Intro:​ I'm away this weekend so here's scoop for the next two weeks. When I get back I'll see what unforeseen October gigs have come up & bring us all up to date...

Discoveries:

​1. Carrboro's Arts Center reminded me of their 2017-8 jazz performance sprinkled among other interesting stuff: ​Raleigh's The Hot At Nights/ extravore guitarist Matthew Stevens, Jason Marsalis Quartet...

2. MahaloJazz has a new website calendar. I not that because I really appreciate Alison Weiner listing who's playing with her at gigs. E.g., I truly enjoy hearing Carter Minor sing...

This Week:​ Weeknights of usual suspects/places, & some nice weekend choices...

​Friday:​ If I was here Friday, I'd consider doing a double: Mark Wells & Al Strong have played together for years & are at Brasa 7p, while the so-called Carolina Jazz Messengers--Chad Eby & pals from Greensboro-- explore Art Blakey's legacy 8p.  Or, for percussionist Brevan Hampden fans, he's at C Grace 9p. 

Saturday: ​​At 8p drummer & Durham native Dave Potter ​premiers his new CD with a solid set of sidemen (WNCU has been playing it lately) at Sharp Nine, while, for Al Strong fans, he reappears with a quartet at C Grace 9p.

Next Week:​ I'll catch up "missing" gigs when I come back since I have many blank spaces on my calendar. But, the weekend has plenty to offer.

Friday:​ Locavore pianist Jonathan Markow brings in extravore bassist Iris Ornig to Sharp Nine 8p to play Burt Bachrach. I've listened to their playing so this is worth my being there.

​Saturday:​ I plan to start my day at the Station 2p, listening to Frankie Alexander sing standards well; then continuing on to locavore pianist Ed Paolantonio & NC native saxophonist Brad Linde explore the music of bebop pianist Lennie Tristano at Sharp Nine 8p. Another gig is well worth noting: for free jazz fans, guitarist James Gilmore offers controlled anarchy with the NC Freetet at Durham's Arcana.

​Sunday:​ UNC wisely offers the second performance of "Ella At the Savoy: A Centennial Celebration" at Kenan Building's rehearsal hall. If you haven't seen this yet--I have & it's great--you need to go.

Tuesday 10/10:​ Pianist Ernest Turner & saxophonist Stephen Riley--this area's premier Monkistas--celebrate Monk's actual birth date at Sharp 9 7p. ​Sorry to be so bold, but this is another must-see event!

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 ​(Re) Discoveries:

1. Lois Deloatch Gomes know how to put on a show:​ She's now working four days a week, leaving room for cultivating her cultural creativity. It showed Saturday night at Sharp Nine, promising jazz, soul, & Americana--& delivering. ​Highlight:​ her original blues tune with lyrics from rural grandmothers' advice to female children & grandchildren. That tune needs recording!

​2. Fred Hersch's "Leaves of Grass" production is an extravore jazz gem (with one locavore performer:​ Having idolized the original CD,​ ​I awaited the Jazz At Lincoln Center live online performance Friday night with great expectation. Hersch composed the music & directed a septet while Kurt Elling (primarily) & "our" Kate McGarry sang the lyrics from Whitman's verse. Kurt Elling is made​ for singing poetry, & he makes Whitman come alive in a way I haven't experienced before. So, go search for the CD, or check YouTube in the next few weeks for the performance.

This Week:​ ​It would be hard to match the above two weeks in a row, but there's still plenty to choose among this week.

Sunday:​ Gregg Gelb continues his frantic working pace, going from the Trian​gle Trad Jazz Society gig at Raleigh's  Glenwood Club​ 3p to the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra at Chapel Hill's Southern Village 6p. Scott Sawyer is less mobile, playing at the Triangle Guitar Society gig at Carrboro's Century Center 7p. And, if you need more jazz guitar (I may), Brad Maiani plays simultaneously at Chapel Hill's West End Wine Bar.

Friday:​ While Keith Ganz leads a quartet at Sharp Nine 8p, the Sidecar Social Club enlivens C Grace 9p.

​Saturday:​ Lots going on--UNC-Charlotte saxophonist Will Campbell leads a quintet including Dave Finucane (two tenors!) & guitarist Keith Ganz; Irregardless hosts Zen Poets 6:30 & Al Strong's Quintet 9p (lots of good music there); & the Empress Room advertises "Mark Ariel Pocock", a typo worth a stop to see if it's Ariel Pocock or Mark Wells (or both?). And, for extraores, guitarist John Pizzarelli & singer Catherine Russell are guaranteed to be lively at NCSU.
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