1. The Beyu is dead! Long live the Beyu: The Beyu will no longer have music after New Year's Eve, but will continue as a community hub. I hope Dorian Bolden finds his way back to some jazz in the future.
2. The "future of jazz" ain't just a cliché: I used that phrase to describe why I planned to hear the Julliard-trained Isaiah J. Thompson quartet at Sharp Nine Friday. I was right...
3. NCCU is late again for promoting its fine jazz events, but there's still time to...to go to the student performances Tuesday at 7p in B.N. Duke Auditorium or Delfeayo Marsalis performance Friday 7:30p.
This Week: Pretty normal except for Friday night, which has so much I need to focus on it...
Friday:
- Tea Cup Gin at Cary's Mayton Inn 6p.
- Doug Largent Trio at Irregardless 6:30p.
- Sam King's RSB Band at Watts & Ward 7p. W&W has added some Friday gigs.
- The interesting pairing of trumpeter Al Strong & pianist Stephen Anderson at Raleigh's Brasa Steak House 7p. If I could squeeze this in, I would.
- The NCCU Vocal Jazz & the Jazz Ensemble are joined by Delfeayo Marsalis 7:30p. If I could figure out how the pair this with the next, I would.
- The Brandon Mitchell Quintet pays tribute to the MJQ 8p. This week's must-see, something local jazz spirit Ed Furtick has been planning for years!
- Robert Griffin & Katherine Whalen again fill Imbibe with standards 8p.
- Not often seen (yet) local guitarist Avery Linderman at Circa 1888. I've been waiting for him to show up somewhere.
- Jazz & blues guitarist Randy Johnson makes a semi-annual visit to Durham's Blue Note Grill, accompanied by local organist Doug Largent 5p. Nice to have such gigs early Sunday evenings.