Feral Fauna is like a musical phoenix that has risen from the ashes. Formerly a seven-piece electronic pop/soul outfit known as Audiafauna, the band has evolved into a “bluestronica” group led by singer Heather Deardorff and multi-instrumentalist Krikor Andonian. “Krikor and I met and connected on the idea of fusing electronic and live music, at the exact time when Audiafauna was disbanding,” explains Deardorff. “So the timing of our meeting, as well as having a similar vision of what we wanted to do with music, helped make the switch from Audiafauna to Feral Fauna very fluid.”

With the Monterey Jazz Festival around the corner, one of its many stars, Charlie Hunter, opens up about the community fostered by music

At his home on the East Coast, Charlie Hunter is just another suburban dad, indistinguishable from any other chauffeur driving his kids to soccer practice. But on stage, Hunter is famous for his agility on seven- and eight-string guitars. His music intersects with jazz, funk, blues, and many other genres, making his performances both eclectic and treasured.