Fretting About

Los Angeles’ classical music life is rich, with little pockets of strength known around the world. One of these pockets is the realm of classical guitar, and one of the bold and adventure-minded players is William Kanengiser, who will give a solo recital Saturday at the Oak Grove Pavilion in Ojai. The recital is the first event of the year in the “Performances to Grow On” series.

Although Kanengiser has built a viable solo career, he is best known as one-quarter of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, which has helped put Los Angeles on the international guitar map in a literal way. The four tour the world and record for the Sony Classical label; their latest CD is a globe-hopping musical tour titled “Air & Ground.”

Just as the LAGQ makes a point of celebrating eclecticism, performing standard repertoire as well as music from around the world and the occasional Led Zeppelin tune, Kanengiser veers between idioms in his solo life. Expect to hear a broad swath of music in Ojai, from baroque to boogie-woogie, with touches of jazz and world music thrown into the mix.

DETAILS

William Kanengiser in recital Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Grove Pavilion, 220 W. Lomita in Ojai. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door; 650-9688.

*

Looking forward: The classical music calendar bulks up this month, after the chestnut parade and lean weeks of the holiday season, starting with Camerata Pacifica’s chamber music program Thursday through Sunday at various locales in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The program is nicely varied, with music by Milhaud, Rachmaninoff and lesser-known composers Paul Patterson and Sir Hamilton Harty.

Chamber music is abuzz elsewhere too. Noted pianist Mikhail Voskresensky gives a recital at the Civic Arts Plaza on Jan. 13 as part of the new Ventura Chamber Music Series. Bach lovers will want to check out Corey Jamason’s performance of the “Well-Tempered Clavier I” on harpsichord Jan. 21 at the Unitarian Society in Santa Barbara. It’s the kickoff event of the Camerata Pacifica’s Baroque series.

The New West Symphony presents its “Discovery Artists” concert Jan. 19 and 20 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, respectively.

This tradition lends a valuable opportunity to worthy young musicians to play with a reputable orchestra, on a bona fide stage, before an eager audience that has come to expect great things from tender hands.

In Santa Barbara, January has come to be known as the month when Santa Barbara Symphony’s brave conductor, Gisele Ben-Dor, unleashes the season’s most adventurous programming. Although this month’s fare, to be performed Jan. 20 and 21 at the Arlington Theater, isn’t nearly as ambitious as the Revueltas Festival a year ago, it’s a hearty, offbeat musical menu.

Ben-Dor will present music of American and Latin-American composers, including Copland, the Cuban Julian Orbon and the famed Argentine composers Ginastera and Piazzolla.

All told, it’s a big month for classical music worth hearing.

DETAILS

Camerata Pacifica, Thursday at Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara; Jan. 12 at Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Drive; Jan. 13 at Temple Beth Torah, 7620 Foothill Road in Ventura; and Jan. 14 at the Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theater, 2000 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. All performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25; (800) 557-BACH.

Josef Woodard, who writes about art and music, can be reached by e-mail at joeinfo@aol.com.