1. Start of Cool teaches older kids very well: I've seen the Start of Cool jazz camp get little kids into basic jazz, but Friday night it showed it can do just as well with pre-teens; the student nonet played four standards to great applause from the Durham Central Park audience (& not just from their small group of families!).
2. Zoocru ain't just your loud fusion band: Including Al Strong & vocalist Tyra Banks in the mix for individual numbers, they showed their jazz chops, enchanting Friday night's Sharp Nine Audience. They need to return there soon.
3. As you've just read, Friday was a good night for me.
This Week:
Monday:
- Pianist Robert Griffin & trombonist Danny Grewen play/sing standards & smart-ass jazz at Imbibe 7p.
- Jazzbeau--one of the many we-play-occasionally-&-well local quartets--is at 2nd Wind 7p. I plan to stop in.
- Alison Weiner pianos with rotating bassists weekly at the Eddy Pub 7p.
- The NC Jazz Rep Orchestra (NCJRO) is back at Sharp Nine for its monthly blast 8p.
- Yeaux Katz does its weekly jazz bar band thing at 2nd Wind 7p.
- Sidecar Social Club does its twice monthly Humble Pie gig 8:30p.
- Pianist Mac Mclaughlin leads his quartet at C Grace 9p (in addition to running the Durham Jazz Renaissance community organization).
- Al Strong's jazz jam on the Durham Hotel rooftop 7-10p. A good time will be had by all, including me!
- Peter Lamb's trio starts Friday night at the NCMA's Iris Restaurant 5:30p.
- The Onyx Club Boys bring gypsy jazz to Chapel Hill's Café Driade 7p.
- NC-schooled & DC-practiced Brad Linde brings three groups to Sharp Nine 8p. Though I don't know how Brad will manage all that, I go see him anytime he's around.
- Ariel Pocock graces the Empress Room 9p.
- Vocalist Jua makes a rare appearance at Sharp Nine, accompanied by SF-based vocalist Andrea Claburn 8p. I missed them last time, but not this time.
- Pianist Noah Sager leads his trio at Durham's West End Wine Bar 4p.
- Guitarist Brad Maiani reunites in his end-of-month gig with drummer Donovan Cheatham & bassist Aaron Gross at the Chapel Hill West End Wine Bar 7p. This trio has it together.