THE MUST LIST
MUST LIST Our staff’s top picks for what to do in Houston this week
The Skatalites, Houston Chamber Choir are top picks.
NIKKI LANE WORKS A NASTY SEAM BETWEEN COUNTRY MUSIC AND GARAGE ROCK, SOUNDING AUTHENTICALLY THE FORMER AND REBELLIOUSLY THE LATTER. HER LAST ALBUM IS NEARLY 3 YEARS OLD, SO SHE MAY HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO SING THIS TIME THROUGH.
When: 8 p.m. Monday • Where: Continental Club, 3700 Main • Details: $18-$29; 713-533-9525, continentalclub.com Andrew Dansby
1. The Skatalites
The legendary Skatalites have served as ambassadors of ska music since the mid-’50s. Admittedly, the passing of time has claimed no small number of original Skatalites, including Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo, Don Drummond, “Dizzy” More, Roland Alphonso and, well, several others. But Queen of Ska, Doreen Shaffer, has been singing with the group since 1964 and has surrounded herself with a big, brassy ensemble that can play with the verve the music requires.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: free; discoverygreen.com Andrew Dansby
2. Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber
Mike Stern earned his stripes playing with Blood Sweat & Tears and also Miles Davis but had some incredible work on his own as a virtuosic jazz guitarist capable of a wide range of expression. Keyboardist Jeff Lorber made his name more than 40 years ago with his aptly titled band Jeff Lorber Fusion. How they didn’t collaborate before this year’s album, “Eleven,” is puzzling, but they work brilliantly together.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Dosey Doe, 25911 Interstate 45 N., The Woodlands Details: $98-$138; 281-3673774, doseydoe.com Andrew Dansby
4. Houston Chamber Choir
It has been a busy year for the Houston Chamber Choir. The group was selected to appear at the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music in New Zealand next summer and was nominated for best choral performance at the upcoming Grammys. So Saturday’s holiday appearance, titled “Christmas at the Villa: Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come!,” should feel extra special.
When: 2:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Chapel at the Villa de Matel, 6510 Lawndale Details: $40; houstonchamberchoir.org Cary Darling
5. Houston Contemporary Dance
The new Houston Contemporary Dance Company, founded by former METdance artistic director Marlana Doyle, steps out with “Begin,” a concert featuring premieres by former Alvin Ailey dancer Sean Carmon, who now tours with “The Lion King,” and Christian Denice of Los Angeles; plus works by Joshua Manchulich, Marlana Doyle and Jane Weiner. When: 8 p.m. FridaySaturday
Where: Queensbury Theatre, 17000 Queensbury Lane, CityCentre
Details: $25; houstoncontemporary.org Molly Glentzer
6. Garrett Bradley
New Orleans artist Garrett Bradley combines narrative, documentary and experimental elements in films that cover a lot of ground: race, class, family relationships, social justice, Southern culture and the history of film. Good thing “American Rhapsody,” her first solo museum show, offers plenty of elbow room.
When: Opens 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Bradley and curator Rebecca Matalon speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday; through March 22 Where: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose
Details: Free; 713-284-8250, camh.org Molly Glentzer
7. ‘Reason (Vivek)’
This three-hour-plus acclaimed documentary from Anand Patwardhan, which won best feature at the Los Angeles Indian Film Festival, chronicles the rise of right-wing extremism in Indian politics. And, yes, there is an intermission. On a side note, the director is in town for events in conjunction with his “Ways of Struggle” exhibit at the Glassell School of Art.
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details: Free; mfah.org Cary Darling