Mark Your Calendars: I've seen 2009 calendars on sale already, so it's not too early to get excited about two concerts at the South Orange (N.J.) Performing Arts Center in Seton Hall University. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will be there Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m., and the piano duo of Dick Hyman and Ray Kennedy will appear March 31, also at 7:30.

Stringing the Blues and More: Cynthia Sayer, engaging on banjo and vocals (www.cynthiasayer.com), will be starring at the Rodeo Bar, 375 Third Avenue at 27th St., NYC, on Dec. 21 from 9 to midnight. She will also be returning to the Knickerbocker where she made a triumphant August appearance with pianist Mark Shane. This time, she'll be in duet with the swinging pianist Johnny Varro on Dec. 26 and 27. Both gigs begin at 9:45 p.m. Just the place to extend Christmas!

The Book of Kellso: Jon-Erik continues to work and play with abandon at a number of places -- optimistic evidence that virtue is rewarded and some pie-slice of the NYC jazz scene is thriving. Check out www.kellsojazz.com or www.myspace.com/jonerikkellso.

In addition to the Sunday night (8-11 p.m.) fiesta at the Ear Inn, 326 Spring St., where such luminaries as Danny Tobias, Michael Blake, John Allred, Howard Alden, Harvey Tibbs, Neil Miner, Pat O'Leary, Chris Flory, Evan Christopher, Dave Gross, Greg Cohen, Joel Forbes, Dan Block, Scott Robinson, Harry Allen and others have joined in, Jon-Erik also has a Thursday trio gig now and again at the Marriott Residence Inn, 39th St. and Sixth, from 7-10 p.m. at Studio 100. Another new gig is at Sweet Rhythm, 88 Seventh Ave. So., formerly Sweet Basil, home to the Doc Cheatham quartet for many Sundays. Kellso and Friends have been there from 5-7 p.m., and the Friends have included both Peter and Will Anderson, Chuck Wilson, Ehud Asherie, Kelly Friesen, and the talented Australian drummer Andrew Swann.

Jazz Goes Underground: At The National Underground, 159 East Houston St. (at Allen), on Sundays from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., John Gill and the National Saloon Band perform a wide variety of hot, soulful jazz. The NSB features Gill on banjo, guitar, trombone; Bruce McNichols, soprano sax and banjo; Michael Hashim, reeds, Crazy Henry or Brian Nalepka, bass and tuba; Terry Waldo or Jesse Gelber, piano and vocals, and Kevin Dorn, drums. (E-mail Bruce McNichols at muskrat@bestweb.com to get on the gig list.) Sitters-in have included Bob Cantwell and Bob Leive on trumpet and the indefatigable Sol Yaged on clarinet. On Wednesdays, the Underground hosts an Eddy Davis group (www.myspace.com/thenationalunderground).

John Gill has also finished a wonderful CD for Stomp Off -- a Bing Crosby tribute called Learn to Croon, featuring his evocative singing and a band including Kellso, Kevin Dorn, Dan Levinson, Jim Fryer, Conal Fowkes, Brian Nalepka, Andy Stein, Mark Phaneuf and Matt Szemela.

The Best Societies: Another good reason to buy a 2009 calendar is Mark Shane's concert (March 15) and that of the Borderline Jazz Band (Bria Skonberg and Jim Fryer) on April 19, 2009. It's not too early to get excited by checking out www.tristatejazz.org!

Roman Hands, Russian Fingers: Ehud Asherie continues his late Sunday-night duets with the soulful tenor saxophonist Vito Dieterle (and Jon-Erik Kellso now and again) at Little Branch, 20 Seventh Ave. So. On Tuesdays, Ehud holds extended duet sessions (7-10 [p.m.) at Roth's Westside Steakhouse, Columbus Ave. at 93rd St. On Thursdays, he has a one-hour (8-9 p.m.) duet session downtown at Smalls, 183 West 10th St.. (www.smallsjazzclub.com). And Ehud's website has great video clips of performances with Jon-Erik and Harry (www.ehudasherie.com.).

Jazz Aristocracy: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, a tentet of noblemen, continue to wow the crowds every Monday (three sets) at Club Cache, in the Edison Hotel, 221 West 46th St. For reservations, call (212) 719-5799, (718) 376-3489. Visit www.myspace.com/VinceGiordanoandtheNighthawks for up-to-the minute gig information. Even in the darkest days, when Vince began the evening with "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" the gloom was dispelled by the life-affirming music.

Bet It All: The Cangelosi Cards can be found on Wednesdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Telephone Bar, Second Ave. at Ninth St. in Manhattan, where they play three sets. They also play Sundays at Harefield Road, 769 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn) from 5 to 9 p.m. but were on holiday for Thanksgiving weekend.

Red Beans and Ricely: David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band/Louis Armstrong Centennial Band also continues to hold forth on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:15 p.m. at Birdland (Ostwald84@aol.com).

Keep the Home Fires Burning: Bill Dunham's Grove Street Stompers continue their run at Arthur's Tavern at 57 Grove Street, every Monday from 8-11 p.m. (www.arthurstavernnyc.com) and Warren Vaché still leads a quartet every Thursday from 7-11 p.m. at Lana's Restaurant and Lounge in Clark, N.J. (732-669-9024). Lana's also has jazz on Fridays. For information, e-mail brookevigoda@yahoo.com with "Lana's" in the subject line.

On the last Thursday of every month, the Constitution Jazz Band (with Bruce McNichols, Simon Wettenhall, Herb Gardner, and other stalwarts) plays for a Dixieland Buffet at the Silvermine Inn and Tavern (www.silverminetavern.com.), 194 Perry Avenue, Norwalk, CT (203-299-5474)

Don't Be Late: Please send jazz news to mstei@optonline.net by the fifth of the month for inclusion in my next column. Since musicians don't always know their gigs a month in advance, check their websites and get on their gig lists to be in the thick of things! Check out my blog, "Jazz Lives" at http://jazzlives.wordpress.com for live gig video, jazz news, commentary, and lively photographs by Lorna Sass.

December 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.