East of the Sun:  Geography is not my strong suit, but we found our way without trouble to 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 everything from "Down By The Riverside" to "Wabash Blues" and "Out of Nowhere," the last being John's evocation of Bing Crosby. (John's finished a Crosby tribute CD for Stomp Off Records, featuring Jon-Erik Kellso, Matt Munisteri, and Dan Levinson among others.) 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. Everyone except Kevin sings, and they do it splendidly. On Wednesdays, the Underground -- really at street level -- is home to an Eddy Davis ensemble (www.myspace.com/thenationalunderground).

High Societies: On Oct. 12, The Pennsylvania Jazz Society (www.pajazzsociety.com) will host a concert featuring drummer Ed Metz and the Heritage Jazz Ensemble at the American Legion in Wind Gap, Pa. A week later, the Tri-State Jazz Society (www.tristatejazz.org) will spotlight Ben Mauger's Vintage Jazz Band at the American Legion Hall in Brooklawn, N.J. The Sidney Bechet Society (www.sidneybechet.org) brings us Vince Giordano and the MiniHawks for "Bechet and More, Part Three" -- two shows, 6:15 and 9 p.m., at Symphony Space, Broadway at 95th Street. Vince's guests will be Jean Baptiste Franc and Olivier Franc, the latter playing Bechet's own soprano sax. The New Jersey Jazz Society (www.njjs.com.) continues its stellar run with appearances by Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra (featuring pianist Jesse Gelber, drummer Kevin Dorn, and bass saxophonist Bob Saachi among others) on Oct. 20 at the Bickford Theatre, and by bassist Ed Wise and his  New Orleans Jazz Band at the Ocean County College Oct. 29. NJJS is scheduling rewarding concerts into spring 2009, so check its site.      

Stylish Stride: Ehud Asherie continues his late Sunday-night duets with the soulful tenor saxophonist Vito Dieterle at Little Branch (20 Seventh Ave. So.).  On Tuesdays, Ehud holds extended duet sessions (7-10 p.m.) at Roth's Westside Steakhouse (Columbus Avenue 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). At Roth's, Ehud will be joined by Jon-Erik Kellso (10/7), Dan Levinson (10/14), Dan Block (10/22), and Howard Alden (10/28). At Smalls, trumpeter Stepko Gut (10/2), Harry Allen (10/9), Block (10/16), Kellso (10/23), Randy Sandke (10/30). There's also a CD release party at Smalls on Oct. 27 (www.ehudasherie.com).   

The Moon and Them: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, the gold standard, continue to perform artistic miracles every Monday (three sets) at Sofia's Restaurant located in Club Cache, at 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.

Keeping Traditions Alive With A Splash Cymbal: Kevin Dorn is appearing here and there with Michael Arenella, John Gill, David Ostwald, and his own band, the Traditional Jazz Collective (www.kevindorn.com). That singular band will be at the Garage (99 Seventh Ave. So.) on Friday, Oct. 10 (10:45-2:45 a.m.). Kevin will also be part of Jim Fryer's band at the Garage Oct. 30, for a 6-10 p.m. gig (www.jfryer.com).

Royal Flush: The Cangelosi Cards, that splendidly shape-changing ensemble, 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. The wistful singing of Tamar Korn and the fine playing of Jake Sanders and friends are not to be missed.    

That's Their Home: David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band/Louis Armstrong Centennial Band keeps the faith on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:15 p.m. at Birdland (Ostwald84@aol.com). You can expect to find Jon-Erik Kellso, Ed Polcer, Charlie Caranicas, Vincent Gardner, 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, the illustrious Dick Hyman among them. And an exemplary version of this band (featuring Caranicas, Alden, Muranyi, and Dorn) will be doing a concert in New Jersey Nov. 3 (www.njjs.com).

The Golden EarRing: The EarRegulars, that never-at-a-loss foursome plus-friends created by Jon-Erik Kellso and Matt Munisteri, has recently enjoyed the company of regulars and sitters-in Jim Fryer, Neil Miner, Danny Tobias, Harvey Tibbs, Harry Allen, Evan Christopher, John Allred, Pat O'Leary, Howard Alden, Scott Robinson, Chris Flory, and Dan Block, among others. Its home is The Ear Inn, 326 Spring St., every Sunday from 8-11 p.m. The Inn is a landmark in itself (www.earinn.com). Jon has a gig with swing pianist (and blossoming singer) Judy Carmichael in Riverdale, N.Y., on Oct. 25 (www.judycarmichael.com.;www.kellsojazz.com)

Never Surrender: 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; the visiting firemen are fiery.

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)

Plectrist/singer Cynthia Sayer has been seen in a variety of new places -- with a string ensemble at the Rodeo Bar, with pianist Mark Shane at the Knickerbocker. And in October, she'll be appearing at the Illiana Club's 35th Anniversary Jazz Festival in Willowbrook, Ill., an easy hop from Chicago (www.cynthiasayer.com).  

Ring Dem Bells: Beginning on Oct. 29, the Iridium Jazz Club (1650 Broadway at 51st St.) will spotlight the Lionel Hampton Tribute Band, including Clark Terry, Grady Tate, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Frank Wess, and others -- vibraphone duties to be taken by Jason Marsalis (www.iridiumjazzclub.com.).

The Music Goes `Round and `Round: Marty Grosz and The Hot Winds completed a new CD for Arbors (www.arborsrecords.com) featuring Rob Garcia (drums), Scott Robinson (reeds and brass), Dan Block (reeds), Vince Giordano (his usual multi-tasking), and a few guest stars. Marty also has a new CD of duets with guitarist Mike Peters, Acoustic Heat, on Sackville. The Italian Jazz Institute issued an Eddie Condon CD of 1929-68 rarities (www.italianjazzinstitute.com). The two-CD set of rare and rewarding Louis Armstrong performances (the 1937 Fleischmann's Yeast radio broadcasts as well as a potpourri of Louis's private tapes) is available now at the Louis Armstrong House Museum as well as online (www.satchmo.net.) For Louis-fanciers, Ricky Riccardi's blog, "The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong," is a cyber-feast of musical appreciation, with rare audio and video clips (www.dippermouth.blogspot.com.)  

A Brisk Trot, A Good Cause: On Nov. 2, cornetist Ed Polcer and vocalist Judy Kurtz will run in the New York City Marathon, with the money they raise going to the Jazz Foundation of America to establish a fund for long-term care (www.jazzfoundation.org). To make a donation, contact Ed: edpolcer@edpolcer.com, or go online to JFA. Indicate that the funds are directed to "Polcer/Kurtz Marathon."

Please send news for this column to me at mstei@optonline.net. But tempus fugit, so any information has to reach me before the fifth of the month to be included in my next column. Since many musicians don't know their gigs a month in advance, check their websites and get on their e-mail lists to be fully informed!   

Check out my blog, "Jazz Lives" at http://jazzlives.wordpress.com., for more jazz news, commentary, and on-the-spot photographs by Lorna Sass.

October 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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