Zeitgeist Festival

Scrawled on a building on Rome's Via Cavour this spring was a Star of David. Written over it was the word raus -- "out" in German. This anti-Semitic graffito reportedly can be seen throughout the Italian capital, as well as in many other European cities. Yet just weeks ago, 15,000 Poles could be found dancing to the wildly infectious music of an onstage klezmer band at the 16th annual Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, a city with only 200 Jews.

Scrawled on a building on Rome's Via Cavour this spring was a Star of David. Written over it was the word raus -- "out" in German. This anti-Semitic graffito reportedly can be seen throughout the Italian capital, as well as in many other European cities. Yet just weeks ago, 15,000 Poles could be found dancing to the wildly infectious music of an onstage klezmer band at the 16th annual Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, a city with only 200 Jews.

"New digital artists, live musicians and electronica" were promised by Dis/Orient at the Skirball Cultural Center on Thursday. But the program, a significant entry in the center's "Zeitgeist" festival, didn't quite live up to its grandiose description. Once past the labeling, the music had its intriguing qualities. Pianist-singer Maurice El Medioni, a veteran of the Algerian and Parisian music scenes, offered a mixed bag of musical styles, often within the same tune.

JAZZ Festival at the Lagoon For those who like their music with an ocean breeze, the 2003 Long Beach Jazz Festival checks in this weekend at Rainbow Lagoon Park. Things get started Friday with James Ingram, Brenda Russell and Kim Waters. Saturday's lineup includes Marcus Miller, Rachelle Ferrell, Mark Antoine, Poncho Sanchez, Paul Taylor, Bobby Lyle and Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Band.

For many local dance lovers, the silver cloud created by the first full season of dance at the Music Center has a dark lining: A good seat at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion can fetch $75 or more, as high as at the other premier local dance venues, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. That's a lot even for coveted attractions, much less anything unfamiliar or experimental. There is, however, an alternative. In fact, there are dozens.