My top pick for the best of what’s New In Music This week is:

JAZZ: TO THE SURFACE – Lawrence Fields – Rhythm ‘n’ Flow Records

Pianist/composer Fields is someone to get to know NOW. This album is a fine way to start if you haven’t discovered already through his collaborations with Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah; Terri Lyne Carrington; Joe Lovano; Branford Marsalis; Nicholas Payton; Sound Prints (Dave Douglas) and more.

But that would expose you to his playing. This, his debut album, gives you nine tracks that show off what a fine composer he is. The one cover is of I Fall in Love Too Easily (a Sammy Cahn/Jule Styne composition).

The highlight of the album is Moving On which was written for someone who had recently passed away. The journey this nine-minute track travels is one that perfectly mirrors to process of grief.

Joining Fields on To The Surface are drummer Corey Fonville and bassist Yasushi Nakamura.

Here are the other albums that are on my list for New In Music This Week: February 2^nd.

CLASSICAL:  HAMELIN: NEW PIANO WORKS – Marc-André Hamelin – Hyperion Records

Hamelin has long been one of my favorite classical pianists. With this album he proves to be one of our most interesting composers as well. On the liner notes it says Hamelin “sees himself as a pianist who happens to compose.” He does both quite brilliantly.

This 64-minute album opens with his transcription of Variations on a theme of Paganini. He joins a lofty list of composers who have created new works around the theme:  Brahms and Rachmaninoff being the most popular. Hamelin’s will surprise you with its energy and freshness.

The album continues with his My Feelings About Chocolate which leaves the listener with a multitude of possibilities about what those feelings are (seems a bit love/hate, but don’t we all have that feeling, particularly when we realize how much chocolate we’ve eaten?).

I could go on about each track. Suffice to say that this is a terrific album and one I’ve listened to repeatedly.

CLASSICAL:  DANCE! – Daniel Hope/Zürcher Kammerorchester – Deutsche Grammophon

Violinist Hope not only offers up two hours of “dance music,” he performs music from all over the world and many different style of dance. Certainly Shostakovich is not going to offer dance music that is in any way similar to Henry Purcell. Nor is Edward Elgar going to be similar to Florence Price. Nor Brahms to Astor Piazzolla.

What’s most enjoyable about this album is the wide range of music and styles to explore. Through it all Hope is beautifully front and center. It sounds like all the musicians are having fun with this music. I’m sure you will, too.

CLASSICAL/JAZZ:  RHAPSODY IN BLUE REIMAGINED – Lara Downes/SCFM Orchestra/Edwin Outwater– Pentatone Music

Pianist Downes collaborates with arranger/composer/pianist/saxophonist Edmar Colón on this thoughtful and intriguing reimagining of Gershwin’s 1924 work. 

What Downes and Colón have done is imagine all the influences (musical, political, sociological) that surrounded Gershwin at the time he composed Rhapsody in Blue. They also find parallels in what was going on in the world one hundred years ago to our world today.

If that sounds academic, it’s not meant to. Downes and Colón follow an impressive list of artists who have re-considered Rhapsody in Blue for their times. That list includes Duke Ellington (with Billy Strayhorn, of course); Chick Corea, Marcus Roberts and more.

I can’t wait for an opportunity to hear this work in concert. For now, this EP will more than suffice and certainly be a must-have for fans of Rhapsody in Blue.

JAZZ:  TRIO FASCINATION (EDITION ONE) – Joe Lovano – Blue Note Records Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series

How appropriate that this re-issue of Lovano’s 1998 album with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Elvin Jones gets released the same date as To the Surface by his collaborator Fields.

Nine of the ten tracks were composed by Lovano who can be heard on four different saxophones and clarinet on the album.

Ben Ratliff, writing in the New York Times said that this album, “will be one of this year’s jazz standard-bearers.” It was and remains a great record. This marks the first time Trio Fascination (Edition One) has been released on vinyl.

JAZZ: DOWN WITH IT – The Blue Mitchell Quintet – Blue Note Records Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series

The 60s were a swinging time for all kinds of people and certainly one of them was trumpeter Blue Mitchell. Who wouldn’t swing on the track called Hi-Heel Sneakers which opens this album.

There are two compositions by Mitchell amongst the six tracks on this album. They are March on Selma and Perception which was co-written with his pianist – Chick Corea (who was all of 24 years old).

Also performing on this album are Junior Cook on tenor saxophone; Al Foster on drums and Gene Taylor on bass.

JAZZ:  BLACK JAZZ RECORDS: THE COMPLETE SINGLES – Various Artists – Real Gone Music

A few years ago Real Gone Music re-issued 20 albums that had been recorded for the Black Jazz label. These were songs and performances recorded over 50 years ago. This release is a sampler of music from all those re-issues. A damn is it good!

No doubt jazz aficionados will recognize many of these names far more readily than I, but whether you know them or not, this is definitely worth checking out. The artists selected for this 15-track celebration of the label are:  Walter Bishop, Jr.; Doug Carn; Jean Carn; Cleveland Eaton; Rudolph Johnson; Calvin Keys; Kellee Patterson; Gene Russell (producer for the label) and Chester Thompson.

Listening to this sampler has made me want to go back and get those 20 albums already released.

JAZZ/CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: DISSOLVE – Richard Nelson/Makrokosmos Orchestra – Adhyâropa Records

This is our week for hybrid works (though isn’t that where music is anyway?). Composer guitarist has released this new EP with three compositions that fall in equal parts to new music and jazz. 

The three tracks are Dissolve, Float and Cohere. 40 minutes of music that showcases Nelson’s imaginative writing, but also an orchestra filled with massively talented musicians.

In addition to Nelson, they include Rex Benincasa on percussion; John Carlson on trumpet; Ken Filiano on bass; Rob Garcia on drums; Adam Kolker on saxophone; Scott Neumann on drums; Matt Pavolka on bass; Arco Sandoval on keyboards; Marshall Sealy on horns; Jacob Varmus on trumpet and more.

Imagine if Leonard Bernstein were still alive, but as a much younger man. This feels like the kind of music he might write. It’s interesting to note that this music was recorded in 2017 and 2019. It’s too bad it took this long to get released, but I’m certainly grateful it was.

VOCALS:  SEA SONGS – Bryn Terfel – Deutsche Grammophon

Bass-baritone Terfel is a Welshman through and through. Though he’s found fame on opera stages around the world, he seems most at home in his albums celebrating music from the British Isles. This album is no exception.

Sea Songs has many a song you’ll recognize including Drunker Sailor, Sloop John B and The Irish Rover. You might recognize some of the artists joining him for various tracks on Sea Songs: Eve Goodman, Simon Keenlyside and Sting. Calan and the Fisherman’s Friends, a Welsh folk band, also join in.

Simply put Sea Songs is pure joy. Pour yourself a pint (or two) and enjoy this nearly one-hour excursion out to sea with Terfel.

That’s it for New In Music This Week: February 2^nd.

Enjoy the music!

Enjoy your weekend!

Main Image: Part of the album cover for “Down WIth It”

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TOP CHOICE:

CLASSICAL: Christian Gerhaher: Das Lied von der Erde (Sony Classical)

This is an absolutely exquisite recording of Mahler’s deeply personal song cycle written after the death of his daughter. What makes this recording utterly compelling is that it is simply baritone Gerhaher and pianist Gerald Huber. Not the standard arrangement you’ll hear of this work.

The first, third and fifth movements of Das Lied von der Erde feature tenor Piotr Beczala. Beczala is regularly found on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Gerhaher will make his Met debut next year in a production of Wagner’s Tannhäuser. Fans of great singing and Mahler will not want to miss this recording.

The rest of this week’s picks for New In Music This Week: May 5th are:

BROADWAY: Shucked – Original Cast Album (Sony Masterworks)

When the Tony Award nominations were announced this week, there were the obvious big-budget shows amongst the nominees (Some Like It Hot, New York, New York) and also the little show that could: Shucked. With 9 nominations including Best New Musical, Shucked has proven to be quite the crowd-pleaser.

Since not everyone can get to New York or afford tickets to shows on Broadway, this week’s digital release of the original Broadway cast recording will let you in on the appeal of the show and its sense of humor.

Shucked was composed by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally and has a book by Robert Horn. The cast includes John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Grey Henson, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley and Alex Newell. Cahoon and Newell were amongst the nominees along with the show’s creators.

This may be the first musical to feature a song about corn since Grey Gardens and certainly the first to feature two songs about corn. Clark and McAnally perform two bonus tracks. The CD will be released on June 9th.

CLASSICAL: Philharmonia Orchestra – Simon Rattle: The Planets (Warner Classics)

Conductor Simon Rattle’s original 1980 recording of Gustav Holst’s The Planets is being released on CD, digital and vinyl. This was released the same year that Rattle was named Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Holst’s music has served as endless inspiration for film composers (I won’t name them) and the music itself has been featured in The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Right Stuff, The Boss Baby and more.

JAZZ: Joe Lovano: Our Daily Bread (ECM)

Do you need to know much more than there’s a new Joe Lovano album? The saxophonist is joined on this record by drummer Carmen Castaldi and pianist Marilyn Crispell. They previously recorded 2018’s Trio Tapestry and 2020’s Garden of Expression together.

Lovano is a 14-time Grammy nominee with a win for his album 52nd Street Themes (Best Large Jazz Ensemble).

Our Daily Bread features an opening track that explores 12-tone music and includes a solo performance of One for Charlie dedicated to the late double bass jazz musician and composer Charlie Haden.

OPERA: Reiko Füting: Mechthild (New Focus Recordings)

If you’re a fan of modern opera, this world premiere recording is going to be just your thing. Mechthild had its world premiere in Magdeburg Germany last September. The librettist is “poet and theologian” Christian Lehnert.

Mechthild is an opera in three parts and takes its name from Mechthild of Magdeburg who was a mystic who was the first to write in German. She was a Beguine whose members did not have to formalize their religious vows, were free to leave and promised not to marry. The opera is dedicated to her.

The cast includes soprano Hannah Herfurtner as Mechthild’s soul; soprano Olivia Stahn as Mechthild’s body and Susi Wirth is the narrator. The music is conducted by Olaf Katzer.

Not a large list of New in Music This Week: May 5th, but it’s a good one!

Have a great weekend!

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Our Top Pick: Best Bets April 30th – May 3rd is the 2021 Global All-Star Concert for International Jazz Day. The concert takes place on April 30th beginning at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT. The concert will remain available for viewing for 30 days.

This year’s line-up is extraordinary and will be coming from around the world.

Performing from New York will be saxophonist Melissa Aldana; bassist Massimo Biolcati; pianist A Bu; pianist Cyrus Chestnut; composer/pianist Amina Figarova; vocalist Roberta Gambarini; saxophonist Kenny Garrett; bassist James Genus; vibraphonist Stefon Harris; trumpeter Ingrid Jensen; saxophonist Joe Lovano; saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa; composer/drummer Antonio Sánchez and vocalist Veronica Swift.

Performing from Los Angeles will be the legendary Herbie Hancock (who also serves as Artistic Director of the concert); percussionist Alex Acuña; reedman Justo Almario; vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater; singer/songwriter Jonathan Butler; guitarist Mahmoud Chouki; pianist Gerald Clayton; singer/songwriter Andra Day; guitarist Romeo Lubambo; bassist Marcus Miller; vocalist Dianne Reeves; composer/trombonist Francisco Torres, drummer Justin Tyson and bassist/composer Ben Williams.

International performances will include performances by saxophonist Igor Butman from Moscow; multi-instrumentalist/singer Jacob Collier from London; trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis in Cape Town; singer Angélique Kidjo from Paris; composer/singer Ivan Lins in Rio De Janeiro; guitarist John McLaughlin in Monaco; trumpeter James Morrison in Mt. Gambier and pianist Junko Onishi in Tokyo.

John Beasley is the Musical Director for International Jazz Day.

You will be able to watch this live event on YouTube, Facebook, at jazzy.com, UN Web TV and more. And it’s free to watch!

There are International Jazz Day celebrations around the world. Why not celebrate with them?

The 2021 Global Concert will remain available for viewing through May 29th.

Photo: Herbie Hancock at the International Jazz Day 2019 All-Star Global Concert (Photo by Steve Mundinger/Courtesy Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz)

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But that’s not all! There are operas both old and new; dance both modern and ballet; vocalists singing standards and show tunes; several jazz concert options; contemporary classical music and witty banter to start your weekend off just right. We have nearly two dozen options for you!

With so many plays available, one of them was destined to be my Top Pick this week. It’s almost as if it had been written in the stars. Topping this week’s list is the Public Theater’s radio play and bilingual version of Shakespeare’s Romeo y Julieta with Juan Castano as Romeo and Lupita Nyong’o as Julieta.

So here are the Four Days of Best Bets: March 19th – March 22nd. The list begins with my Top Pick and is followed by events in the order in which they become available.

*TOP PICK* RADIO PLAY: Romeo y Julieta – Public Theater – Now Available

William Shakespeare’s best-known play is certainly Romeo and Juliet. In this radio play version you’ll get to hone in on exactly what makes this play so riveting: the story and the words. But there’s going to be a difference: this is a bilingual version called Romeo y Julieta.

Director Saheem Ali and Ricardo Pérez González have adapted Alfredo Michel Modenessi’s Spanish-language translation for this audio only production.

Starring as the title characters are Juan Castano as Romeo and Lupita Nyong’o as Julieta. Ivonne Coll plays the Nurse, Hiram Delgado is Tybalt, Irene Sofia Lucia is Mercutio, Julio Monge is Friar Lawrence and Javier Muñoz is Paris.

The rest of the cast includes Carlo Albán, Karina Arroyave, Erick Betancourt, Michael Braugher, Carlos Carrasco, John J. Concado, Guillermo Diaz , Sarah Nina Hayon, Kevin Herrera, Modesto Lacen, Florencia Lozano,  Keren Lugo, Benjamin Luis McCracken, Tony Plana and David Zayas.

The Public is making closed-captioning available in both English and Spanish and are also providing a script to use to follow along for those who might want that. Just be prepared for a tragic story that ends with these words:

“For never was a story more of woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

There is no charge to listen to Romeo y Julieta, but donations are encouraged.

PLAY: The Picture of Dorian Gray – now – March 31st

Oscar Wilde’s classic story of a man who sells his soul in order that his good looks don’t fade gets a contemporary spin in this new version of the story by Henry Filloux-Bennett. This updated approach has Dorian as a social media influencer who doesn’t want to see his fame fade. It’s just as much a Faustian deal here as in Wilde’s original.

Starring in this production are Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk), Alfred Enoch (seven of the Harry Potter films), Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Emma McDonald (Hamlet), Russell Tovey (Angels in America) and Stephen Fry (Wilde).

Tickets are £12 which at press time was equal to just under $17. There is a warning that there is strong language and references to mental illness and suicide. The production is recommended for audiences age 16 and higher.

PLAY: Women Without Men – Mint Theater Company – Now – March 21st

This is the first of several plays that New York’s Mint Theater Company has started streaming. Set in Ireland in the 1930s, Hazel Ellis’ play depicts the unmarried teachers at an all-girls school. It is their interactions with one another that reveals petty jealousies and very different personalities.

This production was staged in 2016 and was directed by Jean Thompson. Appearing in Women Without Men are Mary Bacon, Joyce Cohen, Shannon Harrington, Kate Middleton, Aedin Moloney, Alexa Shae Niziak, Kellie Overbey, Dee Pelletier, Beatrice Tulchin, Emily Walton and Amelia White.

There is no fee to watch the play. Registration; however, is required.

PLAY: Katie Roche – Mint Theater Company – Now – March 28th

Also from Mint Theater Company is this 2013 production of Teresa Devey’s 1936 play. Katie Roche tells the story of a servant girl who has big dreams and finds herself torn between two men.

The play had its premiere with Ireland’s Abbey Theatre and made its first appearance in the United States in 1937.

Starring are Margaret Daly, Patrick Fitzgerald, Jon Fletcher, David Friedlander, Jamie Jackson, John O’Creagh, Wrenn Schmidt, Diana Toibin. Jonathan Bank directs.

There is no fee to watch the play. Registration; however, is required.

PLAY: How to Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre – Now – March 28th

Half a century after a young woman’s girlfriend hits her with some very surprising news, four artists are coming to grips with the ramifications of that fateful day. That’s the premise of Christina Anderson’s How to Catch Creation which Chicago’s Goodman Theatre will be streaming on demand for two weeks.

This is not a reading of the play. Rather it is a capture of their 2019 production directed by Niegel Smith. The cast features Karen Aldridge, Ayanna Bria Bakari, Jasmine Bracey, Bernard Gilbert, Maya Vinice Prentiss and Keith Randolph Smith.

How to Catch Creation runs 2 hours and 15 minutes. There’s no charge to stream the production.

PLAY: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – Broadway on Demand – Now – April 18th

You might think you need to know a lot about the work of Anton Chekhov to appreciate Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. While it certainly helps, it’s absolutely not essential. While the play does take place near a cherry orchard, there is familial conflict about what to do with a cherished home and the three siblings depicted all have names taken from Chekhov’s work, this comedy has proven popular around the world.

Durang had a rather circuitous route to Broadway with this play. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike had its world premiere at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton in 2012. One month after closing there it went off-Broadway to Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. Two months after closing there it opened on Broadway and ultimately was named the Best Play at the Tony Awards.

One thing this play was able to do was keep its cast intact for all those moves. So the film that Lincoln Center is making available for free on Broadway on Demand features David Hyde Pierce, Billy Magnussen, Kristine Nielsen, and Sigourney Weaver.

I’ve seen this play two times and strongly recommend you allow yourself the time to relax, sit back and enjoy yourself.  In 2014 I interviewed David Hyde Pierce about the play and his direction of it when it played the Mark Taper Forum. You can read that interview here.

OPERA: Breaking the Waves – Los Angeles Opera – March 19th – April 12th

The 1996 Lars von Trier film Breaking the Waves told the dark story of a husband, who is recovering from an accident at work, who encourages his wife to have sex with other men during his recovery. It was a bold film that featured a shattering performance by Emily Watson.

Composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek created an opera based on this film. Their work had its world premiere at Opera Philadelphia in 2016.

The work won universal acclaim including these comments by Alex Ross in The New Yorker:

“The opera created a world: it had a tone, a profile. There was an uncommonly strong relationship between libretto and music: the work felt urgent, driven by conviction, essential.”

Los Angeles Opera had scheduled a live production of Breaking the Waves, but the pandemic got in the way. In its place they are making a film of the opera directed by James Darrah available for free streaming (registration is required).

The original cast returns: Kiera Duffy, John Moore, Eve Gigliotti, David Portillo, Zachary James and Marcus DeLoach.

As you might imagine with this subject matter, a word of caution. This production includes explicit language, nudity and sexual content, some of a violent nature. Recommended for mature audiences only.

CONVERSATION: Virtual Halston – Cast Party Network – March 19th – 5:00 PM EDT/2:00 PM PDT

If you’re going to have an afternoon salon filled with ribald conversation and witty repartee, it helps to have two masters participating. In this week’s edition of Virtual Halston with Julie Halston, she’s got a great guest: playwright/author/screenwriter Paul Rudnick.

His plays include I Hate Hamlet, Jeffrey, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told and the upcoming book for the musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. His screenplays include The Addams Family, The First Wives Club and In and Out.

Actor Peter Bartlett, who received a Drama Desk nomination for his performance in The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, will also be joining.

JAZZ: A Night in New Orleans – Derek Douget – Lobero Theatre – March 19th

When winter turns to spring and Lent is approaching many people immediately think of New Orleans and its grand tradition of Mardi Gras. Even later in spring thoughts turn to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Mardi Gras didn’t happen this year and JazzFest is postponed until the fall.

So what’s a fan of that glorious music supposed to do?

Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara is riding to your rescue this weekend. Saxophonist Derek Douget and his band will bring all that wonderful music into your home beginning Friday evening with A Night in New Orleans.

Joining Douget are Victor Atkins on piano; Ashlin Parker on trumpet; Herlin Riley on drums and vocals; Jason Stewart on bass and Don Vappie on banjo/guitar and vocals.

Tickets are $15, but you’ll have to provide your own beads!

JAZZ: Cindy Blackman Santana and Guests – SFJAZZ – March 19th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM EDT

Drummer Cindy Blackman Santana is well connected. She’s recorded and toured with Joe Henderson, Pharoah Sanders, Joss Stone, Cassandra Wilson and more. She spent many years on the road as the drummer for Lenny Kravitz. She also toured with Santana and in 2010 Carlos Santana proposed to her.

But those aren’t the friends or guests that are part of this weekend’s Fridays at Five concert from SFJAZZ. She has recent Oscar-nominated composer/musician Terence Blanchard (Da 5 Bloods), guitarist Bill Frisell, the Kronos Quartet, saxophonist Joe Lovano and members of the SFJAZZ Collective joining for this concert from 2017.

There will be an encore presentation of this concert on Saturday, March 20th at 1:00 PM EDT/10:00 AM PDT. Tickets are available with a monthly digital membership ($5) or an annual membership ($60).

OPERA: Renée Fleming Live from the Met – PBS (check local listings) – March 19th from 2021

If you are a regular reader of Cultural Attaché you know that Renée Fleming is one of the most beloved sopranos in opera. Whether seen and heard in productions or recitals, she is regularly a fan favorite.

PBS is airing a recital Fleming gave from Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. last August.

The program includes works by George Frideric Handel, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Jules Massenet, Giacomo Puccini and Richard Strauss. Robert Ainsley serves as her accompanist.

BROADWAY VOCALS: Andrew Rannells Live from Lincoln Center – PBS (check local listings) – March 19th from 2018

In December of 2017 Andrew Rannells performed in The Appel Room at Lincoln Center. The concert was filmed and first broadcast on PBS in 2018. The show returns to PBS this weekend.

Rannells is best known for his Tony Award-nominated performance in The Book of Mormon and for his appearance on the HBO series Girls. He was recently seen as Whizzer in Falsettos (his second Tony Award nomination) and in Ryan Murphy’s stage production and the subsequent film of The Boys in the Band.

This is a fun concert that shows the boy can sing more than just show tunes! Fans will want to check it out.

BALLET: The Red Shoes – Ahmanson Theatre – March 19th – March 21st $10

As part of their continuing Digital Series and their relationship with Matthew Bourne, Center Theatre Group and the Ahmanson Theatre are offering up a filmed performance of Bourne’s ballet The Red Shoes.

The ballet is inspired by the Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger film from 1948 (which in itself was inspired by a story by Hans Christian Anderson).

Bourne uses the music of legendary film composer Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane, Psycho) for this ballet.

Ashley Shaw stars as a ballerina torn between her love for the composer who wrote her a ballet and the impresario who runs the ballet company and controls her career.

There will be five opportunities to stream The Red Shoes. Friday, March 19th at 8:00 PM PDT/11:00 PM EDT; Saturday March 20th at 5:00 PM PDT/8:00 EDT and 8:00 PM PDT/11:00 PM PDT and Sunday, March 21st at 1:00 PM PDT/4:00 PM EDT and 5:00 PM PDT/8:00 PM EDT.

Tickets are $10. This program will not be available for streaming outside the United States.

OPERA: Siegfried – San Francisco Opera – March 20th – March 21st

Conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles; starring Daniel Brenna, Greer Grimsley, Iréne Theorin, Ronnita Miller and David Cangelosi. This revival of Francesa Zambello’s 2011 production is from the 2017-2018 season.

This third opera in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen had its premiere in Bayreuth in 1876 where it was seen at the first-ever performance of The Ring Cycle.

The title character is front and center in the third opera in the Ring Cycle. He matures throughout the opera via the choices he makes. He encounters an enigmatic Wanderer, but doesn’t know this is Wotan in disguise. When Siegfried is able to reassemble pieces of Siegmund’s sword (Siegmund is his father) he uses it to kill Fafner who has the responsibility of protecting the gold that was stolen from the Rhinemadiens in Das Rheingold. He also comes into possession of the ring. But what will he do with it and how will that impact his pre-destined love for Brunnhilde?

Lisa Hirsch, writing for the San Francisco Classical Voice, said of the production:

“…perhaps the greatest strength of the production remains: a splendidly staged and remarkably sympathetic Siegfried that flew by. In 2011, part of its charm was the surprisingly sweet Siegfried of Jay Hunter Morris, a handsome man with a beautiful voice. With the young heroic tenor Daniel Brenna stepping into the role this year, some of the sweetness and charm is lost to a more conventionally brash portrayal of the character. Still, the opera really did come off as a scherzo, a comparatively light moment in the Ring despite the deaths of Mime and Fafner. The encounters between the Wanderer and Mime, Alberich, Erda, and Siegfried retain their tremendous emotional power and depth.”

VOCALS: Songs from the Heart – Ute Lemper – March 20th – 2:00 PM EDT/11:00 AM PDT

Whether in concert halls, recording albums or gracing the stage of a musical, Ute Lemper has easily become of our most passionate and accomplished performers.

That wide range of material she handles will be on display in Songs from the Heart on Saturday. The concert will be streaming from Europe and includes songs from the musicals Cabaret and Chicago; from The Threepenny Opera; songs made famous by Édith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich, a song Lemper composed and also a song by Joni Mitchell.

I’ve seen her in multiple concert performances and also in the Broadway revival of Chicago. She’s absolutely amazing.

Joining Lemper for this concert will be Vana Gierig on piano; Tim Ouimette on trumpet; Matt Parrish on bass and Todd Turkish on drums and percussion.

Ticket are $24.99 and allow for 48 hours of access.

JAZZ: Jeremy Pelt Quintet – Vermont Jazz Center – March 20th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

You’re probably asking yourself how often will I recommend a performance by Jeremy Pelt? As long as he keeps putting out great music like Griot – This Is Important! I will do so as long as possible.

This concert from the Vermont Jazz Center will focus exclusively on music from this new album.

Joining Pelt for this concert are Vicente Archer on bass; Victor Gould on piano; Chien Chien Lu on vibraphone and Allan Mednard on drums.

There is no charge to stream the concert; however donations are encouraged.

ONE PERSON PLAY: Anyone But Me – IAMA Theatre Company – March 21st – April 18th

Sheila Carrasco’s Anyone But Me is the first of two one-person shows by Latinx-American women that Los Angeles’ IAMA Theatre Company will start streaming this weekend. Carrasco stars in this show in which she depicts multiple women struggling to define themselves and realizing that where they are is not where they want to be.

Anyone But Me is directed by Margaux Susi.

Tickets start at $15 (based on your ability to donate to IAMA).

ONE PERSON PLAY: The Oxy Complex – IAMA Theatre Company – March 21st – April 18th

The second play, The Oxy Complex, is written and performed by Anna LaMadrid. The play is set in the not-too-distant future – specifically the 500th day of quarantine. They Oxy of the title is not Oxycontin (source of opioid addictions), but rather Oxytocin.

What is oxytocin? It is defined by Medical News Today as:

“…a neurotransmitter and a hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus. From there, it is transported to and secreted by the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain.

“It plays a role in the female reproductive functions, from sexual activity to childbirth and breast feeding.”

So what is LaMadrid exploring in her show? All the things a woman might miss while being quarantined for so long. There is a reason, after all, that Oxytocin is called the “love hormone.”

Michelle Bossy directs. Tickets begin at $15 (based on your ability to donate).

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC: Bang on a Can Marathon Live Online – March 21st – 3:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM PDT

For their spring live online marathon, Bang on a Can is showcasing performances from New York and Berlin.

Here’s the line-up:

3:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM PDT

Daniel Bernard Roumain Why Did They Kill Sandra Bland? performed by Arlen Hlusko; Arnold Dreyblatt; Mazz Swift and Rohan Chander △ or THE TRAGEDY OF HIKKOMORI LOVELESS from FINAL//FANTASY performed by Vicky Chow

4:00 PM EDT/1:00 PM PDT

Kristina Wolfe Listening to the Wind performed by Molly Barth; Miya Masaoka; Aeryn Santillan disconnect. performed by Ken Thomson and Adam Cuthbert

5:00 PM EDT/2:00 PM PDT

Ken Thomson Birds and Ambulances performed by Robert Black; Tomeka Reid Lamenting G.F., A.A., B.T., T.M. performed by Vicky Chow; Steve Reich Vermont Counterpoint performed by Claire Chase; Christina Wheeler and Molly Joyce Purity performed by David Cossin

6:00 PM EDT/3:00 PM PDT

Tyshawn Sorey; Jeffrey Brooks Santuario performed by Mark Stewart; Moor Mother and Bill Frisell

BROADWAY VOCALS: Jackie Hoffman – March 21st – 3:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM PDT

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Jackie Hoffman in the original companies of Hairspray and Xanadu on Broadway. She’s always a joy to watch. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to see her in The Addams Family, On the Town or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

But you’ll get to see what makes Hoffman such a delightful and witty performer on Sunday.

She is Seth Rudetsky’s guest as part of his Concert Series. I can only imagine what stories she’ll have to tell and what songs she’ll choose to sing. We can all find out either in the live broadcast or in the encore showing (also on Sunday) at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT.

Tickets are $25.

DANCE: Uncharted Territory: Dancers in Isolation – Eryc Taylor Dance – Premieres March 21st – 6:00 PM EDT/3:00 PM PDT

Eryc Taylor has conceived a new work born out of the crisis that has hit us all in the last year. This work, Uncharted Territory: Dancers in Isolation, was created via Zoom, and focuses on New York City dancers.

The company features Nicole Baker, Chris Bell, Taylor Ennen, AJ Guevara, Eryc Taylor and Alex Tenreiro Theis. Each dancer choreographed their own work. The film is revealed in five separate segments which explore themes of death, mental instability, paranoia, sexual frustration and stillness.

The music was composed by Daniel Tobias.

There is no charge to watch the premiere, though donations are encouraged. Uncharted Territory will remain available online through March 28th.

PLAY: Yours Unfaithfully – Mint Theater Company – March 22nd – May 16th

Though written in 1933, Miles Malleson’s Yours Unfaithfully remained unperformed until Mint Theatre Company produced the show in late 2016.

It seems strange that a story about a married couple exploring an open relationship came from 1933. The all-too-virtuous husband (Max von Essen) is a writer seemingly unable to get inspired. His wife (Elisabeth Gray) runs a progressive school. She suggests opening up their relationship.

Alexis Soloski, in her review for the New York Times, said:

“Under the polished direction of Jonathan Bank, and in the hands of a fine team of designers, its arguments remain provocative, while its structure feels familiar, its tone decorous. Maybe that only makes it more unusual. It’s a bit like a sex farce with real sorrow instead of slammed doors, and something like a drawing room comedy with moral conundrums peeking out beneath the cushions. It is often very funny; it is also very nearly a tragedy.

There is no fee to watch the play. Registration; however, is required.

BROADWAY AND JAZZ VOCALS: Jim Caruso’s Pajama Cast Party – March 22nd – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

Jim Caruso celebrates 50 episodes of Pajama Cast Party with this Monday’s edition. Which makes the absence of his usual venue for his weekly in-person Cast Party, Birdland, all that more palpable.

But this is a party and the show will celebrate turning 50. Joining this week are singer/songwriter Ben Clark, Broadway/pop singer Joshua Colley (Les Misérables), singer/artist Jared Wayne Gladly, Broadway’s Jason Kravits (Relatively Speaking), Brazilian singer/songwriter Denise Reis and Braodway’s Dee Roscioli (Fiddler on the Roof).

That’s this weekend’s Four Days of Best Bets: March 19th – March 21st. But a few reminders before we go:

Los Angeles Philharmonic releases a new Sound/Stage episode entitled A Pan-American Musical Feast with special guest Chef José Andrés. The episode features performances of works by Tania León; Paul Desenne and Aaron Copland. For details on this episode and the whole series please go here.

The 92nd Street Y is still streaming last weekend’s performance by violinist Gil Shaham with The Knights. You can read details about their entire series here. Check out my recent interview with Shaham here.

The Metropolitan Opera concludes their Viewer’s Choice week with a 2006-2007 season production of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia on Friday; a production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin from the same season (and strongly recommended) and a production of Handel’s Agrippina from the 2019-2020 season on Sunday (also recommended). You can see details and clips from all three productions here.

On Monday the Met begins a weeklong celebration of Myths and Legends with a production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice from the 2008-2009 season. We’ll have full details on Monday with our preview of the the week’s full line-up.

I trust you’ll find something amongst the Four Days of Best Bets: March 19th – March 22nd to keep you entertained! Have a great weekend.

Photo: Artwork of the balcony scene from Romeo y Julieta by Erick Davila (Courtesy The Public Theater)

Correction: The name of Eryc Taylor Dance program is Uncharted Territory and not Unchartered Territory as we originally listed. Cultural Attaché has corrected the post above and regrets the error.

The post Four Days of Best Bets: March 19th – March 22nd appeared first on Cultural Attaché.

Clearly not all the fireworks are going to be taking place in Tampa. In fact, I’d be willing to wager that these are some of the best offerings on any given weekend in recent memory. Though I will admit there aren’t a lot of new offerings on Sunday, but many of these listings are for more than just one day.

Our top pick this weekend is drummer/multi-instrumentalist/composer Tyshawn Sorey at the Village Vanguard on Friday and Saturday.

So let’s get to it. Here are the Best Bets: February 5th – February 7th.

PLAYS/READINGS: Christa McAuliffe’s Eyes Were Blue – Center Theatre Group – Now – April 4th

If you’ve seen the film One Night in Miami, you are familiar with the work of playwright Kemp Powers. He adapted his play for the Regina King-directed film now available on Amazon. (Earlier this week the film received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor – Leslie Odom, Jr. and Best Director for King). Kemp is also the co-director and co-writer of Pixar’s newest film, Soul.

Christa McAuliffe’s Eyes Were Blue tells the story of twin brothers who find life treats them very differently. One brother has to battle with racism because of his dark skin and the other can pass as white. The play takes place in two different settings: New York City in the 1980s when they were just boys and a Minnesota courthouse in 2006, by which time their lives have taken very different paths.

This “produced reading” (meaning there are sets and costumes) stars Giovanni Adams, Jovan Adepo (Fences), Amaia Arana, Lorena Martinez (South Coast Rep’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Connor Paolo (Business Doing Pleasure), Adam J. Smith (Taken 3), Cory Michael Smith (1985), Larry Bates (Big Little Lies) and Justin Lawrence Barnes (InterVallum). It was directed by Jennifer Chang.

Center Theatre Group subscribers and donors can access Christa McAuliffe’s Eyes Were Blue for free. There is a $10 streaming fee for all others.

MUSIC/DANCE FESTIVAL: Whistleblower – Philip Glass’ Days and Nights Festival – Now Available

In a lead-up to their tenth annual Days and Nights Festival in Big Sur, they are holding a digital celebration beginning this week. Composer Philip Glass created the festival and many of his works will be available through at least May. Ten projects have been announced so far and the festival launches with a film of the 2017 performance of Whistleblower.

Inspired by Edward Snowden’s leak of classified information, Whistleblower has music by Glass with concept and text by performance poet Jerry Quickley. Glass appears in this film. Also performing are Miranda Cuckson, Matt Haimovitz, David Harding, Tara Hugo, Lavina Meijer, Alex Weil and Alex Weston.

Also debuting this weekend are The Pattern of the Surface from Molissa Fenley Dance Company in a performance also from 2017 and Heart Strings, a musical depiction of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet created by Tenzin Choegyal and Glass.

Tickets to watch each performance are $5. You can buy each for $20. The Festival is also offering discounts or comps for those who don’t have the ability to pay. You can submit a request for that here.

PLAYS: All the Devils are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain – Shakespeare Theatre Company – Now – February 7th

Patrick Page may be best known for his menacing portrayals of some of the theatre’s great villains. He was Tony-nominated for his performance as Hades in Hadestown. He also appeared opposite Denzel Washington in a Broadway production of Julius Caesar, The Green Goblin in the ill-fated musical, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark and as Scar in The Lion King.

In this 80-minute film, the first-ever online production produced by Washington, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, Page examines the many villains William Shakespeare created in his plays and how they progressed from simple stock characters in the playwright’s early works to fully-realized villains that set a new standard for the depiction of those characters we most love to hate.

Page has played his share of Shakespeare’s characters with STC including Claudius in Hamlet, the title character in Macbeth, Iago in Othello and Prospero in The Tempest.

Page wrote the script for All the Devils are Here. I’ve seen Page in multiple shows and can assure you that this is a perfect pairing of actor and material. And his voice…if you haven’t heard it (no doubt you have, even if you aren’t aware), you’re in for a real treat with his take on Shakespeare’s bad guys.

Tickets are $25

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Jupiter String Quartet – Kranner Center for the Performing Arts – February 5th – 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST

Violinists Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel, violist Liz Freivogel and cellist Daniel McDonough make up the classical music ensemble known as Jupiter String Quartet. It’s a family affair. Liz is Meg’s older sister and Daniel is Meg’s husband. This family, however, makes beautiful music together.

On Friday, February 5th they are releasing a new album with Jasper String Quartet that features works by Felix Mendelssohn, the world premiere recording of a work by Dan Visconti and Last Round by Osvaldo Golijov on Marquis Classics.

That same day they launch the first of four digital concerts in collaboration with the Kranner Center for the Performing Arts under the title Reflection and Renewal.

Each performance becomes available at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST and is free to stream.

This week’s first concert features Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95, “Serioso” and Kati Agócs’ Imprimatur (her second string quartet). Imprimatur was commissioned by The Aspen Music Festival and School, Harvard Musical Association, and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The link takes you to the full line-up which will include works by William Bolcom, Haydn, Mendelssohn and Schubert.

OPERA: Il trittico – Royal Opera House – Debuts February 5th – 2:00 PM EST/11:00 AM PST

This weekend the Royal Opera House begins streaming (through March 7th) their 2011 production of Giacomo Puccini’s Il trittico.

Il trittico is a trilogy of one-act operas. The three operas are Il tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. The latter is the best-known of the three as it is the most commonly performed.

Jealousy and murder are on tap in Il tabarro involving the love triangle of Michele (Lucio Gallo), his wife Giorgetta (Eva-Maria Westbroek) and her lover Luigi.

Suor Angelica is the dramatic story of a nun (Ermonela Jaho) dealing with loss.

Gianni Schicchi (Gallo) depicts what happens when someone dies and the will goes missing. And you think your relatives were difficult?

Richard Jones directed this 2016 production (a revival of his 2011 production) and Antonio Pappano conducted.

Tickets are £3 which equates to roughly $4.10 (as of press time).

PLAYS/CONVERSATION: TCG Books’ First Friday with Michael R. Jackson – February 5th – 7:30 PM EST/4:30 PM PST

This year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama went to playwright Michael R. Jackson for his musical A Strange Loop. TCG Books, a publisher who releases plays and musicals in book form, is hosting a conversation with Jackson on the occasion of their publishing A Strange Loop.

The leader character in A Strange Loop, Usher, offers perhaps the most succinct description of the show. “It’s about a black, queer man writing a musical about a black, queer man who’s writing a musical about a black queer man who’s writing a musical about a black queer man, etc.”

Jackson told the New York Times in a 2019 interview about his experience seeing Brian Dennehy in a production of Death of a Salesman. As a black, gay, young man he felt innate sadness and that Arthur Miller’s play revealed that in “America you’re worth more dead than alive.” But he also asked himself the question that would lead to A Strange Loop.

“What if I can make an old white man empathize with what it might be like to be a young, black, gay man and suffer — and not because he’s being killed by the police or destroyed in some way like that, but it’s actually an emotional journey from the inside?”

This conversation will take place on TCG’s Facebook Page. Those interested in buying the book can purchase it here.

JAZZ: Christian McBride’s New Jawn – SFJAZZ – February 5th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST

When jazz bassist Christian appeared at SFJAZZ in 2016 for this concert, he was certainly working out the material that ended up on his 2018 album Christian McBride’s New Jawn. The line-up on the album and this concert are the same: trumpeter Josh Evans, saxophonist Marcus Strickland, and drummer Nasheet Waits.

By the time the album was released, McBride and his ensemble coalesced their work into a Grammy-nominated work that garnered this praise from Hilary Brown in Downbeat Magazine, “The word ‘jawn’— a fresh new phenomenon—is familiar argot to Christian McBride, a Philadelphia native. And when it comes to trailblazing new, cool jazz concepts in eponymous trios or big bands, the venerable bassist always delivers. Enter his latest jawn—a pianoless quartet, born of a New York scene that sates East Coast soul-seekers and purists alike. Christian McBride’s New Jawn faithfully salutes its forebears—Gerry Mulligan, Ornette Coleman and the like—but leave it to this next-gen assimilation of bandleaders to take musical liberties.”

Hearing these four amazing musicians work on this material live well before putting it to vinyl is going to be a great way to launch your weekend.

Tickets are $5 which allows for one month of Fridays at Five performances or $60 for a complete year of them.

TOP PICK: JAZZ: Tyshawn Sorey – Village Vanguard – February 5th and 6th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST

February is a busy month of drummer/composer Tyshawn Sorey. Next week Opera Philadelphia will unveil the world premiere of his Save the Boys, a composition written for and performed by countertenor John Holiday. But before that happens, he’s taking to the stage at the Village Vanguard in New York.

Sorey was recently profiled in the New York Times Magazine where writer Adam Schatz wrote, “Sorey who turned 40 over the summer, would be worth writing about for his drumming alone. The power, precision and inventiveness of his playing often draw comparisons with masters like Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. But Sorey refuses to play conventionally virtuosic drum solos — he prefers to play delicately and sparely, if at all — and he avoids being photographed with his sticks in the athletic poses that have defined the image of most jazz drummers. He is also a brilliant trombonist and pianist, and in the last few years he has become as arresting a figure in contemporary classical and experimental new music as he is in jazz..”

Joining Sorey for these two performances are saxophonist Joe Lovano (who just released a new album, Garden of Expression, on ECM Records last week) and guitarist Bill Frisell.

Tickets are $10 for each performance.

OPERA: Lohengrin – San Francisco Opera – February 6th – February 7th

Conducted by Nicola Luisotti; starring Brandon Jovanovich, Camilla Nylund, Petra Lang and Gerd Grochowski. This Daniel Slater production is from the 2012-2013 season.

Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin had its world premiere in 1850 in Weimar. It is one of his few romantic operas.

The setting is Antwerp in the 10th century. Elsa is accused by Friedrich von Telramund of killing her brother in an effort to prevent Telramund from assuming the dukedom. The dispute is to be resolved by combat. In an answer to her prays a mysterious knight named Lohengrin appears. He agrees to help Elsa as long as she never asks who he is or where is from. When Lohengrin defeats Telramund in battle, but spares his life, revenge is foremost on Telramund’s mind.

Director Slater updated Wagner’s opera to take place in the mid-20th century in an unnamed Eastern European country.

Joshua Kosman, writing in the SF Chronicle, said of Jovanovich, “In his debut as the mysterious, nameless knight who shows up to defend Elsa of Brabant against the baseless charge of fratricide, Jovanovich combined sweet-toned lyricism and ardent heroism in just the proportions required by this tricky role. His singing was thrillingly pure and tireless, his stage presence simultaneously tender and aloof.”

OPERA RECITAL: Anna Netrebko – Met Stars Live in Concert – February 6th – 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST

Soprano Anna Netrebko is arguably one of the biggest opera stars in the world. She will be performing a recital from Vienna’s Spanish Riding School with pianist Pavel Nebolsin on Saturday as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Stars Live in Concert Series.

The program is slated to include four works by Sergei Rachmaninoff; two by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; three by Richard Strauss; five by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky an one each by Frank Bridge, Gustave Charpentier, Claude Debussy, Antonín Dvořák, Gabriel Fauré, Ruggero Leoncavallo and Jacques Offenbach.

During the recital Mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova will join Netrebko for two duets.

Tickets are $20 and the performance will remain on demand for 14 days.

PLAYS: While Yet I Live – Play-Per-View – February 6th – February 10th

Tony Award-winner Billy Porter’s semi-autobiographical play, While Yet I Live, had its world premiere in the fall of 2014. The cast was Lillias White (The Life, Fela!), Emmy Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson(Come Back, Little Sheba), Elain Graham (Smash), Sheria Irving (Romeo & Juliet, Ethel Sings), Kevyn Morrow (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Sharon Washington (The Scottsboro Boys) and Larry Powell (The Gaze…No Homo).

They are all reuniting with director Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall, Mothers and Sons) to do a reunion reading of the play. The live reading takes place on February 6th at 7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST. It will be available afterwards on demand through February 10th at 11:30 PM EST/8:30 PM PST.

At the time of the production, Porter said, “This play is a love letter to my mother, my sister, and the women who raised me. Reflecting on my own life experience as a gay, black, Christian man, and survivor of abuse, I wanted to write a play that was about family, faith and the healing power of forgiveness, three things very necessary to move forward and make change in your life. Change is possible, but it takes patience.”

Tickets for the live performance range from $5 – $50 based on your ability to pay. To watch the show afterwards, the price is $15. All proceeds will benefit the Actors Fund Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund​.

DANCE: Passage – Dance Theatre of Harlem YouTube Channel – February 6th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST

Dance Theatre of Harlem launches a one-month Winter Series of virtual events and performances with Passage which begins streaming on the company’s YouTube Channel on Saturday, February 6th.

Choreographer Claudia Schreier created Passage for a commission from the Virginia Arts Festival and the State of Virginia’s 2019 Commemoration. Their event recognized the 400th anniversary of the arrival of slaves from Africa to Virginia.

Schreier told the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State that Passage, “addresses themes of struggle and aspiration and reflects, in abstract, the fortitude of the human spirit and an enduring will to prevail. There are several images throughout the ballet that suggest descent or ascent, as well as the presence of water. The movement is borne out of this ebb and flow, much of which is drawn from Jessie’s sweeping score.”

The Jessie is composer Jessie Montgomery. If her name sounds familiar, the Los Angeles Philharmonic has recently included her works in their In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl series. Her music will also be performed by the orchestra in their Icons on Inspiration concert on Saturday (see immediately below for details).

On Friday, February 5th, Schreier and Montgomery will have a conversation on Dance Theatre of Harlem’s YouTube channel and Facebook page at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST.

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Icons on Inspiration – Los Angeles Philharmonic – February 6th – 9:00 PM EST/6:00 PM PST

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has certainly figured out how to go big with their events during the pandemic. Icons on Inspiration, their gala on Saturday night is no exception. They have a starry line-up of artists and music lined-up.

Lead by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, their special guests are long-time Board member and Oscar-winner Julie Andrews, Oscar-winner Common, 13-time Grammy nominee Katy Perry, Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, soprano Liv Redpath, Colombian singer/songwriter and 2-time Grammy Award winner Carlos Vives and classical pianist and 4-time Grammy Award-nominee Yuja Wang.

The program will include Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst; Duke Ellington’s Martin Luther King from The Three Black Kings (arranged by Terence Blanchard); Tchaikovsky’s Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato; Stravinsky’s Berceuse from The Firebird; Arturo Márquez’s Danzon No. 2; Romero’s Fuga can Pajarillo and Mahler’s Das himmlische Leben (arranged by Erwin Stein).

This event is a fundraiser, but you don’t have to make a donation to watch it (though donations are strongly encouraged).

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Schoenberg & Bach – Bard College’s The Orchestra Now – February 7th – 2:00 PM EST/11:00 AM PST

Works by Bach, Lutoslawski, Carreño and Schoenberg are featured in Bard College’s TŌN (The Orchestra Now) first concert of their 2021 season. Leon Botstein leads the orchestra through performances of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3; Lutoslawski’s Funeral Music; Carreño’s Serenade for Strings and closes with Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night).

There is no fee to watch the concert (scheduled to run approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes); however reservations are required. Donations, of course, are accepted with a suggested donation of $15-$35.

Those are my official Best Bets: February 5th – February 7th, but you know I’ll always offer a few reminders of shows that might be ending, or only have one upcoming airdate. Here they are:

MUSICALS: This is your last weekend to catch You I Like the loving tribute to Jerry Herman from the Pasadena Playhouse. Fans of musical theatre – do not miss it! For more information about this show, check out my interview with creator Andy Einhorn here.

CLASSICAL MUSIC/POP MUSIC: For the second week in a row, there are back-to-back episodes of In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl on PBS stations nationwide. The two episodes are Fireworks and Gustavo and Friends. Check your local listings

OPERA: The first week of Black History Month at the Metropolitan Opera concludes this weekend with performances of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro from the 1985-1986 season on Friday; Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos from the 1987-1988 season on Saturday and the 1978-1979 production of Puccini’s Tosca on Sunday.

That should keep you busy this weekend. Whatever you choose to watch from amongst my Best Bets: February 5th – February 7th, I hope you enjoy yourselves!

Photo: Tyshawn Sorey (Courtesy TyshawnSorey.com)

The post Best Bets: February 5th – February 7th appeared first on Cultural Attaché.

Thankfully it appears we will have an even larger number of ways to enjoy culture at home in the weeks and months ahead. This weekend’s best bets include a virtual version of the annual Monterey Jazz Festival, a live-streamed musical from England, a dystopian virtual reality live musical, a concert with two stars of opera and stage and so much more.

Here are your Best Bets at Home: September 25th – September 27th:

From The Ford with Lula Washington Dance Theatre – Now

Cultural Attaché made a big deal about the cancellation of this summer’s Hollywood Bowl season. Lost in the shuffle was the cancellation of the season at The Ford Theatre as well. Much like their colleagues on the other side of the Cahuenga Pass in Los Angeles, they have been presenting some programming on line.

While much of it isn’t programming that we would naturally cover – which does not reflect on its quality at all – this week’s program is a perfect fit.

Los Angeles-based Lula Washington Dance Theatre performed at The Ford in 2018. That performance became available Thursday on The Ford’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The performance (and, in fact, all of the performances they began streaming in August) are available for viewing.

Earlier this year I interviewed Lula Washington as they celebrated their 40th anniversary. You can read that interview here and get more information about this wonderful company.

Monterey Jazz Festival – September 25th – September 27th

Every day this weekend the Monterey Jazz Festival is streaming two-hours of performances by jazz legends. There will be a mix of archived and new performances. The streaming begins each day at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT on the festival’s YouTube channel.

The line-up is as follows (and when I last checked there was still a notice that more performances might be added):

Friday, September 25th: Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove & RH Factor, Christian Sands (the 2020 and 2021 Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence), Terri Lyne Carrington – Mosaic Project, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton, Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Jamie Cullum and Herbie Hancock.

Saturday, September 26th: Regina Carter, Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo Directed by Katie Thiroux, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton, Davina and the Vagabonds, Clint Eastwood in conversation with Tim Jackson, Eastwood at Monterey with Diana Krall & Kenny Barron Trio, Berklee Institute of Jazz & Gender Justice Quintet, Our Native Daughters featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell and a Tribute to Dave Brubeck with Cannery Row Suite featuring Kurt Elling & Roberta Gambarini.

Sunday, September 27th: Sonny Rollins Tribute featuring Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, and Joshua Redman, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Anat Cohen Tentet, Angela Davis in conversation with Terri Lyne Carrington, Gerald Clayton Quartet, Cooking Demonstration with Lila Downs from her home in Oaxaca, 2012 Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour with musical director Christian McBride and Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals, 2018 Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour with musical director Christian Sands and Cécile McLorin Salvant on vocals and a Tribute to Quincy Jones, “The A&M Years”, featuring Hubert Laws and Valerie Simpson.

There is no charge to watch these programs. Donations are encouraged and will go to the artists performing, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Just Like Us – Latino Theater Company – September 25th – October 4th

Los Angeles-based Latino Theater Company continues presenting both archived films of previous productions and readings of new works with a sneak peek of Karen Zacarías’s Just Like Us.

The play depicts the lives for four teenage Latinas. Two girls are undocumented and two are not. As the realities of their separate immigration situations begin to reflect what each girl may or may not be able to accomplish, their friendships get tested.

Zacarías based her play on Helen Thorpe’s best-selling book of the same name. Zacarías (Native Gardens) uses a documentary-style approach to this play.

The cast includes Richard Azurdia, Natalie Camunas, Michelle Castillo, Alicia Coca, Peter Mendoza, Elyse Mirto, Lys Perez, Geoffrey Rivas, Lucy Rodriguez, Kenia Romero and Alexis Santiago. Just Like Us is directed by Fidel Gomez.

While you are at the LATC website (where you can access Just Like Us), you might also notice that Nancy Ma’s Home will be available for viewing. Ma performed her one-person show at LATC last year. The play illuminates Ma’s struggle to accept her own identity when she finds herself torn between her immigrant family’s Chinese Toisan background and her new-found American home.

Miranda: A Steampunk VR Experience – Now – September 26th

In 2013 the first production of Kamala Sankaram’s steampunk opera took place. Seven years later, a new version that takes the work and brings it into the virtual reality world, co-created by Tri-Cities Opera and co-presented by Opera Omaha, is available for free (with advance registration).

Miranda tells the story of three suspects who are on trial for the murder of a wealthy woman. Each of the three defendants will have to testify in order to exonerate themselves. You, the audience, will serve as judge and jury. The entire story takes place in a dystopian feature that appears to be a radical version of our present-day world with steampunk influences.

The performance happens live in real time. Each performer is kept separated in their own motion capture cubicles. Utilizing motion capture gear (think Andy Serkis in the Planet of the Apes remakes) their movement and performances are captured a brought into the 3D virtual environment.

There are three performances each day. The website lays out the various ways you can experience Miranda (you don’t have to have VR gear to do so.)

I honestly don’t know how good this will be, but it is certainly a unique way to bring the performing arts to audiences during the pandemic. The sheer bravado of doing a project this way makes it worthy of inclusion.  

Dances at a Gathering – The Royal Ballet – September 25th – October 24th

Jerome Robbins’s Dances at a Gathering was first performed in 1969 by the New York City Ballet. The hour-long work is set to the music of composer Frédéric Chopin.

The Royal Ballet brought the ballet back onto their stages during the 2019-2020 season. It marked the return of this particular Robbins work after an absence of eleven years.

Dances at a Gathering features five couples. The company for this performance includes Luca Acri, Federico Bonelli, William Bracewell, Alexander Campbell, Francesca Hayward, Fumi Kaneko, Laura Morera, Yasmine Naghdi, Marianela Nuñez and Valentino Zucchetti.

Robbins was a five-time Tony Award winner and a two-time Academy Award winner. He’s best known for West Side Story.

The Royal Ballet is charging £3 to view the ballet. That’s just under $4.

Romantics Anonymous – The Wallis – September 26th – 4:00 PM EDT/1:00 PM PDT

For the past few years Emma Rice and Kneehigh have brought their innovative productions of The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk and Brief Encounter to the stage at The Wallis in Beverly Hills.

This year Rice was scheduled to return to the United States with a tour of The Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and Plush Theatricals Production of the musical Romantics Anonymous, but that was not to be.

Romantics Anonymous is based on the 2010 film Les Émotifs Anonymes. It tells the story of two people who make chocolate and are navigating their way through the world in very different ways. Angélique, who pours her heart and soul into her chocolates, is part of a support group helping her get a better grip on her life. Jean-René listens to self-help tapes while trying to keep his floundering chocolate factory afloat. They are both very emotional people and, of course, fall in love.

The musical was written by Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (lyrics). Rice wrote the book.

Lyn Gardner, writing for The Guardian, said of the show, “Romantics Anonymous is a multifaceted gem, chock-full of love, generosity and joy…”

Ever resourceful, Rice and the entire team have taken a unique approach to making their show available. The entire cast and crew have been in quarantine and will be performing the show live at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre on Saturday. The Wallis is one of six companies to host the United States performance.

Romantics Anonymous stars Marc Antolin, Carly Bawden, Me’sha Bryan, Philip Cox, Omari Douglas, Harry Hepple, Sandra Marvin, Laura Jane Matthewson and Gareth Snook.

The cost to watch the show is £21 which is just under $27 (as of the exchange rate on 9/24 when this was written). Romantics Anonymous will only be streamed live on this one date. There will be, however, an audio described version and a closed caption version available on Monday, September 28th at 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM respectively.

A Time to Sing: An Evening with Renée Fleming and Vanessa Williams – The Kennedy Center – September 26th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

Opera singer Renée Fleming and Tony Award-nominated actress Vanessa Williams team up for this new concert filmed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The women will share the stage and perform songs written by Harold Arlen, Benjamin Britten, Antonín Dvořák, Joni Mitchell, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Stephen Sondheim, Sting and more. There will also be the world premiere of Diva by Andrew Lippa.

Tickets to watch the concert are $15 and will allow access to view A Time to Sing through the rest of 2020.

Open Fist Theatre Company’s 30th Anniversary Virtual Gala – September 26th – 10:00 PM EDT/7:00 PM PDT

For any theatre company to last thirty years is quite an accomplishment. Los Angeles-based Open Fist Theatre is celebrating that accomplishment with a virtual gala and online auction on Saturday night.

Joining the company during this one-hour event will be Shoshana Bean (Broadway’s Waitress), Jason Paige (For the Record shows) and Ty Taylor (lead singer of Vintage Trouble.)

Since their inception in 1990, Open Fist Theatre Company has produced multiple award-winning productions including Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage, The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union and DeLEARious.

There is no cost to watch the gala. Donations are, of course, encouraged. There are also VIP tickets for a virtual cocktail hour that runs in the 60 minutes prior to the gala’s start. Those tickets are $100.

Those are my choices for your Best Bets at Home: September 25th – September 27th. As usual, I have some reminders for you.

Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new series Sound/Stage launches today on their website. This week’s program is called Love in the Time of Covid and features performances by the orchestra with Gustavo Dudamel conducting. Guests include mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and actress María Valverde. Works by Peter Liberson, George Walker and Gustav Mahler will be performed.

This weekend’s Table Top Shakespeare: At Home will have performances of King John on Friday, Titus Andronicus on Saturday and Much Ado About Nothing on Sunday.

Here are this weekend’s listings from this week’s Jazz Stream:

The Nicole Glover Quartet performs live from Smalls on September 25th.

Fridays at Five from SFJAZZ streams at 2014 concert: John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 25th.

The Kenny Barron Trio live at the Village Vanguard streams on September 25th and September 26th.

Ramsey Lewis performs live on September 26th.

The Marcus Strickland Trio live at Blue Note streams on September 26th.

Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain and Julian Lage perform live from Healdsburg Jazz Festival on September 26th.

This weekend’s operas from the Metropolitan Opera’s Puccini Week are Tosca on Friday, Turandot on Saturday and La Bohème  on Sunday.

That is a lot of options for this weekend’s Best Bets at Home: September 25th – September 27th. Continue to check back at Cultural Attaché for our weekly suggestions to satisfy your desires to see the performing arts.

Main photo: The company of Romantics Anonymous (Photo by Steve Tanner/Courtesy The Wallis)

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So let’s get to it. Here is this week’s Jazz Stream: September 22nd – September 27th:

The Early Set with Gabrielle Stravelli – Facebook – September 23rd – 3:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM PDT

In 2018 I profiled singer Gabrielle Stravelli. You can read my interview with her here. She’s a terrific singer with an absolute appreciation of the women vocalists who came before her. As she told me, “Ella was the person I grew up listening to and then Carmen McRae and Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughan. I’m not ever going to be those women. Nobody can be. For me I’m not trying to be them, but to be as great as they were. That’s a joyful, beautiful thing to reach for.”

This weekly show she does is a combination of conversation and music. Any opportunity to hear her sing is one worth exploring.

Roni Ben-Hur Quartet – Smalls – September 23rd – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PM PDT

Israeli-born guitarist Roni Ben-Hur had his 2001 album, Anna’s Dance, named one of the best jazz albums of the year by the Village Voice. He has been hailed as one of the most lyrical guitarists of our time.

In 2018 he recorded an album called Introspection that found Ben-Hur collaborating with bassist Harvie S. They two will be reunited fort his performance from Smalls in New York. Also joining them will be George Cables – piano and Victor Lewis – drums.

Mark Sherman Quartet – Smalls – September 24th – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PDT

Mark Sherman doesn’t play just one instrument. Rather, he plays several including vibraphone, percussion and drums. For this show at Smalls, he will be at the piano.

Sherman has been performing multiple styles of music throughout his career. He has played percussion for several Broadway shows; he has worked with singers Peggy Lee, LaVerne Butler and Maureen McGovern; he’s performed with many of the world’s best-known orchestras and conductors and then there’s the jazz.

He has performed and/or recorded with  Kenny Barron, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis and more.

Joining Sherman for this performance will be Bob Franceschini – tenor sax; David Wong – bass and Anthony Pinciotti – drums.  

Danilo Pérez Trio with Ben Street & Adam Cruz – DC JazzFest – September 24th – 8:30 PM EDT/5:30 PM PDT

If you’ve been reading Cultural Attaché for any period of time, you know we usually talk about pianist Danilo Pérez as being a member of Wayne Shorter’s band. This time we’re previewing one of his own shows from DC JazzFest.

I’ve been following Pérez’s career for years and have always loved both his playing and the diversity of the material he performs. His solo material and his trio work has always challenged and moved me.

Just as Shorter has his regular musicians, as does Pérez. He’s been touring with double-bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz for several years. They will be joining him for this performance.

Pérez has released over a dozen albums, including Secrets Are the Best Stories, a collaboration with Kurt Elling that was released earlier this year.

Nate Chinen, writing in the New York Times, called Pérez’s approach to music, “A distillation of ideas developed over roughly the last 15 years — mingling elements of classical form, jazz flexibility and Latin-American folk melody — it’s impressive for both its design and its execution, and for the strong implication that those two qualities are inextricable, even indivisible.”

Nicole Glover Quartet – Smalls – September 25th – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PDT

Tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover has performed with Mel Brown, Mike Clark, Kenny Garrett, Chuck Israels, Geoffrey Keezer, Bennie Maupin, Bill Stewart and Esperanza Spaulding.

She and drummer Nic Cacioppo (who joins her for this performance from Smalls) recently released an album called Literature. This record is bold and challenging. It is simply sax and drums. It’s a terrific album and portends well for Friday’s show.

Also joining them will be Davis Whitfield – piano and Daniel Duke – bass.

John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Concert – SFJAZZ – September 25th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

One of jazz music’s most important recordings is being showcased in this week’s Fridays at Five from SFJAZZ. John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme will be celebrated by musicians Ravi Coltrane (the composer’s son and also a saxophonist), tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Geri Allen, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Ralph Peterson Jr.

A Love Supreme was recorded in 1964 and released in early 1965. This concert, therefore, dates back to December 13, 2014. It has long been considered Coltrane’s masterpiece and it also one of the most influential jazz albums ever recorded.

I haven’t seen this concert that SFJAZZ will be streaming. But A Love Supreme runs just over 33 minutes, so an hour-long concert is time enough to perform the entire album. If so, that should be a treat. I once saw Wynton Marsalis and his band perform A Love Supreme in concert and I can tell you hearing this music live is an experience not-to-be-missed.

Kenny Barron Trio – Village Vanguard – September 25th – September 26th

2010 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Kenny Barron is this week’s performer at New York’s Village Vanguard. The pianist, who was asked to join Dizzy Gillespie’s band solely on the recommendation of James Moody without Gillespie hearing him, has been making great music for over 50 years.

He’s recorded and performed with Terence Blanchard, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Yusef Lateef, Milt Jackson, Lee Morgan, Buddy Rich, David Sanchez, Stanley Turrentine and more. He’s also recorded over 40 albums as a leader.

Giovanni Russonello, in recommending upcoming concerts in 2019, wrote in the New York Times, “At age 76, this piano eminence and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master remains an exemplar of pianistic intellect and poise.”

Joining Barron for this performance will be Kiyoshi Kitagawa – bass and Johnathan Blake – drums.

Tickets to watch this performance are $10.

Ramsey Lewis – September 26th – 2:00 PM EDT/11:00 AM PDT

85-year-old jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis has retired from touring, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still performing. The Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master performs the last Saturday of every month in a series he calls Saturday Salon.

I previously listed one of these salons as worthy of your attention and this weekend is no exception. The one-hour concert costs $20 to watch, but some of the proceeds from this (and each monthly performance) go to The Jazz Foundation of America. JFA supports jazz musicians and perhaps at no other time has that support been more necessary with the lack of opportunities to perform live in venues for an audience.

Marcus Strickland Trio – Blue Note – September 26th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

When musicians Dave Douglas, Roy Haynes, Christian McBride and others have needed a saxophonist for their recordings, they have called on Marcus Strickland to join them.

Strickland was named “Best New Artist” in the 2006 JazzTimes Reader’s Poll. In Critic’s Polls for DownBeat he was named the 2008 “Rising Star on Soprano Saxophone” and the 2010 “Rising Star on Tenor Saxophone.”

He’s been releasing albums since 2001’s At Last. His most recent recording was 2018’s People of the Sun. All it takes is one listen to hear immediately why Strickland has received such praise.

Joining Strickland for this performance are Ben Williams – bass and his twin-brother E.J. Strickland – drums.

Tickets to watch this concert at $15. It will also be re-streamed on September 26th at 11:00 PM EDT/8:00 PM PDT.

Lloyd-Hussain-Lage Trio – Healdsburg Jazz – September 26th – 10:00 PM EDT/7:00 PM PDT

The Lloyd in this trio is legendary saxophonist (and flautist) Charles Lloyd. The Hussain is tabla-master Zakir Hussain and the Lage is guitarist Julian Lage. But you had me at Lloyd.

I interviewed Charles Lloyd in 2018 when he was headlining at the Playboy Jazz Festival. You can read that interview here. Two years ago he said “It’s like my original groups, I thought I could change the world with my creativity. I was naive enough to think that.” History will ultimately decide whether or not he could change the world with his creativity, but he has certainly carved out his own unique path within jazz.

His most recent album was 8: Kindred Spirits (Live from the Lobero). The album was recorded at a concert that celebrated his 80th birthday. Lage was part of that concert. (Trivia: Lage first performed with Lloyd when he was 12 years old.)

Lloyd joins a few others in this week’s listings as being an NEA Jazz Master.

This concert will be live from Healdsburg, California. The three musicians will be playing safely together in The Paul Mahder Gallery.

There is a minimum donation of $15 required to see the concert. You can watch it live and also for 72 hours after the conclusion of the performance.

Those are my picks for Jazz Stream: September 22nd – September 27th. Enjoy the music!

Photo: Marcus Strickland (Photo by Petra Richterova/Courtesy Strickland’s website)

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We have updated this post with a very special event from New York City’s Summerstage on Saturday that also celebrates Parker.

Here is this week’s Jazz Stream:

Palladium Plays the Music of Wayne Shorter – Smalls – August 25th – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PDT

While saxophonist Nicole Glover might not be a household name, within the jazz community she’s made quite a name for herself. She’s performed with Jason Brown, Mel Brown, Mike Clark, George Colligan, Kenny Garrett, Rodney Green, Chuck Israels, Geoffrey Keezer, Victor Lewis, Bernie Maupin, Gene Perla and Esperanza Spaulding.

Her sax playing has taken her around the world and includes some of the world’s most prestigious jazz clubs and venues.

But what makes this performance from Smalls compelling is that she is going to play the music of legendary sax musician Wayne Shorter. His work is both complicated and simple; intellectual and emotional; inspired and inspiring.

Joining Glover for this gig are Chien Chien Lu on vibraphone; Sean Mason on piano, Russell Hall on bass and Rodney Green on drums.

Pasquale Grasso Solo and Trio Filmed Live at Birdland – August 25th – 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT

Certain praise helps make people aware of you. Then there’s that one quote that forever puts you on the map. For guitarist Pasquale Grasso it was when Pat Metheny proclaimed him “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life.”

Italian born Pasquale Grasso is a fixture in the New York jazz scene. This year he’s been releasing digital only EPs that find him playing solo versions of music written by and/or closely identified with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Grasso’s personal idol, Bud Powell.

This concert was filmed at Birdland as part of the Radio Free Birdland! series and also part of their Charlie Parker Centennial Celebration. Grasso will be performing solo and in a trio with bassist Ari Roland and drummer Kenny Washington.

On Solo Bird, his tribute to Parker, her performs How High the Moon/Ornithology, Yardbird Suite, Parker’s Mood and more.

Tickets for this concert are $13.50. Advance purchase is recommended.

Vanisha Gould Quartet – Smalls – August 26th – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PDT

Here’s another artist who isn’t as well known yet as she’s going to be. Vocalist Vanisha Gould clearly knows the legacy of jazz singers that preceded her, but she’s also willing to take that knowledge and make something wholly her own in the process.

She performs on Wednesday at Smalls with Chris McCarthy on piano; Dan Pappalardo on bass and Anwar Marshall on drums.

Billy Stritch Filmed Live at Birdland – August 27th – 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT

Singer/arranger/pianist Billy Stritch‘s second home is New York’s Birdland. So it was inevitable that he would join the list of musicians filming a concert on the New York venue’s stage for the Radio Free Birdland! series.

Rather than accompany others (as he does for Jim Caruso’s Cast Party and for artists such as Christine Ebersole, Linda Lavin and Liza Minnelli), he will be going solo for this show called Hooray For Love.

The set will feature such songs as Meet Me Midnight, You’ll See, Buds Won’t Bud and With So Little to Be Sure Of (which certainly seems like the song that best defines our world today. It comes from Stephen Sondheim’s 1964 musical, Anyone Can Whistle).

Billy Stritch’s style is a classic blend of jazz and cabaret and his arrangements are always tasty.

Tickets for this show are $23.50. Advance purchase is recommended.

You should also check out Billy’s Place on YouTube. He’s done 16 episodes so far from his home in New York. The most recent was a celebration of the work of Harold Arlen.

Wayne Shorter Celebration Part 4 – SFJazz – August 28th – 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

SFJazz’s Fridays at Five this week continues the celebration of sax legend Wayne Shorter. This concert, from January 2019, finds sax musician Joshua Redman and trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire joining Shorter’s long-time quartet musicians pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade.

This was one of a series of concerts that replaced scheduled Shorter concerts at SFJazz when the musician took ill.

It bears repeating that SFJazz’s streaming programming is available for either a one-month subscription of $5 or an annual subscription for $60. That will allow you to catch each Fridays at Five concert and additional programming they are adding to their line-up including live concerts. And if you join to see Wayne Shorter Celebration Part 4, you’ll also be able to watch Wayne Shorter Celebration Part 5 when Shorter is actually a part of the concert.

Lastly, let’s all wish Mr. Shorter a very happy birthday. August 25th (the day this post first runs) is his 87th birthday. We wish him well and many more happy birthdays. Thank you for the music!

David Murray – Village Vanguard – August 28th – August 29th – 9:00 PM EDT/6:00 PM PDT

Tenor sax musician David Murray has a perfect record at the Grammy Awards. As a member of McCoy Tyner’s band that recorded Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane, he won the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Group in 1986.

Will he also be celebrating Bird in these two performances from the Village Vanguard in New York? It’s possible. Remember that he also earned considerable acclaim for his album Dark Star that was a tribute to the Grateful Dead. So anything is truly possible.

Though first on the scene as a performer of free jazz, Murray’s style has evolved over the years. In a 1984 story for the New York Times, Robert Palmer described Murray’s style this way:

“Although he is only 27 years old, his sound is ripely mature. Unlike most younger tenor saxophonists, who seem to have affected the forced, trebly tone associated with the late John Coltrane, Mr. Murray plays with the big-sound swagger of the mainline tenor tradition, which began with Coleman Hawkins and extended through Ben Webster to Sonny Rollins to the rhythm-and-blues honkers to Archie Schepp and Albert Ayler.”

Joining Murray for these two concerts will be pianist Lafayette Gilchrist.

Tickets are $10. Advance purchase is recommended.

SummerStage Anywhere Charlie Parker’s 100th Birthday Celebration – SummmerStage Instagram Page – August 29th – 10:30 AM EDT/7:30 AM PDT

This summer would have seen New York’s SummerStage holding their 28th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in person in Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park. However, circumstances being what they are, they are going online this year. What they have planned seems truly special.

A full day of programming is on tap and it features artists Jason Moran, Christian McBride, Immanuel Wilkins, Ravi Coltrane, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many more. Here’s the schedule (all times listed below are EDT):

10:30 AM – A recap of the 2018 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Included in this opening program are singer Catherine Russell, drummer/pianist Jack DeJohnette, pianist Monty Alexander, pianist/singer Amina Claudine Myers, bassist Buster Williams and more.

10:45 AM – Drummer Jerome Jennings will moderate a conversation with Sam Turvey, the founder of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and producer of the events and Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of SummerStage.

12:00 PM – A showing of the 2018 performance of UNHEARD. It was written by and featured saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. (Note: Next week we will have an interview with Wilkins about his impressive new album, Omega.)

12:15 PM – Six-time Grammy Award winning bassist/composer Christian McBride and singer Sheila Jordan will discuss Parker.

1:30 PM – A recap of the 2019 Charlier Parker Jazz Festival. Included in this recapped are drummer Winard Harper and his group Jeli Posse, multi-genre band Mwenso & The Shakes, singer Quiana Lynell, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, harpist Brandee Younger, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and more.

1:45 PM – A tap dance masterclass with Ayodele Casel (who collaborated with Arturo O’Farrill on a show at the Joyce Theatre in New York last September that left critics searching for additional superlatives to use).

4:00 PM – After a walk through Tompkins Square Park and a visit to Parker’s house, Turvey and Elliot will be joined in conversation by pianist/composer Jason Moran, saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and others. The event will conclude with a showing of the 2012 performance by multi-instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson of Bird With Strings at that year’s festival.

Celebrating Bird – A Conversation with Music – 92Y – August 29th 2:00 PM EDT/11:00 AM PDT $10

New York’s 92 Street Y is offering up a series of on-line programs celebrating the centennial of Charlie Parker. They are having a screening of Clint Eastwood’s film Bird on Friday night; a Charlie Parker listening party on Saturday at 12 PM EDT and later that night they will show Hope Boykin’s dance film ...a movement. Journey.

But for me the highlight will be Saturday afternoon’s Celebrating Bird – A Conversation with Music. Former Village Voice writer Gary Giddins, who authored the 1986 book Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker, will moderate a conversation that includes four contemporary jazz sax musicians: Joe Lovano, Charles McPherson, Grace Kelly and Antonio Hart.

Also joining the conversation will be legendary bebop pianist Barry Harris. Before he started recording in the 1950s, Harris sat in on some sets with Parker in Detroit in the 1940s. Parker, according to Harris’ website, would also come to the pianist’s house to see how he taught music.

Harris has performed with many of jazz music’s biggest names: Benny Golson, Sonny Stitt, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young – to name a few.

Archival footage will be shown and some of Parker’s most famous recordings will be part of the program. Several of Parker’s compositions will also be performed by the musicians. Amongst the songs scheduled to be performed are Yardbird Suite and Ornithology.

Tickets are $10. Advance purchase is recommended.

Ramsey Lewis – Saturday Salon on StageIt – August 29th – 2:00 PM EDT/11:00 AM PDT

National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis has been making music in the public eye since 1956. The pianist has recorded over 80 albums. He’s won three Grammy Awards. He was also the host of a highly-rated public television series about jazz called Legends of Jazz.

In other words, if they do another series he’ll be in it, he won’t be hosting it.

This Saturday he’ll perform a show called Songs From The In Crowd on StageIt with some of the proceeds going to the Jazz Foundation of America. The money will help assist jazz musicians unable to make a living due to the current pandemic.

Tickets are $20.

Jon-Erik Kellso Quartet – Smalls – August 29th – 4:45 PM EDT/1:45 PDT

You know if Wynton Marsalis has you as a member of his Tentet playing Louis Armstrong material, you have to be a terrific jazz trumpet musician. Such is the role that Jon-Erik Kellso has played for Marsalis for several years. Kellso has also been a regular member of Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks.

Kellso will be front and center of his own quartet when they take to the stage at Smalls in New York on Saturday. Joining him will be Evan Arntzen on clarinet; Rossano Sportiello on piano and Neal Miner on bass.

Again, not a household name, but when the music is this good, does that really matter?

That’s Jazz Stream: August 25th – August 30th. Be sure to check out our Best Bets on Friday for the weekend. We often add more jazz listings there.

Main photo: Charlie Parker (Courtesy of CharlieParker.com)

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As individual artists, each of these musicians is top of their field. When put together, you have fireworks.

Before becoming a bandleader, DeJohnette played with Charles Lloyd, Bill Evans, Betty Carter and Miles Davis (he was the main drummer on Bitches Brew). More recently he’s played with Jason Moran, Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin. He was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2012.

Grammy winner Joe Lovano plays multiple instruments in addition to the saxophone. He’s played with John Scofield, Bill Frisell and collaborated regularly with the late Paul Motian.

Both DeJohnette and Lovano have played with Esperanza Spalding. She was part of Lovano’s US Five formed in 2008. She appeared on DeJohnette’s Sound Travels in 2012. But she’s best known as the first jazz artist to be named Best New Artist at the 2011 Grammy Awards. She is the first jazz artist to win that award. And she’s received three more to boot. Her most recent album was last year’s 12 Little Spells.

It only makes sense that, of course, Genovese has also recorded with her. In fact, they toured regularly beginning in 2005 and he played on her first three records. Of his third album, Seeds, Nate Chinen of the New York Times said, “it has the momentous urgency of a debut…”

A quick look shows that the Spring Quartet appears to have started playing together in 2014.

They have a brief tour that also includes stop on April 24th at Miner Auditorium in San Francisco, then the LA engagement. They will conclude their tour with stops in Boulder, Chicago, Detroit and Kalamazoo.

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