Jazz Picks: Esperanza Spalding, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dan Tepfer and more
A selection of jazz picks heading into the weekend:
Buster Williams at the Jazz Bakery at REDCAT
A deeply melodic bassist and bandleader who performed with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Buster Williams performs with his Something More quartet, an all-star lineup that includes pianist Eric Reed, multi-reedist Bennie Maupin and drummer Cindy Blackman, who in addition to her many credits also performed in Jack Bruce’s Tony Williams-inspired “Spectrum Road” project.
The Jazz Bakery’s Moveable Feast at REDCAT, 631 West 2nd Street. Thursday, 8:30 p.m. $30 www.jazzbakery.org.
CRITICS’ PICKS: What to watch, where to go, what to eat
Dan Tepfer at the Broad Stage
A tremendously gifted pianist who landed on several year-end best-of lists with his duet project with Kneebody saxophonist Ben Wendel, “Small Constructions,” the New York-based Dan Tepfer presents his ambitious “Goldberg Variations / Variations.” A meeting of two sides of a musical personality, the album reimagines Bach’s illustrious piano compositions by pairing Tepfer’s takes on the original work alongside the improvisations inspired by each piece.
The Edye at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St, Santa Monica. Friday, 8 p.m. $25. www.thebroadstage.com.
Dr. Lonnie Smith at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
An unquestionable legend of the Hammond B-3 organ, Dr. Lonnie Smith began his career performing with George Benson in the ‘60s, but since then he’s been carrying the torch for thick-grooved soul-jazz.
Required listening for fans of modern organ jazz stars Medeski Martin & Wood, Smith has remained committed to follow his own path in recent years. His most recent live album, “The Healer,” finds him in exceptional form backed by drummer Jamire Williams and guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg.
Samueli Theate, Segerstrom Center for the Arts. 615 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $49-$69. www.scfta.org.
Esperanza Spalding, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Leo Genovese at UCLA
Already considered a jazz trailblazer in the wake of her win for best new artist at the 2011 Grammys, Esperanza Spalding never tires of pushing her music forward. Here she teams with an all-star lineup of jazz greats that includes drummer Jack DeJohnette, saxophonist Joe Lovano and Argentine pianist Leo Genovese.
The project is dubbed the Spring Quartet, and rest assured that plenty of artistry will be in full bloom.
Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Los Angeles. Saturday, 8 p.m. $30-$60. cap.ucla.edu.
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Twitter: @chrisbarton
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