Discoveries: Bad News, Good News

1. No more Thursday night jazz jam at Imbibe in Chapel Hill:​ It pains me--because just listening to pianist Ernest Turner was worth going--but I'm not surprised. Neither enough jammers nor listeners showed up. My guess is that Durham-based players felt it was too far to come, or were busy that late in the week, etc. Plus, the Good News below had its effect in the last few months.

2. The Thursday night Durham Hotel jazz jam led by Al Strong is now weekly at 7p:​​ First it was weekly at 8; then it was twice monthly; sometime in the last week or so it became both weekly & at 7p. Whatever, based on last week it's a good deal.

This Week:

Sunday/Today:

• Noah Sager's trio at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p.
• Guitar/bass/drum jazz trio at Durham's Goorsha restaurant 6p. Not sure who's leading, ​but I want to hear guitarist J C Martin after hearing him at the DH jazz jam. Plus, I like Ethiopian food...

Monday:

• Danny Grewen & Robert Griffin do their entertaining thing at Imbibe 7p.
• The Triangle Jazz Orchestra plays for dance night at the Pittsboro Road House 7:30p.

​Tuesday:​ Alison Weiner does her thing at the Eddy Pub 7p.
​Wednesday:

• Gregg Gelb & the trad jazz Second Line Stompers play at Cary's Koka Booth Theater 5:30p.
• Yeaux Katz--Carrboro's best jazz bar band--plays at 2nd Wind 7p.
• Sidecar Social Club has its bi-monthly gig at Humble Pie 9p.
• Pianist Frank Longino plays at C Grace 9p.

Thursday:

• ​Pianist Gary Brunotte & percussionist Ramon Ortiz play Latin jazz at Vinos Finos 6:30p.
• Al Strong leads the Durham Hotel jazz jam 7p. I'll be there with my Guide To Local Jazz class.
• Pianist Mark Wells lights up C Grace 9p.

Friday:

• Decatur Street Beat's trad jazz at Durham's Saladelia 7p.
• While Gary Brunotte tickles the ivories upstairs at the Empress Room, Tin Tuxedo plays downstairs at C Grace, both 9p.
  
• Cuban Revolution does its thing 9:30p.

Saturday:

• ​First the Zen Poets duo at 6:30p, then singer Noah Powell at Irregardless 9p. Double play.
• Jazz returns to Sharp Nine after a break with guitarists Scott Sawyer & Keith Ganz 8p. ​I'll be there because it's a don't-miss.
• Al Strong's Quartet at C Grace 9p.
• Cuban Revolution does its thing 9:30p.

Extravore Discoveries:

1. ​Drummer Lewis Nash was fabulous​ playing with the Renee Rosnes Quartet 5/4 at the Jazz Arts Forum in Tarrytown NY. You talk about how drummers can add value to a band, Lewis Nash was a master class, boosting everyone else while taking complex, fitting solos. Give this drummer some!

2. ​Kate McGarry upped her game with Fred Hersch​ at Jazz Standard 5/9--but who couldn't with such a beautifully playing pianist? I was lucky to hear such fine music while travelling.

This Week:​ We may be in post-graduation doldrums--i.e., giving us time to catch up with Usual Suspects--but these gigs are worth noting:

Today/Sunday:​ Jazz/blues guitarist Randy Johnson makes a regular visit to the Blue Note Grill 5p.

Monday: ​​The free "Blues Women" multi-media performance is at NCCU's Communications Building 10a.​

Wednesday:​ The Mint Julep Jazz Band makes both dancers & listeners swing at Cary's Koka Booth Theater 5:30p.

Friday:​ It's probably worth a trip to Greensboro's O Henry Hotel weekly jazz gig to hear fine once-local pianist Thomas Linger play 6:30p.

​Discovery:​ I'll be away for a week so must describe the next two weeks concisely...

Next Week:
Tuesday:​ Pianist Alison Weiner's duo at the Eddy Pub 7p.
​Wednesday:​​

• ​Yeaux Katz band at 2nd Wind 7p.
• Pianist Jonathan Markow at Brasa 7p.
• Pianist Robert Griffin at Durham's Arcana 8p.
• Peter Lamb & the Wolves at Humble Pie 8:30p.

Thursday:

• ​​​​Pianist Ernest Turner's jazz jam at Imbibe​ 7p.
• Pianist Jonathan Markow at the Empress Room 7p.
• Trumpeter Al Strong's quartet at C Grace 9p.

Friday:

• ​Triangle Jazz Orchestra at Chapel Hill's Meadowmont Village 6p.
• Pianist Stephen Anderson at Irregardless 6:30p.
• Pianist Gary Brunotte at Brasa 7p.
• Guitarist Gabe Dansereau & pianist Sean Mason at Sharp Nine 8p. ​If I wasn't away (& hearing pianist Renee Rosnes) I'd be here.
• Pianist Andrew Berinson at the Empress Room 9p.

Saturday:

• ​The Zen Poets band at Sharp Nine 8p. If I wasn't away (& playing with grandkids) I'd be here.
• Singer Ti Harmon (with Andrew Berinson) at Irregardless 9p.
• Saxophonist Sam King at C Grace 9p.

​Next Next Week:
Monday:

• ​NC Revelers Orchestra at the Pittsboro Roadhouse 7:30p.
• ​Atomic Rhythm All-Stars band at Raleigh's Neptune's Parlour 8:30p.

Tuesday: Alison Weiner at the Eddy Pub 7p.
Wednesday:

• Yeaux Katz at 2nd Wind 7p.
• Sidecar Social Club band at Humble Pie 8:30p.

Thursday:

• Pianist Jonathan Markow at Irregardless 6:30p.
• Ernest Turner's jazz jam at Imbibe 8p. I'll be there with my Guide To Local Jazz class.
• Al Strong's jazz jam at the Durham Hotel 8p.
• Tea Cup Gin band at Watts & Ward 8:30p.

Friday:

• Andrew Berinson Quartet at C Grace 9p.

Saturday:

• ​Guitarist JC Martin at Circa 1888 8p.
• Sidecar Social Club band at Clayton's Revival 1869 8p.
• Al Strong Quartet at C Grace 9p.