The Luckman Fine Arts Complex announces 2011-2012 lineup, featuring Jane Birkin, CocoRosie, Aaron Neville, Nikka Costa and more

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Among the many Southland concert series, that of the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, on the campus of Cal State Los Angeles, stands out for the breadth of its offerings, one that searches globally for artists whose music transcends language. And from October through May, it delivers them into a wonderfully intimate theater space just off Interstate 10 east of downtown.

One need look no further than the 2011-2012 schedule, which the Luckman announced Wednesday morning, for proof. This year’s lineup features artists from 15 countries and just as many languages (give or take), wanders through sub-Saharan Africa (Malian guitar group Tinariwen), Paris (singer/actress and Serge Gainsbourg collaborator Jane Birkin, in a very rare appearance; as well as sibling folk iconoclasts CocoRosie), and visits New Orleans with one of America’s most magnetic voices, Aaron Neville.

Among other performances, soul singer India.Irie will showcase her recent collaboration with Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel; the precisely measured motorik-jazz of German trio Brandt Brauer Frick, who gigged at this year’s Coachella, will present their fascinating merger of minimal techno and sturdy, structured jazz; and Spanish singer Buika will showcase a voice that offers a thousand different emotions.

Below is the full schedule of music events. (For a full rundown of the Luckman’s other cultural offerings, including evenings devoted to dance, visual arts and theater, visit the Luckman’s site.)

Esma Red žepova (Oct. 1)
India.Arie and Idan Raichel (Oct. 13)
Iva Bittová and Vladimir Václavek with Émilie Simon (Oct. 22)
Tinariwen (Oct. 29)
Brandt Brauer Frick (Nov. 12)
Ray Chen (Nov. 19)
Jane Birkin (Dec. 3)
Aaron Neville (Dec. 17)
CocoRosie (Feb. 11)
Buika (March 3)
Anoushka Shankar (April 21)
Nikka Costa (May 12)

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-- Randall Roberts

Twitter: @liledit