This weekend’s live music choices

Guitar strums, smooth vocals and foot-tapping beats are arriving as the weekend approaches. Local bands and solo musicians prepare to take the stage at some of the island’s hottest live music venues. Get ready for a music-filled weekend all around the country!

If it is live jazz you are looking for to soft launch into the weekend, a live performance at Sarah’s Jazz Club on Friday pays tribute to a legendary jazz singer. Sarah Vaughan, also known as The Divine One, was an influential jazz vocalist and pianist. Her voice, range and improvisational skills helped to elevate jazz music to new heights.

Sarah Vaughan recorded over 50 albums throughout her career, including jazz standards, pop tunes and original compositions. She worked with many jazz legends, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Billy Eckstine. Her collaborations with pianist Oscar Peterson and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas are also considered to be some of her most memorable recordings.

Vaughan’s interpretations of popular songs helped canonise what is now known as the Great American Songbook. She is considered one of the legendary vocalists who helped pave the way for others, with her stylistic phrasing, virtuosic vocal range and amazing technique. To celebrate her legacy, four local musicians will take the floor: Alice Ayvazian will be on vocals, Antreas Yerolatsitis on guitar, Marios Menelaou on double bass and Marios Spyrou on drums.

Also happening on Friday is a cabaret night at Limassol’s Vinylio Wine Etc. The Pin-Retro duo will return to the bar for an evening of vintage Jazzy burlesque. The night will begin at 9pm serving the glitz and glamour of show business.

Then on Saturday, the Mighty Sugarcane band will take over Sarah’s Jazz Club stage to present their funky music. The band is made up of Marios Takoushis on piano, Cahit Kutrafali on bass and Stelios Xydias on drums and on the evening they will be accompanied by Ezgi Akgurgen on vocals.

Renowned Greek songwriter Fivos Delivorias will present two unique shows in Cyprus this weekend with performances in Nicosia and Limassol. Along with his collaborators, Delivorias will re-stage a sold-out show he presented in Greece that features his latest song releases. First, he will entertain Nicosia audiences at RED Music Stage on Saturday and then head to Rialto Theatre on Sunday.

This Sunday, the old town of Limassol will fill with Latin-jazz sounds as Mason Bar welcomes back the band Macumba. The four-piece band, three Cypriot musicians and a Chilean, are well-known for their explosive blend of Brazilian samba, rumba and guaguancó Afro-Cuban rhythms mixed-up with some jazz. Their performances always get the crowd dancing and bopping along to the tunes so one thing is certain – this is going to be a melodious weekend!

Tribute to the Divine One, Sarah Vaughn

Jazz tribute. May 5. Sarah’s Jazz Club, Nicosia. 9.30pm. €12. Tel: 95-147711

Cabaret Night

With the Pin-Retro duo. May 5. Vinylio Wine Etc, Limassol. 9pm. Tel: 99-300430

Mighty Sugarcane

Local band plays live. May 6. Sarah’s Jazz Club, Nicosia. 9.30pm. €12. Tel: 95-147711

Fivos Delivorias

Renowned Greek singer/songwriter performs live. May 6. RED Music Stage, Nicosia. 10pm. May 7. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. www.tickethour.com.cy. www.rialto.com.cy

Macumba

Latin jazz. May 7. Mason Bar, Limassol. 8pm. €10. Tel: 99-211280