This year’s High Performance Rodeo is heavily laced with jazz-flavoured gigs. Take, for example, Berlin to Hollywood: Lands End Chamber Ensemble, a three-night event running at Beat Niq on January 15, 16 and 17, featuring Calgary’s Onalea Gilbertson, singer, musician and theatre artist. The gig promises to be a high-energy cabaret, featuring Brechtian compositions and music from pre-war Germany, interpreted by Gilbertson, renowned for her work in productions like Frank Zappa’s Freak-out Burlesque and a 2006 stint as guest artist in Land’s End Ensemble’s Berliner Kabaret.

If you’re planning to drop by Beat Niq near the end of January, you should also check out its neighbours at the Grain Exchange. Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, now marking its 25th anniversary, has something very special planned for its High Performance Rodeo event, Skyscraper, running January 26 through 20. Described as an “adventure” created by choreographer Kimberley Cooper, this performance will lead you through a series of dance experiences in the Exchange’s halls, elevators and rooms. Don’t miss it.

Other major shows on this month’s don’t-miss list include legendary jazz bassist Gary Peacock. He plays the Engineered Air Theatre on Friday, January 30, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Band Director Academy at Quincy’s on Seventh on January 17.

Peacock’s gig is a C-Jazz event, and, as usual for the bassist, is sure to be excellent. Acclaimed for his work with the likes of Paul Bley, Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett, Peacock will also feature performances by three of the best of our locals — Simon Fisk, Keith Smith and Robin Tufts.

Presented by the Calgary Association for the Development of Music Education (CADME), the Band Director Academy, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, has a faculty composed of some of the most notable jazz musicians in America. Ron Carter, for example, was named to Downbeat magazine’s Jazz Educators’ Hall of Fame and is a key member of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program. This performance at Quincy’s rounds out a three-day stint in Calgary — the group is here to present teaching sessions at William Aberhart High School.