​Discovery: Bassist Ittai Korman snuck up on me!​ I'd only heard Ittai once (brefily) before but knew he'd been playing at Cuban Revolution. So when he showed up with the Jim Ketch Quartet with vocalist Angela Bingham at Sharp Nine last night, I was happily surprised at how well he plays. He fit into the group like he grew up with them. Ergo, it's worth checking out his trio, Dreamroot, at Beer Study in Durham Wednesday night 7p.

This Week:​ The delightful confusion in choosing what to see when is amplified by the NCCU & UNC Jazz Fests. So I'll let you follow this link--http://www.nccu.edu/calendar/dept.cfm?deptid=92--for NCCU, & this link--http://www.jimketch.com/itinerary/index.html--for UNC. Everything else--& there are too many choices this weekend!--is below...

Today/Sunday:

• ​​The Noah Sager Trio at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p. ​I'm bringing my pop-up Guide To Local Jazz class there.
• The Al Strong trio at Cary's Sidebar (a new venue for me) 4p.
• Pianist Michael Pelz-Sherman & guitarist Paul Bomar at C Grace 7p.

Monday:​

• The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra at the Pittsboro Roadhouse 7:30p.
• The Atomic Rhythm All-Starts at Raleigh's Neptune's Parlour 8:30p. ​Worth seeing for authentic '20-30s roadhouse jazz.

​
Tuesday:

• Pianist Alison Weiner duo at the Eddy Pub 7p.
• The NCJRO at Sharp Nine 8p.

Wednesday:

• Bassist Ittai Korman's Dreamroot trio at Durham's Beer Study 7p. ​I will "study" this trio!
• Pianist Ariel Pocock & bassist James Suter at Bar Virgile 7p.
• The Triangle Jazz Orchestra at Carrboro Arts Center 7:30p. ​Dance your toogies off!
• Sidecar Social Club at Humble Pie 8:30p.

​
Thursday:

• Frankie Alexander sings at Irregardless 6:30p.
• Al Strong's bi-weekly jazz jam at the Durham Hotel 8p.
• Pianist Mark Wells at C Grace 7:30p.

​
Friday: In addition to NCCU & UNC events...​I'll be at Sharp Nine for the UNC faculty plus guest violinist Sara Caswell (check her out on YouTube).

• Veteran local pianist Elmer Gibson at Irregardless 6:30p.
• Decatur Street Beat at Durham's Saladelia 7p.
• Pianist Gary Brunotte at the Empress Room 9p.
• Tix Tuxedo at C Grace 9p.

​Saturday:​  Even more!

• To help the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble return to Jazz At Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition, check out this 5-7p fundraiser in Raleigh: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-in-the-garden-tickets-43754853946. I'll be there because it's important!
• Soulish-jazzish vocalist Akua Allrich (check out on YouTube) at the Beyu 7 & 9p.
• Master guitarist Sheryl Bailey (with Kobie Watkins & Jason Foureman) at Sharp Nine 8p.
• Sidecar Social Club at Irregardless 9p.
• Saxist (& WNCU DJ) Alan Thompson at C Grace 9p.

​
Sunday:​​ Guitarist Brad Maiani brings his light out of his bushel basket for his monthly gig at Chapel Hill's West End Wine Bar 7p. ​I'll be there with my class.

Discoveries:

​1. I've made a few venue adjustments:​ Since the Beyu has only one jazzish performance this month & none next month, I've put a "?" after its link to indicate its diminishing "jazz club" label. Since I can't find any lnks for jazz at the Millenium Hotel, I've put a "?" after it. And, I've deleted The Station link because they list no jazz nor have replied to my inquiries.

2. ​I suggest anyone interested in hearing pianist Sean Mason play, rumor has it he's transferring to Juilliard:​ Don't know when he heads north, but I'll certainly look to hear him as often as possible in the coming months.

3. ​Tis the season for university jazz winding down:​ All but the UNC & NCCU jazz programs have finished locavore & extravore jazz performances. However, both those programs have events next week. Check them out & then wait for next fall calendars to arrive!

This Week:​ Not as packed as last week but still plenty of choices...

Monday:​ It's either the weekly trombonist/singer Danny Grewen & pianist Robert "Griffanzo" Griffin at Imbibe 7p, or  dancing to the Triangle Jazz Orchestra at the Pittsboro Roadhouse 7:30p. ​I'm bringing my "Guide To Local Jazz" class to the former.

Tuesday:​ Pianist Alison Weiner leads her weekly duo at the Eddy Pub in Saxapahaw 7p.

Wednesday: 

• Pianist/vocalist Ariel Pocock & bassist James do their weekly thing at Bar Virgile 7p.
• Peter Lamb & the Wolves do their bi-weekly thing at Humble Pie 8:30p.
• Pianist Frank Longino takes over C Grace 9p.
• Jazz At the Mary Lou wraps up at Duke for the semester 9:30p.

​
Thursday:​​ The only choice--& it's a great choice--is trumpeter Al Strong's quartet cutting through the cocktailed chatter at C Grace 9p.

​Friday: It's an "if you missed____at____, you have another chance tonight..."

• Peter Lamb Trio at NCMA's Iris Restaurant 5:30p, or...
• Al Strong's quintet, featuring fine vocalist Tyra Scott, at Sharp Nine 8p. I love vocalists, so I'll be there.
• Frank Longino moves upstairs to the Empress Room 9p.

​
Saturday:​ No such thing as too much Al Strong...

•  At the Café Carolina in Chapel Hill's Meadowmont, if you need trad jazz with your coffee & sweet, the Decatur Street Beat plays at 10a.
  
• Trumpeter Jim Ketch's quartet & singer Angela Bingham meet at Sharp Nine 8p. ​Two vocalists in succession isn't too many...
  
• Al Strong's quintet shifts to Irregardless 9p.
  
• Pianist Andrew Berinson's quartet takes over C Grace 9p.
• Ariel Pocock pops up at the Empress Room 9p.

​
Sunday:

• Pianist Noah Sager's trio does their weekly thing at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p. I bring my "Guide To Local Jazz" class there too.
• Last chance this weekend to hear Al Strong, with his trio at Cary's Sidebar (215 E Chatham), a new venue for me, 4p.
  
• Pianist Michael Pelz-Sherman & guitarist Paul Bomar debut their new CD at C Grace 7p.
  

Discovery: ​​Pianist Sean Mason can play fiercely when he wants to!​​ Last night at Sharp Nine he started with something with the word "menace" in the title. Being menaced never felt so good, as he & drummer Malcom Douglas forged their own percussive wavelength with bassist Butler Mitchell keeping the bottom rhythm. And that was just the start. Sean seems to play by ear (no tune sheets here) & cued the trio with melodic briefs. Lots of spontaneity here...

​This Week: Lots of choices again...

Sunday:​ The Noah Sager Trio does its thing at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p.

​Monday:

• ​Al Strong anchors four extravore players (fresh from the Fayetteville State Jazz Day) in a free​ performance at C Grace 7p. I'll be there.
• The Atomic Rhythm All-Stars continue their residency at Raleigh's Neptunes Parlor 8p. ​I'll drop in if I have the energy.​

Tuesday:

• UNC's Sonya Stone Center hosts a Puerto Rico benefit, including Juan Alamo & Marimbjazzia 7:30p.
• Al Weiner has her weekly duo gig at Saxpahaw's Eddy Pub 8p.

Wednesday:

• ​Sidecar Social Club has its bi-weekly gig at Humble Pie 8:30p.
• The Jazz At the Mary Lou jam rolls on 9:30p.

​Thursday:

• ​Watts & Ward celebrates its first anniversary with three different performances 6p.
• Tin Tuxedo is at the Empress Room 7:30.
• Al Strong leads the Durham Hotel bi-weekly jazz jam 8p.

Friday

• Gary Brunotte plays at Brasa Steakhouse
  
• Ariel Pocock sings, Ernest Turner plays at Sharp Nine. I'll be there.
  
• Tea Cup Gin plays at a new venue for me--Captain John's Dockside Restaurant just south of Chapel Hill--8p.
• Gregg Gelb takes over C Grace 9p.

Saturday:

• ​At Irregardless, Zen Poets play at 6:30p, Peter Lamb & the Wolves at 9p.
• Bassist Will Goble leads his quartet at Sharp Nine 8p.
• Sidecar Social Club plays at Circa 1888 8:30p.
  
• Al Strong's Quartet plays at C Grace 9p.

Sunday:

• ​The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble tunes up--for their national Essentially Ellington competition performance--at the NC Museum of History 2p.
• Pianist Zach Gossett leads a duo at C Grace 8p.