Headline: El Fuego est aqu¡
Orquesta Ibrahim Ferrer
Tower Theater
69th and Ludlow streets
Upper Darby, Pa.
Sunday, December 2
8 p.m., $32-$60
(215) 336-2000
Buena Vista Social Club rocks. There's no whichway about it. Any random member of the collaboration is more than twice my age, and any one of them could easily kick my musical ass. Ibrahim Ferrer, who is well past the peak of the hill, still knows how to light a candela with a voice that is rich and melodious. The man expresses Cuban music at its best--lively, sensuous and, most of all, fun. Teeny-bopperish sexual innuendoes are appropriately below his level, but instead, he sings of the down-and-dirty with a sly wink and a smile. It doesn't say much of the music world if it took the finger of guitarist Ry Cooder to draw attention to this Cuban master. And if you don't take Street's recommendation seriously enough, you can get a little sneak preview of the performance by watching the documentary Buena Vista Social Club, complete with bits of Ferrer singing comfortably both at home and on stage.
A Philadelphia Messiah Sing-In
Singing City Choir
First Baptist Church
17th and Sansom streets
2:30 p.m., $10/$8 students
(215) 569-9067
What's the Christmas season without a little Handel to kick it off? For now, we'll ignore the insane shopping crowd at the Gallery, which some delude themselves into thinking that it's a mall. If you think you can sing just as well as the gang you're paying to see, call and reserve a spot to sing with them at local care centers following the performance.
Beenie Man
Electric Factory
Seventh and Willow streets
9 p.m., $27
(215) 627-1332
It seems that somehow the Beenie Man show made the final cut for things you should go see this week. Yeah, you guessed it, we were a little desperate. We got back from break, we perused a couple Web pages and magazines, and next thing we know we're publishing this very brief. It's a bit embarrassing, but he probably has some fans out there somewhere, right? We know people dig that ragga/dancehall vibe. Come on, the man brought the phrase "sim simma" into the common vernacular. He must surely deserve some credit for that? OK OK, we'll do better next time, we swear.
Christmas Concert
Ancient Voices
Amado Recital Hall
Irvine Auditorium
34th and Spruce streets
2:30 p.m., $10/free w/Penn ID
An elite group of 14 performs medieval and Renaissance holiday classics, such as the well-loved, "I Saw Mommy Show Her Ankle to Santa Claus." Well, actually, they'll perform "Missa Ave Maris Stella" by Josquin Desprez, among other tunes. What, you've never heard of the composer? Uncultured peon. Even I, with my worked-my-ass-off-for a C+ in Music 20, know who he is. Sheesh.
Not Solely Cinema:
Tenderheaded
Painted Bride
230 Vine Street
2 p.m., $10
(215) 925-9914
See, feminism can be a positive thing. Rather than attacking the Man and his attempts to smother girl power, we could celebrate the virtues of the gentler species. Not Solely Cinema presents Tenderheaded, a widely varied program of film, spoken word and performers that present that which makes women funky, desirable and undoubtably kick-ass. Put your guard down feminazis and see how it should be done.
