By Jorge Casuso

March 6, 2019 -- Folk, jazz and film music will be featured at the Santa Monica College Music Department's spring performance series this month.

Tickets for the series -- which takes place at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard) -- cost $10 per concert.

The series kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. with the "K Project.," a tribute to the music of folk singer Joni Mitchell and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock featuring Woodwind veteran Kim Richmond.

The performance intertwines the music of the two composers, who have collaborated during their careers, with original arrangements. The concert also features singer, songwriter and keyboardist Kiki Ebsen. The music of composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter -- who collaborated with Hancock on more than a dozen albums -- will be the focus of the SMC Jazz Band's performance Sunday March 17 at 4 p.m.

Titled, "The Newark Flash Rides Again,” a nod to Shorter's New Jersey hometown, the program features special guest artist Ralph Moore on saxophone.

Shorter's trailblazing career included classic recordings with Miles Davis and Weather Report.

The series continues Sunday, March 24, at 4 p.m. “Music from Classic Hollywood,” a performance of film music by the SMC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Brian Stone.

The concert includes popular favorites from "Gone with the Wind," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Ben-Hur," "North by Northwest" and "Shane."

The final concert , on Sunday, March 31, at 2 p.m. features the SMC Wind Ensemble under the baton of Kevin McKeown (not the City Councilmember).

The concert showcases "an exciting mixture of both new and traditional music written specifically for wind instruments," organizers said.

For tickets and information, please go to smc.edu/eventsinfo or call 310-434-3005 or 310-434-4323.