Highlights
Rock/Pop
Mingus Big Band at UCLA’s Royce Hall, 4/21, 8pm. Described by The New York Times as “the greatest repertoire project in jazz history,” the Mingus Big Band explores the music of the legendary Charles Mingus’ vast repertoire. Consisting of “14 players from a pool of more than 100 of the jazz world’s best musicians, the band has regularly performed to sold-out houses at The Fez, under Manhattan’s Time Café since 1991, and has played to wide acclaim in cities and jazz festivals around the world.” They’ve garnered numerous awards, including three Grammy nominations, including one for the group’s 2002 collaborative recording with Elvis Costello.
Pierre Bensusan at McCabe’s, 4/23, 8pm. Algerian-born, Paris-raised guitarist Bensusan finishes his month-long North American tour with a night at McCabe’s.
The Tubes at The Canyon Club, 4/22
Elee Ven at 13 Below, 4/23
Ellis Paul, Brian Joseph at McCabe’s, 4/22
Don Dixon, Marti Jones at McCabe’s, 4/24
Kapo Ku Matinee Kids’ Show at McCabe’s, 4/24, 11am.
Electric Six, VHS or Beta, Travis Keller at The El Rey, 4/21 9pm
Junior Reid, The Reggae Angels at The Malibu Inn, 4/21
Ninja Academy, 8 Bit at Mr. T’s Bowl, 4/21
David Garza at Largo, 4/21
Aruna (record release), Humo Verde, Jupitersciples, Los Tumbados, Darkside at Zen, 4/21
AM Syndicate, Minipop, Augustana, The Fame at The Silverlake Lounge, 4/21
Los Pinguos at Temple Bar, 4/22
The Messes, Big Search at Tangier, 4/22
Aqualung at Amoeba, 6pm. FREE, 4/22
Radio Vago, Blow Up Blow, Plastic Letters at El Cid, 4/22
People Under The Stairs, Giant Panda at The Troubadour, 4/22
Irregular Wine Tasting and The Films of Lillie Langtry at The Echo, 8pm.Josh Rouse, Amy Correia at The El Rey, 4/22
Bart Davenport, Hard Place, Mommy and Daddy (NYC) at El Cid, 4/23
Toots and The Maytals, Alo at The Roxy, 4/23
Vanessa Williams at The Universal Ampthitheatre, 4/21, 8:15pm.
The Vacation Record Release Party with The Binges, The High Speed Scene, and The Drugstore Cowgirls at The Silverlake Lounge, 4/26
Damon & Naomi at Spaceland,4/26
The Vacation Record Release Party with The Thieves, The Chelsea Smiles and Sabrosa Purr at The Silverlake Lounge, 4/27
Jazz/Classical
Handel’s Vocal Music at Santa Monica College, 4/26, 11:15am. Features selections from “Acis & Galatea.” Lecture/slide show presented by SMC music professor emeritus Don Richardson a piano recital of “The Harmonious Blacksmith” by SMC music professor Rhoda Tuit.
Kenny Rankin at The Jazz Bakery, 4/21
Jon Mayer Quartet at Santa Monica College, 4/22, 7pm.
SMC Concert Band with Kevin McKeown at Santa Monica College, 4/24, 4pm.
The John Pizzarelli Trio at Pepperdine’s Smothers Theatre, 4/21,8pm.
Shelia Jordan, Alan Pasqua, Darek Oles, Tim Pleasant at The Vic, 4/21.
Josh Nelson, Steve Cotter, Dave Walker, Erik Kertes, and David Ashkenasy at Late Night Jazz (The Vic), 4/21, midnight – 2am.
The Bill Fulton Band with Ernie Watts, Larry Steen, David Derge, Anne King, Rick Rossi, Jacques Voyemant, and Jeff Robinson at La Ve Lee, 4/26. 12514 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818)980-8158, www.laveleejazzclub.com.
Emily Hay, Michael Intriere, Anthony Shadduck, Kris Tiner, Noah Phillips, Sumako, more at The Southern California Sonic Festival of New Music, Gatov Galleries Cal State Long Beach, 12 – 4pm.
Jazz Express at Anastasia’s Asylum, 4/21
Readings / Performance
Santa Monica Review Reading: Jim Krusoe, Ariane Simard, Diane Lefer at Beyond Baroque, 4/22, 7:30pm.
Maria Shriver at Dutton’s Brentwood, 4/27, 7pm.
David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell at UCLA’s Royce Hall, 4/26, 8pm.
Children’s Concert and Brunch Buffet: Ralph’s World at El Cid, 4/23 & 4/24, 10:30am. More info: www.ralphsworld.com
Senior Improv Workshop at Comedy Underground, 4/26, 320 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. (323) 512-8245.
Patrick Mooney, J. Mark Beaver, Lisa Johns & Nina Hiken at Projectile Poetry (Eric Garcetti’s Office), 4/24. 3525 Sunset Blvd. More info: (818) 507-7452
Michael Snow at The Hammer Museum, 4/21
The Week Ahead
Thursday, April 21
Fuck Bunny, Sounds of Asteroth at The King King
The Album Leaf, Aspects of Physics, manuok, Plastiq Phantom at The Knitting Factory
Sam Winch, Matt Costa at Tangier
Regina Spektor at The Roxy
The Lipstick Pickups, The Willowz, Alleged Gunmen, Drinker’s Purgatory at The Scene
Evil Beaver, Calls After Midnight at Spaceland
El Pus at The Key Club
Merle Jagger, West Coast Grand, Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash at The Viper Room
Pretty Boy Floyd, Batlord, Polyplush Cats, Crush at Club 7969
Piracy, more at 14 Below
Tarmac at The Echo
Amiel Larrieux at Temple Bar
Hee Haw Hell at Bigfoot Lodge
Friday, April 22
Boyjazz at Spaceland
Hepcat, Ocean 11 at The House of Blues
Chaka Khan at Hollywood Park
Glen Phillips, Blue Merle at The Roxy
The Stevie Natale Band, more at 14 Below
Saturday, April 23
Kreator, Vader, Propain, The Autumn Offering at The House of Blues
The Wonder Stuff, As Fast As, Foreign Born at TheTroubadour
The Solutionaries at 14 Below
The Perishers, Mark Timony, Kyoka at Spaceland
Aceyalone at Temple Bar
Sunday, April 24
OK, It’s Sunday: KCRW DJ Cathy Tamkin, Gemma Dempsey, Marnie Castor, Tracy Spuehler, Michael Andrews (Inara George, Elgin Park), Michael Hawley, James Combs, Bryony Atkinson (Merrick), Evan Slamka (Marjorie Fair), The Guilders at Tangier
Europe, Heaven & Earth at The House of Blues
Monday, April 25
Depression Party, Telecast at The Silverlake Lounge, FREE.
Damon & Naomi at Amoeba, 7pm. FREE.
The Good Life, The Velvet Teen, Bella Loca, Consatos at The Troubadour
Tuesday, April 26
Richard Swift, Abba Roland, Paul Freeman at Tangier
Cinema Strange, more at The Troubadour
Damon and Naomi at Spaceland
Wednesday, April 27
The Fame, Alarma, Hit Machine at The King King
Dumb Luck at The House of Blues
Club London Calling at Bigfoot Lodge
The Sights at Spaceland
