SPOTLIGHT

At the top of the list of reasons San Diego has such vibrant acoustic, folk, singer-songwriter, blues, and jazz scenes is a beloved publication, The San Diego Troubadour. For the past 23 years, it has covered a huge range of performers and has been essential in keeping music listeners in San Diego informed about the area’s artists and events. On Dec. 15, editor Liz Abbott will host the 23rd Annual Holiday Celebration and Fundraiser, with an all-star musical lineup that includes The Sleepwalkers (above), The King-Taylor Project, Michelle Lundeen, Chloe Lou & the Liddells, Sue Palmer, and Sometimes Julie. Additionally, on Tio Leo’s outdoor seating area, many of the area’s top musicians will take part in the Listen Local Fireside Song Circle. This event is a wonderful opportunity to take in an impressive cross-section of San Diego’s music talent while helping keep one of San Diego’s musical treasures going.

San Diego Troubadour Holiday Celebration: Sunday, Dec. 15 at Tio Leo’s, 6333 Mission Gorge Road. 5 p.m. Suggested donation $25. sandiegotroubadour.com/holiday.

RECOMMENDED

Mission Bay High School holds its annual Winter Concert Series on Dec. 10 and 11. The two nights, curated by music director JP Balmat, will be split between jazz on the first, featuring the school’s student Swing Choir, Jazz Combo, Mambo Orchestra, and Preservationists, followed by an evening of classical works on Wednesday featuring their Symphony and String Orchestra’s, Concert Choir and Wind Symphony. These shows are a great showcase for young talent with the bonus that funds raised at these performances go to help keep the school’s music program running.

Mission Bay High School Winter Concerts: Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 10-11, at Mission Bay High School, 2475 Grand Ave. 7 p.m. $5. missionbaymusic.com.

Jazz fans won’t want to miss a special performance at Dizzy’s on Dec. 13, celebrating the 1964 album by drummer Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, “Free for All.” Making the performance extra special, the concert will feature a group of musicians from trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos’ Young Lions Music Conservatory, a sextet led by Miles Dixon on trombone, with Jordan Yaeger on sax, Luca Posillico on trumpet, Joey Kim-Weigandt on piano, Collier Keitany on bass, and Rhydian Marshall on drums. This concert will be a great chance to hear a new generation of jazz musicians pay tribute to one of the genre’s early legends.

Celebrating Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Friday, Dec. 13 at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. $20. dizzysjazz.com.

Anyone who’d like their holiday music spiced up a bit, will want to hear the salsa rhythms of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, who perform at the Baker Baum Concert Hall on Dec. 14. The New York-based 13-piece group’s most recent album, “Swing Forever,” is an excellent listen, but for this tour they will be performing their Salsa Navidad show, mixing Latino/Spanish music with Christmas classics, such as “The Christmas Song,” done in a Latin/salsa style. Fans of world music, big bands, jazz, and holiday tunes will love every second of this show. The only downside to the concert is that Baker Baum Hall doesn’t have a dance floor.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Saturday, Dec. 14 at The Baker Baum Concert Hall at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. 7:30 p.m. $95. theconrad.org.

The Athenaeum closes out the year’s free lunchtime concert series on Dec. 16 with a performance from one of San Diego’s finest musicians, jazz bassist Rob Thorsen, joined by drummer Richard Sellers and pianist Melonie Grinnell. A music teacher and serial collaborator, Thorsen has worked with just about everyone of note in the area, including Mike Wofford and Holly Hoffmann, Charles McPherson, Joshua White, and Marshall Hawkins. Thorsen’s performances are never less than inspired, with terrific improvisations. Die-hard jazz fans will already be aware of Thorsen’s talents, but anyone who hasn’t caught him on one of San Diego’s stages yet should make sure to check out this daytime event in one of the area’s best listening rooms.

Rob Thorsen: Monday, Dec. 16 at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. Noon. No cover. ljathenaeum.org.

Saxophonist Daniel Nielsen celebrates the release of his fourth album, “Deep Finish,” with a special show at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on Dec. 18. Recently inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame as a former member of Grateful Dead tribute group Electric Waste Band, Neilsen has been a mainstay of San Diego’s stages for decades and is still one of the busiest musicians in town. His new album, produced by acclaimed guitarist Nathan James, celebrates the blues, with special guests at this show set to include San Diego Music Award-winning vocalist, Mercedes Moore. Nielsen is a major talent. This new album is a great addition to his recorded canon, however, his home is the stage, where any show he plays is an instant party. Longtime friends and fans won’t want to miss this concert, while anyone new to Nielsen’s music will find this show the perfect introduction.

Daniel Nielsen: Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6 p.m. $14 – $19. humphreysbackstagelive.com.

Singer-songwriter Lissa Dee performs at Beaumont’s on Dec. 19. Dee’s music is based on Americana, blues, and touches of rock and roll, with an excellent range of covers in her set that might include Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, or Fleetwood Mac. As good as her cover versions are, where she excels is in her songwriting, such as in her excellent recent single, “Empty Bottle.” Dee is working on her debut album, with a release set for early next year. In the meantime, country music fans will want to check out this talented singer before she hits much bigger stages.

Lissa Dee: Thursday, Dec. 19 at Beaumont’s Eatery, 5662 La Jolla Blvd. 7:30 p.m. $10. beaumontseatery.com.