1. The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble is a darn good big band: Wow, did they sound good in their first '19-20 concert! Sounded good as a unit, had a batch of good soloists--& it features a 10th grader vocalist who sings incredibly well with a big band. They're worth following as they pursue another selection for the national Essentially Ellington contest at Lincoln Center.
2. Ariel Pocock plays a really fine piano: I hadn't heard her play on a grand piano in much too long, but I heard her play in the Keith Ganz Quartet Friday night at Sharp Nine. Sounded so good I want to hear more of the same.
This Week:
Monday-Thursday: The Usual Suspects are at Imbibe, the Pittsboro Roadhouse, the Eddy Pub, C Grace, 2nd Wind, Irregardless, Vinos Finos, & the Durham Hotel (+ the Triangle Jazz Orch at the Arts Center Wednesday 7:30).
Friday: 5 choices
- Young vocalist Malik Denny sings at Irregardless 6:30p.
- Extravore drummer Ralph Peterson leads his Aggregate Prime quintet 8p. Worth seeing.
- The Durham Ladybirds--NCCU grads & students--led by bassist Billie Feather at Sharp Nine. I'll be there because their 2017 gig was so much fun.
- Tin Tux spices up C Grace 9p.
- Mark Wells does bluesy jazzy blues quite well at the Empress Room 9p.
- Soul jazz legend Stanley Baird plays the Beyu 7 & 9p.
- NYC pianist Isaiah J. Thompson leads a youngblood quartet (including local bassist become Julliard student Philip Norris) 8p. I'll be there to see/hear the future...
- Jo Gore lights Durham's Motorco--& promotes her Kickstarter campaign--at 9p.
- Lydia Sallett Dudley sings & pianos at Irregardless 9p.
- Al Strong does his C Grace thing 9p.
- The Durham West End Wine Bar dances Latin 9:30p.