The 3 San Diego concerts you won’t want to miss this week – San Diego Union-Tribune

Charles McPherson’s 85th Birthday Celebration

A San Diego resident since the 1970s, Charles McPherson has been one of the most respected alto saxophonists in the jazz world for over 50 years, first as a member of bass giant Charles Mingus’ band, then as a solo artist and bandleader in his own right.

Bebop remains his greatest passion and musical skill, but McPherson isn’t resting on his laurels. His sweeping new album, “Reverence,” was recorded live in New York last year. It finds him injecting every note he plays with deep feeling and an unmistakable degree of conviction.

His previous album, 2020’s “Jazz Dance Suites,” won Album of the Year and Artist of the Year in the annual Jazz Times readers’ poll.

“To be highly successful, you have to have a high level of skill and artistry, not limited by time, space or physics,” McPherson said in a 2020 interview with the Union-Tribune.

“That’s what I’m trying so hard to do, is to be in that zone, that area of ​​free-flowing ideas, stream of consciousness, and be able to access that. That’s the ultimate for me — technique, head, heart, intuition, feeling, left brain, right brain — to do it all together as seamlessly as possible.” McPherson’s two San Diego performances this weekend at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room at the Lafayette Hotel come just three days after he turned 85 on Wednesday — and nine days after his birthday show at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The formidable saxophonist will perform at Lou Lou’s with renowned trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, pianist Randy Porter, bassist Rob Thorsen and drummer Tyler Kruetel.

7pm and 10pm Saturday. Lou Lou’s Jungle Room at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. $54. turtabletickets.com

Diving into Lake Street with Celisse Henderson

It’s been 12 years since Boston-bred Lake Street Dive made its San Diego debut at Queen Bee’s, but its mix of vintage pop and rock, classic Motown soul, country, jazz and more is as inviting as ever.

The same goes for the group’s polished work and captivating vocal harmonies, which are fueled by lead singer Rachael Price and bassist/singer Bridget Kearney.

Expect to hear some new songs from Lake Street Dive’s latest album, “Good Together,” out June 21.

8 tonight. Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego. $40.50-$70.50; VIP packages are $211. ticketmaster.com

Doors of Change’s “Concert for Hope” with KC & The Sunshine Band

Since its inception in 2001, this tireless San Diego nonprofit has raised more than $6 million to help more than 2,800 homeless youth obtain housing and the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency, including phones, computers, health care, job skills, musical instruments and more.

Last year’s “Concert for Hope,” which featured Ben Harper, was the organization’s first to be held at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheatre. This year’s edition will also be held at the two-year-old La Jolla venue, where ’70s disco-funk favorites KC & The Sunshine Band will perform.

The band, best known for upbeat hits like “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and “Get Down Tonight,” is the subject of a new musical, “Who Do Ya Love?”, which opens July 31 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

How much drama can be achieved with Sunshine Band hits like “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” remains to be seen. But for San Diegans who want to kick off their boogie shoes to support a very good cause, “Concert for Hope” should fit the bill perfectly.

7:30 p.m. Saturday. Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, UC San Diego, La Jolla. $52-$325. (760) 505-7077; amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/concert-of-hope/2024/

Originally published: July 26, 2024 at 6:05 am