Music critics' picks
POP Each month, yelping singer, crackerjack drummer and mandolinist Levon Helm stages a get-together in his Woodstock, N.Y., studio. "Midnight Rambles" is the hottest ticket in town as great musicians pile in to play ragtime, blues-rock, New Orleans
POP
Each month, yelping singer, crackerjack drummer and mandolinist Levon Helm stages a get-together in his Woodstock, N.Y., studio. "Midnight Rambles" is the hottest ticket in town as great musicians pile in to play ragtime, blues-rock, New Orleans R&B and old-timey country styles, plus whatever else they dern well feel like. Now Levon helms a touring revue version likely to include folks you may know (guitarists Larry Campbell and Jimmy Vivino) and unknowns you'll be pleased to meet (like bluesman Little Sammy Davis and country twangsters Teresa Williams and Catherine Russell). Plus special guests Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan fame) and Phoebe Snow.
Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, $45, 215-627-1332, www.livenation.com.
- Jonathan Takiff
HIP-HOP
88-Keys is a familiar name for true hip-hop fans; the Harlem-based producer has worked behind the scenes for a decade creating classics with Beanie Sigel, Mos Def, Macy Gray and Musiq Soulchild. In 2008, 88-Keys released his solo debut, "The Death of Adam," aided by hip-hop megastar Kanye West as executive producer. The album featured collaborations with Bilal, Redman, Kid Cudi and Mr. West himself. Joining him here will be North Philly's Dice Raw, who has worked with The Roots since age 15, appearing on all but one of the group's albums. Also on the bill is Philly rapper Ethel Cee, whose silky smooth rhymes have gained her a healthy following locally, and DJ Sammy Slice.
Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Tuesday, $15, 21-plus, 215-739-9684,
- James Johnson
ALTERNATIVE
Close your eyes when you listen to Eli "Paperboy" Reed and you think you're listening to Sam Cooke or Otis Redding. Actually, he's a young white kid from Boston, matriculating from the School of Blue-Eyed Soul with the likes of Amy Winehouse and Duffy. For the past two years, Reed and his band the True Loves have earned raves from Rolling Stone and Mojo for distilling the best Stax and Motown grooves on "Roll With You." Another release is in the works.
North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar streets, 9 tonight, $10, 215-684-0808, www.northstarbar.com.
- Sara Sherr
CLASSICAL
When Giuseppe Verdi premiered his monumental Requiem in 1874, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia was just being founded. On the choral group's 135th anniversary, it seems fitting to perform this passionate, heaven-storming masterpiece, written to honor the death of Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni. In his 20th season, music director Alan Harler welcomes local mezzo Marietta Simpson and baritone Stephen Powell, as well as the husband-and-wife team of soprano Sandra Lopez and tenor Stuart Neill as guest soloists.
The program begins with busy local composer Jennifer Higdon's just-completed "On the Death of the Righteous."
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $23-$65, 215-893-1999, www.mcchorus.org.
- Tom Di Nardo
JAZZ
Showing no impact from the economic implosion, the 19th annual Berks Jazz Fest packs the Reading area for 10 days. As usual, the focus is on smooth-jazz artists. There's the "Sax for Stax" pairing of Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum, the triple-features of Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Jonathan Butler (Jazz Attack), and Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Kim Waters (Sax Pack). In addition, Philly bassist Gerald Veasley leads a Stevie Wonder tribute project, blues guitarist Derek Trucks performs with his band and with legendary pianist McCoy Tyner, and Israeli-born clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen makes an appearance.
Various venues in Reading and Berks County, today through April 5, 215-336-2000, www.berksjazzfest.com.
- Shaun Brady