HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
THIS EVENING! – PETER ERSKINE TRIO – Local boy makes you good !! Erskine was actually a jazz star long before he moved to Santa Monica many years ago. I’m usually content to “see” a great artist or band once or twice, but every time I can see Erskine without buying a plane ticket, I’m there. He started playing drums when he was 4, joined Stan Kenton’s band when he was 18, then Maynard Ferguson, Weather Report with Jaco Pastorius (now that’s a rhythm section), he’s featured on more than 700 albums and soundtracks! Erskine plays so gracefully, without lightning, without much arm movement, and Sam First, an intimate jazz club near LAX, is the perfect place to get this up close. Tonight he has a first class trio here with the great pianist Alan Pasqua and the great Derek Oles on bass. Tonight, Thu, 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM, Sam First, LAX, $ 25.
THEARICUM BOTANICUM presents – What do I have to do to move you? I’ve warned you every week that this “short” season of TB games is coming to an end, but no, you mumbled, oh … next weekend. Well this is your last next weekend. You almost, but not entirely, missed one of the best theater groups in LA, which is definitely the best theater in LA, spread across the wooded area of Topanga Canyon.
SHAKESPEARES “JULIUS CAESAR” takes its final stab – carpe diem! – Sat 4 p.m.
“THE LAST, BEST SMALL TOWN”, an outstanding original by local playwright John Guerra. So 4 p.m.
SHAKESPEARE’S “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” won’t be performing this weekend, but you’ll have one last chance next Sunday. Don’t puck it up.
All benefits TB, Topanga Canyon, $ 10-60.
THE TOLEDO SHOW (Halloween!) – This very long running epic stage show not only deserves a mention every week, but is probably HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This Sunday, which is Halloween, I expect everything to be turned up a few notches so the perfect first time to go – you’ll be back. Dancer and choreographer for Janet Jackson, Sammy Davis, Jr. Paula Abdul, Diana Ross, Al Green, Smokey Robinson. “Soul singer, jazz man, poet and probably one of the most dramatic and entertaining performers you will ever see.” Okay, I support all of this. “Avant jazz, acid jazz, gangsta jazz, beat poetry, funked-up spoken word, smoky storyteller, relaxed Cab Calloway Tom Waits killer R&B with jazzy rock ‘n’ roll dance grooves.” hopefully leave you absolutely fascinated. Go this Sunday when all the other freaks come out to play. Every Sunday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, DTSM, $ 12.
CELSO SALIM & DARRYL CARRIERE – Carriere blows a runaway accordion and whiskey-rough, high-octane vocals and Salim’s only Hella blues shouter himself and plays enough guitar for an army. They whine and moan down on Main Street, next to Ashland Hill, but don’t hesitate, it’s getting colder and blues men keep moving down the street. Free parking next to Ashland Hill, Main Street, every Sun 3pm – 5pm.
EM THE MASTER – I HAVE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED EM’s show for months and I still do. “The master”? Too much hype in the marquee? Maybe not, if you can back it up, and EM will. She sings, dances, has dancers. She crawls across the floor like a reptile, grabs the microphone and never misses a musical beat. She doesn’t play the piano, she attacks it. Use your voice as an instrument in a creative way. Your energy is uninterrupted and seemingly limitless. Writes great songs that fit her act perfectly, and she may remind you of a more energetic Lady Gaga. Every Tuesday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, DTSM, $ 10.
RECOMMENDED:
THIS EVENING! – HAMILTON – I think the only way I can go wrong is if I don’t recommend it, based on what I’ve heard and read. Tonight Thu, Fri, Sat, Tue, Wed, next Thu 8 p.m., Sun 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m., also Sat 2 p.m., Pantages Theater, Hollywood, $ 49-3000 +, depending on date / time.
THIS EVENING! – BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET – You won’t get his tour mates The Grateful Dead, but I can’t imagine the former Tonight Show bandleader, New Orleans legend and Ellis Marsalis’ oldest boy failing to deliver. Tonight Thursday 8pm, The Saroya, CSUN Northridge, $ 41-86.
LA OPERA ORCHESTRA plays a live soundtrack to the horror film “GET OUT” – if you are seriously scared of Halloween. Fri, Sat, Sun 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., The Theater at Ace Hotel, DTLA, $ 34-99.
MONTY ALEXANDER – You don’t know Monty? Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Sly & Robbie do, wait, the reggae rhythm masters? Alexander is from Kingston, was a member of The Skatalites at the time and may be the best jazz pianist you have never heard of. You can change that. Fri, Sat 8:30 p.m., Sat 10:30 p.m., Catalina Jazz Club, Hollywood, $ 40-60.
LA OPERA presents Wagner’s “TANNHÄUSER” —No, I can’t give you a personal report because I only saw it last night (preliminary column), but it gets rave reviews. Wagner is always getting big (and that’s why Hollywood loves its melodies) and that’s the archetypal Wagner, with 145 actors and musicians from the LA Opera to present his sin and redemption spectacle of a knight who decides it’s time for the real To return to the world, to normalcy, morality and what is expected of a knight, and to pursue the woman of virtue he desires, after a year of debauchery with Venus in her underworld Playgirl Mansion, he was “trapped”, he said – can he do that You only have one gig after this week to find out. “Tannhäuser” is widely regarded as one of the most majestic, sublime and moving of all operas, ”I am told, and who should I contradict, there are still a few operas that I have not yet seen. Lead Issachah Savage is considered a “heroic tenor” or “heroic tenor” who brings this voice and stage art into one of the most demanding roles in opera. Sun 2 p.m., Wed 7:30 p.m., Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, DTLA, $ 19-292.
STEWART COPELAND: “POLICE Deranged for Orchestra” – I’m always suspicious of rock music that is “orchestrated” but with Police founder Copeland behind the kit, “one of the greatest drummers of all time” sez Rolling Stone, composer of film soundtracks, ballets , Operas and orchestral music, that sounds really interesting, worth the drive and price, I’ll bet next Thursday, The Saroya, CSUN Northridge, $ 41-110.
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS: An evening with DAVID SEDARIS, The Saroya, October 11th; HARVELLE’S celebrates the 4th anniversary of Jason & Damian with THE DAMN WELL PLEASE ORGAN TRIO, Harvelle’s, 11/12; LIBRARY GIRL, Ruskin Group Theater, 11/14; MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY, The Saroya, 11/14; LA OPERA presents ROSSINIS “CINDERELLA”. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 11/20/12/12; DIE SCATALITEN, The West of Venice, 12/3; PONCHO SANCHEZ and his Latin Jazz Band, Catalina Jazz Club, 12/10/12; JOHN MAYALL, WALTER TROUT, Saban Montclair, 12/12; X, BLASTER, Henry Fonda, 12/16; MUSICARES HONORS JONI MITCHELL, LA Convention Center, 1/29/22.
Charles Andrews has heard a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 2,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 34 years and would not live anywhere else in the world. For real. Send love and / or rebuke to [email protected]
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