A smattering of the Centennial Hall 1997-98 selections

The 1997-98 UApresents season at Centennial Hall is one of the places on campus where you can find it.

The roster of scheduled performers is strong enough to warrant early planning.

First, the jazz. The real deal. Herbie Hancock along with Wayne Shorter on Sept. 26. Shorter has played with bands like Steely Dan and has won three Grammy awards, one for his A Tribute to Miles. But Hancock ... Hancock played with Miles Davis. Hancock played on the what is arguably the most important jazz fusion album ever, Bitches Brew.

Speaking of Miles Davis, another alumnus of the fusion era, guitarist John McLaughlin will grace the stage in Tucson for the second time in two years, this time with his band, the John McLaughlin Quintet. McLaughlin has gone onto play with Santana and get involved with new age music. He plays Nov. 8.

Less avant-garde, but no less interesting, Dr. John brings his Cajun blues piano to town on October 22 as part of the House of Blues latest tour. Keb' Mo and Charlie Musslewhite play along with Dr. John.

On a classical note, Duetsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy will play Felix Mendelsohn's Violin Concerto and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, Nov. 7. Ashkenazy defected from the Soviet Union in 1963 and has also conducted major orchestras in around the country. He also did an 8-year stint as conductor of the London Philharmonic.

On Jan. 21, the New York City Opera National Company pulls in for a performance of Gaetano Donizetti's "Daughter of the Regiment," a comic piece about a woman who grows up in the French Army only to find out she's the daughter of a wealthy man. Then, Feb. 20, Andre Watts plays Franz Schubert. Watts who started young with the New York Philharmonic, is playing exclusively Schubert on tour this year.

And in case you need a dose of Broadway live in front of your face, touring companies of "Damn Yankees," "Grease" and "State Fair" will come to town throughout the season. "Yankees" runs November 21-22, "Grease," January 16 -17 and "Fair" February 13-14. Take a date.