Last weekend was a long and busy one. The unveiling of a new statue honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King has been making waves in town (and across the country) for the past few days. If Black wants to continue working on his art this weekend, check out his performance at the opening of saxophonist Gregory Glover’s Dot His Jazz Music Series at Peabody Hall. Latasha Barnes’ “The Jazz Continuum,” a performance that connects black art from the past to the present, will also take place this weekend. Keep reading to see our picks for the rest of the weekend.
Thursday, January 19th
The music series Dot Jazz is a collaboration between local nonprofit Greater Ashmont Main Street and Mandorla Music, an organization that records and produces concerts for jazz musicians. The series will feature his five live shows at Boston’s All His Saints Church Peabody Hall. The first Dot Jazz concert takes place this week, featuring tenor and his saxophonist Gregory Gruber. The musician has toured the world and shared the stage with artists such as Terry Lyne Carrington, Patrice Rushen and Danilo Perez. Gruber explores black religious musical traditions. Thursday will feature Jason Palmer on trumpet, Santiago Bosch on piano, Max Ridley on bass and Tyson Jackson on drums.
January 19 (Thursday) to January 21 (Saturday)
This performance explores the importance of dance and jazz in Black America. “The Jazz Continuum” spans the last century, connecting representations of black art past and present. Featuring an interdisciplinary and generational cast, it celebrates art from across the diaspora including Harlem, Chicago, Cuba, Brazil and more. [Read our winter dance guide for more upcoming performances.]
Until February 12 (Sun)
Boston playwright Kate Snodgrass and director Melia Bensussen present “The Art of Burning,” a story of love and loss, in Huntington. The story follows a modernist painter who recently separated from his partner. She wants full custody of her daughter Beth. But her partner wants her daughter to decide. Only one problem with her. Beth has gone missing. The play explores parenting in America, blending comedy and mystery. [Want more theater recommendations? Check out our winter guide.]
Saturday, January 21st
Combining contemporary dance, capoeira and hip-hop, Compagnie Hervé KOUBI presents a powerful show at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater. They draw from Sufi imagery, a mystical religious practice, to create something unique and singular. Dancers come from all over the world, including Algeria, Morocco, Bulgaria, Italy and France. Part of Global Arts Live’s Winter Dance Fest 2023, the performance explores not only their own backgrounds, but also the cultures and religions of different parts of the Mediterranean.
Saturday, January 21 – Sunday, January 29
The Puppet Showplace Theater presents new performances for kids and families this weekend. Puppet shows tell the story of the changing seasons, from plant growth to tree cycles to human behavior. In this story, fairies happily control the seasons until a grumpy gnome intervenes. Handmade fairy dolls are at the center of this show, and young participants are encouraged to participate.
