The year is just getting started, and there are already two exceptional concerts this month that I’m really looking forward to:
Saturday, January 10: Jazz Saxophonist Chris Potter
Chris Potter, performing together with a superb rhythm section: Alan Pasqua (piano), Darek Oles (bass), and Peter Erskine (drums). As the youngest musician to ever receive Denmark’s prestigious Jazzpar Prize, Chris Potter was awarded the honor in 2000 for his virtuosic touch and deft improvisational skills. Jazz fans, this is a show you definitely won’t want to miss!
Chris Potter is being presented by The Jazz Bakery and will take place at The Moss Theater of The New Roads School in Santa Monica. Tickets and more info can be found here.
Saturday, January 31: Waldemar Bastos
Later this month, the great Angolan singer and guitarist, Waldemar Bastos, will make a rare U.S. appearance, presented by the Aratani World Series. Having borne witness to the Angolan plight during his country’s struggle for independence from Portugal, Bastos’ music speaks powerfully to his experiences.
When I started the KCRW World Festival Series at the Hollywood Bowl back in 1999, Bastos performed with a four-person group and stunned the entire 18,000-person audience. His music is so heartfelt and oozes that Lusophone sweetness that I just love. I’ve seen many a listener moved to tears. Bastos recently released a masterpiece album, Classics of My Soul—a must hear. Click here for tickets and info.
Judy Mitoma, the force behind the Aratani World Series, has teamed with the Japanese American Community Cultural Center (JACCC) to bring LA some of the best talents from around the globe, so be sure to check out their concert schedule here.
Chris Potter on the classic Bird tune, “Anthology.”
[youtube width=”575″ height=”360″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw-lH-s7OXg[/youtube]
Waldemar Bastos discusses recording Classics of My Soul with the London Symphony Orchestra.
[youtube width=”575″ height=”360″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrjvslPhU3E[/youtube]
