Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAR. 09, 2014.

Antibalas
“It’s always a party when Antibalas plays. This Brooklyn-based Afrobeat collective—which has collaborated with TV on the Radio, appeared in Broadway’s Fela!, and shared stages with Amy Winehouse and Paul Simon—delivers its patented concoction of funked-up guitar lines, vigorous brass blasts and groovy organ riffs.” (TONY mag)
S.O.B.’s, 200 Varick St. ,at Houston St.
At 9:00pm / $25
212-243-4940 / sobs.com

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Presents The Brooklyn Brass Fest
“Brass continues to reassert itself as the dominant voice in many forms of contemporary music, while reeds and strings battle each other to see who will take second place. Lately, most brass events have stressed world music, marching bands and the avant-garde (as in FONT), but this new festival reaffirms the crucial role that trumpets and trombones play in bebop.

Anticipated highlights of this three-day event include trombonists Steve Turre and Dave Taylor (the latter playing the bass instrument in a solo recital), and trumpet Tom Harrell fronting the ensemble Brass Fantasy in tribute to founder Lester Bowie. There will be brass classes, brass workshops and perhaps even brass-themed refreshments as well” (WSJ)
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Concert Hall,58 Seventh Ave.,
(718) 622-3300
Kumble Theater at LIU Brooklyn,One University Plaza, Brooklyn

The Armory Show 2014
“Our favorite art monster is back again to wreak havoc on the New York art scene. Now in its 16th year, the Armory Show runs four days and is broken into two sections, modern and contemporary. Featuring a dizzying amount of galleries representing 29 countries, this year’s show features a China Symposium and a special section devoted to contemporary art from China curated by Philip Tinari.

The market has also decided to expand and re-brand its Solo Projects section, now referring to it as Armory Presents and allowing participating galleries to present the work
of two artists, rather than just one. Be on the look out for conceptual artist Xu Zhen’s Armory Show contributions. The “chameleon of concept” is this year’s Armory Artist Commission.

Tours are available if you need guidance navigating this show’s massiveness. We also recommend going over the course of a couple of days if you want to cover everything.” (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Piers 92 & 94, 711 12th Ave
12pm-7pm / $40.00
(212) 645-6440 / thearmoryshow.com

Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham Trio
“Those who remember Cobham as the tsunami-swirling super-drummer of the Mahavishnu Orchestra will be surprised at how sensitive and swinging he becomes when working in tandem with the master bassist Carter and the New Orleans-based alto saxophonist Harrison.

As heard on Harrison’s album “This Is Jazz,” recorded live at this club in 2011, the trio exalts in the freedom that its spare configuration provides.” (NewYorker mag)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-475-8592 / bluenote.net

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change. ===========================================================================================

Chelsea is the heart of the NYCity contemporary art scene. Home to more than 300 art galleries, the Rubin Museum, the Joyce Theater, and The Kitchen performance spaces, there is no place like it anywhere in the world. Come here to browse free exhibitions by world-renowned artists and those unknowns waiting to be discovered in an art district that is concentrated between West 18th and West 27th Streets, and 10th and 11th Avenues. Afterwards stop in the Chelsea Market, stroll on the High Line, or rest up at one of the many cafes and bars and discuss the fine art – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

WHAT’S ON VIEW:

Richard Serra, “New Sculpture” (through March 15)
“In this show, Richard Serra continues along the road that emerged from the hugely successful “Torqued Ellipses” of the 1990s, but also circles back to his earlier oeuvre. Here you have the Serra of the ’60s and ’70s, revised and updated: heavy rectilinear plates and cubes fabricated in steel rather than lead, his signature material in the ’60s.” (Schwendener-NYT) 
Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th Street,
 Tue–Sat 10am–6pm / 212-741-1111, gagosian.com

For a listing of 25 essential galleries in the Chelsea Art Gallery District, organized by street, which enables you to create your own Chelsea Art Gallery crawl, see the Chelsea Gallery Guide (nycgo.com) Or check out TONY magazine’s list of the “Best Chelsea Galleries” and click through to see what’s on view. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (03/07) and (03/05).