Parents, teach your children well

And teach them jazz ... a great way to start is with the WBGO Kids Jazz Concerts series, Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. These free shows, held at a variety of venues, will introduce jazz and jazz culture to kids. Check out the schedule at http://www.wbgo.org/, click on "events."

Thursday, April 2
Shanghai Jazz in Madison has a treat tonight: Gene Bertoncini will be onstage in the Bob Litwak Trio, with clarinetist Ron Odrich. www.shanghaijazz.com
The Rowan University Lab Band and Big Band will perform in the school’s Pfleeger Concert Hall. The show is free; begins at 8 p.m.

Friday, April 3
Peddie School’s Jazz Friday series continues with Guillermo Nojechowicz and El Eco, hosted by the Community Arts Partnership at 8 p.m. in Hightstown. Tickets are $25 — call 609-490-7550 to reserve. Read more about El Eco here
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Barry Levitt Trio, featuring guest saxophonist Zan Stewart, will be performing at the South Brunswick Jazz Café, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Herb Eckert Auditorium in the South Brunswick Senior Center, Friday. The trio is filling in for vocalist Marlene VerPlanck, who had to cancel due to an emergency. Admission is just $5, and light refreshments are available.
The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Saturday, April 4
Dick Gratton will be at The Farnsworth House in Bordentown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The New Jersey Jazz Society is hosting a Night of Jazz at the Theatre at
Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, featuring Five
Play, Rio Clemente, vocalist Frank Noviello and Mark O’Connor at 7 p.m. April 4.
Tickets are $20 and $25 and are available at the box of´
fice by calling 908-725-3420.

Sunday, April 5

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial presents "Red, White, Blue, Ragtime Revue," with Dave Wickerham, organ, and Dick Kroekel, piano, at 3 p.m. The show is being presented by the Garden State Theatre Organ Society. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 seniors and children – call the box office at 609-984-8400. For more information, click here

Monday, April 6
Bill Charlap, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington and Steve Wilson will be at McCarter Theater for the Blue Note 70th Anniversary concert. Could you ask for anyone more? Go to http://www.mccarter.org/ to get your tickets.

Tuesday, April 7
Rhythms of the Night hosts one part of the Somerset Jazz Consortium at 7 p.m. (there's no cover!), while other members of the consortium head to the Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison for a jam session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Musicians: Check out the rules of the road for the sessions before going.

Wednesday, April 8
Cedar Walton, Javon Jackson, Buster Williams and Jimmy Cobb open a four-night engagement at the Iridium. http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/

Thursday, April 9
New Jersey Jazz Society presents the Rowan University Lab Band and Big Band at Pfeeger Concert Hall at 8 p.m. -- it's a free show!