It took the British-based Belcea Quartet 14 years before it made its maiden American voyage.
And when it did that in 2008, it was applauded along the way for seemingly effortless yet intense performances of the biggest composers in the quartet literature — Haydn, Schubert, Bartók, Mozart, Brahms, Britten. The kudos confirmed what has been said and written about the quartet since it formed in 1994: This is a group headed for superstardom.
The Belcea — founding member and violinist Corina Belcea-Fisher, violinist Laura Samuel, violist Krzysztof Chorzelski and cellist Antoine Lederlin — is at the end of its second North American tour. It started the 10-city trek in Baltimore Oct. 18, stopped in Quebec the next night and spent several days earlier this week in Oregon. It plays a concert with Arizona Friends of Chamber Music Tuesday at Tucson's Leo Rich Theatre.
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It's the third concert in the Friends' 62nd season, and a coup that the group was able to snag the Belcea in the company of such presenters as Oregon State University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
The quartet will perform Haydn's String Quartet in C major, Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 14 in F-sharp major, Schubert's String Quartet in C minor ("Quartettsatz") and Britten's String Quartet No. 3.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Leo Rich, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $25, $10 for students. Details: 577-3769, or online at www.arizona chambermusic.org
'Night of a Thousand Grooves' at Starr Pass
A smooth-jazz triple threat is gearing up for a "Night of a Thousand Grooves" at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa on Saturday.
Keyboardist Gregg Karukas, sax player Eric Darius and guitarist Jay Soto will perform.
This is Darius' first trip to Tucson. In 2008, he released his fourth smooth-jazz album, "Goin' All Out," on Blue Note Records.
The grooves begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show through azentertainmentand events.com
Cowboy Jack Clement at Old Town Artisans
Cowboy Jack Clement has a reputation as a producer that is nearly unparalleled in Nashville.
Clement started his career at Sun Records, where he worked with artists such as Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
He discovered Charley Pride and worked with U2 and will appear in Tucson for a 7:30 p.m. show at Old Town Artisans tonight.
Clement will play with the roots group Marley's Ghost. He produced the band's upcoming album, "Ghost Town."
Tickets are $18 in advance through Antigone Books, Enchanted Earthworks and Plaza Liquors and $20 at the door. Old Town Artisans is at 201 N. Court Ave., downtown. Call 319-9966 for more information.
Joan Osborne to sing with Holmes Brothers
Joan Osborne will break out those powerful pipes when she performs with the Holmes Brothers at Centennial Hall Saturday.
Osborne has long been associated with the Holmes family. She was a regular attendee of the group's Greenwich Village jam sessions in New York City and has recorded with them on past projects.
She will accompany the band on some of its hits and vice versa. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26-$49 through the Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341.
Hear Indonesian classical music
Finestream Gamelan, Tucson's Indonesian classical music ensemble, will perform Saturday at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third St.
Led by local multi-instrumentalist Matt Finstrom, the ensemble will play a mix of gamelan works from Bali and Java, as well as some original material.
The performance is part of an Indonesian art sale being held at the church.
The event runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. Call 682-7126 for more information.
Also in music this week …
• Classical guitarist Michael Lich will perform a solo recital at Steinway Piano Gallery, 3001 E. Skyline Road, at 7:30 p.m. today. Concert highlight will surely be the premiere of David Isaac's "Sonata for Guitar." $15. 325-9797.
• Trumpeter Byron Stripling, and other jazz greats will perform at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador, 10000 N. Oracle Road, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25-$50. $75 gets a three-course dinner at 5 p.m. 797-3959.
• Arizona Choir and Symphonic Choir performs works from the the 18th to the 21st century in a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Christ Church United Methodist Church, 655 N. Craycroft Road. 621-2998.
• Tucson Flute Club will hold its Fall Ensemble Recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Atria Bell Court Gardens, 6653 E. Carondelet Drive. Free. 465-8607
• Vocalist Jonathan Ng and pianist Raymond Ryder will put on a recital of traditional hymns, contemporary religious songs, spirituals and piano repertoire from various periods at 3 p.m. Sunday at Casas Adobes Congregational Church, 6801 N. Oracle Road. $8 suggested donation. 297-1181.
• Euphonium player Jason Ham will perform a recital of classical works at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pima Community College Center for the Arts Recital Hall, 2202 W. Anklam Road. $6. 206-6986.
• Saxophonist Rhonda Taylor, a music professor at New Mexico State University and a University of Arizona alum, joins baritone saxophonist David Wegehaupt for a recital of works by Gérard Grisey. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Crowder Hall. Free. 621-2998.
Elsewhere in today's The Arts
• Composer Stephen Paulus talks about "Dylan Thomas Songs" and the poet (Page C8).
• The Met mounts "Aida" in HD simulcast series (Aisle Seats, Page C8).
• Musica Sonora turns pro (Page C3).
• Civic Orchestra of Tucson bridges Classical-Romantic eras (Aisle Seats, Page C8).
• Red Barn abbreviates the "The Magic Flute" (Young at Art, Page C8).
