A nod to his internationally minded 2021 EP Shabani’s Smooth Sounds of the Summer, including the cinematic sheen of “Life’s Not Fair,” David Shabani works midway through a roving concert run integrating locally sourced hip-hop, R&B, and soul. The weekly series, Shabani’s Smooth Sounds of the Southwest, debuts his band the Nu Leopards – promising an hour-and-a-half of upbeat originals toying with samples from Alicia Keys to the Isley Brothers. On Rainey, the maestro invites Clarence James’ evolving universe at the wonky edges of jazz-influenced indie rock, including lava-lamp-y March single “I’m Melting.”
Sat., April 23, 6pm