Merritt, Dinnerstein perform at Tampa's Straz Center.

   The most intriguing new album in recent months is "Night," the gorgeous collaboration between alt-country star Tift Merritt and classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein. The very odd pairing yields glorious results that bridge classical and popular music in a fresh way.

Merritt and Dinnerstein

   Merritt and Dinnerstein will perform, together and separately, at  Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa on Saturday.
   Dinnerstein has been a rising star on the classical music scene since the release of her massively acclaimed recording of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" in 2007. Merritt is an introspective singer-songwriter who's been compared to Leonard Cohen and James Taylor (and she was a delight when she opened for Elvis Costello at Tampa Theatre some years back). Either would be worth driving to Tampa to see in a solo show. The two of them together might be phenomenal.
   It starts at 7:30 on Saturday, April 6. Tickets are $28.50 plus service charge. 813-229-7827 or www.strazcenter.org.