Not surprisingly, since it’s almost Holy Week, there’s a lot of sacred music to be heard in New Haven this week. But there are also concerts in conjunction with gallery exhibits, a benefit for the New Haven Oratorio Choir. And outside the musical realm, there are samurais, puppets, and a Seattle-based superhero.
Monday, March 23
Buzz On
Bronson Rock, the amiable and nostalgic rockabilly/garage/roots/soul combo led by Buzz Gordo of Gone Native and Big Bad Johns, is at Cafe Nine. 250 State St. (203) 789‑8281. No cover charge, but lots of cover songs (plus some choice Buzz Gordo originals).
Tuesday, March 24
Puppet Spring
The Wilson branch of the New Haven Free Public Library is hosting a “Springtime Puppetshow” at 4 p.m., “followed by a springtime craft.” They must think it’s springtime. 303 Washington Ave. (203) 946‑2228.
Turning the Handel
A free faculty recital, 7:30 p.m. at Battell Chapel (300 College St.), sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, explores Handel’s opera La resurrezione. The same vocalists will perform the piece at the Morgan Library in New York March 25.
Wednesday, March 25
Stage Convergence
Everything That Rises Must Converge is a stage adaptation by Karin Coonrod of Flannery O’Connor’s novel, set on a bus during the early days of the Civil Rights movement in the deep South. 7:30 p.m. at Yale’s Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Auditorium, 1 Prospect St. (203) 432‑5062.
B‑Side Fever
Kimber Lee’s brownsville song (b‑side for tray) was produced at the prestigious Humana Festival in Kentucky last year, then in New York. The Long Wharf Theatre has had its eye on this provocative script about urban violence, poverty, family and humanity for years. Eric Ting directs a new production which has its first performance tonight on the Long Wharf mainstage and runs through April 19. 222 Sargent Dr. (203) 787‑4282.
Thursday, March 26
B‑Roll
Long Wharf Theater is holding another “community conversation” regarding its production of the urban violence drama brownsville song (b‑side for tray), which began performances last night. New Haven Independent founder Paul Bass mediates the discussion, which features other local media types. 6 p.m. at the Fair Haven branch of New Haven Free Public Library, 182 Grand Ave. (203) 946‑6796.
What Is to Be Done?
As part of its exhibition Vertical Reach, Artspace is screening Songspiel, a film created by the Russian collective Chto Delat? The free screening is followed by a discussion led by Ingrid Nordgaard. 6 p.m. 50 Orange St. (203) 772‑2709.
Young Sing
The Shubert Centennial Show Choir Competition features seven local school choruses — from various grade schools, Co-op High School, Neighborhood Music School, and elsewhere, including the All-City Honors Chorus. It’s a benefit for Talent Haven, presented by the New Haven Board of Alders. 6:30 p.m. at the Shubert, 247 College St. $10. (203) 562‑5666.
Friday, March 27
An African Festival
Africa Salon, a two-day African arts & culture that it’s hoped will become an annual event, takes place today and tomorrow with panels discussions and film screenings at Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center (211 Park St.), a cocktail/dance party tonight at Harvest Restaurant (1104 Chapel St.), plus a special concert starring the Kenyan ensemble Just A Band, Ghanaian-Canadian indie rocker Kae Sun’s combo, South African singer-songwriter Jean Grae, and the tribute act Fela Akustic (featuring Sahr Ngaujah of the Broadway musical Fela). The full schedule is here. Registration required. $20, $10 students. (203) 432‑1092.
Road Film
Russian-Israeli videojournalist Lia Tarachansky of The Real News Network discusses her documentary On the Side of the Road, which concerns what it calls “Israeli collective denial of the events of 1948 that led to the country’s independence and the Palestinian refugee problem” and referencing Tarachansky’s own upbringing as a Russian-born Israeli who was raised in a West Bank settlement. Noon at the main (Ives) New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm St. (203) 946‑8130. The On the Side of the Road film itself got screened this week at Yale, 6:30 p.m. March 26 at Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave.
Old Romantics
The Yale Art Gallery offers chamber music and poetry to augment its exhibit “The Critique of Reason: Romantic Art 1760 – 1860,” a collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art. 5:30 p.m. 1111 Chapel St.
Phoenix Insurgens
A real live superhero, Rain City Superhero Movement leader Phoenix Jones from Seattle, is interviewed by Jack Hitt at the latest (17th!) Amateur Hour event, 6 p.m. at the Institute Library. 847 Chapel St. (203) 562‑4045.
Two Times Sax
The Spring Jazz series at Firehouse 12 continues with the trio of saxophonists Paul Flaherty and Steve Baczkowski and drummer Chris Corsano. Two sets: 8:30 p.m. ($20) and 10 p.m. ($15).
Saturday, March 28
Samurai Dinosaur
The new exhibit “Samurai and the Culture of Japan’s Great Peace” opens at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History with a special event: “Swords and Stories: A Celebration of Japan and Its History,” featuring games, crafts, a Roxi Fox puppet show by Betty Baisden and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 170 Whitney Ave. (203) 432‑5050.
Dilemma, Formula … Stella
Tonight at Stella Blues: the local “improvisational rock trio” Rizzo’s Dilemma and the New Haven debut of Formula 5, a jam/funk quartet from upstate New York. 204 Crown St. (203) 752‑9764.
Incognito Incarnate
Contemporary Jazz chart-toppers Incognito, from the UK, are at Southern Connecticut State University’s Lyman Center with leader “Bluey” Maunick, a brass section and multiple vocalists. 8 p.m. $35; discounts for SCSU students and staff. On the university’s 501 Crescent St. campus. (203) 392‑6154.
Sunday, March 29
Breaking Wide Open
Today from 3 to 6 p.m. is the opening reception for the new exhibits which opened Thursday at the Kehler Liddell Gallery. “The Whole Wide World” is a selection of archival pigment photographs from Marjorie Gillette Wolfe, while “Breaking Bad” is oil paintings by Frank Bruckman. 873 Whalley Ave. (203) 389‑9555.
Choir and Cadre
The New Haven Oratorio Choir is holding a benefit for itself at Lyric Hall with food, wine, a silent auction and of course singing. Other performers include Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps. $40. 4 p.m. 827 Whalley Ave. (860) 742‑0621.
Passion Fancy
The Yale Camerata performs Gabriel Jackson’s Passion at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green at a free Palm Sunday concert today at 4 p.m. The piece is just a year old, and had its U.S. premiere at the selfsame Trinity Church just a week after its world premiere in England. (203) 432‑5062.
Controlled Chaos
Metalcore stalwart The Ghost Inside’s Out of Control tour comes to Toad’s Place with opening acts The Acacia Strain (Chicopee, Mass. deathcore), Gideon (Alabama Christian metal), and In Hearts Wake (Australian metalcore). $20. 7:30 p.m. 300 York St. (203) 624-TOAD.
