This weekend in the arts: Melody Jean Moulton and Annalise Neil at Trash Lamb; more than 40 bands at Adams Avenue Unplugged; "Bob Fosse's Dancin'" at The Old Globe; "Women in Jazz 2022" at Quartyard; high school bands and orchestras at the Shell; "Les Paul through the Lens" at the Museum of Making Music; and Susan Narucki sings "Kafka Fragments."
Two big events in the arts world this weekend have their own features this week, so be sure to check out our stories on the San Diego Book Crawl (including our interview with a first time crawl participant, the new Libélula Books in Barrio Logan), and San Diego Museum of Art's annual floral show, Art Alive.
'Bob Fosse's Dancin'
Theater
Now open at The Old Globe, "Bob Fosse's Dancin'" is a reinvention of the original 1978 Broadway hit, "Dancin'." Wayne Cilento starred in the original, and has now adapted the work for modern stages.
Fosse's choreography is known for being larger-than-life, athletic, showy and wide-ranging, and this production captures that versatility and energy. It's a concert-style piece, rather than a narrative play, and features a series of dance styles set to popular music from the 1970s. This production is officially Broadway-bound, so see it here now for bragging rights.
Details: Opening night: Thursday, April 28 and runs through May 29, 2022. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park. $52+.
'On the Move': Melody Jean Moulton and Annalise Neil
Visual art
Trash Lamb Gallery founder Melody Jean Moulton will pair up with Annalise Neil for a quick two-person exhibition in the South Park space. I love Neil's pieces that blend cyanotype and watercolor, and Moulton's wood-mounted, mixed media collages are incredible. The two have also created some collaborative works. The gallery will host a reception on Saturday from 7-10 p.m.
Details: Opens Saturday, April 30, 2022 with a reception from 7-10 p.m., and is on view through May 29. Normal gallery and shop hours are Saturday from 12-6 p.m. (this weekend they'll close at 5 p.m.) and Sunday from 12-5 p.m., or by appointment. Trash Lamb Gallery, 2365 30th St., South Park. Free.
International Jazz Day ft. Women in Jazz 2022
Music, Jazz
It's a man's world out there in jazz, but Allison Adams Tucker has joined forces with a band of local women in jazz for a forthcoming showcase. Musicians include the legendary Holly Hofmann on flute, Lexi Pulido on vocals and guitar, Melonie Grinnell on piano, Evona Wascinski on bass, Monette Marino on percussion, and Samantha Lincoln, a young performer who is part of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory on drums.
Here’s a tiny video the Young Lions recently posted on Instagram of the Blue Train Ensemble, featuring the incredible Samantha Lincoln tearing it up on drums.
Details: Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 6 p.m. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., East Village. $20.
Adams Avenue Unplugged
Music
A two-mile stretch of Adams Ave. from University Heights to Kensington will host a (mostly) free acoustic music festival, with performances by Sara Petite, Whiskey & Burlap, Aimee Jacobs, the Louis Valenzuela Trio, Rookie Card, Grandpa Drew and tons more. A performance by former X frontman John Doe is the only ticketed event, a 7 p.m. performance at the Normal Heights United Methodist Church. Shows are inside bars and venues along the route.
Whiskey & Burlap recently won the 2022 San Diego Music Award for Best Folk Album. They'll perform at 4 p.m. at Swan Bar (2933 Adams Ave. at 30th). Here's a song from that album:
Details: Saturday, April 30, 2022 from noon to 10 p.m (detailed schedule is here). Multiple locations along Adams Avenue from University Heights to Kensington. Free (John Doe: $25).
SDUSD High School Band and Orchestra Festival
Music
OK, I am showing my true colors as a former high school band nerd, but this looks great: seven regional high school bands performing at the Shell in a free show on Saturday, no reservations or tickets required. Orchestras, wind ensembles and/or advanced groups from Patrick Henry, Mira Mesa, Morse, Madison, Point Loma, Scripps Ranch and San Diego High Schools will perform.
If you're looking for a family-friendly, low-pressure way to visit the Shell (and even try out some of the dining options!), this is a great opportunity. Bonus serving of "the kids are doing all right."
Details: Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022 from 1-4 p.m. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. Free.
'Les Paul Thru the Lens' Photography Exhibit
Visual art, Photography, Music
This traveling photography exhibition from the Les Paul Foundation chronicles the life and work of luthier (a fancy word for guitar maker), blues guitarist and songwriter Les Paul, who lived from 1915 until 2009. The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad will be host to the exhibition through the end of May, and while you're there, be sure to visit the "sit and play" area of the main museum.
Details: On view through May 31, 2022. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 5790 Armada Dr., Carlsbad. $10-$15
More visual art, music, performance: The Mission Fed ArtWalk takes place in Little Italy Saturday, Apr. 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
'Kafka Fragments' by György Kurtág
Music, Vocal music, Hybrid event
Ease back into the work week with some avant-garde musical performance. Monday evening, notable San Diego-based soprano Susan Narucki will perform the ambitious "Kafka Fragments" with Curtis Macomber on violin on Monday at the UC San Diego Conrad Prebys Concert Hall.
The work, completed by contemporary Hungarian composer György Kurtág in 1986, is a song cycle and performance based on scraps of found writings by Franz Kafka — notes, letters, diaries and other ephemera. There's an in-person, free event on campus, or you can tune in for the livestream.
Details: Monday, May 2, 2022 at 7 p.m. Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Dr., UC San Diego (or livestreamed). Free.
For more arts events, daily editor's picks, visit the KPBS/Arts calendar. And be sure to sign up for the weekly KPBS/Arts newsletter.
