Oh, Peter!: Marianne Mangan writes about rewarding jazz sightings featuring cornetist Peter Ecklund:  "On Monday night we visited the Stan Rubin Jazz All-Stars at Charley O's Times Square Grill, with the multi-talented Herb Gardner on keyboard, young Peter Reardon Anderson on clarinet and tenor sax, steady Steve Alcott on bass, Arnie Kinsella hammering those accents home on drums (and using brushes more than anyone around) and the remarkable Peter Ecklund on trumpet and four-valve flugelhorn. Ecklund played every song like he had a personal connection to it: smart, sly, sweet. He also plays a Wednesday lunch gig (12:30 -2 p.m.) with the Gotham Jazzmen at the Greenwich Village Bistro, 13 Carmine Street at Bleecker and Sixth (Jim Collier leading on trombone, Sam Parkins on clarinet, Dick Miller on piano -- subtle, varied jazz.")

"It's Kellso-riffic!":That exclamation isn't mine -- it came from guitarist Matt Munisteri, who should know; he's Jon-Erik's partner in the EarRegulars. It pleases me to report many Kellso gigs; I hope it means that some small part of the NYC jazz scene is thriving (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 Street) where such luminaries as Danny Tobias, 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 Street and Sixth) from 7-10 p.m. at "Studio 100."  He'll be with singer Barbara Rosene in York, Pa., on Nov. 7 (also with Conal Fowkes, Brian Nalepka, Kevin Dorn, Matt Szemela, and others).  You'll also find him with the Nighthawks and with Ehud Asherie, noted below.

Notes from Underground (but not Dostoevsky's): At The National Underground, 159 East Houston Street (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 John on banjo, guitar, trombone; Bruce McNichols on soprano sax and banjo; Brian Nalepka on bass and tubs; Terry Waldo on piano; Kevin Dorn on drums.  (E-mail Bruce at muskrat@bestweb.com. to get on the gigs list.)  When John was away in September for a jazz festival in Montana, the multi-talented Jim Fryer took his place and told me happily of people who walked by, heard the jazz, and came in -- the way it used to be!  Wednesdays, the Underground hosts an Eddy Davis group (www.myspace.com/thenationalunderground).

Steppin' Into Swing Society: The Tristate Jazz Society will feature violinist Aaron Weinstein and his Quartet on Nov. 19.  A good reason to buy a 2009 calendar is Mark Shane's concert (March 15) and the Borderline Jazz Band -- that's Bria Skonberg and Jim Fryer -- on April 19, 2009.  It's not too early to get excited! (www.tristatejazz.org)

The New Jersey Jazz Society (www.njjs.com.) continues its musical largesse with a Nov. 3 concert featuring David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band, Tom Roberts and Charlie Caranicas (Nov. 19), Rio Clemente and Bucky Pizzarelli (Nov. 24), Nancy Nelson and Keith Ingham (Dec. 1).  And future events will feature John Gill, Dan Levinson, Molly Ryan, James Chirillo.

Hot Hands: 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 Avenue South).  On Tuesdays, Ehud holds extended duet sessions (7-10 p.m.) at Roth's Westside Steakhouse (Columbus Avenue at 93rd Street). On Thursdays, he has a one-hour (8-9 PM) duet session downtown at Smalls (183 West 10th Street: www.smallsjazzclub.com).  At this writing, some gigs were TBA, but at Roth's, Ehud will be joined by Jon-Erik Kellso (11/11), John Allred (11/18), Harry Allen (11/25).  At Smalls, Harry Allen (11/13), Kellso (11/6). Ehud's website has great video clips of performances with Jon-Erik and Harry (www.ehudasherie.com).

Don't Forget To Mess Around: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, the gold standard, continue their jazz transformations 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 information.

A Dixie Rebel: Kevin Dorn lives the jazz life with the Traditional Jazz Collective (www.kevindorn.com)   That singular band will be at the Garage (99 Seventh Avenue South) on Nov. 8 (10:45-2:45 a.m.).  Ask him about the George Wettling mambo.

Royal Flush: The Cangelosi Cards, that marvelous force of nature, can be found on Wednesdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Telephone Bar (Second Avenue at Ninth Street) in Manhattan, where they play three sets.  (They won't be there on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.)  They also play Sundays at Harefield Road (769 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn) from 5 to 9 p.m. but will be on holiday for Thanksgiving weekend.  The wistful singing of Tamar Korn and the fine playing of Jake Sanders are not to be missed.

Midtown Uproar: David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band/Louis Armstrong Centennial Band praises Mr. Strong on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:15 p.m. at Birdland (Ostwald84@aol.com).  On the bandstand, there's Jon-Erik Kellso, Ed Polcer, Charlie Caranicas, Vincent Gardner, Jim Fryer, Wycliffe Gordon, Dion Tucker, Dan Block, Anat Cohen, Joe Muranyi, Ehud Asherie, Howard Alden, James Chirillo, Alvester Garnett, Kevin Dorn, Marion Felder and surprise guests.  In the audience, an equally stellar lot: photographer Lorna Sass, Ricky Riccardi, Dan Morgenstern, George Avakian, Terry Teachout, and others.   

Zing! Went the Strings: Plectrist and singer Cynthia Sayer had a wonderful gig in August (with Mark Shane) at the Knickerbocker and expects to be back there in December -- a fine, swinging way to celebrate the holidays (www.cynthiasayer.com).

Semper Fidelis: 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).  The home team is diligent, and among the visiting firemen is the wizard Rossano Sportiello.

And...  Warren Vaché has been leading 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).

Walking With The King: By the time this column appears, Ed Polcer and Judy Kurtz will have finished their run in the Nov.  2 NYC Marathon, the money going to the Jazz Foundation of America to establish a fund for long-term care (www.jazzfoundation.org).  To make a donation, contact Ed at edpolcer@edpolcer.com or go online to JFA.  Indicate that the funds are directed to "Polcer/Kurtz Marathon."  I'm sure that the JFA would accept tardy donations, too.

We'll Miss: The wonderful reedman Al Gallodoro, who died in October at 95.  For a full appreciation, please visit http://www.algallodoro.com/in_memorium.htmare fiery

Don't Be The Last One On Your Block: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 gigs lists to be in the thick of things!  Check out my blog, "Jazz Lives" at http://jazzlives.wordpress.com for more jazz news, commentary, and on-the-spot photographs by Lorna Sass. Updates include my report on Jazz at Chautauqua and new video clips.

November 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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