HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
DAKHABRAKHA – my daughter alerted me some years ago to this fantastic Ukrainian quartet who combine traditional music and instruments with a potpourri of eclectic and modern influences (“an ethno-chaos quartet”), and of course those great tall hats. Nothing can quite prepare you for how dramatically and wonderfully the sounds and images hit you. You will not forget this concert, and how timely now to have them back. Another demonstration of why Ukraine is so important, and must survive. A UCLA presentation. Sun 7 p.m., The Theatre at ACE Hotel, LA, $50+.
EM the MASTER –Why do I keep HIGHLY RECOMMENDING this show, week after week, for months? Because it’s still as great a performance as it was the first time I saw her, and because there still may be one or two of you who haven’t gone to Harvelle’s on Fourth Street on any Tuesday night, parked right next door in the parking structure, plopped down your 10 bucks cover charge (are you serious?), ordered a couple of modestly-priced drinks at the bar from the friendly co-owners Jason or Damian, and settled into a comfy booth ready to be entertained, maybe even amazed. Yeah, she’s that good. Every Tues 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $10.
CELSO SALIM & DARRYL CARRIERE — I kept writing every week last summer about these two blues masters, holding court in the sunshine and ocean air on Main Street every Sunday, for free. I dropped by several times and even though I heard a few songs repeated, I never got tired of their blues perfection. Brazilian-born Salim sings, and slides the bottleneck across his guitar strings like a distraught howling wolf, while Carriere adds an attention-grabbing, dangerous growl when he’s not blowing wild on harp. Truth be told, they sound even better indoors, with whiskey in your hand and a smile on your face. Next Thurs 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $10.
RECOMMENDED:
Samohi Choral Masterworks Concert 2022 presents FAURE “REQUIEM” – and other works, including Ukrainian. I haven’t been to one of these for a decade, since my daughter graduated (with four years of satisfying study in the choral program), but I’ve often regretted that, because these concerts were so dang good, and with JEFFE HULS still directing/conducting/cracking the whip, I’m sure they still are. A dazzling professional performance in acoustically great Barnum Hall, inexpensive, supporting a great program, yeah, I think we should all go and pack that place. Fri 7 p.m., Barnum Hall, Samohi, $10, $5 students/seniors.
“SATAN’S FALL: An Oratorio” by STEWART COPELAND – Well, this sounds really promising. And not out of character, or a reach, if you have been following his music and composing career. Copeland is the drummer who powered The Police to so many hits, but was always known as much more than “just” a startlingly skilled rock drummer. He added lots of un-rock notions, elements of reggae, punk, jazz, even classical to The Police lineup. He was ranked the 10th best drummer of all time by Rolling Stone in 2016.
Sting emerged after the Police breakup in ‘86 as the suave chart-topping man in demand, while Copeland let his creative powers fly in so many ways that went less noticed. He produced many film (“Wall Street”), TV (“The Equalizer,”) and video game (“Alone in the Dark”) soundtracks, and wrote music for ballet, opera, and orchestra.
This is the West Coast premiere of “Satan’s Fall,” by the Pepperdine Chamber Choir and the Pepperdine Pickford Ensemble. Sat 7:30 p.m. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine, $10-20.
ITZHAK PERLMAN, Rohan De Silva – You’re not going to take advantage of the opportunity to fly away on the mellifluous notes flowing from the blessed hands of one of the greatest violinists of our time? Then why are you living here? Go back to Des Moines or Albuquerque. Accompanied by pianist Rohan De Silva, who is also in demand by other pretty good fiddlers: Zukerman, Midori, Joshua Bell, Gil Shahan. Sun 7:30 p.m., Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA, $67-155.
TOLEDO DIAMOND — Have you gone to catch his unique show yet, every Sunday night at Harvelle’s, here in SM? I’ve been recommending him for… decades. Choreographer to the biggest stars, smoky-voiced hep cat, creator of a unique floor show, with his dames, circus hoops, and a band that is truly a knockout. Trust me. You’ve never seen anything like Toledo. You will not forget this show and likely you will be back, friends in tow. Sun 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: Getty Villa Theater Lab series presents “CASANDRA, AN AGONY,” 4/30, 5/1; SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE Concert, Robert Frost Auditorium, 5/1; LA PHIL performs STRAVINSKY’S “THE RITE OF SPRING” with DUDAMEL, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 5/5, 6, 7, 8; JIM KWESKIN, McCabe’s, 5/7; RICK HOLMSTROM BAND with special guest “THE KING OF DOWNEY,” McCabe’s, 5/8; LA PHIL performs REVUELTAS, STRAVINSKY’S “PETRUSHKA,” with DUDAMEL, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 5/12, 13; LA PHIL performs VILLA-LOBOS, STRAVINSKY’S “FIREBIRD.” with DUDAMEL, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 5/14, 15; SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE with RICK SHEA, Petty/Chavez & Jeff Turmes, McCabe’s, 5/16.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 36 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
