"We're not going to just play be-bop or standards, it's going to be totally out of the box," said Serbian born piano virtuoso Mikan Zlatkovich of his Oct.2, concert at Liberty Hall Theatre in National City. "We might play some John McLaughlin and some Chick Corea...also some originals by myself and Brian Levy."

This gig offers a rare opportunity to hear the pianist leading his own quartet, playing material of his choosing.

While still in Europe, Zlatkovich was already accompanying legends like trumpeter Chet Baker and tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan.

He came to New York in the early 90s, and moved to San Diego in 1997, where he immediately established connections with heavyweight sax-men Charles McPherson and Daniel Jackson, trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and bassist Bob Magnusson. Lately, he's been accompanying soulful violinist Jamie Shadowlight in her fusion ensemble, covering material by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.

Appearing with Zlatkovich will be Levy on tenor, recent Bay Area transfer Ben Wanicur on doublebass, and the up and coming Fernando Gomez on drums.

"I'm very impressed with him," says Zlatkovich about Gomez, adding, "I hired him because the guy's so versatile."

Zlatkovich has absorbed the wide range of modern jazz piano, and I've heard him channel everyone from Erroll Garner to McCoy Tyner to Bill Evans in his improvisations.

Mostly, though, he plays himself.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 - general admission, $15 - students, $5 - Paradise Village residents.

The Liberty Hall Theatre is located at 2700 E. 4th St. in National City.

Concert Poster by Jamie Shadowlight

Photo by Michael Oletta