Anniversary Singer

FRI 5/23

Luqman Hamza, heralded by many as the classiest singer-pianist in town, performs from 8:30 to 12:30 tonight at the Blue Room at 18th and Vine. His quartet, which makes regular appearances at both the Club at Plaza III and the Blue Room, brings an element of smoothness to the venue as the preeminent balladeer of Kansas City. Endless Nat King Cole comparisons aside, the artist was born in Kansas City in 1932 and began recording music at the age of nineteen (back when he was Larry Cummings, before joining the Nation of Islam). He played with the likes of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, and his "When You Surrender" was a national hit. Although Hamza never returned to such levels of fame, his following is widespread and devoted -- the American Jazz Museum's Gerald Dunn says a group of sixty devotees from St. Louis may be traveling by bus to catch Friday's performance. They know what an opportunity it is to behold a performer with half a century of practice under his belt. At a recent Hamza performance, one audience member announced that he and his wife had come to celebrate their wedding anniversary with a Luqman Hamza show -- just as his parents had done decades before. Tickets cost $5. For information, call the American Jazz Museum at 816-474-8463.-- Sarah Smarsh

Dancers Unite
Don't just rock Kansas -- dance Kansas.

FRI 5/23

For a crash course in understanding dance -- the shy, mysterious cousin in the performing-arts family -- head to the closing reception for Dancing Across the Line: A Modern Dance Series from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. This reception is a chance to celebrate with dancers and choreographers from three local companies: Aha! Dance Theatre, City in Motion Dance Theater and Reach ... A Movement Collective.

Since March, dancers from these companies -- all based in Kansas City, Missouri -- have been performing at Johnson County Community College (12345 College Boulevard in Overland Park) in order to bring cutting-edge dance to Kansas. Remember when those city goons wanted to change the name of State Line Road to State Link Road? It's a similar concept, only better. For information, call 816-523-6732.-- Gina Kaufmann