Weekend Forecast

TODAY

Cool sounds on land

and at sea

Starting tonight, the 11th annual West Coast Jazz Party will say goodbye to summer with four nights and three days of almost nonstop, decidedly straight-ahead jazz. Besides multiple performing stages at the Irvine Marriott, a musical cruise on Newport Harbor is planned for Sunday morning. Those scheduled to perform include Terry Gibbs, the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Ken Peplowski, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Annie Sellick, Carol Welsman, Grant Geisman, Bill Cunliffe, Gerald Clayton and many more.

West Coast Jazz Party, Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. 8 to 11:15 . $20-$310. (949) 759-5003. www.westcoastjazzparty.com

Also noon to 12:15 a.m. Friday, noon to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 12:20 a.m. Sunday.

Jazz pianist guests with the Phil

The Los Angeles Philharmonic goes Latin when Leonard Slatkin conducts a colorful program including familiar favorites such as Ginastera's "Estancia" Suite, Fernandez's "Batuque" and excerpts from Falla's "The Three-Cornered Hat." The program also will include the Piano Concerto by Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist-composer Michel Camilo, written in 1998. The composer will be at the keyboard. He will also play two of his solo pieces.

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. 8 tonight. $1 to $92. (213) 480-3232. www.HollywoodBowl.com.

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FRIDAY

Inside an enigma

The Mass Games, an elaborate, choreographed gymnastics performance by a cast of thousands, is North Korea's ode to the strength of its leader, Kim Jong-Il, in resisting U.S. imperialism. British filmmaker Daniel Gordon's documentary "A State of Mind" profiles two teenage girls as they arduously train for the big event, and also peers behind the country's veneer of secrecy.

"A State of Mind," unrated, opens Friday at Laemmle's Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., L.A. (323) 655-4010.

Musical 'Women'

"Little Women -- The Musical," based on Louisa May Alcott's novel, launches its national tour, with Maureen McGovern reprising her Broadway role as Marmee. Written by Allan Knee, whose play "The Man Who Was Peter Pan" was the basis for

the film "Finding Neverland." The work features music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

"Little Women -- The Musical," Civic Theatre, 3rd Avenue and B Street, San Diego. Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday. $19-$65. (619) 570-1100. www.broadwaysd.com