Co-founder of The Velvet Underground, John Cale is legendary for his avant-garde pop-music aesthetic. Cale performs his seminal 1973 album Paris 1919 in its entirety with his band and a backing orchestra. Orginally recorded with the UCLA Orchestra and dubbed "a masterpiece" by Rolling Stone, the magazine calls the records "one of the most ambitious albums ever released under the name of pop." With evocative melodies, sweeping orchestration and poetic lyricism, Paris 1919 effortlessly blends rock, soul and classical music. The second set will feature Cale's more modern side — whether that's debuting new material or deconstructing a classic, it's sure to be an unforgettable evening

In one astounding evening, two artists embody the global spirit of the blues in a magnificent co-bill of Taj Mahal and Vieux Farka Touré. Opening the night is Touré, son of legendary Malian musician Ali Farka Touré and himself a famed blues guitarist who, with his band, extends traditional Western Saharan rhythms into hypnotic, stinging grooves. Taj Mahal, perhaps the 20th century’s most influential figure in blues and roots music, closes the night with Kester Smith on drums and Bill Rich on bass. Expect a thrilling on-stage collaboration with Taj and Vieux as two generations and two distinct global traditions of the blues collide.

Free jazz pioneer, Pulitzer Prize winner and peerless saxophonist Ornette Coleman has played a major role in the evolution of American music for more than five decades. At the 2009 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Coleman became the 16th person to receive the prestigious Miles Davis Award, instituted to honor an international jazz musician for his or her complete body of work and influence. Coleman was instrumental in breaking down jazz conventions in the 1960s, becoming the father of free jazz and returning the medium to its daring, revolutionary roots. Joining him on stage are his son Denardo Coleman on drums, Tony Falanga on bass and other special guests.

Two artists hailing from different sides of the Atlantic but both bound by the spirit of social justice and activism come together for a special celebration of music. Mavis Staples blazes a rhythm & blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots. The Lifetime Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was honored as one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of all time. Billy Bragg’s inspiration stems from the socially conscious folk tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. He’s spent more than two decades making an indelible mark on the conscience of music with celebrated solo records and two Grammy-nominated albums with Wilco—Mermaid Avenue (1998) and Mermaid Avenue, Volume II (2000).

A tribute to music’s most distinctive bassist, Danny Thompson, Cabaret of Souls is part theater, part bass concerto. Singer-songwriter Richard Thompson’s comedic piece is set in a talent show in Hell. “If chaucer was a bass player, and he wrote the prologue to The Canterbury Tales, but then failed to write The Canterbury Tales themselves, it might be something like this,” says Thompson. Richard Thompson on guitar, Danny Thompson on double bass and Pete Zorn on sax with special guests Harry Shearer, Judith Owen and a string trio make up this very special band.

host of all-star musicians pay tribute to jazz legend Alice Coltrane at UCLA, the site of her historic 1976 recording Transfiguration. Led by Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio, Rain Machine) and co-curated by famed record producer Ian Brennan, the night will feature inspirational and improvisatory music with legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco), acclaimed Dutch free-improvisation drummer Han Bennink, free-jazz saxophone great Daniel Carter and more. Lineup subject to change.

Two pillars of American music from two distinct lineages come together for an unforgettable evening to celebrate the glory of tradition and the power of newfound collaboration. Starting as a sideman for the legendary “father of bluegrass” Bill Monroe nearly 50 years ago, McCoury has broadened the audience for the genre. During that same period, the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band has defined the tradition of New Orleans jazz. Now, they have converged to record and perform an unforgettable mix of bluegrass and traditional jazz. Each band will play individual sets, followed by a soul-stirring joint finale.

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