AFRICAN PERCUSSION
S. Kwaku Daddy was discovered in his native Ghana by jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie 35 years ago. Since then, he has recorded and performed with such notables as Randy Weston, Carlos Santana, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and many others. Don’t miss this rare live solo performance by the master percussionist, who currently teaches world music drumming and folklore at City College of San Francisco. Monday night at Yoshi’s. 510-238-9200. (Eric K. Arnold)
SALSA GREATS
Leading the Bay Area’s best salsa-jazz band, Latin great Pete Escovedo plays a benefit for the Albany schools’ music program Saturday night at Albany High Gym. Until recently a lifelong East Bay musician, Escovedo has not only worked with the greats (including a five-year stint in Santana) and run classy clubs, but also has lent his name to community needs on countless occasions. Like this one, for example. Classy Brazilian duo Claudia Villela & Ricardo Peixoto open. AlbanyMusic.org or 510-559-8282. (Larry Kelp)
ACOUSTIC BLUES
When Jackie Greene first appeared on the Sacramento folk scene, he blew people away with his deft combinations of bluesy guitar work and singer/songwriter sensibilities. His debut, Gone Wanderin’, made Rolling Stone‘s Top Ten last year. Greene writes solid roots-rich tunes with his instrumental dexterity on guitar, banjo, piano, and harp adding icing to the cake. Thursday at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. 510-548-1761. (j. poet)
SANTA CRUZ’N REGGAE
Hailing from the laid-back Central Coast, Santa Cruz’ Dub Congress has taken the dubwise roots template and carved out its own niche of American reggae. Their latest album, Down in Santa Cruz, exults in drum ‘n’ bass-ified riddims with echo and reverb treatments, a brassy horn section, conscious lyrics, and influences ranging from ska to hip-hop to R&B. Dub Congress will be mashing up Dubmission, the long-running Sunday night dub session at the Elbo Room, along with resident DJ Sep and guest selecta DJ Millhouse. DubMissionSF.com or 415-552-7788. (E.K.A.)
CLASSICAL
Musica Antiqua Köln, one of Europe’s finest early-music ensembles, features soloists Nancy Argenta (soprano) and Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto) in Pergolesi’s famed Stabat Mater Saturday night in Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. Vocal aficionados who missed the opportunity to hear Stutzmann perform in San Francisco Symphony’s Mahler cycle because of the intervention of 9/11 should obtain tickets for this one pronto. 510-642-9988. (Jason Victor Serinus)
CHICANO ROCK
Get ready to howl tonight at Berkeley’s Ashkenaz as the East Bay Chicano groove band Conjunto Coyote celebrates the release of its debut CD. The Coyote’s repertoire spans everything from raza rock to trad-Mex, but all with a nuevo canto (new song) lyrical conscience. The propulsive drumming of Irene Perez drives the band, while the melodic voice of Ricardo Carrillo is one of its finest attributes. Special guests include accordionist Miguel Govea from Los Compas. 510-525-3630. (Jesse “Chuy” Varela)
BRITISH COCK-ROCK
Holy rollin’ shit almighty, is the super-macho cock-rock laid down by the Darkness ever awesome. Led by deranged ultra-falsetto frontman Justin Hawkins — who makes the chorus “Get your hands off of my woman, motherfucker” sound like romantic Italian opera — these super-hyped Brits will rock your damn socks off and increase your testosterone level 800 percent in the process. With Billy Talent at Slim’s in SF Friday night. 415-255-0333. (Rob Harvilla)
JAZZ JAM SESSIONS
There’s a healthy jazz jam scene happening on Sundays around Jack London Square in Oakland. From 6 to 10 p.m. Khalil Shaheed leads a session at Mingles that is open to all. Also, this Sunday famed trap drummer E.W. Wainwright kicks off “New York-Style Jam Sessions” at Sapphire’s Restaurant (380 Embarcadero West) from 4 to 8 p.m. E.W. is a seasoned jazz elder who has played with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Earl “Fatha” Hines and other jazz greats; he’s ready to school all with his intense desire to improvise. 510-208-3663. (J.C.V.)
JAZZ
Tuck & Patti are local legends. Tuck’s amazing guitar prowess (he was recognized as one of the great jazz pickers from the duo’s first appearances) and Patti’s remarkable vocal ability (marked by her warm improvisations and soulful delivery) showed how musical, original, and celebratory music can be. They open a six-night run Tuesday at Yoshi’s in Jack London Square, Oakland. 510-238-9200. (j.p.)
