Rejoice and Renewal
By Kirk Silsbee
Since she’s been on our national radar, Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias has exhibited impressive growth. Like the best instrumentalists from her country, her piano has charming warmth and a deceptive simplicity. She’s chosen to interpret Bill Evans on her new Something for You (Blue Note) CD, to touching results. Elias doesn’t share the technical avoirdupois of Evans but she taps into the emotional canyons and harmonic iridescence that he uncovered in his compositions and his playing. She’ll bring that special lyricism – along with the estimable talents of bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Billy Hart – to the Jazz Bakery, until Saturday. Friday at Royce Hall, the all-star octet San Francisco Jazz Collective (with trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joshua Redman) interpret Wayne Shorter, that most beguiling of jazz composers. The same night at the Metropol, percussionist/composer Brad Dutz explores his own canon, from whiz-bang kinetics to zen-like resonance. Saturday at Gianelli Square (19451 Londelius Square, Northridge, 818-772-1722; 7:30; $15/20), tenor saxophonist Chuck Manning celebrates an impressive new album, Notes from the Real. This is Manning in a gleefully hard bopping mode, essaying an admirable range of composers, among them Monk, Trane, Alec Wilder, and Kenny Barron. This is the album we knew Manning had in him all along. The soaring, extravagant vocalist Dwight Trible has only worked one local gig this year. Sunday at the Bakery, he’ll roll away the stone for an Easter concert that promises nothing less than ecstatic joy.
For info, see Jazz, Blues, Latin and Concerts listings.
Published: 03/19/2008
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