Jazz Tonight in Auburn, Four-Hand Piano Recital at the Museum, More

Tonight (10/16), we'll be back at Auburn's Balcony Bar (114 W. Magnolia Ave., Auburn) for the third installment of the 1st-and-3rd-Sunday Jazz Jam or whatever name it will eventually find. There's a Flickr slide show embedded at right of the first session we did on September 18.

Official times are 8-10 PM, but it's open ended if the music compels. Core personnel this time around is me, Sidney Simmons on bass, John Norton on piano and Tim Chambliss on drums. I'm looking at this as an opportunity for people to come out and play things they're working on, try new tunes, play their own tunes, step out of their comfort zone a bit or a lot. All players are invited to sit in, whatever your skill.

Balcony Bar is also doing a weekly jazz event on Fridays now, 5-7 PM. More of a listening event than a jam session (at least for now). I played this past Friday. It is around sunset, and it is really a nice setting. One of the best things was that I got to meet Taylor Pierce and hear him play. He's a young guitarist from Auburn who spent some time at North Texas and is back now, for a while at least. He has a great feel and sticks hard to the changes (that is, his improvised solos adeptly reflect the tune's harmonies), in a good way. We got some very nice feedback from the patrons including some Florida fans. The sunset really was awfully pretty. I'll be back there next Friday (10/21), 5-7 PM. Personnel TBA.

Thursday (10/20) will bring a four-hand piano recital to the museum. This is a free concert that's part of the weekly series I coordinate. Times are 12-1 PM, and performing will be Dr. Bill Summerville and Helene Burkart. I actually have never heard a whole recital of four-hand piano music, so I'm looking forward to it. If you want to get email notification on the day to remind you about these concerts, drop me a line at patrick@luncharm.net. The series has really picked up this season, in large part due to the involvement of performance sponsors. This one coming up is as yet unsponsored. I know you want to do it. Email me right now for details. Click the Lunch Music Schedule tab above for more.

When I learn some details, I'll try to post more about the upcoming Auburn Indian Music Ensemble concert on Friday (10/21) and Friday-Saturday jazz at Piccolo. The Jane Drake Trio will be back at Piccolo for their regular weekly jazz performance there, 8-11 PM. Personnel is Sidney Simmons on bass and Jonathan Lynn on piano.

In Columbus this week, Columbus State Associate Professor of Trumpet Dr. Robert Murray will be giving a recital with other CSU faculty and regional musicians. Here's the event page and here's Murray's bio, which sounds impressive. Please check out the other upcoming events on the CSU calendar. It's not a far drive to some great music.

See you there.