1. Watts & Ward is a good place to hear jazz: I caught the whole set of Donovan Cheatham's quartet Thursday night. In addition to the music being a treat, I found the venue interesting. It's a large, sprawling basement bar complex at the corner of South Blount & East Hargett, opposite Moore Square. So customers can hang in the music bar, in the quieter front bar, or in various nooks in the complex. The vibe is as good as the sound.
2. Sharp Nine schedules Tuesday night gigs 7p: They start this week with Griffin Ross.
3. Pianist Ariel Pocock has moved to NYC but will commute to NC: I know that sounds hard, but rumor has become fact. Good luck to her catching on in NYC & keeping in touch with NC. I've already seen her name on Greensboro's O'Henry Hotel gigs in February & March.
This Week: In addition to the Usual Suspects...
Tuesday: Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble alum Griffin Ross returns from William Paterson College's jazz program with his tenor sax & a quartet to Sharp Nine 7p.
Wednesday: The Yeaux Katz's drummer unavailable this month, Ellis Dyson joins two fellow Shamblers providing interim music 7p.
Thursday: Eric Hirsh Quartet at Durham's Arcana 8p. His encore will be impending fatherhood. I'll be there, possible stopping at the Durham Hotel jazz jam first.
Friday: The Jason Foureman Quartet includes Brian Horton for his first small band gig since returning to NCCU 8p. I'll be there.