Neil Giordano previews the upcoming Independent Film Festival Boston: Want to see some excellent new films? How about in pairs?

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Paul Robicheau on Umphrey's McGee’s UMBowl X at the House of Blues Boston. This was an exhaustive two-night series for non-diehards but rollercoaster nirvana for the initiated. artsfuse.org/291422

Noah Schaffer on the premiere of the doc 'The Road to Ruane' at the Independent Film Festival Boston. “Billy Ruane built a legacy, and 14 years after his death you can still feel his presence in local clubs. He fermented a scene that still lives on today.” artsfuse.org/291403

Trevor Fairbrother on ICA/Boston's splendid show of an important contemporary artist, #FireleiBáez . She is currently facing the existential throes of art-world fame and fortune. artsfuse.org/291167/

This year’s performances by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Wang Theatre -- courtesy of CelebritySeries -- mark the company’s 51st appearance in Boston. Robert Israel talks to Matthew Rushing, who now serves as its Interim Artistic Director. artsfuse.org/291321/

Ralph Locke on the landmark 'Compositrices: New Light on French Romantic Women Composers.' Bru Zane's 8-CD set of diverse and enjoyable works, brought back from obscurity by Aude Extrémo, Roberto Prosseda, and other major performers. artsfuse.org/291034/

Many of the circumstances and cases Debbie Hines discusses in 'Get Off My Neck' (The MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social) are grim, even sickening, writes Bill Littlefield. But her experience in the American justice system has taught her to choose hope and struggle over despair. artsfuse.org/291052/

For Steve Elman, Zev Feldman, Co-President of Resonance Records and a consulting producer of archival and historical recordings for Blue Note Records is becoming one of the great sleuth-producers of our time, and his name is becoming a marker of quality. artsfuse.org/291226/

Michael Ullman on 'Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Live in France: The 1966 Concert in Limoges.' He admires Tharpe’s wit and daring, her singularly effective guitar playing, and the subtlety of her singing.

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Ezra Glenn was swept away by the touring production of the Broadway hit musical 'Hadestown' at the Boch Center through April 28. It’s an old tale, we know how it’s going to end, but we tell it again all the same. artsfuse.org/291188/theater…

The week's poem: Guillermo Parra's 'Alice Coltrane'

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In her commentary, Clea Simon asks: which fest is best, the New Orleans JazzFest or the French Quarter Festivals, Inc? It's up for grabs. artsfuse.org/291147/

Roberta Silman finds Maya Arad's novella collection 'The Hebrew Teacher' (New Vessel Press) to be a disturbing and beautiful book that concerns itself mostly with Israelis living in America. artsfuse.org/291108/

Throughout the enjoyable 'Out of Left Field,' writes Bill Littlefield, the late columnist Stan Isaacs revisits events he covered decades earlier, some of them as significant as the World Series, some of them as silly as frog jumping. Illinois Press artsfuse.org/290615/

In 'Catullus: Selected Poems' (Yale Univ Press), writes James Kates, translator Stephen Mitchell serves the author best with the poems that don’t demand cleverness, where the sentiment is at least seemingly direct. artsfuse.org/290602/

Steve Elman focuses his considerable critical powers on the release of new collections of previously-unreleased music from Art Tatum, Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy, and Yusef Lateef. artsfuse.org/290769/

Editor Bill Marx talks to Gloucester Stage Co. artistic director Rebecca Bradshaw about the upcoming WATER'S RISING: Festival of New Climate Action Plays. artsfuse.org/290994/

Cyrisse Jaffee on a trio of children's picture books that are about making connections. artsfuse.org/290787/

The facts around the making of the film noir classic 'Double Indemnity' are so familiar and so easy to access that there seems little reason for a new book on this subject, writes Gerald Peary, especially one without any major revelations. artsfuse.org/290906/book-re…

Michael Ullman writes that 'Sun Ra: At the Showcase Live in Chicago, 1976 – 1977' offers a rare opportunity for 21st century listeners to experience live sets by a distinctive musical spirit. Jazz Detective Records. artsfuse.org/289297