Tryin' to decide what to do this weekend, right? Will it be a movie? Maybe some live jazz? Hey, do both! Landmark Theatres' Sarah Gish sends us this press release:

JAZZIN' IT UP AT THE RIVER OAKS THEATRE!

To complement the new Woody Allen film, SWEET AND LOWDOWN (opening Friday, January 21 exclusively at the River Oaks Theatre), Landmark Theatres has organized two jazz musicians to play at the theatre on Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22. The musicians will play between the Friday and Saturday 4:15pm and 7:15pm shows.

SWEET AND LOWDOWN is Woody Allen's latest film, which explores the American jazz scene in the 1930's. Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) is a fictional jazz guitarist during the swing era. Emmet Ray's travels take him from New Jersey to Chicago, from Detroit to the bright lights of a Hollywood film studio (and took the production to some 85 period-dressed locations!). Emmet has a touching affair with the laundress Hattie (Samantha Morton). As Hattie is mute, she does not have a single spoken line; she had to convey all of her intensely pure emotions through her eyes and expressions alone. Blanche (Uma Thurman) plays the wife of Emmet. Also stars John Waters as a hotel manager.

* Friday, January 21, 6:30-7:30pm Shaakir will play at the River Oaks Theatre tracks from his cd (to be released in February) entitled "a dif'rent kinda SAX", produced and written by Shaakir and Shaakia Productions. The twelve-track cd contains one track dedicated to the recently-deceased Grover Washington, called "Pretty Eyes". Shaakir plays contemporary jazz mixed with his smooth, sensual saxaphone. He has been playing jazz for twenty years and can be heard locally on KTSU-FM.

* Saturday, January 22, 6:30-7:30pm The Harry Sheppard Group (comprised of a trio for this event) will play at the River Oaks Theatre. Harry Sheppard is a seasoned vibraphonist whose long list of credits include stints with Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman. Harry's music is now deeply-rooted in traditional jazz although he dabbled in fusion jazz. He plays at clubs all over town, including regularly at Sambuca Jazz Café. He has been playing jazz for "a thousand years"! You can read more about Harry at http://www.hsheppard.com.

The River Oaks Theatre is located at the corner of West Gray and Shepherd at 2009 W. Gray. The information phone number is 713/524-2175. Tickets to SWEET AND LOWDOWN are $6.75/adults, $4.75 for seniors and children 4-11 years old. SWEET AND LOWDOWN has a running time of 95 minutes and is rated PG13.

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LANDMARK THEATRE CORP. - Houston City Office
5 Greenway Plaza, Suite C-400 - Houston, Texas 77046
Phone : (713) 850-0217; Fax: (713) 850-1079
Email: sarahg@landmark-theatres.com
Website: www.landmarktheatres.com