8 pm: Jazz

Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the former Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra stalwart, was winner of the Down Beat 2000 critics poll on his instrument. Here, he’s leading a quartet of talented associates.

* Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 8 p.m. $25. (310) 506-4522.

8 pm: Theater

Playwrights’ Arena, headed by artistic director Jon Lawrence Rivera, celebrates its inaugural season at the Los Angeles Theatre Center with “An Evening of Songs and Words,” featuring Barbara Bain, Jane Carr, Maxwell Caulfield, Philip Baker Hall, Elliott Gould, Amy Hill and others performing excerpts from past and future Arena productions. Among the many playwrights and/or composers are Luis Alfaro, Daniel Cariaga, Michael Kearns and Philip Littell. The event benefits Arena programs.

* “An Evening of Songs and Words,” Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown L.A., 8 p.m. $25 to $100. (213) 485-1631; (213) 485-1681.

3 pm: Fiesta

The Fiesta of the Spanish Horse will celebrate the heritage and culture of the Spanish horse at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Andalusian, Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino and other Spanish-bred horses will be on display. Food, vendors and entertainers such as the Clarita and Arte Flamenco Dancers, Mariachi 2000 and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico Aztec will also enliven this fund-raiser, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

* Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Gates open at 3 p.m.; horse show and performances, 6:30 p.m. Box seats, $25; general admission, $15; children and seniors, $8. (818) 840-9066.

8 pm: Dance

Celebrated for her sense of artistic adventure as much as the meticulous craft in her work, dancer-choreographer Loretta Livingston launches a multidisciplinary experiment in improvisation: “Dances for White Rooms.” Set in the intimate Luckman Art Gallery (not the theater), the project challenges Livingston, four other featured dancers, video artist Kate Johnson, painter Richard Lopez, composer Robin Cox and percussionist Erik Leckrone to make on-the-spot choices based on established topic ideas and structures. Will the result prove aimless, confused and wasteful or put more awards on Livingston’s already overloaded shelves? The odds favor choice No. 2.

* Loretta Livingston’s “Dances for White Rooms,” Luckman Art Gallery, Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $20. (323) 343-6600.

1 pm: Celebration

Norwalk will be the site of a community Cinco de Mayo celebration. Taking place on the Civic Center lawn, the event will feature family entertainment and activities including salsa and ballet folklorico dancers, mariachi music, games, crafts, rides and food.

* Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Civic Center Lawn, corner of Norwalk Boulevard and Imperial Highway, Norwalk. 1 to 7 p.m. Free admission. (562) 929-5702.

7:30 pm: Pop Music

The 11th annual Divas Simply Singing concert features founder Sheryl Lee Ralph, along with Roberta Flack, Jane Olivor, Nnenna Freelon, Elizabeth Berkley, E.G. Daily, Tiffany and others. The L.A. tradition benefits two AIDS-related organizations, Project Angel Food and Caring for Babies with AIDS.

* Divas Simply Singing, Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., L.A., 7:30 p.m. $35 to $250. (323) 939-1128.

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FREEBIES

Artists open their private studios to the public for the 12th annual Santa Fe Art Colony Open Studio Weekend, held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 2401 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown L.A. (323) 587-5513.

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“Latino!”--the Educational Theatre Company’s highly entertaining, theatrical celebration of Latino history--returns with its professional cast Saturday at noon at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd floor, Hollywood. (323) 465-4446.