandolin, due to his ability to play both accompaniment and lead at the same time. For this reason he's also known to some as "The Lone Arranger," but also due largely to his take on the final movement from the "William Tell Overture" — better known in many circles as the theme for The Lone Ranger.

Growing up — in movies, books, TV ... Matt Gilbert never saw lead characters like himself — Native American. And he decided he wasn't going to wait for someone else to make it happen. We ended up with the Chandera Trilogy ... though books four and five are in the works. Frank Blanquet, Television Producer/Director for FNX | First Nations Experience, recently interviewed Gilbert, aka Wolf Golan, about some of his writing.From the website: "Book 1 begins with Maxwell Wilkes marooned on an uncharted planet with his girlfriend Alexandra Parks and the small Riven 5 Shuttle Crew. They find themselves in a medieval kingdom, where they are seen as 'Strangers from the Stars.' They soon find out the kingdom is at war with a dark lord in the east. Can they help the kingdom tip the scales to save this new world called Chandera?" With themes and motifs reminiscent of Star Wars, Tolkien, and other epics — it's an adventure ... and it continues.

Writers on the Block started off as pretty much an open mic for writers ... mostly poets. It soon became mainly an online Facebook presence where people could share their works, as well as give and receive feedback. It then became a live event once again — the first Wednesday of every month at The Vault Martini Bar Redlands (which turned 20 years old this year!).There's a sign-up sheet starting at 8, and by 9 be ready for, well, readings and recitations. I got there as someone was reading from a short story. Many, many poems followed as we went through the sign-up sheet. I heard some very personal pieces, and some which were designed for a laugh. I heard some works which adhered strictly to meter and form ... and others were a rant on paper. And all of which I enjoyed thoroughly.The main driving force behind Writers on the Block these days is the combination of Alfred Valdivia Jr., Jamie Lee Musser, and Jose Nevarez AKA Vill Ain. Jamie and Villain join me to talk about Writers on the Block — past and present — and more.

On this edition of KVC-Arts, we'll hear from Johnny A. Hickman about this region of California as well as bands from the area (Cracker's roots are indeed Redlands, San Bernardino, Highland, Riverside ... ), another phrase or three talking about the songwriting process for Cracker, several REALLY cool tunes from Hickman's early solo release, Palmhenge — as well as the origin of that name, and yes — Cracker's breakout hit — "Teen Angst."

On this edition of the program, David Fleming speaks with Bob Cowsill. The Cowsills had big hits with Indian Lake, The Rain the Park and Other Things, and Hair, and with six siblings and their Mother singing, recording, and touring, they were the real-life inspiration for The Partridge Family.

David Fleming speaks with Don Dannemann, one of the founders - and current members of - The Cyrkle. We'll hear about how they ended up with The Beatles Manager Brian Epstein as THEIR manager, how John Lennon gave them the name, and of course their biggest hits, "Red Rubber Ball," and "Turn Down Day."

Positive Vibez Only Rep...A brand, a lifestyle, as well as an organization connecting people to the arts, within the arts, wellness, and MUCH more. They also have an Arts Showcase, as well as a festival in Joshua Tree coming up soon. More at positivevibezonlyrep.com, and we'll hear from the founder, Christian Wimberly, in conversation with KVCR's Lelah Boyd

On this edition of the program it's David Fleming in conversation with guitarist Ray Russell.It was Jimi Hendrix tapping at the window at 3 AM which made Ray Russell wake up. Jimi had locked himself out of the hotel and needed to be let back in. He was dressed pretty much how he would be on stage, which was pretty similar to how he dressed anyway. Ray let Jimi in (through the window) and over the next few hours they had a cup of tea and a wonderful conversation."The Conversation" is one of the tunes on "Fluid Architecture," Ray's newest release as of the time of OUR conversation. This collection of instrumentals ranges from jazz, some hard fusion, as well as some drifting, ethereal sonic soundscapes. Most of the tunes have multiple players, including the wonderful Simon Phillips. One is a beautiful acoustic piece which serves as a nice remembrance for a special friend.The different pieces represent more that just the sounds heard. They also reflect the changing - and fluid - situations and places which shape the music and emotions during which it was created. As Ray says, "The musicians that helped interpret the many 'moments' and helped the music 'become' are as important as the composition... for what they play is fluid architecture."I've loved many of Ray's releases. This one, the newest, is no different.