Make a mighty wind to blow away the storm

There's a winter storm heading our way -- but let's hope it spares us: there's too many wonderful opportunities for great music.
Start with a special appearance by uber-bassist Michael Manring at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 4. It's being presented The Folk Project, a non-profit organization promoting acoustic music in Northern New Jersey. Admission will be $20 at the door -- and if you've seen Manring play, you'll know he's worth it.


Advance tickets may be purchased before the show for $15 at www.folkproject.org. For further information, contact Pam Robinson at concerts@folkproject.org or 908-591-6491.

Thursday, Feb. 4

Rio Clemente will be at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. tonight.

How about a rematch of Jazz vs. the Space Tiger? Head to BT Bistro on Route 1 in West Windsor for the opening round at 9 p.m. It’s an acid-jazz title fight …

Al Oliver and Gerry Groves will perform on sax and flute, respectively, at Nick’s Café 72, on West Upper Ferry Road in West Trenton, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It’s Jazz Night at Princeton University’s Café Vivian, in the Frist Campus Center. Come out at 11:30 p.m. to hear the Princeton University Jazz Program. Anthony D.J. Branker will be directing.


Friday, Feb. 5
The John Bianculli Trio and vocalist Jackie Jones will be at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover for the music, offered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. The trio heads to Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick tomorrow ...

Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville tonight, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lauren Hooker is known for her arrangements of standards that utilize her three-octave range for best effect. Hear and see her at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Pam Purvis is headlining at the Hibiscus

The Franklin-Alison Jazz Quartet will be at the Salt Creek Grille from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6
Jim Stewart will be this week’s featured jazz disciple at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Dick Gratton returns to Bordentown’s Farnsworth House, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Eryn Shewell will be at The Shoppes at the Arcade in Asbury Park at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. She’s coming to Small World Coffee in Princeton next week.

Lauren Hooker will perform at Lounge Zen, 254 DeGraw Ave. in Teaneck, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb .6
There’s a $10 minimum; call 201-692-1002 to make your reservations.

Black Diamond Jazz, the collaboration of guitarist James Popik, bass player Mark Amentt, and Kartikkeya on drums and percussion, will blend bebop, blues, Americana and World Jazz at Princeton’s Small World Coffee at 8:30 p.m. Small World calls it “Scofield meets Metheny meets Dharma” Jazz.

Sunday, Feb. 7
Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 8
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9
Sarah Jane Cion entertains at the Hibiscus Restaurant Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Feb. 10
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte entertains at Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

A Saturday night packed with jazz

A benefit for Haitian relief Saturday will bring John Bianculli with Jackie Jones and friends; Black Symphony Circle; Gary Kaplan with the Fletchers; Sailors in Rags; Isabel Ruano; Brian Szura and friends; and Mark and Sedna together at Highland Park High School auditorium 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Admission is a donation at the door to charities supporting Haiti relief — they’ve set a minimum request of $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Thursday, Jan. 28
David Sanborn will take the stage at the South Orange Performing Arts Center with Joey DeFrancesco at 8 p.m. – hit that hyperlink and see if there are any tickets left.

Rio Clemente will be at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. tonight. He’ll be at the Bickford Theater, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday, and returns to Attilios Tavern in Dover Tuesday night … busy man.

The Jazz Celebration Big Band is back at the Temperance House, 5 S. State St., Newtown,Pa., tonight, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The 17-piece band features vocalist Claudia Perry. Reservations are recommended – call 215-860-9975.

Friday, Jan. 29
The John Bianculli Trio adds vocalist Jackie Jones and drummer Jonathon Peretz for tonight’s entertainment at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover for the music, offered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Dick Gratton holds the chair at Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lauren Hooker is known for her arrangements of standards that utilize her three-octave range for best effect. Hear and see her at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Pianist Dre Barnes will be at Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick.

Small World Coffee is bringing the jazz-funk music of Soul Cycle to Princeton. 8;30 p.m. on Witherspoon St. – just follow the groove …

Saturday, Jan. 30
Percussionist Randy Sutin joins the Jazz Disciples at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Dick Gratton returns to Bordentown’s Farnsworth House, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be at McCarter Theater at 7:30 p.m. ‘Nuff said … except Esperanza Spalding is with him.

Weather forecasters are calling for a cold spell this weekend; jazz forecasters are calling for a hot spell at Kingston’s United Methodist Church -- Dave Kaczorowski (bass), Adrian Valosin (drums) and Jim Desalvo (piano) will be the heat on the church’s “Hot Jazz on a Cold Night” series. Get warm at 7 p.m. The church is at 9 Church St. in Kingston (just off Route 28).

Reeds, Rhythm and All That Brass will swing Saturday night away, performing at the First Presbyterian Church, 14 Hanover Road, East Hanover, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is a swing dance concert – but listeners are welcome, too. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call 908-591-6491 or go to www.folkproject.org.

Sunday, Jan. 31
Vocalist Marcus Goldhaber has been collecting raves while singing at the Night Hotel in New York – he’s making his New Jersey debut at The Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst today, with shows at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. He’ll perform with The Jon Davis Trio, including Martin Wind on bass, and Marcello Pellitteri on drums. Cover charge is $10.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m. Not enough? Pam will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant Feb. 5, so you can enjoy more of her singing.

Monday, Feb. 1
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2
Pianist … composer … vocalist … Lou Watson offers audiences a lot – check him out Tuesday at the Hibiscus Restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Feb. 3
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Start the weekend off with jazz

We've got another great weekend for jazz lovers, due in no small part to the New Jersey Blues and Jazz Festival, which kicks off tonight (Thursday) at the State Theater in New Brunswick. Tonight's focus is on the blues part of the event, with Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers; tomorrow night it's Marcia Ball. But Saturday night's finale features the Yellowjackets.

Thursday, Sept. 24
Gordon James hooks up with singer Lauren Hooker for a performance date tonight at Scampi’s Restaurant, 198 West Main St., Somerville. There’s no cover, no minimum … why not stop by for a drink?
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Friday, Sept. 25
The Franklin-Alison Jazz Combo will perform at BT Bistro on Route 1 in West Windsor.
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26
The Jazz Disciples will feature Bob Devos at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

Sunday, Sept. 27
WWFM Radio is celebrating the anniversary of the station’s return to broadcasting jazz with a special event, Jazz On 2 at Katmandu, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Katmandu in Trenton. Scheduled performers includeJoe Cataldo, Tom Tallitsch, Gail Dixon, Buzz Herman and Doris Spears, Jerry Rife's Rhythm Kings, vocalist Miche Braden, Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe, and, from the campus of Mercer County Community College, Zingu. There’s no charge to come and listen, but Katmandu is planning some special brunch and New Orleans-themed menu items.
John Nobile's SummerSwing Orchestra will be performing at 1 p.m. with the First Marine Corps Band at the Raritan Township's band shell located on Old York Road in Raritan for the town’s celebration of hometown hero John Basilone.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Sept. 28
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.
Shanghai Jazz in Madison will have John, Martin and Bucky Pizzarelli – with Tony Tedesco — tonight and Wednesday. One of my favorite records to play on my college radio station was a Bucky and John album … now John’s leading …

Wednesday, Sept. 30
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 1
Princeton University’s University Jazz Program Small Group, Anthony D.J. Branker, director will perform at 11:30 p.m. in Café Vivian in the Frist Campus Center. It’s free.
Rio Clemente’s fans at the Bernards Inn will be glad to know he’ll be back tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.