Flamenco jazz
San Diego's Cerro Negro comes to Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave., Downtown for a powerful evening of flamenco rhythms Saturday night.
The trio members call their type of music global flamenco fusion, a mix of fiery guitars and percussion instruments like the clave, cajón and djembe.
Over the years, the group has shared bills with Poncho Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri, Jesse Cook and a number of other established players.
Their Tucson show begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $20 in advance through Antigone Books, Enchanted Earthworks, Plaza Liquors and 17th Street Guitars and World Music. They are $23 at the door. 440-4455.
Classical music
Maestro László Veres will lead his volunteer Arizona Symphonic Winds in its 22nd annual Veterans Day Concert Sunday at Catalina Foothills High School.
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The concert will feel like an old-fashioned John Philip Sousa affair — Veres even promises to dress like the long-gone legendary band leader — with a program steeped in marches and overtures: "Armed Forces Medley," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "The Unknown Soldier" and John Williams' "Fanfare and Olympic Theme" are among the works to be played. Expect to hear popular Sousa marches — perhaps "Manhattan Beach," "El Capitan," "High School Cadets" or "Black Horse Troop"? — as an encore.
Sunday's concert begins at 2 p.m. in the school's auditorium, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Admission is free. Details: 721-2068.
Opera
The mass suicide at People's Temple of Jonestown in Guyana 30 years ago might seem odd fodder for an opera.
But Tucson composer Daniel Buckley doesn't think so. Buckley draws on the audio recordings of the events of Nov. 18, 1978, when the Rev. Jim Jones led 900-plus followers to their deaths by poisoned Kool-Aid. Buckley believes the horrific real-life story is the genesis of truly inspired opera.
And Buckley might know a thing or two about opera and the drama that unfolded at Jonestown. The former classical-music critic for the Tucson Citizen has been composing music for theater, dance, art gallery installations and concerts in Tucson for decades. He has been working with the subject of Jonestown in a variety of musical settings since 1980. He has teamed up with set designer Alfred Quiroz for the opera, which the University of Arizona School of Music will stage in November 2010.
Buckley will discuss his opera and his fascination with Jonestown at a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dinnerware Artspace, 264 E. Congress St. Admission is $3, and a wine bar will be available; no Kool-Aid, he joked in a written release. For details, call Buckley at 260-4176.
