Aishu, skillful violinist, to display her emotion violinist.

Byline: JOHN HARPER

On Sunday, March 30, at 4 p.m., the Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park will be turned into a mini-concert hall when the one-name violin prodigy Aishu performs.

The Long Beach, Calif.-based player, whose full name is Aishwarya Venkataraman , is all of 13 , but is widely regarded as a skillful interpreter of South Indian music.

Considered complicated - 72 primary scales - and emotional, the classical music is deeply rooted in religion.

Aishu, who took up violin at age 2 and studied for two years under esteemed teacher T.N. Krishnan , has gained a reputation, according to her Web site, "for her tonal quality, spectral purity and strong bowing technique."

Unlike most teenagers, she doesn't spend time surfing the Internet, gabbing on a cell phone or playing video games.

Aishu gets up every day at 4:45 a.m. and hooks up to a Shruti box, a simple accordion-like accompaniment instrument.

She attends the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship. Her focus is jazz, which has inspired a more improvised, boundary-stretching style of playing of the ancient music.

To hear a sample of her playing, go to: www.divinestrings.com.

Also coming up ...

nThe Chuck Redd Trio performs Saturday, March 29, at the Players' Grille at Nags Head Golf Links on Seachase Lane, which is off U.S. 158 at milepost 15.

Redd, the Washington, D.C.-based drummer, will be joined by Norfolk's John Toomey on piano and a still-to-be-determined bassist.

Expect to hear straight-ahead jazz played by accomplished, inventive players. Showtime is 7 p.m., and admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

nClub-hoppers craving more jazz can find it every Wednesday at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern in Nags Head.

From 6 to 8 p.m. the duo of Laura Martier (vocals) and Joe Mapp (guitar) puts a distinctive touch of tunes such as "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Bye Bye Blackbird."

There's no cover charge for the low-key, informal sessions. Kelly's is at milepost 10.5 on U.S. 158.

nTo quote the great Arthur Conley, "if you like good music, sweet soul music," you should check out The Legendary JC's, playing Saturday, March29, at Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills.

The Orlando, Fla.-based septet, led by acrobatic frontman Eugene Snowden , has one purpose in mind for club gigs: Fill the dance floor.

Influenced by artists ranging from James Brown to Parliament, the seven-piece, which includes a two-man horn section, lays down a thunderous, bluesy groove.

Original songs include "Lifting Me," "Luella" and "New Man," which sounds like Delbert McClinton jamming with the Commodores.

The Legendary JC's play at 10:30 p.m. Admission is $5. The Brewing Station is at milepost 8.5 on U.S. 158.

nOn Friday, April 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., His Dream Center in Nags Head will become a coffee house.

The non-smoking benefit for the Nags Head Lions Club and the Gem Center, Inc. will feature singer/keyboardist Angelo Sonnesso and a "open mic" session.

And, of course, coffee and dessert will be offered. Admission is $5. His Dream Center is at 205 Baltic St., which is between the highways at milepost 11.

nTV viewers of a certain age will remember Bob Havens as the featured trombonist on the long-running "Lawrence Welk Show," which left the air in 1971.

But he's hardly been slacking since then. The veteran player has recorded and jammed with such notables as Al Hirt , Bob Crosby and Benny Goodman . Havens has also been a fixture on Bourbon Street in New Orleans for the past 30 years.

On Saturday, April 5, Havens and the New Legends Big Band will hit the stage at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills.

The orchestra plans a program of swing, jazz and be-bop. It's part of the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts' season.

Admission is $25 for adults, $12 for students. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. The school is on Veterans Drive, off Colington Road.

CAPTION(S):

Aishu is scheduled to perform March 30 at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Aishu, who took up violin at age 2 and studied for two years under esteemed teacher T.N. Krishnan, has gained a reputation, according to her Web site, "for her tonal quality, spectral purity and strong bowing technique."