Back in 2006, Rocklin-based pianist Jim Martinez had an idea to get together a few singers he knew for a series of concerts. He did it in his home with three vocalists, doing two shows a week during the month of August.

The idea was so popular that he had to find a bigger venue.

Now Martinez is putting on the shows at Roseville's Sherman Clay store, and he's got four different singers working on three different evenings.

The singers include Sacramento favorites Vivian Lee, Ann Roach, Beth Duncan, Francesca Homan and Shelley Burns. Some other fine voices Martinez will present include Margie Ruiz, Laura Didier, Cynthia Douglas and Lin McPhillips.

Each singer will likely perform five tunes, and then they all get together for a group encore that Martinez says is always an audience favorite.

Martinez favors an old-school mainstream jazz piano style, counting Oscar Peterson as his biggest influence along with Bill Evans and Nat "King" Cole in his early trio days.

Martinez has recorded 12 CDs of his own, four of which are his "Jazz Praise" series, arrangements of hymns as straight-ahead jazz.

The Sacramento DIVAS Jazz Concert Series schedule with Martinez and bassist Gil Lester, is as follows:

5 p.m. Saturday, with Lin McPhillips, Vivian Lee, Jacosa Lave and Jessie Clemens.

6 p.m. Monday with Cami Thompson, Cynthia Douglas and Laura Didier.

6 p.m. Tuesday, with Ann Roach, Francesca Homan, Beth Duncan, Vivian Lee and Margie Ruiz.

All three shows are at Sherman Clay Pianos, 771 Pleasant Grove Blvd., in Roseville. Doors open 30 minutes before each show. Tickets are $22 each, $60 for the full series (3 shows). For information, call (916) 804-8370 or go to www.jimmartinez.com.

Get up to get down

The multitalented actor and writer Anna Deavere Smith creates her work after careful incubation of her subject matter.

Her latest one-woman show, "Let Me Down Easy," now in its second go-round at Berkeley Rep, deals with health care, mortality and something else that her work always conveys – the beautiful complexity of life.

Though Smith is the only actor on stage, she portrays 20 characters in this essential work. Some are famous – Lance Armstrong, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and supermodel Lauren Hutton. Others, including a rodeo bull rider and a New Orleans doctor, are fascinating.

For "Let Me Down Easy," Smith interviewed more than 300 people on three continents before working down to the 20 portraits she creates on stage, becoming the people, speaking their words.

Smith has won two Obie Awards and two Drama Desk Awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. She earned the inaugural Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for "Let Me Down Easy." Performances continue through Sept. 4, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. Tickets are $17-$93. For information, call (510) 647-2949 or go to www.berkelyrep.org

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Call The Bee's Marcus Crowder, (916) 321-1120.

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