Here are this week’s BEST BETS: November 11th – November 17th:

A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL – Studio 54 – New York, NY – Opening Night November 11^th – May 4^th

James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony Award for his performance as the Genie in Aladdin The Musical, takes on the role of legendary musician/singer/actor Louis Armstrong. He’s also the co-director (along with Christopher Renshaw and Christina Sajous) of this musical.

Armstrong’s life and career is certainly worthy of a musical.

He was a truly groundbreaking artist on so many levels. I hope this musical does him justice.

Aurin Squire wrote the book. Branford Marsalis and Daryl Waters did the arrangements and orchestrations of the music.

For tickets and more information, please go here.

CALIDORE STRING QUARTET: KORNGOLD’S COMPLETE STRING QUARTETS  – Zipper Hall/Colburn School – Los Angeles, CA – November 12^th Livestream Available                

Composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold is perhaps best known for some of Hollywood’s greatest film scores. This includes The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, Kings Row and Captain Blood.

But like many an early immigrant film composer, classical music was also part of his writing.

At this concert audiences will get a chance to hear all three of the string quartets composed by Korngold.

Calidore String Quartet began its life at the Colburn School 14 years ago. They are: Jeremy Berry on viola; Estelle Choi on cello; Ryan Meehan on violin and Jeffrey Myers on violin.

For more information and in-person tickets, please go here. For livestream tickets, please go here.

GEORGE CABLES QUARTET “80^th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION” – Smoke Jazz Club – New York, NY – November 13^th – November 17^th Livestream Available

Pianist George Cables, who was Art Pepper’s favorite pianist, performed with Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughn and so many more, celebrates his 80^th birthday with 12 sets at Smoke Jazz Club.

Joining Cables are Essiet Essiet on bass, Craig Handy on tenor saxophone and Jerome Jennings on drums.

Cables remains an active artist and has two new singles released recently: Echo of a Scream and You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To. For those who don’t know Cables, I strongly suggest you check out these shows and his recordings.

Both the 7 PM EST and 9 PM EST sets on Friday, November 15^th, will be available for livestreaming. They will remain accessible for 48 hours after the performance.

For more information and in-person tickets, please go here. For livestream tickets for the 7 PM set, please go here. For livestream tickets for the 9 PM set, please go here.

TAMMY FAYE – Palace Theatre – New York, NY – Opening Night November 14^th – March 30^th

If you’re like me, you wonder who wants to see a musical about Tammy Faye Bakker. You then wonder who would write a musical about her.

Then you read a little further down and realize Elton John and Jakes Shears (Scissor Sisters) have written this new musical which prompted Matt Wolf, writing in the New York Times after the show debuted in London to rave, “Praise the lord for Tammy Faye…the show has a heart as big as the title character’s bouffant hairdo.” If anyone can put an entertaining spin on the late evangelist, it would be Elton and Shears.

Katie Brayben once again plays Tammy Faye. Christian Borle plays Jim Bakker and Michael Cerveris plays Jerry Falwell. Rupert Goold directs and the book is by James Graham.

For tickets and more information, please go here.

NOON TO MIDNIGHT: FIELD RECORDINGS – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Los Angeles, CA – November 16^th

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s  annual festival of new music does live up to its name – it runs for 12 hours. Within those twelve hours is a full day of contemporary music performed by a wide range of artists.

Curated by Ellen Reid, this year’s festival will include performances of music by Doug Aitken (sold out), Raven Chacon, Ted Hearne, Annea Lockwood, Marc Lowenstein, Missy Mazzoli, Andrew McIntosh, Angélica Negron, Andrew Norman, Tomeka Reid, Gabriella Smith and dozens more. There will also be a tribute to composer Sarah Gibson who passed away in July.

All events take place in and around the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

For tickets and more information, please go here.

That’s all for Best Bets: November 11th – November 17th. Enjoy your week and go out and see a concert or a show!

Main Photo: George Cables (Photo ©Roberto Cifarelli/Courtesy George Cables)

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