Music critics picks

POP

Of all the exotic world music artists now hoping to connect with American audiences, Lura gets our vote as the talent most likely to succeed. An export from Cape Verde, she sings in Portuguese with a crystal clear and vital voice, putting across balmy, rhythmic, Afro-Brazilian flavored tunes punctuated by strummed stringed instruments and accordion. Even in translations, there's a grace and poignancy to every number.

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, $34 & $44, 215-893-1999,

» READ MORE: www.kimmelcenter.org

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— Jonathan Takiff

ALTERNATIVE

With Dr. Dog appearing on Conan and in Rolling Stone, now is the time to celebrate Philly indie rockers. That's the aim of Popped, the weeklong festival curated by Millcreek Tavern booker Ben Morgan and Badmaster Records' John Emory. Some of this week's highlights, at various venues around town, include Make A Rising, Stinking Lizaveta, the Notekillers, Bad News Bats, Golden Ball and, of course, Dr. Dog.

Popped Festival, 8 p.m. Monday through April 15, $10 daily, $50 weekly pass,

» READ MORE: www.poppedphiladelphia.org

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— Sara Sherr

HIP-HOP

Reef The Lost Cauze is among the local artists who have broken out of the region to garner national recognition, with his numerous rhyme-battle wins and energetic stage performances. His fame in the regional rhyme game is backed up by albums "Invisible Empire" and "Feast or Famine."

Reef's lyricism combines real-life storytelling with a perfected flow that relies on breath control and witty punchlines. Collectives the Caen Projects and AnWA will join him for this show.

Pontiac Grille, 304 South St., 10 tonight, $7, 21+, 215-990-2833,

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— Damon Williams

JAZZ

Kimmel Center audiences have traveled the country with the "Jazz Up Close: Roots of Jazz" series, exploring the music's antecedents in blues and gospel and its cultural origins in New Orleans. This season's closer looks to "The Future," and in this context perhaps no one has a clearer view than pianist Danilo Perez. As artistic adviser for the series, he's got his eye on the trends and patterns that the multi-tentacled music is taking.

But as a Panamian-born instrumentalist, Perez also represents jazz's integrationist tendencies, appropriate for "America's music." He and saxophonist David Sanchez are forging a new-generation take on Latin jazz, a more seamless blend of influences than previous fusions. Along with Sanchez, Perez's trio (Ben Street, bass, and Adam Cruz, drums) will be joined here by versatile Lebanese-American percussionist Jamey Haddad, who has carved out his own diverse career in jazz, world music and pop.

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 S. Broad St., 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $37-$43, 215-893-1999,

» READ MORE: www.kimmelcenter.org

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— Shaun Brady

CLASSICAL

Pianist Richard Goode's performances are always deeply considered readings with enormous expression and technical prowess. His recordings of the complete Beethoven sonatas are legendary, but he'll explore a wider range of his specialties here, including Bach's G Major Partita, the Mozart K.511 Rondo and the seven Op. 116 Fantasien by Brahms. Last season, he gave a glowing reading of the virtual catalog of impressionism, the first book of Debussy's Preludes, and he returns with the magnificent Second Book. Goode is a master at the height of his powers, and his appearances here are always season highlights.

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. Monday, $22, 215-569-8080,

» READ MORE: www.pcmsconcerts.org

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— Tom Di Nardo