all day MoviesA young woman, sick and...

all day Movies

A young woman, sick and tired of the less-than-desirable men she’s been dating, takes a chance on a personal ad posted by another woman in the romantic comedy “Kissing Jessica Stein.” The pair hit it off instantly and embark on a sweet but wacky courtship, making up rules as they go along. Co-written by its two leads, Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen, the film has charmed audiences at several film festivals and won audience awards at both the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Miami Film Festival.

“Kissing Jessica Stein,” rated R for sexual content and language, opened Wednesday in selected theaters.

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8pm Jazz

You’ve heard her voice before. It led the way through some of the Manhattan Transfer’s most popular cuts--”Operator,” “The Boy From New York City,” “Chanson D’Amour,” “Twilight Zone,” “Birdland.” Still a member of that acclaimed group after some 30-plus years, Janis Siegel has also just released her sixth solo CD, “I Wish You Love,” her debut on the Telarc label. Minus her Manhattan Transfer cohorts, Siegel performs two shows per night through Sunday at the Jazz Bakery.

Janis Siegel & the Eric Reed Trio, the Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City, 8 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. $25. (310) 271-9039.

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8pm Music

It’s a little chamber music with a touch of swing, when Members of the Asia America Symphony perform in the Harlyne Norris in Rolling Hills--across the street from the Norris Theater. Violinists Jennifer Frautschi and Nurit Pacht, violist Peter Bucknell and cellist Felix Fan play Shostakovich’s Fourth String Quartet. Then, cellist Fan is joined by pianist David Benoit, Dean Taba on bass and Jeff Olson on drums for Claude Bolling’s Suite for cello and jazz piano.

Asia America Symphony ensemble, Harlyne Norris Pavillion, 501 Indian Peak Road, Rolling Hills Estates, 8 p.m. $20. (310) 544-0403.

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6pm Pop Music

Aiming to put a jolt back into alt, the ambitious All Tomorrow’s Parties festival brings a who’s who (and a few who’s thats?) of left-of-center music to UCLA for four days. Curated by New York art-rockers Sonic Youth, ATP kicks off with a feisty display of wordplay, with spoken-word luminaries such as Lydia Lunch, John Sinclair, Gerard Malanga and others joined by headlining jazzman Cecil Taylor. Friday’s highlights include an Eddie Vedder set and a Television reunion; Saturday brings Wilco and Sleater-Kinney; and Sonic Youth wraps it up Sunday.

Cecil Taylor, others, Royce Hall and other venues, UCLA, 6 p.m. $25. All Tomorrow’s Parties continues through Sunday. Friday or Saturday tickets, $50; Sunday, $35; Friday-Saturday pass, $80; Friday-Sunday pass, $100. (310) 825-2101.