A series of concerts paying tribute to great American artists, David Letterman’s favorite comedian and East Bay comedic storyteller Don Reed head my Weekend Top 10 list for Aug. 17-20 (and beyond).
1 SFJazz “Undercover” series: Tonight through Sunday, these concerts will gather a wide mix of Bay Area musicians at San Francisco’s SFJazz Center to pay tribute to legends ranging from Nina Simone to Miles Davis to Ray Charles and a famed Muscle Shoals house band. The Ray Charles tribute tonight features Katdelic, Cosa Nostra Strings and the singer Faye Carol; Friday’s Nina Simone tribute features Jazz Mafia and MoeTar along with Oakland singer Zakiya Harris and the Oakland School for the Arts’ award-winning a capella group Vocal Rush; Saturday’s concert re-creates the classic Miles Davis’ fusion album “Bitches Brew,” with the Broun Fellinis, PC Munoz, Kev Choice and Alligator Spacewalk; and Sunday’s show honors The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section with a lineup including Kid Beyond, Kendra McKinley, the Stone Foxes and more.
Details: All shows are 7:30 p.m. (Friday’s show is listed as sold out, check the website for late ticket releases); $25-$50; 866-920-5299, sfjazz.org.
2 Jake Johannsen: The entertainer quit college and a beckoning veterinarian’s career and moved to San Francisco in the 1980s to try his hand at comedy. His hunch was a good one. After winning the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 1986, he has gone on to a long career fueled by a cerebral and eclectic approach to stand-up. Along the way, he became a favorite of David Letterman’s, appearing on his late-night show a reported 40 times. This week, he holds forth at San Jose Improv.
Details: 5 peformances tonight through Sunday; $20; sanjose.improv.com.
3 “Kiplinger Hotel”: Actor, writer and comedian Don Reed is an under-appreciated Bay Area talent. Among his many credits, he’s developed a series of autobiographical solo shows that are as funny as they are poignant. “Kiplinger,” playing at The Marsh Berkeley, documents his early college days and working at a senior citizens residence to earn spending cash.
Details: Through Sept. 10; $20-$100; themarsh.org.
4 Santa Cruz Shakespeare: The company’s summer season is in full swing at the lovely Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park, with three works running in repertory: Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “Measure for Measure” as well as the madcap Hitchcock spoof “The 39 Steps.”
Details: Through Sept. 3; $20-$55; www.santacruzshakespeare.org.
5 Keiko Matsui: The contemporary/new age keyboardist and composer recently released the album “Journey to the Heart,” intended as a reflection on the 30th anniversary of her first recording. The work is a mostly acoustic collection of new songs and re-imagined versions of previous works. She returns to Livermore’s Bankhead Theater Friday to showcase the album. It’s the only Bay Area stop on the tour (so far).
Details: 8 p.m.; $30-$60; 925-373-6800, lvpac.org.
6 The Great Star Theatre presents “Hair”: This production has got oodles of history on two fronts. The San Francisco theater, originally The Great China Theatre, dates back to 1925 and is billed as Chinatown’s only remaining active performance venue. As for “Hair,” it’s only fitting that someone during the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love present the landmark hippie/anti-war musical, which debuted in 1967.
Details: Through Aug. 26; 636 Jackson St., San Francisco; $20-$40; www.greatstarsf.com.
7 Matthew Sweet: The singer-songwriter best known for the classic 1991 album “Girlfriend” released his 14th studio recording in June, “Tomorrow Forever,” a 17-song epic influenced by Sweet’s leaving Hollywood for his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, and the passing of his mother. He’s in the Bay Area this week to showcase the new album at two concerts.
Details: 8 tonight at Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton; $25; www.donquixotesmusic.com; 9 p.m. Friday at The Independent, San Francisco; $25; apeconcerts.com.
8 Flamenco Society of San Jose: The society on Saturday presents a “Juerga,” essentially an informal jam session featuring all the trappings of a flamingo performance — dancing, dazzling guitar work, singing and percussion. And you’re all invited.
Details: 7 p.m. at the Hoover Theatre, San Jose; $15-$25; tickets at 510-792-8355, www.theflamencosociety.org.
9 Calvin Keys: The Bay Area jazz guitarist has won a die-hard following of jazz lovers with the tasteful licks he delivers on his own recordings and in session work with artists ranging from Ray Charles to Bobby Hutcherson to Freddie Hubbard. He brings his quintet to Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center on Saturday.
Details: 8 p.m.; $15-$30; 925-931-4848, www.firehousearts.org.
10 The Unusual Suspects: This show featuring seven up-and-coming Bay Area comedians drops in at PianoFight in San Francisco on Tuesday. The lineup includes, Joe Tobin, Emily Epstein White, Jeff Cirv, Sureni Weerasekera, Joseph Ugalde, Elizabeth Mansfield and Keyshawn Thomas.
Details: 7 p.m.; $10-$15; http://www.pianofight.com.
Contact Randy McMullen at rmcmullen@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him on Twitter.com/randymac57.
