> CONCERT SAMPLER
Joanne Morra
A chanteuse of the first order, Morra caresses originals and standards in both official languages with a silky ease that’s just made for a dimly lit jazz club — the sort of places she’s been frequenting with some effect over the past decade or so (west-end haunt Gate 403 for one; she’s back there April 7). But as her time at the front of local funksters the Ambassadors showed, she can belt, too. Debut album Alouette, a compact collection of French folk, blues and cabaret, gets it unpacking here, with the elegant threesome of guitarist and regular Morra sideman/co-producer Eric St-Laurent, bass player Rachel Melas and lap-steel man Joey Burke reprising their roles. (Thursday, Gladstone Hotel, 6 p.m.)
Franco De Vita
The Venezuelan-born, Madrid-based cantante brings a piano man’s appeal to match Billy Joel or Elton John, two of his early inspirations when starting out in the early ’80s. But he’s carrying a little more gravitas than just an ivory-tickling trip through his deep songbook, at least off the title tune from his latest LP. The track, “Libre,” laments the deteriorating state of his native land. Count it a testament to his knack for writing and producing pop hits that the crowd will hang on every note for De Vita’s first time here in nearly a decade. (Thursday, Sony Centre, 8 p.m.)
Vince Staples
Long Beach native Staples marries his street-level, first-person storytelling to inventive production, and he’s getting more conceptual with every step. This tour, for instance, is his biggest yet, taking visual cues from 2004 film The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (“I like Bill Murray,” Staples explains). Staples is no mere wisecracking dabbler, though, banging and roiling in ways few rappers can manage. Just a few years after touring alongside Earl Sweatshirt, through 2015’s sprawling Summertime ’06 album to now — reflecting on the ride on last summer’s Prima Donna EP with a fourth-wall-breaking video treatment — he drops among Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator for creative explorations. With fellow Angeleno Kilo Kish along for the ride, it should be one for the head, heart and gut. Pick of the week. (Friday, Phoenix, doors 8 p.m.)
Jay Som
As Jay Som, Melina Duterte endured and perhaps even enjoyed one of the more punishing schedules at SXSW last week, playing 10 sets with her touring band over four days. Barely drawing a breath as they headed back on the road, Everybody Works is evidently more than just the title of the arresting album she brings for her Toronto debut, one she says took off from Carly Rae Jepsen and lands her squarely among Mitski and Japanese Breakfast, two fellow Asian-Americans of equally unique voice with whom she’s toured. From Oakland bedroom studio to buzzy indie star in the making, Duterte shares top of the bill with Vancouver trio the Courtneys for a match of fuzzy DIY rockers. (Sunday, Garrison, doors 8 p.m.)
Lambchop
Ladies and gentleman, Kurt Wagner is floating in air. At least, that was the suggestion off last November’s FLOTUS album, wherein Wagner pivoted at 57 years old to try mellow electronica with plenty of Auto Tune on his warm baritone. The result is far more ECM Records than EDM thumper, thus extending in a different direction one of the more eccentric careers in pop. You have to admire the gumption of the guy, punctuating the record with “The Hustle,” an 18-minute opus that’s made for headphones and your favourite mood enhancer. Done live, given three bandmates (Tony Crow, Matt Swanson and Andy Stack of Wye Oak) and a varied catalogue to draw on, it should be quite a journey. (Monday, Great Hall, doors 7:30 p.m.)
The Jigsaw Seen
The L.A. foursome have made a name for themselves at home over nearly three decades thanks to their mix of clever originals and inspired covers that mine classic psychedelia. They know those depths so well it’s led them if not to stardom then to cult status and many other projects, TV placements and side gigs, including a stint for co-leader Jonathan Lea and bass man David Nolte as the backing band for the Kinks’ Dave Davies. They’ve never played here — or anywhere in Canada — making this an overdue introduction. A homecoming solo set by Toronto-to-New York artist Lorraine Leckie and T.O. trio Sing Bandana Singh add to the appeal. (Tuesday, Rivoli, doors 8 p.m.)