Center launches with new artist initiatives, collaborations, theater offerings; inaugural Artist Fellows Laurie Anderson, Robert Wilson; Trisha Brown dance retrospective

Featuring West Coast Premieres of New Work from Regina Van Berkel, Alexander Ekman and Crystal Pite

New York’s Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet returns to UCLA Live with two evenings of innovative modern dance, featuring new work from some of today’s most exciting choreographers. Friday April 27 features the west coast premieres of Regina Van Berkel’s Simply Marvel and Crystal Pite’s Grace Engine, plus the first dance Alexander Ekman created for Cedar Lake, Hubbub.

The Saturday April 28 program includes the west coast premiere of Alexander Ekman’s new piece for Cedar Lake, titled Tuplet. The company also performs Regina Van Berkel’s Simply Marvel, as well as Hofesh Shechter’s second original work for Cedar Lake, Violet Kid.

UCLA Live presents a rousing co-bill from two extraordinary performers in roots music with soul singer extraordinaire Bettye LaVette and New Orleans “piano professor” Jon Cleary and his Philthy Phew trio.

Champion of the Afrobeat movement, Seun Kuti performs with the extraordinary combo first fronted by his father, Egypt 80, touring in support of his recent album From Africa With Fury: Rise. Alongside fourteen talented musicians, Seun enchants audiences worldwide with incendiary live performances.

Grammy award-winning chamber ensemble Pacifica Quartet, known for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often daring repertory choices, showcases its mastery of Beethoven and Shostakovich, performing Beethoven’s Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4 and Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2, along with Shostakovich’s stirring Quartet No. 9.

Mexo-Americana Folk Duo David Wax Museum Opens

UCLA Live presents a lively evening from two groups blazing a new trail in roots music—with the vintage sounds of the African-American string tradition of the old South from Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops and David Wax Museum’s unique blend of Mexo-Americana folk—all balanced effortlessly into a contemporary ethos.

The luminous Ute Lemper, backed by the Vogler Quartet and Stefan Malzew brings a new stage show to UCLA Live’s Royce Hall as part of a North American tour coinciding with the March 20 album release of Paris Days, Berlin Nights from Steinway & Sons

UCLA Live presents a special Moth Mainstage with Rush: Stories of Ticking Clocks, an evening centered around tales of chasing the ephemeral and battling the ravages of time. The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Through its ongoing programs - The Moth Mainstage, The Moth StorySLAMs, MothSHOP Community Education Program and MothSHOP Corporate - The Moth has presented more than 3,000 stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Featuring host Rudy Rush with storytellers Jenny Allen, Kodi Azari, Annie Duke, Brian Finkelstein and Jerry Stahl

UCLA Live is home to the second stop on Max Raabe and Palast Orchester’s new tour following the Feb. 21 U.S. release of the group’s most successful European album, One Cannot Kiss Alone. Raabe wrote all the songs in collaboration with Annette Humpe, one of Germany´s top producers. The performance will feature songs from the album as well as the Weimar-era classics and high style of ‘20s and ‘30s this for which the urbane group is beloved. Blended throughout is Raabe’s effortless narrative banter and playfully imperious charm that woos audiences worldwide.

Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music that he communicates.

Complete Program: SCHUBERT Rondo Brilliant; BRAHMS Sonata No. 2; BRAHMS Hungarian Dances (Nos. 9, 2 and 1); PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 2 in D. Major for Violin and Piano Op. 94.

Trumpeter and activist Hugh Masekela and his high-energy band make one of just 11 stops on their Jabulani Tour at Royce Hall. February 2012 brings the release of Hugh’s Jabulani on the Listen 2 Africa Series Record Label. From the Zulu word meaning “rejoice,” Jabulani recalls several generations of music from wedding ceremonies in South Africa.

They Might Be Giants celebrate 30 years as a band and the release of the group’s 15th album Join Us in a soon-to-be-sold-out evening performance, with an opening set from folk –pop singer Jonathan Coulton. The afternoon performance plays off the duo’s success in the kids’ music genre and will feature family-friendly tunes from TMBG’s four award-winning kids’ albums.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, with support from Los Angeles native and rising guitar star Blake Mills in a very special evening highlighting Lucinda Williams’ forthright style and authentic warmth that transcend the genres she works so handily with, from folk to blues and country-rock. Blake Mills will perform a 30-minute opening set, followed by a solo set from Lucinda. Then, Blake will join Lucinda for a duo performance. Lucinda will close the night with her full band, featuring Blake on guitar.

Soprano Kathleen Battle, accompanied by acclaimed jazz-gospel pianist Cyrus Chestnut and the internationally renowned Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers of Los Angeles. One of opera music’s most revered stars, Battle pays homage to the powerful and reverential music that gave voice to hopes of African-American slaves during the Civil War. The program will feature inspirational readings, solo performances from Ms. Battle, solo piano and full-choir arrangements of powerful music from the era including “Go Down, Moses,” “Wade in the Water,” “Couldn’ Hear Nobody Pray,” “Give Me Jesus,” “Over My Head,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and more.

Acclaimed bassist replaces Geri Allen & The Timeline Band <>BR>
Bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride and his trio will join the Ravi Coltrane Quartet in UCLA Live’s first jazz event of 2012 Saturday Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. in Royce Hall.

The Christian McBride Trio replaces Geri Allen & The Timeline band after unforeseen scheduling complications required the pianist and her group to cancel their previously scheduled appearance. Ticket holders may request a refund at point of purchase. More details at www.uclalive.org.

Selected works of Messiaen, Elgar, Price, Boulanger, Weaver, Demessieux

Featuring the Los Angeles debut of countertenor Philippe Jaroussky *** “...a young singer with the tone of an angel and the virtuosity of the devil.” — Journal La Terrasse (France)***

UCLA Live presents an intimate evening with one of the finest world music artists performing today with pipa virtuoso Wu Man in Return to East—Ancient Dances Saturday November 19 at 8 p.m. in Royce Hall.

Rebecca Skloot, author of New York Times bestseller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, visits UCLA Live Tuesday November 1 to discuss her meticulously researched nonfiction masterpiece, which tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race and medicine.

Kenny Burrell: 80 Years Young features B.B. King, Lalo Schifrin,Dee Dee Bridgewater, world premiere compositions and more

UCLA Live brings together two of the most exciting and innovative instrumentalists in modern music, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and cellist Maya Beiser, performing at UCLA Live’s Royce Hall Friday November, 11 at 8 p.m. In a co-headlining event which pairs the two exciting performers for the first time, Glennie and Beiser will perform separate sets that highlight each artist’s unique aesthetic. They will close the evening together on stage for the world premiere of “Stuttered Chant” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, written specifically for Glennie and Beiser.

One of the most revered artists in the history of bluegrass, Earl Scruggs performs at UCLA Live’s Royce Hall Saturday, November 5 at 8 p.m.

One of the most prolific and influential trios in the history of jazz, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette make one of a handful of stops on a North American tour at UCLA Live’s Royce Hall Wednesday Oct. 26.

UCLA Live presents the U.S. premiere of the anticipated first full-length work from one of the most exciting artists in modern dance with Hofesh Shechter’s Political Mother, on the Royce Hall stage Wednesday Oct. 19 and Thursday Oct. 20.

Jazz legend and saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins performs Thursday, September 22 at Royce Hall in one of only three West Coast stops on his current world tour, launching UCLA Live's 2011-12 season with one of the most accomplished composers and performers in jazz history.