WED 10/14: Opera, Swayze, Jazz, Pop, Hip-Hop

Feeling like getting out on humpday? There's some pretty good stuff tonight...

If I get my act together, there are a couple free parties along with other cheap gigs happening tomorrow.

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WED 10/14

7pm to 8pm
Boston Lyric Opera, "Carmen": Presentation & Performance
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

I have a feeling that most of the hour will be discussion about how BLO is attempting to take a fresh approach to their upcoming production of much-loved opera "Carmen". The scheduled speakers are the general & artistic director, director of artistic operations, director of production, and stage director. (Believe it or not, these are four different people.)

The presentation will likely conclude with an excerpt of the opera by Dana Beth Miller who performs in the title role.

WED 10/14

7:30pm
"Dirty Dancing"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.75

10pm
Dirty Dance Party
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

The Penguin Club (who are a couple DJ's who do Wednesdays at ZuZu) and the Brattle are putting on a two-part tribute to Patrick Swayze.

You'll obviously be inspired to get down 'n dirty after watching the film, so boogie down to Central Sq (or take the T) for "Dirty Dancy Party" that may feature songs from that era, but they'll probably play current grooves for dirty dancing.

If you're bleary-eyed tomorrow, remember "Nobody puts Baby in a corner..."

WED 10/14 (& THUR 10/15)

8pm
Dafnis Prieto Si o Si Quartet
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 / All Ages

The secret to any good band is a good drummer, especially in jazz. After leaving Cuba 10 years ago, drummer Dafnis Prieto been demonstrating his monstrous talent. While it just sounds like amazing music to me, others who are paying closer attention praise him for a fresh synthesis of Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz.

This is the fourth installment of the "Marsalis Berklee Jams" series (think Branford) where the band will do a set, then Berklee students will join them for a jam session.

WED 10/14

9pm
Former Ghosts, White Hinterland, Boy Without God
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

If you're in the mood for synthpop, there's Former Ghosts which includes one of the guys from Xiu Xiu.

When I last listened to White Hinterland, she was doing jazzy, poppy folk stuff. Her new stuff sounds much more electronic and atmospheric, but still maintains a strong sense of melody.

I went on a field trip with Boy Without God before he left for Denmark. Now he's back in town and premiering his full band with horns and singers. I've liked evertything I've heard before, so this should be a positive musical experience.

WED 10/14

10pm to 2am
Edan, Mister Jason
at Good Life, 28 Kingston St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
$0.75 / 21+

We first heard Edan as a underground MC out of Boston a few years ago. Now he's releasing a mix CD "Echo Party", and you can listen to it with Edan and Ricky Powell (Friend of Beastie Boys) will be "host". Mister Jason will spin a set to start things off. I assume much of the local hip-hop guys in the know will be hanging out.

I like that the cover is 75 cents...