Nobel Prize-winning Rock Poet Bob Dylan at Heinz Hall; Balcony Big Band at Jergel’s (Mon., 11/6/17)

1) What do Kazuo Ishiguro and Frank Sinatra have in common? Ishiguro, the novelist who won this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature, has said that his idol and creative inspiration is last year’s winner, Bob Dylan. And Dylan has devoted two recent albums plus part of his March 2017 release Triplicate to re-interpreting old ballads once sung by Sinatra. Thus Dylan provides a cultural bridge that connects the world’s most renowned British author of Japanese descent with America’s favorite pre-rock-and-roll crooner and hair-transplant pioneer. This is a feat not accomplished by any other Nobel laureate—even in Physics—and Dylan is only 76! What next? One can find out by attending his concert at Heinz Hall, which will require some luck and/or cash, as tickets are officially sold out. The concert comes soon after the November 3 release of Dylan’s Trouble No More. Subtitled The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-81, it features live performances from his Christian-gospel period of songs like “Precious Angel,” “When You Gonna Wake Up,” and “Gotta Serve Somebody.” Will he reprise a few of those spiritual classics at Heinz Hall? Good question—and of course with a Dylan concert, the question is not just which tunes he’ll do, but how he’s going to do them. Dylan’s band and special guest Mavis Staples contribute. 7:30 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

2) The Balcony Big Band is hitting only high notes in a Monday night performance at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. The 18 member group makes a big, beautiful sound. Get in some Monday relaxation with good music. 7 p.m. No cover. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale.

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