1. You don't have to swing hard to swing: Parlour Game proved that Tuesday night at Sharp Nine. Drummer Allison Miller kept a steady, distinct beat, violinist Jenny Scheinman soared quietely, pianist Carmen Staaf had the softest, most sensitive hands I've heard, & bassist Tony Sher kept the beat too while adding fine accents.
2. Raleigh's Sullivan's Steakhouse is listing its jazz: I'd taken it off my venue list because its website had no calendar, but I found it now has a calendar for Wed-Sat music. It's also made me realize Raleigh has lots more local jazz than Durham & Carrboro/Chapel Hill combined.
3. Ernest Turner competes in the Jacksonville Jazz Fest piano competition this week: Wish him luck!
This Week: What I see over the next two weeks will depend on whether I get my grandkids's permission, but there's always interesting stuff--including:
Sunday: There's a gypsy jazz jam at the Station 3-5p. It'll be my first such jam, so why not?
Tuesday: Singer Ti Harmon fronts the Thrio piano trio. Haven't seen Ti in too long!
Wednesday: The UNC Public Humanities program presents Stephen Anderson & Brian Horton covering NC-born jazz greats at Chapel Hill's Flyleaf Bookstore 5:30p. I've paid the $18 fee because I'm interested.
Thursday: It's the straight-ahead jazz jam at the Durham Hotel, led by Al Strong, 7p.
Friday: Singer Frankie Alexander outdoors at Durham's Brightleaf Square 7p. She does standards very well.