A few area entertainment recommendations from The Republic’s Brian Blair.
* Jazz trumpeter Jeff Conrad was shaving any rough edges off his polished, professional musical prowess almost before he was shaving, period. At 19, he toured with pianist Ray Charles, plus several other household names afterward. The 68-year-old music veteran brings his IndyDixie Jazz Band to the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s continuing Jazz at Helen’s series at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Helen Haddad Hall, 315 Franklin St. in downtown Columbus. A cash bar offers beer, wine and spirits for the 21+ crowd. Tickets: thecip.org.
* Sax player Emilio Castillo, a co-founder of the soul ensemble Tower of Power, mentioned in a recent Republic interview that he believes the band has had an unmistakably distinct funk-plus sound for most of its 56-year history and experienced playing with artists ranging from Elton John to Bonnie Raitt. Plus, members toured for years as a backing segment of Huey Lewis and the News. The group will be in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at Brown County Music Center, 200 Maple Leaf Drive, Nashville. Information and tickets: browncountymusiccenter.com.
* Terri Clark’s bio info says that she got her start by playing for tips at Nashville’s legendary honky-tonk bar, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Those days are long gone with hits such as “Better Things To Do,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Girls Lie Too,” “Northern Girl,” and “I Just Wanna Be Mad.” She’ll perform at 8 p.m. Friday at Brown County Music Center, 200 Maple Leaf Drive in our more intimate Nashville.
