From a spoken-word festival to a performance by political pranksters Capitol Steps, and a Johnny Mercer Centennial Celebration to a concert in which bluegrass and African musicians explore the banjo's roots, it's all part of the Rialto Center for the Arts' eclectic 2009-10 series.
There's a strong international flavor to the schedule announced this week as well, bringing artists from India, Israel, Mexico and Spain to the Georgia State University-run performance space downtown starting this fall. Here's the lineup at a glance:
• Oct. 2-3: Can't, Don't, Won't Stop Hip Theater Festival: Taking Spoken Word to Another Level, hip-hop-inspired artistry featuring Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Spoken Word Theater Ensemble Universes.
• Oct. 10: Paco Peña, flamenco guitar with dance.
• Oct. 31: Los Cenzontles, Mexican-American roots music.
• Nov. 7: Idan Raichel Project, Israeli musicians presenting a blend of traditional Ethiopian folk music, Arabic poetry, Yemenite chants, biblical psalms and Caribbean rhythms.
• Nov. 14: Johnny Mercer Centennial Celebration, trumpeter Joe Gransden and vocalist Lizz Wright with the GSU Jazz Band paying tribute on the great Georgia songwriter's 100th birthday.
• Dec. 5-6: Gala Holiday Concert, featuring 200-plus student and faculty musicians from the GSU School of Music.
• Jan. 16: Jazz bassist Christian McBride and Inside Straight.
• Jan. 23: Capitol Steps, political satire and song.
• Feb. 13: "Lady Day," a Billie Holiday tribute by jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater.
• Feb. 20: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, modern dance inspired by the paintings of Harlem Renaissance artist Jacob Lawrence.
• March 6: Béla Fleck: The Africa Project, the bluegrass banjo player collaborates with African musicians Bassekou Kouyate and his band Ngoni Ba, Anania Ngoliga and John Kitime.
• March 20: Zakir Hussain & Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Indian musicians.
• April 10: Trey McIntyre Project, contemporary ballet.
• April 16: Tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi with the GSU Jazz Band.
• April 22-25: Bizet's "Carmen," featuring the GSU Opera Theatre and Symphony Orchestra.
• May 1: Eddie Palmieri, Latin jazz pianist.
Subscriptions are on sale; single tickets will become available Sept. 2. Subscribers buying tickets to four or more shows receive a 15 percent discount; six or more, 20 percent discount. 404-413-9849, www.rialtocenter.org.
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