1. If you like who's playing in the Sullivan's Steakhouse bar--check the WNCU calendar--it's a great place to listen. Friday night it was even quieter for Ernest Turner & bassist Will Goble than its equivalent at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse. Is it something about steak houses?
2. Speaking of Will Goble, he's moved back to his Durham hometown. In addition to gigs with Jason Marsalis & his group gigs out of town, this means we should hear more of his locavore sound. His calendar link is on the Home Page.
3. I've been forgetting to note pianist Gary Brunotte does a Monday night at the Empress Room American Songbook gig. If you need Songbook yayas, they're there.
4. C Grace is so noisy on a Friday night that it requires sitting up front to hear the band clearly enough. Duh. Local musicians tell me it's much quieter during the week.
5. I've also put a Home Page link for popular drummer Donovan Cheatum for those times when he leads his own group.
6. Jazz At Lincoln Center has live gigs online. E.g., tonight it's a profile of Jelly Roll Morton. Next week it's McCoy Tyner live. Go to their website & explore...
This Week = Way Too Many Weekend Choices:
Friday: Al Strong Trio at Alley 26 9p; trombone group Slide Effect at Sharp Nine 8p; Second Line Stompers at the Page-Walker Center in Cary; Brevan Hampden at C Grace 9p (his drums > crowd noise!); drummer Michael Ode at Beyu 7 & 9p; Gary Brunotte reappears at the Empress Room 9p; Ariel Pocock & James Suter at Brasa 7p.
Saturday: Keith Ganz & excellent pianist Gabe Evans at Sharp Nine 8p; Noah Powell sings at Irregardless 9p; pianist Martin Eagle & bassist (& WHUP jazz DJ) Ben Palmer at Durham's Growler Grlz 7p; guitarist James Gilmore at the Station 2p; pianist-vocalist Mark Wells at the Empress Room 9p; guitarist JC Martin at Raleigh's Circa 1888.
I went Detailed to show (i) how much jazz we have here & (ii) how confusing it is for me to choose!