Mort Sahl, July 29, 8pm
One of the most influential and controversial comedians of all time, Mort Sahl is a both a comedic and cultural icon. When Sahl got into comedy, he smashed the mold of the stereotypical nightclub comedian in the suit and tie, who would rattle off mother-in-law jokes, exuding showbiz schmaltz. He laid the groundwork for comics like Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Jay Leno expounding upon things that mattered, always pushing the envelope. Sahl is always accompanied on stage by his omnipresent, rolled up newspaper which he frequently refers to when discussing events of the day. Commonly referred to as an “iconoclast,” Sahl is an intellectual comic who challenges his audiences, utilizing a free-form, improvisational style that’s certain to make one “think.” To this day, he continues to fight the good fight, questioning right and wrong and trying to make sense of this big, blue marble we live on.
McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Blvd., 310.828.4497, www.mccabes.com, $22.50
A Tribute to American Film Music, July 29, 8pm
The 10th annual Henry Mancini Institute’s Free Music Festival is in full swing. Led by the institute’s Artistic Director Patrick Williams, by August 12 the festival will have played over 70 works at nine concerts to approximately 15,000 festival-goers.
On Saturday, Williams, one of the most prolific composers in television and film history, will lead The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra in a tribute to the best of American Film Music. Selections from Spider-Man, A Place in the Sun, Out of Africa, Austin Powers and Memoirs of a Geisha are but a few of the works planned for the evening. Guest artists include Dave Grusin, Richard Kaufman, Johnny Mandel and Laurence Rosenthal.
Royce Hall, UCLA, Royce Dr. off Sunset Blvd. The concert is free, doors open at 7:15pm. For information on this and subsequent Festival concerts, all free, call 888.HMI.1903 or go to www.manciniinstitute.org.
