Mavis Staples – is truly all those words of high praise that are so often thrown about too lightly: She is unique, a legend, a civil rights pioneer, a national treasure, a singer who says more with what she leaves out than others can put across with an entire aria. And she’s turning 85, and still touring. That birthday will be celebrated April 18 at YouTube Theater, and here is a partial list of the folks who will pay her tribute that night, and sing her songs, with her – Chris Stapleton, Jackson Browne, Michael McDonald, Taj Mahal, Norah Jones, Keb’ Mo’. Jeff Tweey, Grace Potter, Black Pumas, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff. If you don’t know some of those names, trust me, this is an earthshaking lineup.
Highly Recommended:
An Extraordinary Ordinary Man – Extraordinary, indeed. It refers to John Collella’s father, a baker, but more importantly to theatre lovers, also this first effort of writing and performing by John II (“my mother was not going to have a grown man son being called ‘Junior’”). But even “extraordinary” may not be sufficient. This is a tour de force, of writing and acting, that knocks it out of the park. Sure, there were things about his father that were remarkable, without a doubt, but that kind of heroism is quietly lurking in many family histories. This is really John II’s story, and he tells it so rivetingly, with such rapid fire delivery for just over an hour, that you wouldn’t want to cough for fear of missing a word. With few props but an abundance of gestures that get the story across, this is the real craft and art of acting. Only scheduled for one more weekend, so get tickets now. Sat 8 p.m., Ruskin Group Theatre, SMO, $20-30.
Hot Club of Los Angeles – Did you go to our Ruskin Group Theatre at Santa Monica Airport Saturday before last to see them in a concert setting? I sure hope so. They tore it up, playing two sets of not just the album I Got Rhythm (he and violinist partner Stephane Grappelli were simply exquisite, every note) they are known for, but also selections from their new release Nova, But if you missed the Ruskin concert,, you can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday, 9 – 11:30. They should have copies of Nova there for sale. Mon 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended:
Tonight – Schubert, Beethoven, LA Phil – We’re so spoiled (and about to become unspoiled) with our gifted Venezuelan wunderkind conductor Gustavo Dudamel, that I sometimes dismiss out of hand a performance without the baton in his hand. But this is the LA Philharmonic. Built through many gifted leaders, over more than a century, into one of the very finest symphony orchestras in the world. I’m not familiar with this conductor, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, but he sure didn’t get this gig because he’s somebody’s cousin. You’ve got a Beethoven symphony, the 7th (“un-twin” of the 6th), and one by Schubert, one of the heavyweights, for sure. He wrote this for a lot of instruments you have to play with your mouth, so, if that also appealing… Thurs, Sat 8 p.m., Fri 11 a.m., Sun 2 p.m., Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA, $55-241.
Tonight – Government Mule – How can I recommend this band when I have never seen them live? Two reasons. They have had a rabid following, for years, and some time ago when I got to see their rhythm section play with other musicians, I thought Holy Moley, how good are these guys as a full band? Next Thurs p.m., Wiltern Theatre, LA, $57-1,111.
It’s Only a Show – I’ll have to catch this other one-person show at The Ruskin, because it has been extended longer than Extraordinary (see above), which is a don’t-miss tour de force. Could we be so fortunate as to have two outstanding productions at the same place, not far away? Only one way to find out. Sat 5 p.m., Ruskin Group Theatre, SMO, $20-30.
Lizzie No – I never do this. (Never say never.) Don’t expect to see it again. (Unless you do.) How many times have I heard, this performer is great, you would love them! A) I don’t have time to listen to songs and albums and watch videos by folks I am not familiar with and, B) that doesn’t really tell me what they are like live, and that’s what I’m in the business of recommending. But for some reason when McCabe’s concert director Wayne Griffith off-handedly mentioned, do you know of Lizzie No? No? She’s really different, and getting very popular. So – I wound up watching videos and listening to all three albums, and from the first notes I was intrigued, with the voice, words, music and arrangements. She’s really great, you would love her! Sat 8 p.m., McCabe’s. Santa Monica, $22.
Toledo Diamond – Unique, riveting, first class act. There’s nothing like it, it is high performance art and great decadent fun. Degeneracy is rarely so well disciplined. And the band is smokon’! EM performed stunning shows every Tuesday for a couple of years at Harvelle’s, every week in this column I Highly Recommended her and urged you to go – and now she’s gone. Don’t. Miss. Toledo Diamond. Sun 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
Next Thurs – Kei Akagi Trio – Continuing a week of taking some chances with my recommendations, I’m going with a pianist with decades of top level performing, more than 60 albums, but here’s what got my attention: the Miles Davis band. At the end, true, late ‘80s, but… Miles Davis. Never played with no schlubs. Akagi is playing with drummer Jason Harnell, who I don’t know, but also with bassist Darek Oles, who I have seen many times, and I am a fan. That trio has been together for more than three decades, so, there you go. Thurs 7:30, 9:30 p.m., Sam First, LAX, $25.
Coming Attractions: An Extraordinary Ordinary Man, Ruskin Theatre, 2/24; It’s Only A Show, Ruskin Theatre, 2/24, 3/9, 16, 23; Toledo Diamond, Harvelle’s, 2/18, 25; Hot Club of Los Angeles, Cinema Bar, 2/19, 26; Malkki Conducts Brahms, Disney Hall, 2/23, 24, 25; Prickly Pair, Jeff Plankenhorn, Mccabe’s, 2/23; Taj Mahal, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 2/23; Shawn Phillips, Mccabe’s, 2/24; Highway 1, USA/The Dwarf, LA Opera, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 2/24, 3/3, 6, 9, 14, 17; Judy Collins, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 3/2; Robert Fripp, David Singleton, An Evening of Conversation, Questions, Insights, Mccabe’s, 3/3; Dianne Reeves, Disney Hall, 3/3; Terry Reid, Mccabe’s, 3/8; Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Fonda Theatre, 3/9; Southside Slim, Harvelle’s, 3/15; Philip Glass, Complete Etudes, Disney Hall, 3/20; Esa-Pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony, 3/22; Los Straightjackets, Mccabe’s, 3/24; Sleater-Kinney, Wiltern, 3/28, Belasco, 3/29; Yo Yo Ma, Kathryn Scott, Disney Hall, 4/3; Springsteen, Kia Forum, 4/4, 7; Ethan Iverson Trio With Peter Erskine, Darek Oles, Sam First, 4/5; La Traviata, LA Opera, 4/6, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27; Saint-Saens, Organ Symphony, LA Phil, Disney Hall, 4/12, 13, 14; Albert Lee, Mccabe’s, 4/19; Herbie Hancock, Disney Hall, 4/20; Academy of St. Martin In The Fields, The Soraya, 4/21; Rhiannon Giddens, Theatre at Ace Hotel, 4/25; Mozart, Strauss, Dudamel, LA Phil, Disney Hall, 5/2, 3, 4, 5; Dvorak, Ortiz, Dudamel, LA Phil, Disney Hall, 5/9, 10, 11, 12; Turandot, LA Opera, 5/18, 26, 30, 6/2, 5, 8; Kraftwerk, Disney Hall, 5/21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30; John Mceuen, Mccabe’s, 5/24; Chris Stapleton, Hollywood Bowl, 6/26, 27; Rolling Stones, Sofi Stadium, 7/10, 13.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows.