Discoveries:
1. Pianist Sean Mason's style has changed (at least for one night): Saturday night at Sharp Nine he was too full of sound & fury, signifying not enough. I left when he went on & on with a fourth extended vamp accented by piano-pounding & driving rockish drumming. Yes, he was briefly melodic ("My Romance") & a couple of gospel forays, but, e.g., turning the lovely "Blame It On My Youth" into one of those extended things was incongruous. One hopes that the road of excess does lead to the path of wisdom.
2. Yeaux Katz is back--at the Station: They started there, & now that drummer Rob Ladd has recovered from car crash injuries, they were on fire Wednesday night. The Best Jazz Bar Band In Carrboro will play every Wednesday night.
This Week: It could be very busy for me (in addition to my Guide To Local Jazz class). It depends on my energy.
Sunday:
- The Avante acapella group at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) 4p. Unless domestic tasks get in the way, I'll be there.
- The incomparable Atomic Rhythm All-Stars recreate speakeasy jazz at Raleigh's Neptune's Parlour 8p.
- Saxophonist Noel Sherr at Sharp Nine 7p. If I have energy after my class, I should be there to listen to sideman Scott Sawyer.
- Jonathan Markow plays lovely standards at Empress Room 7:30p.
- Al Strong's Durham Hotel jazz jam (fusion tonight?) 7p.
- Eric Hirsh starts his monthly residency at Durham's Arcana 8p. I'll be there, perhaps after a stop at the Durham Hotel.
- Zen Poets at Irregardless 9p. A chance to catch up with them, especially Annalist Stalls on saxophones.
- Not often heard pianist Martin Eagle debuts a CD at Durham's Parizade Restaurant 4p. His playing is worth hearing.