On Breaking Out
Michael Fitzpatrick, the lead singer of Fitz and the Tantrums, takes the Masonic Auditorium stage Nov. 6 in support of the band's second album, More Than Just a Dream.
St. Vincent
Sept. 30, House of Blues, houseofblues.com/Cleveland
Twisting pop melodies, grungy layering and crystalline vocals are St. Vincent's bread and butter. Now touring to support her eponymous fifth album, she offers a carefully choreographed amalgam of dark lyrics and steely, synthesized instrumentalism on songs such as "Prince Johnny." The album art — a coiffed queen astride her pastel throne — couldn't be more appropriate.
LeAnn Rimes
Oct. 2, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com
With all the tabloid drama and a cringeworthy VH1 reality show, it's easy to forget that LeAnn Rimes is a two-time Grammy Award winner. She will refresh your memory with her sweet-tea voice and soul-baring lyrics on tracks such as "What Have I Done" from her 2013 album Spitfire.
On Embracing the Holidays
Artistic director Sean Jones leads and performs with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra in A Not So Silent Night Goes (Pea)Nuts at the Hanna Theatre Dec. 13.
Imagine walking into Macy's, walking down the street or sitting down with your family for a holiday meal in December with no music. Just imagine that for a minute. That's pretty bleak, right? The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but it's also a time where people feel the most pain. A lot of people forget that holidays are really hard for people. I remember growing up my family would invite people that didn't have loved ones or were new to the city. My household was always open to everybody. Music creates a nice landscape sonically for a celebration, but it also helps to heal. — as told to Dillon Stewart
John Pizzarelli
Oct. 9, Music Box Supper Club, musicboxcle.com
Jazz is in John Pizzarelli's blood. The son of noted jazz musician Bucky Pizzarelli began playing guitar when he was 6. He performs covers of the Beatles and Duke Ellington and is joined by Clevelander Luca Mundaca, a Brazilian immigrant who croons lyrics over smooth Bossa Nova accompaniment.
Idyl, for Orchestra
Oct. 9, 10 and12, Severance Hall, clevelandorchestra.com
Like a tailored suit, famed composer Matthias Pintscher's newest piece, idyl, for orchestra, perfectly fits the Cleveland Orchestra. That's because the former Cleveland Orchestra composer in residence knows the musicians well and writes to their strengths. The orchestra performs the piece in a world premiere along with works by Frederic Chopin and Richard Strauss.
CIM Opera Theater: Alcina
Nov. 5-8, Cleveland Institute of Music, cim.edu
Alcina has a bad habit of turning men into pets. But the witch's diabolical powers get challenged when the girlfriend of a captive young man attempts to free her true love. Handel's ravishing score and special effects make for a spellbinding production of this heroic opera.
