​Extravore Discovery: ​As much as I love vocalist Kurt Elling, his last few CDs have some really bad song choices on them. Some of it is his consistently bad songwriting; some is just a bad choice of contemporary tunes. I know he's trying to sound up to date, but he's missing something.

​Locavore Discovery:​ I'd seen guitarist Daniel DeLorenzo's name on a few gigs but hadn't heard him play. A friend sent this YouTube link--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgnIVEOFH80--to his latest self-produced CD. It sounds good enough for me to put a link to him on the Home Page & to keep an eye out for a live gig.

​This Week
​
Monday:

• Robert Griffin & Danny Grewen charm Imbibe 7p.​
• Gregg Gelb's Second Line Stompers bring New Orleans to the Pittsboro Roadhouse 7L30p.
• Russell Favret plays at the Durham Hotel (call for time).

​Tuesday:

• Alison Weiner's usual duo at the Eddy Pub in Saxapahaw 7p.
• The North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra (NCJRO) will probably sell out Sharp Nine 8p.

Wednesday:

• Yeaux Katz keep's its crown as Carrboro's best jazz bar-band at Second Wind 7p.
• Sidecar Social Club does its bi-weekly Humble Pie thing 8:30p.
• Singer Amy Hancock & Tin Tuxedo play the Empress Room 9p.
• Jazz At the Mary Lou goes until the wee hours on the Duke West Campus 9:30p.

Thursday:

• That lively Durham Hotel Jazz Jam, led by Al Strong, 7p.

Friday:​ Six choices!

• Kobie Watkins has his CD release party at Durham Fruit & Produce 7p. ​I'll be there.
• ​​Ira Wiggins makes a rare appearance at the Beyu 7 & 9p. ​If not for Kobie, I'd be there.
• Vocalist Katherine Whalen & pianist Robert Griffin explore the Songbook at Imbibe 8p.
• Pianist Elmer Gibson plays over talking-while-eating noise at Irregardless 6:30p.
• Elegant pianist Jonathan Markow plays against cocktail-infused talk at C Grace 9p.
• Ernest Turner plays to what I assume is a quieter crowd at Hillsborough's Panciuto Resturant 9p.

​Saturday:

• ​Al Strong's quartet starts the evening outdoors at Raleigh's House of Hops 5p.
• Extravore bassist Iris Ornig joins local musicians at Sharp Nine 8p. Having seen her uniquely arrange Burt Bacharach tunes into great jazz a year ago, I'm coming back for more!
• Donovan Cheatham brings his quintet to Watts & Wards's Halloween bash--"Prohibition Is Over"--8:30p.
• Tea Cup Gin does its thing at Durham's Arcana 9p.

​Discoveries:

​1. ​I'd never heard Katherine Whalen before:​ Being in & out of this area over the years I missed the Squirrel Nut Zippers. So, hearing Katherine Whalen sing at Imbibe Friday night with pianist Robert Griffin was a pleasure, as the two of them whirled through the jazz songbook. ​And, they'll do that every other Friday at Imbibe.

2. Shana Tucker is a delightful, uncategorizable singer:​ Heard her open for Kaira Ba at the Cradle last night. She's personable, imaginative & can sing in many styles, with a jazzish spirit.

3. ​Watts & Ward has a new online schedule:​ I often struggle to keep up with some venue/performer links since they can change without notice other than the old link suddenly disappears or has old info. I'm happy to say Watts & Ward now has a monthly calendar format for its gigs. Enjoy...

​This Week:​ Don't ignore the Usual Suspects at the Usual Venues while distracted by these highlights...

Monday:​ A reminder that Ernest Turner leads the monthly Calvary United Methodist Church jazz jam 7:30p. ​I'll be there.

Friday:

• Originally "local" vocalist Carol Sloane sings with the Duke Jazz Band led by John Brown at Baldwin Auditorium 8p.
  
• Will Goble leads a solid quartet at Sharp Nine 8p.
  

​Saturday:

• ​Durham's Holy Cross Catholic Church--2438 S. Alston Avenue--celebrates famous parishioner Mary Lou Williams with music from pianist Lydia Salett Dudley & discussion led by musicologist Howard Burchette 7-10p. ​This could be special.

Discoveries:

1. ​The NCCU Faculty Ensemble sounded great at Sharp Nine Friday night: This nonet not only sounded great, they were having a great time, always a good sign for jazz. And, in a smaller venue they sounded better than they do in larger venues. Plus, the place was sold out. ​They should make this an annual or semi-annual event.

2. Venerable alto saxist Lee Konitz was a trip at the Arts Center Saturday: I'd given up a competitive gig to see if Konitz still has his chops. His short-term memory ain't perfect & he occasionally seemed to be soloing over others, but he can both still play--especially the songbook--& he scats in an acceptably scratchy way, only adding to his charm & his love of the music.

3. I agree with Branford Marsalis up to a point: His Duke Performances interview at the Pinhook Wednesday was, as usual, very interesting. I couldn't but mentally agree when he emphasized the need of young musicians to listen to their own sound​; that serendips with my sensitivity to young (& older) musicians having a sound rather than just a set of notes that doesn't move me. Where I part with Branford is his apparent disdain for contemporary players. I know he likes to challenge people with his opinions, but I have to draw line here. Luckily that has nothing to do with my liking of his music & his ambition.

​This Week:​ I keep my music calendar on a printed calendar, for jazz & the many other musics I like. Thursday-Sunday this week are jammed. Difficult decisions ahead...

Thursday:​

• ​Al Strong leads the weekly Durham Hotel rooftop best-in-town jazz jam 7p.
• Jonathan Markow tickles the ivories at the Empress Room 7:30p.
• Gypsy jazz with Reinhardt (yes, that​ Reinhardt!) & Stelter @ the Carrboro Arts Center 8p.
• Donovan Cheatham leads his trio at Watts & Ward 8:30p.
• Mark Wells entertains at C Grace 9p.
• Guitarist James Gilmore does freeprov jazz with Ghost Trees @ Raleigh's Neptune's Parlour 9p.

Friday:

• Stephen Anderson plays during dinner @ Irregardless 6:30p.​​
• Greensboro-based guitarist (& Zen Poet) Gabe Dansereau leads his trio @ Sharp Nine 8p.
  
• Robert Griffin & ex-Squirrel Nut Zipper Katherine Whalen do their thing at Imbibe 8p.
  
• Tin Tuxedo explores standards @ C Grace 9p.
  

Saturday:

• ​The NC Jazz Rep Orchestra jazzes Charles Ives @ UNC's Hill Hall Moeser Auditorium 8p.
• Peter Lamb & the Wolves liven up Irregardless 9p.
  
• Al Strong's quartet does the same @ C Grace 9p.
  

Sunday:

• Atomic Rhythm All-Stars @ Durham's Blue Note Grill 8p. ​Don't miss this. I won't!