By Jorge Casuso

July 22, 2010 -- The music of Jovanotti (aka Lorenzo Cherubini) has been heard by millions on the soundtrack to The Sopranos, and he also routinely fills stadiums in his native Italy and across Latin America. On Thursday evening, music fans can catch him up close and personal at the Twilight Dance Series Concert on the Santa Monica Pier.

Jovanotti will showcase his synthesis of rap and rock that incorporates pointed lyrics that address philosophical, religious, social, and political issues, with his early roots in hip-hop and rap.

His four most recent studio albums – he’s recorded 11 – have topped the charts in Italy. Jovanotti has collaborated with Brazil’s Daniela Mercury, Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, and recorded with Ben Harper, Michael Franti (Spearhead) and Bono (U2).

Also taking the stage is Indiana-born, Texas-raised, singer/songwriter Jace Everett, whose song 'Bad Things' was used as the “theme” song, heard over the opening title montage of True Blood, HBO"s most successful series since The Sopranos.

Brought up in the evangelical church and a restless traveler, Everett has been influenced by the American greats -- Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Marvin Gaye.

“The church is where I learned about music, played bass and did my first real public singing…where the girls thought I was really cool,” Everett says. “I’ve always been attracted to emotionally and spiritually mature themes, both philosophically and musically.”

Rounding up the show is Chilean hip-hop artist Ana Tijoux, who has developed a growing following with a jazz-inflected, ‘90s trip-hop, that merges a keen political wit with a moving voice.

"Hip-hop was born as an art of daring, celebrating, struggling," Tijoux says. It is “a platform to talk about all kinds of things."

Tijoux has been tapped to perform on tracks with the Argentine electronic-tango-alternative group Bajofondo and has paired up with Mexican rocker Julieta Venegas on her hit song "Eres Para Mi."