Avant-garde jazz composer and trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire conveys as much lyricism in his kinetic solos as in the titles of his songs and albums. Akinmusire––whose credits include a track on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly––has worked with a stylistically diverse set of vocalists in his decade-plus career. 2020’s on the tender spot of every calloused moment, though, philosophizes and evokes themes of mysticism, power, struggle and community around and behind the album’s spare guest vocals. Born and raised in Oakland, Akinmusire plays close to home this weekend after a string of European dates last fall.
Sat, 6pm, $64
Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
