Alejandro Escovedo pays tribute to some of his musical influences at City Winery this week (photo by Todd V. Wolfson)
City Winery
155 Varick St. at Vandam St.
January 21-23, $35-$50, 8:00
212-608-0555
www.citywinery.com
www.alejandroescovedo.com
Texas-based Mexican American guitar slinger Alejandro Escovedo will let his influences show this week at three special shows at City Winery. On January 21, Escovedo will be joined by guitarist Jason Victor, bassist Tony Shanahan, guitarist and keyboardist Derek Cruz, cellist Brian Standefer, drummer Randy Schrager, and singer Karla Manzur for “The Lou Reed Influence,” consisting of songs from Reed’s solo career as well as with the Velvet Underground. “It’s the best catalog to work with; it covers every thought and every emotion,” Escovedo explained in a statement. On January 22, Escovedo turns his attention to one of Canada’s greatest for “The Leonard Cohen Influence,” with guitarist Mitch Watkins; saxophonist Elias Haslanger, bassist Daniel Durham, pianist Sean Giddings, and drummer Scott Laningham from Church on Monday; and Standefer and Manzur. The three-night stand concludes January 23 with “Experience Retrospective,” in which Escovedo, who has released such albums as 2012’s Big Station, 2006’s The Boxing Mirror, and 1992’s Gravity, will go deep into his own catalog in addition to paying tribute to other influences, joined by Watkins, Haslanger, Laninghan, Durham, Giddings, Standefer, Manzur, and, perhaps, some surprise guests.