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Musical Mornings with Enzo Garcia

Enzo GarciaOne of the things our family loves is music, and in the Bay Area there's no shortage of skilled and talented musicians who specialize in performing for children. One of the most popular performers in both Marin and San Francisco is multi-instrumentalist and singer Enzo Garcia, who has been delighting children and their parents with his "Breakfast with Enzo" for over five years. In what he hope is the first of a series of interviews with area musicians, we asked Enzo some questions about himself and his music and why he loves doing what he does.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am the son of Maria and Eduardo Garcia who immigrated to the US in 1967 from Argentina. I grew up in southeastern Michigan and was raised with a respect for nature. I have been living in Mill Valley for the past few years and came to be here through some work I did for Dr. Larry Brilliant.  I feel as though I could not be more fortunate in finding the studio which I rent. It's located walking distance from my friend Suki Hill's house. Suki has been instrumental in making me feel at home in Mill Valley as well as introducing me to her friends.  Here's a link to Suki's site in case you're not familiar with her, www.sukihillphoto.com.

How did you get started in music?
My start in music began with my mother's sweet voice singing me lullabies. My interest in music has continued to grow ever since. The first instrument which I learned to play was the recorder.  The clarinet and then the bass clarinet were soon to follow. In high school I took up piano and then trumpet but was too busy working on being a competitive tennis player to show much improvement. While in college, I worked on a guest ranch in Colorado and, for the first time, heard live bluegrass banjo picking. Wow! I can't explain it but I was immediately hooked.

How did you get started performing music for families and children?
I guess it really all began when I started playing the banjo and, along with it, folk music. I started a band with my friend and fiddle player Matt Combs called, "Drivetrain" while living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We would play at cider mills in the fall during the harvest and entertain hundreds of families. It was a real blast. 

In the Bay Area, I started my, "Breakfast with Enzo" concert in the Mission District in San Francisco over five years ago and have been entertaining families in the Bay Area ever since. In fact, January 26th, 2008 was proclaimed, "Breakfast with Enzo Day in San Francisco" by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

How would you describe your music?
I try my best to make my music diverse. At my shows, I play banjo, guitar, accordion, musical saw, electric bass and jew's harp. So, I'd be comfortable describing my music as eclectic.

What musicians and musical genres have inspired you?
I'll answer the first part in general rather than specifically. So, in general, I am inspired by musicians who work on the craft of music making regardless of their level of "success."  The musicians that make music because they have to are the ones who inspire me the most.

Genres that have inspired me include classical, rock, pop, folk, jazz, R&B, hip hop, funk, tango, Argentinian folk, Brazilian, west African, Tuvan, experimental, ambient, electronic, and classical Indian to name a few.

You regularly perform in the Bay Area; where can families go to hear you?
Thanks for asking. I play three weekly shows from 10 am to noon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Friday and Saturday shows are in the city while the Sunday show is at the Mill Valley Golf Clubhouse. For information and video about my shows, folks can visit www.enzogarcia.com

What’s your favorite thing about performing for children?
I stay away from having favorites for my tastes and preferences have been known to change over time. In general terms, I can say that I really enjoy sharing music with people. However, in order to share, one needs another to receive the gift that is to be shared. Not everyone wants to receive what is to be shared. With the kids, there is no guesswork. They receive what I share with open hearts, gaping and wide eyed. Many times, a child will arrive to my show and just run to me with arms opened wide for a hug. That's the best.

Can people hire you for special events and birthday parties?
Absolutely. My motto for my kids parties is, "Cheaper than a clown and cleaner than a pony!"

Do you offer music classes for children?
I do.  I started a music and movement program for infants and toddlers called, "LMNO Music."  I recorded 8 different CDs for the program over the course of two years. I was able to bring in and hire my friends to help me out on the recordings. Currently, I do not offer classes in Marin but I hope to change that soon. Folks can visit www.enzogarcia.com for more information about my classes.

Is there anything else people should know about you?
One more thing that folks should know is that I make for a great dinner guest.

Thanks, Enzo! To get a taste of Enzo and his music, we've included an MP3 of him singing "12 Monkey Motions," courtesy of the artist. Also,  check out this YouTube video of Enzo performing for the crowd at Breakfast with Enzo: