8 DAYS A WEEK: Your look at Valley Arts
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet joins musical forces with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for “A Dave Brubeck Celebration,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown. ASO Music Director Diane Wittry conducts the orchestra. The Quartet is Chris Brubeck, bass, trombone, composer; Dan Brubeck, drums; Mike DeMicco, guitar, and Chuck Lamb, piano. The concert features the classics of Chris and Dan Brubeck’s father, Dave Brubeck, including “Take 5.” Dan Brubeck and Chris Brubeck recorded their first record together in 1966. The quartet’s most recent CD, “LifeTimes” was on the Top 10 list of the Jazz Week radio chart. The group has performed in concert halls, at colleges and jazz festivals in North America and Europe, including the Newport, Detroit, Montreal and Monterey Jazz Festivals. The group has performed with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Russian National Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra. The Quartet, rooted in “straight-ahead” jazz, explores odd time signatures and integrates influences of funk, blues and world music in its repertoire. Tickets: Miller Symphony Hall box office, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; 610-432-6715; https://www.millersymphonyhall.org/
“Robbie Burns Night,” 8 p.m. Jan. 20. “Robbie Burns Night” will feature members of Piper’s Request and Blackwater and guest vocalist Terry Kane and actress Kate Scuffle. The evening will be a lively celebration of romance, country pleasures, politics and haggis. Tom and Alison Gillespie from Blackwater will once again join with Terry Hartzell, Fred Gilmartin and Rick Weaver of Piper’s Request to celebrate the birthday of Scottish national poet, rascal and cultural icon Robbie Burns. Along with guest vocalist Terry Kane, the group will present Burns’ songs, poetry and “all things Scots” to commemorate the literary legend. Burns was the first to gain acclaim for writing in Scot’s dialect, the language of the common man. Additionally, Kate Scuffle, from Selkie Theater, will offer her dramatic readings and commentary om the bard’s work. Tickets: Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem; 610-867-2390; https://godfreydaniels.org