Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, APR. 06, 2014.

Juan Gabriel
“Now in his sixties, Juan Gabriel still has what it takes to energize a stadium full of people. The Mexican pop singer is a vibrant performer with a personality as massive as his gorgeous, rich voice. He’s sure to brighten up the entirety of Madison Square Garden during the NYC stop of his Volver tour.

As the tour’s name indicates, Gabriel is making his grand return and doing so in full force and with countless excellent tracks to choose from — after all, the prolific artist did release an album nearly every year for three consecutive decades. Though he hasn’t released anything new since 2012, there’s never a bad opportunity to sing along to “Querida,” and that alone is more than enough reason to experience a Juan Gabriel show.” (Brittany Spanos, Village Voice)
Madison Square Garden
7:00 p.m., $65.50-$195.50

Johnny O’Neal – Sundays (ongoing)
“There are two outstanding veteran pianists making welcome appearances in the city on Sunday: At Smalls, Jazz Messenger Johnny O’Neal is, by turns, a two-fisted bebopper, a scruffy balladeer and an adorably comic blues-shouter, who is celebrating the release of “Live at Smalls,” his first album in 10 years.

At Iridium, Herdsman Alan Broadbent, more frequently heard as one of the best vocal accompanists extant (just ask Sir Paul), will show off his remarkable touch, delicate yet virile, and overflowing with harmonic acuity.” (WSJ)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village,
From 10 to 11:30 p.m. / $20 cover
smallsjazzclub.com

Chocolate Fest: A Walk-Around Tasting
“Chocoholics will find salvation at this cacao-dusted bash. Expect chocolate-and-cheese combos from Chocolat Moderne and Murray’s Cheese, petite ice cream sandwiches from Penny Lick Ice Cream, and Lambrusco-and-chocolate pairings from Gotham Wines & Liquors and Guittard. More than a dozen vendors will attend, including Hakan Martensson from FIKA Choklad (winner of the 2013 International Chocolate Awards), who will be sampling his signature caramelized quinoa-gianduia bars.” (TONY)
92Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd St
7:30pm / $35
212-415-5500 /92y.org
Not WestSide, but it is chocolate; sounds worth the trip

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
For three decades on the concert stage, the members of the Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet have continually set the standard for expression and virtuosity among guitar ensembles, while perennially redefining themselves in their musical explorations. Popularly known as the LAGQ, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, is recognized as one of America’s premier instrumental ensembles. As one of the most charismatic groups performing today, their critically acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground.
The Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.
2PM / 212-997-1003, the-townhall-nyc.org

Tom Harrell’s Trip (through April 6)
“Mr. Harrell, a trumpeter, favors a precise but shadowy sort of postbop, sonorous and warm and alert. He leads Tom Harrell’s Trip, a new venture with the saxophonist Mark Turner, the bassist Ugonna Okegwo and the drummer Adam Cruz.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. / $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com

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

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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China’ (last day)
‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (ends April 13)
‘Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris’ (through May 4)
William Kentridge: ‘The Refusal of Time’ (through May 11)
The Flowering of Edo Period Painting: Japanese Masterworks from the Feinberg Collection’(through Sept. 7)
‘Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C.F. Martin’ (through Dec. 7)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org
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‘Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes From the Hill Collection’ (through June 15)
“This sensational, beautifully presented show of 33 late-15th- to early-18th-century bronzes reflects a taste for historically important, big-statement examples in exceptional condition. They vividly reflect the Renaissance’s new interest in antiquity and the human form while encouraging concentration on emotional expression, refined details (great hair!), struggling or relaxed figures and varied patinas. Works by the reigning geniuses Giambologna, Susini and the lesser-known Piamontini dominate, further enlivened by a handful of old master and late-20th-century paintings from the Hill collection.”
(Roberta Smith-NYT)
Frick Collection: 1 East 70th St.
212-288-0700, frick.org.
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‘Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video’ (through May 14)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

========================================================== Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Ten museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:

• 110th Street – Museum for African Art

• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio

• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York

• 92nd Street – The Jewish Museum

• 91st Street –  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

• 89th Street – National Academy Museum

• 88th Street – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

• 86th Street – Neue Galerie New York

• 83rd Street – Goethe-Institut

Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
• 82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Additionally, though technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 70th St. and the The Morgan Library & Museum on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave. Now plan your own museum crawl. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 04/04 and 04/02.