No tricks, but lots of treats

This is a great weekend for jazz lovers in Central New Jersey -- lots of venues with great music through the week.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Crooner Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and friends Thursday nights at
Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton, are going strong. 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.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30
Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll be playing original arrangements – it’s sure to be packed so call 609-896-5995 to make your reservations.

Happy hour at Hopewell Valley Vineyards will include the Upper Princeton Swing Collective …

Steve Turre takes his quartet and his trombone to Shanghai Jazz for shows tonight and tomorrow night.

The Meg Hanson Group is at Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio with Jackie Jones will be at Christopher’s, in the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Ronnie Burrage (check out his bio) will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, for this week’s Jazz Disciples meeting at 3 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio moves to Steakhouse 85 on Church Street in Metuchen tonight, playing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1
You can catch Jerry Topinka at the Salt Creek Grille from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Jazz Brunch.

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.

Cecil’s Jazz Club, 364 Valley Road, West Orange, will feature Pam Purvis and Matt Chertkoff at its Jazz Social at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 2
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, Nov. 3
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, Nov. 4
BD Lenz will be at Mediterra in Princeton at 8 p.m. If you like what you hear here, be sure to catch him.

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.

Thursday, Nov. 5
Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall will perform at 8 p.m. at McCarter Theater, and at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kean University’s Wilkins Theatre.

Coming up
Laura Hull will be moving into a new post as president of the New Jersey Jazz Society, but first she's got a date at the Herb Eckert Auditorium, 540 Ridge Road, in
Monmouth Junction, for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 6. Admission is just $5 - call 732-329-4000 to reserve a spot.

Bassist Lisle Atkinson and pianist Richard Wyands will join Steve Rozek (tenor sax), Mike Ipri (drums) and John Henry Goldman (trumpet) for two special shows 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Looking Glass Pond Studio, 800 Alexander, Princeton Junction. For a special Conversations in Jazz. For information and reservations, call 609-610-1655, or e-mail johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com.

Hopewell’s Starlight Room added a couple of extra dates for jazz in November, and will feature Stringzville’s mix of jazz standards with a bit of Gypsy Jazz and Bossa Nova, 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Nov. 7.