SPOTLIGHT
On May 25, flautist Holly Hofmann and pianist Mike Wofford (above), accompanied by bassist Rob Thorsen, will perform selections from the Great American Songbook at the Pacific Beach Library. All three are headliners in their own right, while Wofford is also an acclaimed session player who has worked with everyone from Phil Spector to Ella Fitzgerald. Just as importantly, all three musicians have had a big role in nurturing San Diego’s amazing jazz scene, with Hofmann’s role as a concert promoter and Thorsen’s teaching at the Young Lion’s Music Conservatory, particularly notable. Expect virtuoso performances and a selection of the greatest songs ever written at this concert. Jazz aficionados will love every second.
Holly Hofmann-Mike Wofford Trio featuring Rob Thorsen: Saturday, May 25 at the Pacific Beach Library, 4275 Cass St. 4 p.m. Free. pblibraryfriends.org/concert.htm.
RECOMMENDED
Reggae icon Burning Spear opens his latest U.S. tour at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on May 24. Now 79 years old, Burning Spear retired in 2016, but he’s never been busier. This month-long road trip is in support of his latest album, “No Destroyer,” with a new release already imminent. Burning Spear has 57 albums worth of material to choose from, so the night’s potential setlist possibilities are huge, but the biggest cheers will likely be for his earliest material, particularly tracks from his 1973 album, “Marcus Garvey.” Music fans who appreciate roots reggae won’t want to miss this performance from one of the genre’s true legends.
Burning Spear: Friday, May 24 at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7 p.m. $74. humphreysconcerts.com.
Anyone looking for a traditional outdoor Memorial Day gathering will want to head to the Mission Beach Boat & Ski Club. On May 27 the venue will honor all who served with an afternoon of activities including a performance on the lawn from classic rockers, The Siers Brothers. Among the longest-running groups in town, The Siers Brothers have been one of San Diego’s party bands of choice since 1981. The quintet performs something for just about every musical taste, from blues to soul classics, with gems from the likes of the Rolling Stones and Dire Straits in the mix. This Monday afternoon of fun in the sun will be a great way to get the week off to a good start.
The Siers Brothers: Monday, May 27 at the Mission Beach Boat & Ski Club, 2606 N Mission Bay Dr. 3 p.m. $10. sdmbbsc.org/events
Singer Marcela Mendez celebrates her birthday with a special show at Tio Leo’s on May 27. Making this performance a standout, she will be joined by guitarist Laura Chavez, one of the hottest six-string players on the planet right now. Chavez can be heard onstage with numerous combos, including such favorites as Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits, Nikki Hill, and Whitney Shay, scoring best guitarist honors at the 2023 Blues Music Awards. It’s a well-deserved accolade. Everything she plays is well worth hearing. Chavez is one of the best musical improvisers in town, instantly elevating the music of any band that is lucky enough to include her.
Marcela Mendez & Laura Chavez: Monday, May 27 at Tio Leo’s, 6333 Mission Gorge Road. 7 p.m. No cover. tioleos.com.
Still featuring frontman Paul Shaffer and guitarist Jack Butler, Private Domain performs at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on May 30. Best known for their 1987 hit, “Absolute Perfection,” as featured in the cult comedy film, “Back to the Beach,” Private Domain has a wealth of terrific original material, with five albums to their credit. However, for this gig, they will be concentrating on a set full of crowd-pleasing covers, with songs from Cat Stevens to R.E.M in their repertoire. Last month both Shaffer and Butler were amongst the guests invited onstage by this year’s San Diego Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Stevie Salas, a nod to the influence these two fine musicians have had on our arts community over the decades.
Private Domain: Thursday, May 30 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 8:30 p.m. $5. humphreysbackstagelive.com.
It’s been said that music has no borders and there is possibly no better example of this than the music of Larry & Joe, who performed two shows at the JAI on June 1. The duo consists of Venezuelan joropo player Larry Bellorín and North Carolina-based bluegrass musician Joe Troop, combining South American and Appalachian folk traditions for a new sound dubbed “Latingrass.” Larry & Joe include humor and storytelling in their performances, but their musicianship is more than enough to keep listeners’ attention. Particularly effective are their songs using harp and banjo, but all of their unique take on traditional acoustic music is a fun, fascinating listen.
Larry & Joe: Saturday, June 1 at The JAI at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $53-$68. theconrad.org.
