Yup, we're gonna be distracted by family & whatevers the next two weeks, but there are a few performances worth taking some time for:

Thursday 12/22: I've bolded this because this is the performance of this time: pianist Ernest Turner & saxist Stephen Riley are not to be missed by anyone in the neighborhood of C Grace in Raleigh.

Tuesday 12/27:​ I like students with the energy to make a music internship become a performance opportunity--young singer Qualia "Akili" Holder-Cozart deserves a listen just to see what she makes of this opportunity. I know she can sing, so why not give her a listen?

​Saturday 12/31: ​Lotsa jazz choices: the Ariel Pocock Trio highlights the Sharp Nine annual fundraiser; pianist Jonathan Markow plays at the Beyu while people dine; Al Strong keeps C 1888 in Raleigh humming, while Peter Lamb & the Wolves do the same at C Grace. Check those websites for details--& have a lotta fun!

Things have slowed down a bit from last week, but there's still plenty to choose from this week:

​Today/Sunday:​ Hmm, maybe Jo Gore will sing "Baby It's Cold Outside" at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p, backed by pianist Ernest Turner. Don't know if I'll get there, but I should be sipping red wine & listening to the Brad Maiani Trio at Chapel Hill's WEWB 7p. The wine won't be the only source of heat there then.

Monday:​ This is a strong off-beat recommendation: Pianist Robert Griffin & trombonist Danny Grewen will do a Sinatra tribute at Imbibe on Henderson St in CH, 7-10p. If I had a Jazz Simple Pleasures list, this Monday night gig would be on it. Not fancy, but it'll be fun.

​Friday:​ One straight-ahead choice, one not so. I'll go to Sharp Nine's 8p Jim Ketch Swingtet show, then possibly hit the Station on my way home for the Boom Unit Brass Band. The latter plays after an opening act starts at 9:30. By the time I get there, things will be booming...

Saturday:​​ ​I already have a ticket for extravore jazz Rez Abbasi's Invocation quintet at Duke, but would otherwise have gone to Zen Poets at Sharp Nine 8p. I regret the latter since the ZPs haven't played in a while. I hope they gig again over the holidays hereabouts...Plus I'll catch the Robert Trowers trombone trio at the Station 2p.

​Sunday next week: ​Another pleasure I'll miss but advise everyone to go see. Pianist/singer Adrian Duke--imagine Tom Waits imitating Ray Charles--​will​--entertain you, accompanied by singer Theresa Richmond, & guitarist Scott Sawyer. Enjoy...

pAnother busy weekend ahead...

Friday:​ Though I've just bought a ticket to singer Angela Bingham's tribute to the great Blossom Dearie at Sharp Nine 8p, I could easily have gone to any of these: Stephen Anderson at Irregardless 6:30p; Jim Ketch at the Franklin Hotel 8p; Al Strong at Alley 26 9p; or Tin Tuxedo at C Grace 9p. Then there's Saturday...

Saturday:​ I know I'll go hear singer Frankie Alexander at the Station 2p; the evening has many choices (Reprise): Greensboro-based trumpeter & guitarist Aaron Matson do Coltrane at Sharp Nine 8p; at the same time trombonist Danny Grewen & pianist Robert Griffin do their Imbibe thing, this time at the Kraken out on Route 54 west of Carrboro 8p; singer Noah Powell, accompanied by Stephen Anderson, performs at Irregardless 9p; or Orquesta Gardel plays at the annual "Mambo Dynamico" at the Living Arts Collective in Durham 9p.

Sunday:​ After I sleep in, I plan to catch Andrew Berinson do the Beyu brunch 11a-2, figure out what to do afterwards, drift over the singer Jo Gore & pianist Ernest Turner at Durham's West End Wine Bar at 4p, &--if I have any energy left, end up at Chapel Hill's WEWB for guitarist Brad Maiani 7p. And then to sleep....

Monday:​ I need to note that Danny Grewen & Robert Griffin are doing a Sinatra night at Imbibe in Chapel Hill 7-10p. It will be worth it!