THURSDAY 1/23
FUNK
THE NTH POWER
The Nth Power are three virtuoso musicians on drums, guitar and bass, with strong vocal harmonies who’ve worked with A-listers like Beyoncé, Snarky Puppy, Maceo Parker, Dumpstaphunk, Big Daddy Kane and John Brown’s Body. The trio aren’t afraid to show off a bit. As they step out of the support role and into the spotlight, they’re acrobatically swinging through genres, blending soul, rock, funk and R&B. Their combination of strong chops, songwriting and daring arrangements equal good music to get lost within. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $22/adv, $27/door. 479-1854.
FRIDAY 1/24
JAZZ
JAHARI STAMPLEY FAMILY TRIO
Winner of the 2023 International Herbie Hancock Competition and named “Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz,” Jahari Stampley continues redefining jazz’s boundaries with genre-defying music that captivates aficionados and novice jazz enthusiasts. The pianist’s dynamic live performances have been praised for earnest delivery and groundbreaking artistry. Collaborating with his Grammy-nominated mother, D-Erania Stampley, who brings multi-instrumental brilliance to their performances, the band draws influence from gospel, electronica and even the avant-garde. MELISA YURIAR
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $42. 427-2227.
EXPERIMENTAL
GREGG KOWALSKY
Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist Gregg Kowalsky brings his mesmerizing soundscapes to Santa Cruz, performing a long-form piece that blends selections from his latest album, Eso Es (a hypnotic, intricate project using a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and inspired by two decades of experimental composition), and new works that include plenty of rhythmic sequences and meditative melodies. Known for his previous work with underground duo Date Palms and contributions to American minimalist and electroacoustic genres, Kowalsky’s latest body of work showcases a new creative era: one that intertwines emotive melodies with delicate sound structures, offering listeners a unique fusion of immersive minimalist and playful maximalist sounds. MY
INFO: 8:30pm, Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. $16.
ART EXHIBITION
ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON
Mix surreal symmetry, vivid colors and a pinch of retro fashion, and one gets the primary visual components of any Wes Anderson film. His unique aesthetic choices mesmerize and captivate the imagination, so much so that there’s a social media trend where people make videos focused on symmetry and faded colors. Paying homage to his aesthetic and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper roller coaster, the exhibition explores our world through a Wes Anderson lens, giving attendees a renewed sense of curiosity and exploration, who can see familiar sites from Santa Cruz and beyond. Runs through March 18. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: Noon, Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-1964.
SATURDAY 1/25
FOLK
CAP QUIRK
Solo artist and musical storyteller Cap Quirk released his debut album, Step One, in 2013 and paid his musical dues when he performed at the Folk Alliance International Conference. He followed that with a set at the 2015 Indiana State Fair. Relocating to California, he released Sessions on Leslie, an acoustic-based exploration of lyrical concerns expressed as an emotional odyssey. Quirk’s core message asserts that the side paths in life’s journey are the most consequential and important. Cap Quirk’s extramusical pursuits—carpentry, electrical work, athletics—all subtly inform his music. BILL KOPP
INFO: 3pm, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave. Ste A, Soquel. Free. 316-0662.
CHRIS JONES
This night of music is about as real as it gets. No tricks, no gimmicks, just a night of true-blue Americana music from—and in—the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Opening the evening is the duo of Allyson Makuch and Rory Cloud, otherwise known as Echoes & Artifacts, with rustic vocals and emotional truths that transcend time. Headlining the night is the one and only Chris Jones, who, when not performing solo with his trusty vintage hollow body Epiphone, is front and center singing for local folk group Wolf Jett. Thankfully, Jones knows his music and has the chops to prove it, with a catalog celebrating blues, country and rock. MAT WEIR
INFO: 8pm, Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. $25/adv, $30/door. 309-0756.
SUNDAY 1/26
ALT-COUNTRY
THE FRED EAGLESMITH SHOW
When it comes to telling tales of adventure, deceit and substance-fueled times with plot twists and surprise endings, the name Fred Eaglesmith stands alone. Maybe that’s because Eaglesmith has lived many of the things he sings about, starting when he was a teenager hopping on a freight train to travel across his native country of Canada. Since 1980, he’s performed a wide range of traditional and rootsy music, from blues to outlaw country. Performing with Eaglesmith is the multi-instrumental Texas-born singer Tif Ginn, who toured with him as a duo between 2016 and 2020 and is also his wife. MW
INFO: 5pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $54/adv, $59/door. 479-9421.
MONDAY 1/27
AUTHOR EVENT
SONORA REYES
Author Sonora Reyes was a National Book Award finalist for their 2022 young adult novel, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. Reyes’s most recent work, The Broposal, again tackles issues of Latinx queer identity with wit and style. The novel’s “brotagonists” (lifelong best friends Alejandro “Han” and Kenny) are planning to wed, but the initial motivation is more about scoring a green card for Han than anything else. As events unfold, however, the two find their feelings. Arizona-based Reyes will read from their novel and engage with attendees in a Q&A and a book signing. BK
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free w/ RSVP. 423-0900.
TUESDAY 1/28
FOLK
THE WILDWOODS
Strumming their way from Lincoln, Nebraska, comes the Wildwoods, an Americana trio featuring upright bass, guitar and violin—sometimes strummed and sometimes bowed. The married couple plus one plays traditional folk and rootsy compositions and originals, blending sweet vocal harmonies throughout each piece. It’s apparent they’re well-loved at home, being crowned Best Band by the Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022, and they’ve quickly become festival favorites and serious road dogs, with so many highway miles between everywhere else and Nebraska. KLJ
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $20. 704-7113.
