JazzYou can still hear a lot of...

Jazz

You can still hear a lot of Texas in the play of saxophonist Wilton Felder. The Houston-born tenor man was a founding member of the smooth-groove, jazz-fusion band the Crusaders (along with pianist Joe Sample), but he’s also been heard playing with vibraphonist Milt Jackson, fellow saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and vocalist Carmen McRae, among others. You’ll hear plenty of the earthy, blues feeling associated with his native state when Felder joins keyboardist Rob Mullins’ combo tonight at Restaurant Kikuya.

* What: Saxophonist Wilton Felder and keyboardist Rob Mullins.

* When: 8:30 p.m. Friday.

* Where: Restaurant Kikuya, 8052 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Beach Boulevard, head south to Adams and turn left. Club is on the right.

* Wherewithal: $10 minimum.

* Where to call: (714) 536-6665.

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Comedy

In the early ‘80s, when James Stephens III imitated Louis Armstrong while a friend did his Elvis Presley in a five-minute Las Vegas bit, Stephens didn’t realize his musical talents would lead to a hilarious version of Kermit the Frog singing Lionel Richie. But it did. And now Stephens, widely known as the Cat in the Hat for his trademark headgear, routinely incorporates musical adventures into his slice-of-life stand-up. The headlining comic has also been seen on television with Ray Charles, Paul Rodriguez and Whoopi Goldberg.

* Who: James Stephens III.

* When: 8:30 tonight and Sunday, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

* Where: The Improv, 945 E. Birch St., Brea.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Orange (57) Freeway at Lambert Road and go west. Turn left onto State College Boulevard and right onto Birch Street. The Improv is in the Brea Marketplace, across from the Brea Mall.

* Wherewithal: $10-$12.

* Where to call: (714) 529-7878.

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Music

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony ends with a child’s vision of heaven sung by a solo soprano. The words come from the folk poetry collection “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (The Youth’s Magic Horn). In the movement before this simple, ingratiating tune, Mahler provides an extraordinary burst of light in E major that heralds the heavenly vision. Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will conduct the orchestra in Mahler’s Fourth. Joan Rodgers will be the solo soprano. The concert, sponsored by the Philharmonic Society, will include Bartok’s eerie “Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.”

* What: Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

* When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

* Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Bristol Street; exit north. Turn right onto Town Center Drive.

* Wherewithal: $10-$48.

* Where to call: (714) 553-2422.

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Kids

Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theater has never been shy about bypassing the “Snow Whites” and “Winnie-the-Poohs” that populate local youth theater. This time, it’s traveling all the way to “Brigadoon,” the mystical, mythical Scottish village that is the setting for the Lerner & Loewe musical, whichturns 50 this year.

Directed by Vicki Schindele and Alberta Strey and featuring live music, the two-act musical fantasy will be performed by 50 fifth- through eighth-graders. “You don’t see that many stagings of ‘Brigadoon’ because the music is so challenging,” said troupe spokeswoman Diana Shephard.

* What: Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theater’s “Brigadoon.”

* When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, matinees Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m. Through Feb. 1.

* Where: Fullerton High School Little Theater, 201 E. Chapman Ave.

* Whereabouts: From the Riverside (91) Freeway, exit at Harbor Boulevard and drive north. Turn right on Chapman Avenue. The theater is on the high school campus, behind Plummer Auditorium.

* Wherewithal: $6.

* Where to call: (714) 671-1084