Jeffrey Osborne ‘Wings’ On In to August Wilson; Social Justice Disco at JCC (Thurs., 12/14/17)

1) When you hear the term “singer-songwriter,” you tend to think of somebody doing folk-type tunes with a guitar—but think again, because here comes Jeffrey Osborne. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has booked Osborne into town for a show called “Soul Sessions.” Doesn’t matter whether you call it soul or funk or R&B; Osborne has done it for a long time at a high level. Born into a musical family, he is one of 12 children of the late jazz trumpeter Clarence “Legs” Osborne. Young Jeffrey broke into the big time during the 1970s, starting as the drummer and co-lead vocalist (with his brother Billy) for the band L.T.D., then becoming the main front man. Osborne went solo in 1980 and has had quite a career since then: 12 albums (including five that made top-10 on the U.S. R&B charts), hit singles like the 1988 “She’s on the Left,” TV and movie work, and writing for and/or recording with female vocalists such as Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick. Osborne performs here at the August Wilson Center. 8 p.m. 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

2) Social Justice Disco is a collaboration between area musicians Phat Man Dee and Liz Berlin. The former is a jazz singer; the latter is a founding member of Rusted Root. They call their music “songs to fight fascists by.” These songs include originals and covers, such as “Have You Been To Jail for Justice?” (That song was written by local musician and activist Anne Feeney and was popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary.) Their album is expected to be out winter 2018. You can catch the duo’s first live performance at Shine the Light with Social Justice Disco at the Jewish Community Center. Other performers include Johnny Creed Coe, SunBear Coe, Pastor Deryck Tines & the Lemington Gospel Chorale, Miguel Sague Jr., and Ezra Smith and Christina Springer. The American Jewish Museum’s Out of Many: Stories of Migration—photographs which examine immigrants’ and migrants’ roles in shaping the United States—will also be displayed. 7 p.m. 5738 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. (CM)

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