Guitarist Ayala creates new sound, 'JazzMenco'

There's a new sound brewing in the jazz world of classically trained guitarist Gabriel Ayala, a Tucson native and member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. He calls the sound "JazzMenco," which he defines as "the chords of jazz with the drive of flamenco.

Dance mixed with fanciful imagery

Colorful adjectives begin to swirl whenever dance writers start trying to describe "Botanica," the full-length piece that Connecticut-based Momix is bringing to Centennial Hall on Sunday.

Jazz musician, raconteur has stories tell

Jazz had a happy face back when guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli was growing up in the household of his father, renowned guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. It was the 1970s and famous musicians were dropping by all the time.

Lines Ballet dances with philosophy

Ask Alonzo King about the 170 ballets he has choreographed for the Alonzo King Lines Ballet over the past 30 years and he answers with philosophical questions.

Jazz 'conversationalists' to meet on Fox stage

Jazz vibraphone giant Gary Burton isn't exactly sure why people want to keep hearing him play duets in concert with jazz piano giant Chick Corea.

'Freud's Last Session' looks for God

"Freud's Last Session," which Arizona Theatre Company opens in previews Saturday, isn't so much about the pioneering psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. It is more about God. Or, to be more precise, the existence of God.

Traditional art in its purest form

Martin Santangelo, artistic director of Noche Flamenca, remembers well when the company from Madrid last danced at Centennial Hall two years ago.

5 women, 1 ugly dress make breezy humor

It can be a curious journey from the page to the stage for some plays. Consider "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress," directed by Terry Erbe, presented by Arizona Onstage Productions.

Contemporary values exposed

Contemporary social values get another vigorous scrubbing in Beowulf Alley Theatre's production of the caustic "Three Hotels" by Jon Robin Baitz.

Friendship is heart of 'Chosen'

Stories about the emerging nation of Israel are combined with the journey of fast friends Reuven and Danny from adolescence to adulthood in Live Theatre Workshop's production of "The Chosen." Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok adapted the play from Potok's award-winning 1967 novel of the same name.

Smooth jazz is New Year's Eve tone

Don't call acoustic guitarist Peter White a jazz musician; call him a complete musician.

The sad tale of blues' 'Lady Day'

The tragic story of jazz singer Billie Holiday's fight against heroin and other demons is well-known. But in this sad tale playwright Lanie Robertson, like a good blues singer, found the soul-stirring inspiration to write "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill."

Ballet's US tour starts here

The spectrum of ballet is stretched a little wider every time Canadian artist Aszure Barton and Artists take the stage. Quirky and cheeky are two adjectives often used in describing Barton's work as the young choreographer develops an international reputation.

'3 Virgins' promises a devilishly good time

Agnes de Mille's "Three Virgins and a Devil" tells a story more timeless than Shakespeare, but with such a unique sense of humor that it maintains an enduring place in American theater.

Jazz noir inspired by crime shows

Known for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, flugelhorn artist Dmitri Matheny will go searching for poignant moments of jazz noir with four fellow explorers in the Dmitri Matheny Group, playing in concert Friday.

Lewis Nash, 6 jazz-giant pals to play Legends benefit show

If you think of jazz as a musical language, plan on hearing some eloquent conversation Friday at Tucson's annual Jazz Legends Live benefit concert. Noted drummer Lewis Nash has invited six swinging friends to join him for some lively looks into the compositions of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis…

Saxophonist Kashiwa closes Jazz Society's summer series

International contemporary jazz saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa of Seattle will be joined onstage by Tucson's energized vocalist Crystal Stark for the Tucson Jazz Society's summer series-ending concert Sunday at Loews Ventana Canyon.

Good pals, jazz music share stage

Keyboard player, composer, bandleader and Tucson smooth-jazz favorite Jeff Lorber is coming to town Saturday with his good buddy from the Pacific Northwest, trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach. Working as co-headliners with a band of handpicked sidemen, the two longtime pals will share the spo…

Hat's off - well, maybe - for smooth-jazz guitarist

Good-natured smooth-jazz and funk-groove guitarist Nick Colionne is bringing his new shaved-head look to Tucson on Sunday, along with a suitcase full of dapper clothes and several of those hats for which he is so famous.

Troupe's shows benefit tour

Pouring your heart and soul into something can make it hard to let go.

Dark yet optimistic 'Cinderella' takes stage

In American pop culture, Cinderella has become more than a pretty face. In the ballet world, especially, Cinderella soars beyond the sweet scullery maid who falls in love with a prince.

Look what Jazz Under the Stars has on tap

The Tucson Jazz Society's concert series Jazz Under the Stars Spring 2012 leads off Friday with an evening of traditional New Orleans-style jazz dedicated to Ed Cohen, a longtime TJS supporter who passed away recently. Featured are the Arizona Roadrunners and the Tucson Jazz Institute's nati…

UA dancers to channel great choreographer in spring show

Sometimes turning points pop up in the most unexpected places, for the most unusual reasons. Last month University of Arizona dance professor Douglas Nielsen had eight members of the UA Dance Ensemble on stage at Manhattan's Joyce Theater to celebrate the work of modern dance pioneer Martha Graham.

Expect emotional flood from River North Dance

After a season of art and artifice in dance at Centennial Hall, the emotional floodgates of jazz dance will open when River North Dance Chicago comes leaping onstage Saturday.

Vereen celebrates UA memories

Tony Award-winning singer-dancer-actor Ben Vereen has had a soft spot in his heart for the School of Dance at the University of Arizona for a few decades.

Trumpeter, conga master a fiery blend

The fiery music of Latin jazz pioneers Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo will be celebrated Saturday when trumpeter Terence Blanchard joins the band of conga master Poncho Sanchez.

New vision for eminent troupe?

Always a Tucson favorite, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Centennial Hall Friday with something entirely new - Robert Battle, the 54-year-old company's new artistic director. As the 39-year-old dancer-choreographer wends his way through his inaugural season as head of this …

Random art elaborately created

The idea of making elaborate plans to create art randomly can be incredibly seductive. John Cage is probably the best known disciple of this approach. Others include jazz musician Sun Ra and choreographer Merce Cunningham.

Dance troupe defies boundaries

For more than 40 years the Trisha Brown Dance Company has been challenging the definition of dance, confronting the rules makers and raising eyebrows in the name of creativity.

The dance of love, lust and longing

In the world of tango, nobody lives happily ever after. Tango is all about the now. Lonely hearts with empty souls, searching for a quick release.

As year turns, more smooth jazz at Starr Pass

A more joyful and soulful smooth-jazz sound will be filling the ballroom for the Tucson Jazz Society's annual Jazz Gala dinner and dance party this year at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort.

Cool West Coast jazz blows in Saturday

Fans of straight-ahead jazz will get 50 years of evolution and a peek into the future on Saturday in a dual headliner concert with vocalist/painter Kathy Kosins of Detroit and pianist Tamir Hendelman with his West Coast trio.

Premium Blend of difficult dance

One of ballet giant George Balanchine's most difficult works, "Allegro Brillante," will be the centerpiece of this year's Premium Blend dance program presented by the University of Arizona School of Dance. Balanchine described it as containing "everything I know about the classical ballet in…

Kings of Salsa show a new Cuba

Cuba could be closer than you think, especially on Saturday when the Kings of Salsa bring their Havana lifestyle to Centennial Hall. This two-hour-plus dance party presented by UApresents features eight dancers and nine musicians, all graduates of Cuba's National School of the Arts (Escuela …

Fall jazz series wraps up today at Tohono Chul Park

The beat goes Latin today when Grupo Manteca, led by saxophonist Hiram Perez, takes the stage to wrap up Jazz Under the Stars, the fall series of concerts presented by the Tucson Jazz Society at Tohono Chul Park.

Jazz, blues musicians set to mix it up Friday

The Tucson Jazz Society brings pianist/vocalist Lisa Otey and Jazz Meets Blues to the outdoor garden setting of Tohono Chul Park for a concert Friday. This concert features some of Tucson's unique artists of improvisation.

Ballet Tucson sets itself in motion

Change is in the air for Ballet Tucson's new season, dubbed "Season of Transformation." Optimism is the active ingredient. On Friday, the company will launch the season with its "Opening Night Gala 2011," which will be followed by three more concert performances Saturday and Sunday.

Pilobolus set to get all bent out of shape

The spirit of Pilobolus Dance Theater is not the spirit of modern dance … exactly. Trying to describe a performance by the Pilobolus Dance Theater is a lot like trying to describe the flavor of an Orange Julius fountain drink.

Jass Band to play Under the Stars

The traditional New Orleans and Chicago sounds of the Original Wildcat Jass Band are featured outdoors at Tohono Chul Park in the Tucson Jazz Society's ongoing Friday night series Jazz Under the Stars.

A jazz experience for fans and newbies

Start with a nice swig of nostalgia for the muted trumpet of early Miles Davis in the time of big vinyl LPs and giant stereo sets, then add the brilliant jazz of today's rising trumpet star Ambrose Akinmusire of Oakland, Calif.

Take a trek through jazz's evolution

"Jazz Legends in Concert Live!: A Journey Through Jazz" - Saturday at the downtown Fox Theatre - should be exactly that: a tasty sampler of the evolving jazz periods from the traditional New Orleans style through swing and bebop to the post-bop music of today's players.

Artifact explores slightly scary 'Fairy Tales'

You can feel the stretch marks of growth in the confident smiles of Artifact Dance Project's co-founders, Ashley Bowman and Claire Hancock. They are back and fully recovered from their enthusiastically received, monthlong, 14-city tour of China last May and June.

Tonight's jazz concert sizzles with multisaxophonist

If you go

Duo to provide jazz fireworks

Jackiem Joyner is coming back at us, and he's got an equally hot piano player as co-headliner. The Tucson Jazz Society's annual Fourth of July weekend smooth jazz concert Saturday at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort should be appropriately explosive.

Abair, Braun to team up at benefit

Old friends Mindi Abair and Rick Braun will be jamming out, shoulder to shoulder just like old times, at Saturday's third annual celebrity jazz benefit for the Tucson Jazz Society.

Bon voyage concerts reveal young dance troupe's chops

Their bags full of costumes are stowed away and they have crossed the Pacific Ocean. Tucson's own Artifact Dance Project is in China preparing to have the adventure of its young life presenting "The Great American Dance Tour" in a month of engagements.

Young local dance troupe is taking its act to China

Artifact Dance Project, Tucson's newest dance company, will become the city's newest arts ambassadors by spending a month performing on tour in China.

Big Band Express gets back on track Sunday

The reorganized Big Band Express is ready for its close-up.

Ballet Tucson soars with 'Swan Lake'

Well, truth be told, having seen "Black Swan" starring Natalie Portman can enhance your appreciation for "Swan Lake." Not so much in the dancing - there is only a little bit of ballet in "Black Swan" - but in appreciating the dueling personalities of Odette and Odile, two roles danced by the…