Weekly Planner March 28-April 3: What’s Happening in Music, Arts and Life | Culture

We kick off the week with brain food – discussions of women and intriguing books – before moving on to intoxicating music. As always, it’s a good idea to check each location’s COVID policy. You can find the full CITY schedule here.

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Rochester Women in History with Maya Rook
7 p.m.
Virtual event

The local historian presents a Zoom talk on famous and intriguing women from Western New York. The Haudenosaunee clan mothers and Susan B. Anthony, of course. But also, the spiritualized Fox Sisters and the ghostly White Lady. To pre-register for this free event, presented by Henrietta Public Library, go to chpl.org and click on the calendar of events.

Books sandwiched
12:12 p.m.
Rochester and Monroe County Central Library

In this edition of the Tuesday afternoon series, Dr. Casey Miller of the Rochester Institute of Technology reviews “A Quantum Life.” This is the story of how Hakeem Oluseyi left a life of poverty to study astronomy at Stanford University. In a review for NPR, Rochester’s personal astrophysicist Adam Frank wrote “A Quantum Life” is “an important book for anyone who wants to understand how the fire of inquiry, the burning demand for intimate knowledge of the world and its beauty, can take root in a heart and lift it up to shine with the stars it cherishes most. It’s free, but you must register online.

Diana Krall
7:30 p.m.
Auditorium Theater

The jazz singer and pianist opens her 2022 tour in Rochester. Krall’s most recent album, “This Dream of You”, is a relaxed foray into traditional material, such as “How Deep is the Ocean”, and a song better associated with Nina Simone, “Don’t Smoke in bed”. There is an interesting diversion: “This Dream of You” by Bob Dylan.

Stickmen

8 p.m.
Bistro and Lovin’ Cup beers

Tony Levin, the Eastman School of Music graduate who can’t seem to stay away from us, returns with his prog-rock trio. Levin, who plays the Chapman Stick (something like a bass), is joined by King Crimson drummer Pat Mastelotto and guitarist Markus Reuter. The group is back on the scene Friday evening. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.

Faculty Spotlight – Back to Chick Corea
7 p.m.
Hochstein Theater

A handful of local jazz musicians explore the legacy of the late keyboard virtuoso. It’s the music of Corea’s fusion band Return to Forever, featuring tracks like “Crystal Silence”, “Tones for Joan’s Bones”, “Sea Journey”, “Windows” and a new arrangement of “Armando’s Rhumba”. With flip flops! Admission at the door is $10 per person, with a family maximum of $20.

Rochester Guitar Festival
6:30 p.m.
The little theater

The opening night of this three-night event, presented by Rochester Classical Guitar, features Icelandic guitarist Gulli Björnsson. Sunday Classical Guitar Night starts at 6:30 p.m. Both shows are free. The Monday 6:30 p.m. show with Guitar Foundation of America winner Johann Smith is $20 and $15 for students. Smith will also teach a masterclass at Bop Shop Records at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Amy Helm
7:30 p.m.
JCC Hart Theater

The bluesy singer-songwriter has released three albums, but is also known for her work as a backing vocalist with numerous artists, including Rosanne Cash and Steely Dan. And, of course, her late father Levon Helm, with whom she started the Midnight Ramble concert series at Woodstock, which she continues to host. Tickets are $40, though main front rows are $70.

Jeff Spevak is an art writer for WXXI and CITY, and he curates events for our weekly planner. He can be contacted at [email protected]