ON STAGE
Four not-to-miss performances at four different regional venues that should keep eager ears warm until spring:
The Tannahill Weavers, Jan. 26 at the Kentucky Theatre for The WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour: A veteran Scottish folk outfit complete with bagpipes, the Tannahill Weavers were regular visitors to Lexington in the '80s. Their devotion to the traditional folk sounds of Scotland is as strong as ever. (6:45 p.m. 214 E. Main St. $10. (859) 252-8888. www.woodsongs.com.)
Alejandro Escovedo, Jan. 27 at The Dame: It has been only 16 months since Escovedo last played Lexington. Given the devotion of his local following, though, that's something of an eternity. In the meantime, he was recording a new album called Real Animal with former David Bowie/T. Rex producer Tony Visconti. (8 p.m. 367 E. Main St. $20. (859) 231-7263. www.dameky.com.)
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, Feb. 14 at Norton Center for the Arts in Danville: There will no Large Band this time. Instead, long, tall Texan Lovett and veteran Nashville songsmith Hiatt will swap songs and stories with only each other's accompaniment to back them up. And it's all on Valentine's Day. (8 p.m. $45, $55, $65. 1-877-448-7469. www.nortoncenter.com.)
The Blue Note 7, March 14 at UK Singletary Center for the Arts: To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the landmark Blue Note jazz label, a roster of expert new-generation talent including pianist Bill Charlap and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane will reinterpret compositions by McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and other giants who recorded for Blue Note during its '50s and '60s heyday. (7:30 p.m. 405 Rose St. $30, $35, $40. (859) 257-4929. www.singletarytickets.com.)
ON CD
Four anticipated winter releases, all due in stores Jan. 27:
Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream: No one really expected another Springsteen album so soon, much less one that again features the E Street Band. But here it is. And judging by the two tunes that The Boss has posted online, it will be a loose, warm and affirmative record.
Mark Olson and Gary Louris, Ready for the Flood: The two former Jayhawks leaders team up again for a record they previewed heavily in Lexington last fall. This record might not boast the Jayhawks name, but the music is a warm yet wintry variation on the pop/folk Americana music that Olson and Louris made together during the early '90s.
The Matthew Shipp Trio, Harmonic Disorder: One of today's most inventive and challenging jazz pianists plays like a modern-day Thelonious Monk, with rich, modal playing and percussive playfulness. Beyond that, he sounds like no one.
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, Yesterdays: These concert recordings by pianist Jarrett's Standards Trio were recorded in April 2001. But the freshness provided to the music of Jerome Kern, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Horace Silver reaffirms Jarrett's timeless piano phrasing.
