Although for many the thought of big band music conjures up images of swing dancers and the 1940s, Australia’s 26-member University of Queensland Big Band is more akin to classic soundtracks with jazz as a key element, more Nelson Riddle than Glen Miller.
Appearing at Dizzy’s on April 8, under the direction of Clint Allen, the group is an impressive gathering of young student talent, with seamless interplay and a real passion for their instruments. Founded in 2007, this show is part of the band’s first international tour and will thrill any fan of instrumental music or virtuoso musicianship.
University of Queensland Big Band: Friday, April 8 at Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive. 8 p.m. $15. www.dizzysjazz.com. San Diego music legend Jesse Davis performs at the Kona Kai Resort on April 10 as part of their brunch music series. These days, Davis is a terrific jazz and standards singer in the classic Lou Rawls mode, but he’s been performing since the mid-1960s, given the nod of approval by Frank Sinatra and releasing now-classic soul singles such as 1967’s “Gonna Hang On In There Girl,” later going on to perform in two of the classic “Benji” films of the 1970s. If you haven’t caught a set by Davis, this show, set next to the marina, besides the resort’s private beach is just about the ideal, San Diego-centric, way to do so. Jesse Davis: Sunday, April 10 at the Kona Kai Resort, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. No cover. www.resortkonakai.com. Jazz fans will want to check out, April in Paris, a themed performance at the Pacific Beach Library, showcasing “jazz-infused songs of springtime.” The library’s quiet setting is the perfect spot to catch any jazz performance, but this show promises to be special, featuring vocalist Allison Adams Tucker’s wonderfully evocative voice, beautifully matched against pianist Danny Green’s lyrical piano playing and drummer Julien Cantelm’s inspired beats. Adams sings in both English and French, with a signature version of “La Vie en Rose,” that’s sure to make this closing concert of the library’s 2015-2016 season one of the year’s highlights.
Allison Adams Tucker: Wednesday, April 13 at Pacific Beach Library, 4275 Cass St. 7 p.m. All Ages. No cover. www.pblibraryfriends.org. Music is back at San Diego’s most unique music venue, The Bahia Belle paddlewheeler, as it cruises around Mission Bay. You can find live music on Friday evenings, with classic rock cover band Steal Dawn performing on April 15. The band is excellent at a range of hits from Bruno Mars to the Eagles, performing short sets between the hourly docking on either side of the bay. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. with all ages permitted before 9:30, making this a terrific event for all ages.
Steal Dawn: Friday, April 15 at the Bahia Resort, 998 West Mission Bay Drive. 7:30 p.m. 21 and up. $10. www.catamaranresort.com Hip-hop returns to Pacific Beach with a fast-paced, five-artist show at the 710 Beach Club on April 15. While the local hip-hop community is largely under the media’s radar, the scene is thriving, with a growing number of San Diegans matching rhymes and beats. For this show, the venue has put together a solid bill featuring local rising stars Pakman, Watusi, Noize Cartel recording artists Lee the Fourth and Joshua Odessa, as well as 5nslime, who will be celebrating the release of a new single, “Cause Why,” out on April 5. Pakman: Friday, April 15 at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 9 p.m. 21 and up. www.710bc.com. If you never got a chance to hear Stevie Ray Vaughn live, do yourself a favor and check out Alan Iglesias & Crossfire, performing April 16 at Tio Leo’s. Yes, Iglesias bears a resemblance to Vaughn, but the key is in the fretwork and he is also a great guitarist, able to match the tones and nuances of his hero’s best work. Expect the night to feature all the classics such as “Pride & Joy” and “Couldn’t Stand the Weather,” as well as a few Jimi Hendrix tunes a la “Red House, for a night that will please both blues and classic rock aficionados. Alan Iglesias & Crossfire: Saturday, April 16. Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com.
