In the new issue of Philadelphia Weekly:
Scallion/Ember Schrag/Susan Alcorn
Thu., Apr. 5, 7:30pm. $6. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave. 215.426.2685 www.museumfire.com/events
Philly’s Darian Scatton, singer/multi-instrumentalist and founder of the tiny Edible Onion label, records under the name Scallion and makes absorbing, vulnerable music full of hazy tempos and textures. He shares this bill with labelmate Ember Schrag, a Nebraska-born singer/guitarist with a darker, folkier acoustic bent. Joining in, from Baltimore, is Susan Alcorn, whose 2006 title And I Await the Resurrection of the Pedal Steel Guitar sums up her project — bringing the pedal steel beyond its genre of origin and into the arena of improvised and experimental music. She’s done inspired solo work and collaborations with such fellow adventurers as Eugene Chadbourne, Joe McPhee and Andrea Parkins. — David R. Adler
Paco De Lucía
Tue., Apr. 10, 8pm. $35-$67. Kimmel Center, 260 South Broad St. 215.731.3333 www.kimmelcenter.org
In the early ’80s, flamenco guitar master Paco de Lucía teamed up with fellow acoustic shredders John McLaughlin and Al DiMeola to make Friday Night in San Francisco and Passion, Grace & Fire — albums that melted the brains of American jazz guitar geeks. But de Lucía has proven a timeless artist, an innovator who has brought traditional flamenco into contact with jazz and other modern sounds. His taut rhythms and lightning staccato solo runs are instantly recognizable, and richly documented on his new two-disc release En Vivo: Conciertos Live in Spain 2010. His troupe in Philly will include keyboard, bass, percussion, two vocalists and a young dancer named Farruco. — David R. Adler
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