I couldn't figure out when to clap. That's my only (facetious) complaint about last night, as they redefined the Sharp Nine edge of the envelope. Unlike most local performers, Stephen Riley will reliably push the edges of quartet performance. E.g., the band played continuously for the first 45 minutes of the first set, seguing seamlessly from tune to tune, sometimes asking us to Find The Melody.

It was refreshing....

OK, the holiday is officially over. Now we can look forward:

--Hearing Ernest Turner play last night in the envelope-pushing Stephen Riley Quartet reminded me that you can catch Ernest's trio every Monday night at the Shed for $5. Can do much better than that!

--There's an interesting extravore/locavote performance Wednesday night at 7:30p in UNC's Kenan Music Building: DC-based saxist Brad Linde leads a big band of extravore players blended with key local players (Stephen Anderson, Aaron Hill) reimagining Herbie Hancock's landmark Maiden Voyage recording. I heard this band a year ago, & you'll learn what post-millennial big band music sounds like.

--Jazz guitar icon, the eclectic John Scofield appears Thursday night at the Durham Armory as a Carolina Theatre production. Don't know why that venue, but Scofield is a guitarist whom local guitarists idolize.

--Friday night you have choices & yet don't: collaborating with Sharp Nine, I set up a performance by singer Kate McGarry & guitarist Keith Ganz for my Guide To Local Jazz class at 7p. If you can't get a ticket for that--I feel slightly guilty about competing with other performers--otherwise I'd see the Duke Jazz Ensemble at Baldwin Auditorium or singer Jua at the Beyu.

--I'll be back at Sharp Nine Saturday night for pianist Stephen Anderson & his trio. Stephen is a force...

...was "Eternal", dedicated by Branford to his wife & recorded on the "Eternal" CD in 2004. The live duo version Sunday night was better than the CD track, but the CD is full of similarly beautiful ballads. I'm glad the live version took me back to a CD I hadn't listened to in a while....