Discoveries:

1. ​Eric Hirsh got an early Christmas present!​ His Kickstarter has been funded--thanks to all who helped!--& his quartet goes into the recording studio 1/6/18. Before you know it we'll have a CD in our hands or an online download link. Yeah!

2. The Station goes on winter hiatus:​ The 2p Saturday jazz will start again around March 1 according to the bartender. I'm a bit concerned because stopping can be easier than starting. Sorta like the check's in the mail. We'll see....

Next two weeks:​ OK, it's time for Christmas/Hannukah, Kwanza, New Years, the Philippine Lantern Festival, Junkanoo, Boxing Day, & Pablo Casals birthday--i.e., distractions from jazz. But, that does not mean ​there's no jazz in the next two weeks...

Monday 12/18: Danny Grewen & Robert Griffin having fun at Imbibe 7p; dancing to the Triangle Jazz Orchestra at the Pittsboro Roadhouse.
​Tuesday 12/19:​ Give Eric Hirsh a high five as he plays on the Durham Hotel roof 6p; the Jazzbeau quartet at 2nd Wind 7p.
Thursday 12/21: Al Strong at C Grace 9p.
​Friday 12/22:​ Decatur Street Beat at Durham's Saladelia 7p; Ariel Pocock at the Empress Room 9:30p.
Saturday 12/23:​ the Zen Poets Duo at Irregardless 6p; Butcher Brown plays serious fusion at the Beyu 7 & 9p.
​Thusday 12/28: Pianist Mark Wells at C Grace 9p.
​Friday 12/29:​ NCCU grad saxophonist Lionel Lyles visits the Beyu (from Baltimore) 7 & 9p​; Tix Tuxedo hits C Grace 9p.
​Saturday 12/29:​ Lotsa choices in Raleigh, with Noah Powell singing at Irregardless 9p; Al Strong at C Grace 9p; & Angela Bingham at the Empress Room 9p. Pays yer money & makes yer choices.

​No excuses, now. What else is there to do after presents are opened or friends & family greeted or stale bowl games watched ad nauseum? Go hear some music!

OK, folks, we have a task ahead: to help Eric's Kickstarter campaign so he can share his music with the greater world. He's 2/3 of the way there with two days to go. He's got that support because he's such a good player & a knowledgeable & nice guy, but he needs us to reach his goal. Please go to this site to contribute:

http://kck.st/2iilXu3

Discoveries:

1. ​Eric Hirsh's Kickstarter ends Thursday 12/14:​ Please contribute at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/67568290/eric-hirsh-original-jazz-album-debut?ref=card

2. ​Big crowd at 2nd Wind for Yeaux Katz:​ OK, I keep advocating more folks hearing live local jazz, so I was startled--& ultimately quite pleased--to see a full bar of listeners for Yeaux Katz last Wednesday. I was told it was the second full house in a row. Yippee, word-of-mouth has finally succeeded!

​3. ​​There's an online jazz concert/documentary channel now:​ Thanks to the marvelous Quincy Jones, musician & producer extraordinaire, on 12/15 Qwest TV​ subscription service comes online. For jazz fans, this is great. Check it out: ​https://qwest.tv/

This Week:​ I do believe things are starting to slow down for Christmas, so it's time to think about stopping in a the Usual Suspects during the week:

Monday:​ Grewen & Griffin do their fun thing at Imbibe in Chapel Hill 7p; while High Strung Guitars has a teaching/learning jazz jam (something new) 7p.
Tuesday: The last NCJRO concert of the year at Sharp Nine 8p.
Wednesday:​ Join the crowd for the aforementioned Yeaux Katz--the area's best jazz bar-band--at 2nd Wind 7p; or listen to pianist Ariel Pocock at Durham's Bar Virgile 7p.
Thursday:​ Ernest Turner plays for the first set of Imbibe's jazz jam & then lets other players jam. It's worth it just to hear Ernest play.

Saturday:​ Double trouble, as I will catch guitarist James Gilmore at the Station 2p, take a nap, & then catch Kate McGarry & Keith Ganz at Sharp Nine 8p. The latter performed in my last Guide To Local Jazz class & were fabulous so I'm excited to see then again.