An elegant affair in elegant surroundings, Jazzin' Up the Holidays at the Ritz-Carlton would stand as a marquee event no matter the time of year. But with healthy doses of Yuletide flavors of feel-good giving complemented by party-time indulgences, Saturday's affair is truly a holiday treat. Featuring a who's who list of local jazz musicians, an auction of art and travel and requisite great food and drink, Jazzin' Up the Holidays balances out the fun by serving as a benefit for three New Orleans-area youth programs. Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield showcases his deft mastery of both classical and contemporary jazz stylings, leading a program on a stage shared with a long list of other distinguished musicians. The night kicks off with a patron party beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Stewart Juneau's penthouse. The mood is set here with performances by Allen Toussaint, Jeremy Davenport, Davell Crawford and John Boutte. From the penthouse, the festivities move to the third-floor courtyard for caroling led by a student choir from New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, with the space also allowing a celebrity Santa to drop gifts for patrons' children and grandchildren. At 8 p.m., music begins in the Grand Ballroom with Grammy Award winner Nicholas Payton, Ellis Marsalis and Mayfield appearing with his troupes, Los Hombres Calientes and the Irvin Mayfield Quintet. The night also will feature an auction of art and vacation trips. The evening benefits the Heritage School of Music, the New Orleans Martinet Legal Foundation Law School Program and the New Orleans-South Africa Connection. The Heritage School of Music, led by local saxophone legend Edward "Kidd" Jordan, was formed in 1990 by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation to educate and nurture musically talented children in Orleans and Jefferson parishes, grades 6 through 12. The Martinet Law School Program was created to encourage high school students from low-income families where no parent holds a college degree to pursue professional careers. The New Orleans-South Africa Connection is a nonprofit organization made up entertainment, business, civic and community leaders in New Orleans and South Africa to foster cultural and business exchanges that are mutually beneficial. Tickets are $125 per person; patron party tickets are $500. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 254-8865. -- Frank Etheridge

Willis Alan Ramsey 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19 Carrollton Station, 8140 Willow St., 865-9190 Willis Alan Ramsey (pictured) teams up with former backing member Tommy Malone Wednesday at Carrollton Station. To say that Texas singer/songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey works slowly is an understatement. Ramsey released his eponymous debut album in 1972 -- and hasn't made another record since. But what a record that debut was. With songs like the Woody Guthrie tribute "Boy From Oklahoma" and the whimsical "Muskrat Candlelight" (which had the strange distinction of being recast into a Top 10 hit by Captain & Tennille), Ramsey became a revered cult figure and a huge inspiration for aspiring Lone Star troubadours like Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. Ramsey then dropped out of sight and moved to Britain to explore his passion for Celtic music, but returned to find contemporary artists like Shawn Colvin still singing the praises of his '72 classic. Ramsey recently began touring for the first time in seven years, and this rare New Orleans appearance will feature Tommy Malone backing up Ramsey. (Malone first served in Ramsey's backup band in the '80s.) Admission TBA. -- Scott Jordan

Spencer Bohren's annual Christmas show 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20 Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchmen St., 949-0696 It's been a busy year for singer/songwriter/bluesman/musicologist Spencer Bohren, who logged some serious miles on the festival circuit and made an appearance on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion. Now Bohren's home for the holidays, just in time for his annual Christmas show, where Bohren invites a host of friends, family and esteemed musical colleagues for some musical revelry. His 2001 special guests include Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris, singer/songwriter Denise Marie, Seattle guitarist Del Rey, the Loyola String Trio, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Florida roots/blues band the Underdogs, blues guitarist Adam Crochet, Washboard Chaz, and poet Maxine Cassin. In keeping with the family spirit of the holidays, Bohren's son Andre -- a multitalented musician -- will perform a classical piece, and Bohren's daughter Corinna Rose will sing duets with her father. Admission $10. -- Jordan

Blake Amos and Saudade 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 The Spotted Cat, 623 Frenchmen St., 943-3887 Saudade means "longing" in Portuguese, as in longing for the good old days, a lost love, or a faraway place. In the case of Blake Amos' band, they're missing Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Salvador is to Brazil as New Orleans is to the United States, a national mecca for roots culture and African-influenced food, religion, and music. Saudade plays samba, bossa nova, and other Brazilian styles, mixed with a touch of New Orleans street beat -- a union of related fusions. The rhythm-heavy instrumentation includes three percussionists, jazz saxophonist Tim Green, and Amos himself on nylon-string guitar. A native New Orleanian who once lived in Salvador, Amos leads the band through authentic covers sung in Portuguese and original songs performed in the Brazilian style. Despite their sustained "longing" for the sights and sounds of Brazil, Saudade's performance is an uplifting substitute for the real thing. No cover. -- Cristina Diettinger

Vo-Du Macbeth showcase 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 Lupin Theater, NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 948-0323 Drawing inspiration from both William Shakespeare and Orson Welles, Leni Sloan this week showcases Vo-Du Macbeth, a much-anticipated national theater project spawned in New Orleans. Vo-Du Macbeth encompasses Sloan's deconstruction of Shakespeare's classic, with added complexity taken from Welles' rendition. That version, a 1936 WPA production, set the play in Haiti and presented it as a choreo-drama complete with African drums, dancers and costumes. Sloan's rendition places the timeless mores and morals in New Orleans toward the end of the Civil War, with particular focus on the gens de coulour libre (free people of color).The production is being created in a series of nationwide residencies, collectively known as the National Spirit Project, intended to incorporate regional artists' input into the development of the text, music and choreography. The week also features a series of music workshops and rehearsals led by composer David Amram from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at NOCCA/Riverfront; an artist meet-and-greet will be held at Ashe Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 948-0323. -- Etheridge

Jo "Cool" Davis 21st annual gospel holiday show 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 St. Marks Community Center, 1130 N. Rampart St., 529-1681 Singer Jo "Cool" Davis is one of the most recognizable figures in the New Orleans gospel scene. Davis is the emcee and longtime doorman for Tipitina's, and every Sunday he hosts House of Blues' gospel brunch. If you haven't seen him in either of those venues, chances are you've seen him driving his van emblazoned with his name throughout the city. Chances are you've also heard of his annual holiday gospel concert, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. For this edition of his yearly celebration, Davis is joined by accompanied by pianist Cordell Chambers. The duo will perform an unaccompanied program of gospel standards and spirituals. Admission free; donations requested. -- Jordan

Hobos 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 21-22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23; through Jan. 6 St. Mark's Street Academy, 3911 Gen. Pershing St., 469-6532 Few archetypes intrigue the American imagination as much as hobos -- who, for many, embody the illusive spirits of freedom and struggle. In this vein, Ethiopian Theater presents Hobos, a tale centered around three elderly gentlemen living on the streets of New Orleans. Together, the trio bond to share their dreams for the good life, with tales of the tragedies and experiences that resulted in them living as hobos. Lloyd Joseph Martin plays Benjamin, an aging bluesman anticipating his coming fortune from tunes he supposedly wrote. Harold Evans plays Professor Blake, an ex-history professor at a prestigious university; and Jomo Kenyatta Bean is the Rev. Zeke, a self-styled minister ordained while serving time in prison. Hobos was debuted in part at the ACT I New Orleans Black Theater Festival in November. Donations for Hobos are $10 adults and $8 seniors and students. For more info, call 469-6532 or visit EddieFrancis.com. -- Etheridge

The Iguanas, 007 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS A holiday weekend is a great time to experience the live sounds of the Iguanas. A longtime staple of the New Orleans club circuit, the Iguanas pack 'em in on the road, too. Their seamless blend of Latin and roots styles combines the overarching richness of ethnic melody with festive dance rhythms and New Orleans R&B, a mix that's a perennial crowd-pleaser. The Iguanas maintain a high level of individual musicianship, centered on the dueling sax work of Joe Cabral and Derek Huston. Cabral will also show off his skills on bass and vocals with 007, a new, all-star rock-steady band led by drummer Jeffrey "the House Man" Clemens (of G. Love and Special Sauce). Named for Desmond Dekker's 1967 rude-boy anthem, 007 presents an authentic revival of Jamaican rock-steady with a set of hits from the treasured limbo between ska and reggae. Admission $7. -- Diettinger

Luther Vandross 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 524-2490 Luther Vandross throws his love around Saturday and Sunday at the Saenger. Though the contemporary R&B market is now saturated with plaintive crooners, silky stylist and five-time Grammy winner Luther Vandross, after more than a decade on the charts and a baker's dozen of platinum and multi-platinum albums, still stands out as an original and compelling artist in a genre that's veered uncomfortably close to straight syrup after its '70s heyday of songs to get busy by. His soulful tunes are romantic staples -- millions of people have gotten married, gotten together or, um, gotten some to the soundtrack of satiny pleas such as "The Night I Fell in Love" and "Stop to Love." Touring now in support of his eponymous new album, Vandross is a charismatic and intimate live performer, and the newly written songs bring his vintage soul into a contemporary arena. He's cool like Mo&233;t and smooth like Hennessey. Tickets $60.50 to $65.50. -- Alison Fensterstock

Vince Neil 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 Howlin' Wolf, 828 S. Peters St., 522-WOLF Few bands exemplify their genre -- in this case, all-out pleather-panted, teased-to-the-roof, groupie-groping, driving-the-Ferrari-into-the pool '80s hair metal -- better than Mötley Crüe. Blonde bombshell Vince Neil, with his testosterone-driven songwriting and unique vocal style, led the gang of Sunset Strip rockers to heights of success that were obscene even in the decade of conspicuous consumption. Diehard fans will be comforted to know that while other former Crüe members have tried to assimilate into the new millennium with facial piercings and electronic samples, Neil's solo releases have maintained the shameless metal attitude that inspired marathon air-guitar sessions in more teenage bedrooms than we'd like to admit. After a decade of personal and professional turbulence following his break with the Crüe, Neil is on the road again, banging his golden-tressed head with the best of them. Tickets $20. -- Fensterstock

The Nutcracker 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 832-3737 Having entertained more than a half-million people since its debut performance in 1981, the Delta Festival Ballet's (DFB) take on The Nutcracker has become a local holiday tradition. This production brings to stage 165 performers, with a cast including 20 professional dancers from DFB, a youth corps of dancers selected from local auditions and community actors. This all comes forth on a lavish stage created by national award-winning designer Robert O'Hearn. This year's guest artists are two of the world's leading ballet dancers, Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Belotserkvosky. Taking the lead roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, the husband-and-wife duo were both trained in Russia and currently star in the American Ballet Theatre company. The performances are accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Chris Younghoon Kim. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (522-5555 or www.ticketmaster.com) or the Delta Ballet office until Dec. 10 (832-3737). -- Etheridge

New work by Cornel Rubino Through December Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, 400A Julia St., 522-2000 It's sooo beautiful ... What -- your garden? Baby? Dog? Or maybe even a painting. Actually, there's been a lot of confusion about beauty of late, in this age when prettiness is often mistaken for the truly beautiful or sublime. For artist Cornell Rubino, beauty is often poetic, perhaps erotic and subtly droll, as seen in his Devouring Beauty show of some 16 watercolors depicting people and other species "in a metaphorical and sexual tug of war." If that sounds more complicated than what passes for beauty at the beauty parlor, Rubino takes it to another level with a set of hand-printed and water-colored lithographs based on the sublime mystical power of the number three, titled 3: The Sum of It All, with text by poet and Rolling Stone critic Paul Evans. Known for his illustrations in The New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly, Rubino seems to suggest that true beauty is in the eye -- and mind -- of the beholder. -- D. Eric Bookhardt