Jazz@Rochester

After posting the gig on this blog, my wife and I took up Jimmie Highsmith Jr. on his invite and went to see him and the band play Saturday evening at P.I.’s Lounge, 499 West Ave. in the 19th Ward. Located next to the Southern food mecca Unkl Moe’s, P.I.’s is a neighborhood bar with a good-sized dance floor and bandstand. On Saturday night it was full of love, with Jimmie and the band (and a few additional members from the last time we saw them) laying down the groove for a friend’s birthday celebration. We had a great time—Dianna and I met Jimmie and got to hear the band again. In addition, the “birthday boy” (and the rest of us lucky devils in the bar) were treated to a “Saturday night” version of “Dr. Feelgood,” which left little to the imagination and was delivered using more of a “Sunday goin’ to church” voice. Thanks Jimmie.

As I told Jimmie Saturday, I’m willing to post items sent in by jazz groups and musicians for upcoming gigs, especially those that might not be getting much exposure in the press and other venues I’ve mentioned as forming usual sources for the listings I post. I’m interested in gigs throughout all of the communities in Rochester and its environs, especially those that are not always, shall we say, well-represented in the local press. I can’t become a posting service for any particular band or venue, but I can give some exposure where the venues they’re playing won’t or can’t advertise. In the interest of full disclosure, I can assure you that it will not being read by thousands now. However, there is a slow growth in the number of people taking a look at Jazz@Rochester and coming back (not just stumbling onto it, although there are a few of those), so it can’t hurt. Just hit the email link and let me know (plus give me some lead time).

The WGMC Jazzlist, a Yahoo Group (which can be found here) just carried an announcement by Scott Spencer for a benefit concert for New Orleans jazz musicians who were affected by Katrina. Flower City Jazz Society, in cooperation with Spicy Gumbo Entertainment is presenting Mardi Gras for New Orleans. The festivities will commence at 2pm this Sunday, October 30th, and continue until 6pm at The Party House at 677 Beahan Road in Rochester. A $5.00 donation will be taken. Appearing will be Jon Seiger and the Allstars, Johnny Matt Band with Tom Monte, and Dick Stacy and the Rhythm Aces. MC will be Ed Ferland. All proceeds will go to the Jazz Foundation of America and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. In addition to a jam session from 5-6, there will be food, dancing, raffles, and a silent auction. Cash bar. Esther Brill of the Rochester Swing Dance Network will be conducting swing dance lessons. For tickets and more information, call 585-225-3438.

These mostly have been posted before, but there are some artists coming to town here and in Buffalo that you may have missed this summer:

Check out the Bop Shop’s Record & CD Convention on Sunday, Oct. 23rd from 10am to 4pm, throughout the atrium at Village Gate Square, 274 N Goodman St., in Rochester. Over 40 dealers will set up over tables of merchandise ranging from rare and collectible records, tapes, and CDs to autographs, posters and other music related memorabilia. Find those rare gems and the one-of-a-kind stuff only a collector would love.

Just received my email on the Bop Shop list (you can subscribe to it here), annoucing that Steve Gauci and his trio will be playing in the Atrium at Village Gate on Wednesday, Oct. 19th at 8pm. Here’s the description from the Bop Shop’s email:

In an ongoing Bop Shop tradition of trying to present emerging artists, the Bop Shop is pleased to present saxophonist Steve Gauci and his trio. Gauci originally hails from Seattle and is now based in NYC. We believe he’s someone who you’re going to hear a lot more from in the future. His appearance in a dual saxophone lineup (with Avram Fefer) on Michael Bisio’s record Connections caused writers and listeners to sit up and take notice. And Gauci’s recent release on Cadence Jazz Records Long Night Waiting is sure to garner even more attention. Bassist Todd Nicholson will be familiar to Bop Shop regulars for his appearances in Billy Bang’s trio at the Bop Shop and Bang’s quartet at the 2004 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Drummer Jeremy Carlstedt is another young player garnering attention. He’s originally from Washington, DC and studied with Chico Hamilton, Charli Persip and Horacee Arnold, three good mentors to have. He has performed with Sabir Mateen, Tom Abbs, Andrew Bemkey and many more. The trio has just released their first recording, First, Keep Quiet (on CIMP)and it’s a winner. This should be an exciting evening of saxophone trio energy music and one you will not want to miss.

Check out the review of Gauci’s previous trio lineup’s album Long Night Waiting at OneFinalNote.com.