2Do This Week, March 31-April 6: Cultural events around Pittsburgh

The eighth annual B-PEP Jazz Concert musical "fun-raiser" for the Black Political Empowerment Project or B-PEP, 5:30-11:30 p.m., at Bridges in the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center (formerly Holiday Inn, University Center) in Oakland. Trumpeter Sean Jones and his Quartet, Michelle Benson, vocalist Etta Cox, saxophonist Kenny Blake, drummer Roger Humphries, vocalist/drummer Spider Rondinelli, vocalist Flo Wilson and the group Artistree are among the 70 artists slated to perform. Pittsburgh disc jockey Tony Mowod, founder of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society, is the host emcee along with guest emcees including Kevin Amos, WRCT Radio; Bill Hillgrove; David Jaye, "Jazzin' Around"; Chris Moore, WQED-TV and KDKA-AM; Laura Varner Norman, WAMO 100; Debbie Norrell, The New Pittsburgh Courier; and Bob Studebaker, WESA-FM. For more info and tickets ($35 general, $25 seniors), go to "B-PEP Jazz 2013" at b-pep.net or call 412-758-7898.

Award-winning poet Toi Derricotte will give a free public reading at 7 p.m. in Duquesne University's Power Center Ballroom.

As part of the freshman writing classes, students have been studying Ms. Derricotte's poetry this semester and will attend the reading, which is intended to help students experience literature off the printed page. For the past three years, the annual event has brought in well-known writers with Pittsburgh ties, including poet Terrance Hayes and author Stewart O'Nan.

Ms. Derricotte has published five books of poetry, most recently "The Undertaker's Daughter," which looks back on her childhood in an abusive home. Her honors include two Pushcart Prizes, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Guggenheim Foundation. Ms. Derricotte is a University of Pittsburgh professor of English and a co-founder of Cave Canem, a workshop and retreat for African-American poets.

"RAW: natural born artists" showcases local emerging artists in film, fashion, music, visual art, performance art, hair and makeup artistry, and photography at Cavo, 1900 Smallman St., Strip District, at 8 p.m. This month's event, titled "Marvel," includes D.S. Kinsel, Ve.Jay.Broyld.Sr, everyday balloons, Angel O'Connor, Abby Diamond, ArieBella Couture, Derrik Hubenthal, Dan Meyers, Lauren Toohey, Jay A. Grassel, Mike Ramsey, RELD, Manolache+Brieger, SUN TURRET, Anne Michele Lyons, Tori Krout, Moriah Moore, DeAndre, Elizabeth Fortunato, Ricky Pirozzi, Wendy & Lyndsay, Brian Holderman, Jason Woolslare, Laura Mushenheim, 8cylinder, Serotonin and James Simon. Mad Tom Brown is the DJ, and Knowledge Build the host.

Each RAW event features a film screening, musical performance, fashion show, art gallery, performance art, and a featured hairstylist and makeup artist. The artists are all local hand-picked talent who have been chosen to be featured at RAW, which educates, connects and exposes emerging artists in 54 artistic communities across the United States and Australia through monthly showcase events.

The dress code for this 21-and-over event is fashionable cocktail attire. Tickets: $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Info: www.RAWartists.org/pittsburgh or the RAW Pittsburgh Facebook page.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs all six -- yes, six -- of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos this weekend at Heinz Hall. Conducting and playing harpsichord will be the talented Jeannette Sorrell in her Heinz Hall debut. She is an accomplished baroque conductor and leads the acclaimed period-instrument group Apollo's Fire. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $20 to $93; call 412-392-4900 or visit www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

Tease, a burlesque and vaudeville show, at Cattivo Bar, 146 44th St., at 9:30 p.m.

Le Femme Mystique Burlesque is producing an old-school burlesque show that will feature British burlesque royalty, including Peggy De Lune and Smokin' McQueen, as well as Bella Sin of Cleveland, in addition to local vaudeville and variety performers paying tribute to classic burlesque. Phat Man Dee is the host. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 the day of the show (cash only at the door). Limited seating is first come, first serve. For tickets, bellasin.weebly.com/tickets.html.