By Daniel Jumpertz
Special to DNAinfo
Wednesday March 14
Willie Nile loves the downtown history of New York City and weaves the characters he's met in his rock 'n' roll life into epic though sensitively performed songs. Nile has been active on the city scene since before his 1980 self-titled debut was released. His latest album is "The Innocent Ones." Joe's Pub is the place to hear this local legend weave his magic.
Thursday March 15
Squarepusher's reputation as an in-your-face, high volume, industrial electronica producer and provocateur has been tempered by his recent releases which have veered into more jazzy and ambient directions. The UK producer, a.k.a. Tom Jenkinson, is set to launch a futuristically themed new album, "Ufabulum," in May, and will be playing some cuts from it Thursday at Webster Hall.
Friday March 16
As part of Carnegie Hall's American Mavericks Festival, Why? and Danielson play Le Poisson Rouge. Danielson, the creative outlet for Daniel Christopher Smith, is known for an idiosyncratic sound filled with undulating, chromatic chord progressions. Why? comprises three Midwestern friends who, motivated by the unanswerable question, experiment with common instruments to create uncommonly insightful music that fuses uplifting indie pop and poetic hip hop narratives.
Saturday March 17
Ireland’s official Music Ambassadors and six time Grammy-winning ensemble The Chieftains make their triumphant return to Carnegie Hall on St. Patrick’s Day as the climax of their 50th Anniversary Tour, supporting their new album "Voice of Ages." Featuring Low Anthem (who are guests on the new Chieftain's album, too) and Paddy Moloney.
Sunday March 18
Forestorn “Chico” Hamilton was born in Los Angeles in 1921 and was raised locally, as the Central Avenue jazz scene was beginning to coalesce. In the 1940s he performed with Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He was one of the original members of the Gerry Mulligan quartet of the early 1950s and also toured with Lena Horne. In 1958, he brought Eric Dolphy to wider prominence. Over the years, Hamilton has performed with legendary artists such as Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole and is probably the world's only 90-year-old drummer still playing regular gigs. As evidenced on his latest recording "Revelation (Joyous Shout!)," Hamilton is still creating vivid, positive, uplifting, and relevant music. At Drom.
Monday March 19
For more than 40 years, the voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo have married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music, coming to widespread attention with their glorious singing on Paul Simon's 1986 "Graceland" album. At the tail-end of a two month tour, the band should be sounding sweet indeed. At B.B King Blues Club and Grill.
Tuesday March 20
Pioneering US computer music composer Carl Stone plays at Experimental Intermedia (224 Centre St, NY) as part of curator Phill Niblock's annual Festival With No Fancy Name.
For more Gigs of the Week, follow @bandupdate on Twitter.
