Bluegrass, Jazz, Blues, Sambas and Peace Tunes Provide Soundtrack for the Westside This Week

Compiled by Tomm Carroll, Music Critic

Fri., Mar. 18-Thurs., Mar. 24 -- Like his contemporary Vassar Clements, fiddler Byron Berline expanded the sound of bluegrass, introducing elements of jazz, pop, blues, rock and even traditional country to the genre. Aside from being a popular solo act, he has also performed as a session musician for the likes of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Stephen Stills, the Dillards, Gram Parsons, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and James Taylor.

Berline, who learned to play from his father, an old-time fiddler, has been a part of many bands, including the Cleveland Country Ramblers, the Blue Grass Boys, Country Gazette and California in the future. But with his latest group, The Byron Berline Band, he headlines McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica tonight.

Friday & Saturday
Keb’ Mo’, the pride of Compton, California and America’s foremost modern bluesman, pays a visit to Malibu this weekend for a two-night-stand at the Malibu Inn. Always responsible for an enjoyable blues-based set, the Grammy-winning musician can be expected to romping through such favorites from his repertoire as the sexy “Gimme What You Got,” the humorous “Soon as I Get Paid” and the pop ballad “Just Like You.”

Also, it’s fitting that Mo’ is playing this weekend, which is the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. His latest album, “Peace -- Back by Popular Demand” (Epic) is a collection of socially conscious and pro-peace tunes, most of them covers from the likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Elvis Costello and Marvin Gaye.

Saturday
Samba queen Katia Moraes will perform sambas from her childhood, all penned by by important Brazilian composers of the 20th Century, at Boulevard Music in Culver City this evening.

Songs by Cartola, Noel Rosa, Dori Caymmi, Ary Barroso and many others will be interspersed with short stories about the composers. Moraes’ vocals will be accompanied by guitar, cavaquinho, percussion and bass. This show received "The L.A. Treasures Awards" from the L.A. Cultural Affairs Department and the California Traditional Music Society.

Sunday
Legendry West African musician Remi Kabaka has played with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Osibisa. Tonight at Temple Bar, he’ll be performing with his trio. Also on the bill are the jazzy grooves of Wayward Five.

Monday
Legendary trumpeter-composer Tomasz Stanko, winner of the very first European Prize for jazz, brings his deeply lyrical ensemble back to the Jazz Bakery in Culver City for tonight only. Stanko performs with his quartet, featuring Marcin Wasilewski on piano, Slavomir Kurkiewicz on bass and Michal Miskiewicz on drums.

Tuesday
Oh Canada! Santa Monica’s 14 Below pays tribute to the Canucks with a free show, a Canadian Music showcase with such up-and-coming artists as Vincenza Salandra, Marco Defilice, Drew Rouse and a special guest DJ.

Wednesday
Mickey Champion is from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and has been singing for over 50 years. She was discovered in Los Angeles by the great bandleader Johnny Otis, and went on to work with such performers as T-Bone Walker, Little Esther Phillips, Roy Milton, Billy Holliday, and many more.

Mickey has also influenced artists like Barbara Morrison and Linda Hopkins, as well as numerous young stars. She has a voice that is a cross between a smooth shot of Hennessy's and an acetylene blowtorch. Enthralling audiences with her electric and heartfelt vocals, this living legend leaves nothing wanting when she pours out her soul each night on stag. And you can witness that outpouring this evening at Harvelle’s blues club in Santa Monica.

Thursday
Four bands rock 14 Below tonight: Drop Sonic, Ioma, Saint Angeles and Crash Ride.