Arts: Best Bets

It’s a month of all things jazz at downtown museums right now. As a professor at Xavier in New Orleans and a native son of the Lower Ninth Ward, John T. Scott mentored many artists and incorporated the improvisational style and rhythm of jazz music into his work. He called his process “jazz thinking,” and his vibrant paintings, prints and kinetic sculptures bring to mind instruments in West African culture, the legacy of local jazz legends and even the traditions of jazz funerals and second lines. The exhibit, “Rhythm & Improvisation: John T. Scott & His Enduring Legacy,” organized by Louisiana Art & Science Museum (lasm.org), is on view all this month at the museum and ends July 14.

Over at the LSU Museum of Art, “An Eye on Jazz” features the black and white photographs of Herman Leonard, who is known for shots of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and others. At the same time, former LSU professor Edward Pramuk’s paintings and mixed-media works celebrating jazz legends, “Seeing Music,” will be on view. Both run May 11-July 14. lsumoa.org

STARTING MAY 3: A hilarious tale of scandal all taking place in an elegant London flat, Move Over Mrs. Markham takes the stage at Theatre Baton Rouge, May 3-19. brlt.org

MAY 11: The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the V-Tones create an evening of music under the stars with Symphony Pops at LSU Rural Life Museum. For ticketing and seating options (table seating or general seating on the lawn with your own picnic blanket), visit brso.org.

ALL MONTH: Works by artist members James Burke, David Horton and Lisa Qualls will be on view at Baton Rouge Gallery. batonrougegallery.org