ARTS PICKS | May 10-12 | Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.

Friday

Benny Green

Friday Musicale | Riverside

Like the trumpeter Terence Blanchard (who closed out the Jax Symphony’s Jazz Series last weekend), inimitable pianist Benny Green saw action as a member of Art Blakey’s revered ensemble The Jazz Messengers. And like Blanchard, Green’s Jacksonville performance is not to be missed. Green plays solo at Friday Musicale. 7 p.m. Tickets and more information. General admission: $25.

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Friday & Saturday

Trouble In Mind

Player’s By the Sea | Jacksonville Beach

Beaches community theatre company Players By the Sea begins its eight-show run of playwright Alice Childress’ hard-hitting 1955 play about racism and sexism in the American theatre, Trouble In Mind. The dramedy, which made its Broadway debut in 2021 and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick, follows a Black actress set to make her star turn in an anti-lynching play, the script of which, written by a white playwright, turns out to be less than enlightened. Friday and Saturday performances: 8 p.m. Tickets and more info. Tickets: $35 including fees.

Saturday

Spring Pop Up

CoRK Arts District & Yellow House | Riverside

Not to be confused with CoRK’s once-a-year Open Studios event, the Spring Pop Up is a one-day market, offering up reasonably priced original work and prints from many of the more than 70 artists who take up residence in Riverside’s CoRK Arts District. CoRK’s neighbor, the gallery and community space Yellow House, is also participating. With free admission, consider putting that money toward the purchase of some local art. Noon-6 p.m.

Sunday

Emilio Solla & Tributango

St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church | Jacksonville Beach

The second of two renowned pianists visiting the River City this weekend, Grammy-winning artist Emilio Solla closes out this season’s Beaches Fine Arts Series on Sunday. The Argentine-born and New York-based pianist and composer was a seminal figure in the early ‘80s Buenos Aires music scene. On Sunday, he performs with Tributango, an ensemble of decorated and heavy-hitting tango artists. Show starts at 4 p.m. Admission: free. More information.