Bassist Chris Enghauser will be joined by Trey Wright (pictured) on guitar and Jayna Nelson on flute this Saturday evening from 7-10 at the Hilltop Grille out on the Atlanta Highway, so take the opportunity to try something from the restaurant's excellent menu as you feel the cool of this talented ensemble. No cover. Photograph by Bob Brussack.

I'm at the Highwire with the Rand Lines Trio -- Rand on keys, Mike Beshara on bass, and Ben Williams on drums. Folks, this is some of the very best straight-ahead cool jazz in our town. They'll be here until 11. So come on out.

Carl Lindberg (pictured, photo by Bob Brussack) and Rob McMaken will join Dan Nettles on the Hendershot's stage tomorrow night (Thursday, June 2) at 8 pm for a somewhat acoustic Kenosha Kid change-of-pace. And we're hearing that special guest Rich Iannucci (accordion) will make it a quartet. We're there.

Have you been to hear these guys yet? We checked them out again last week. You won't hear more locked-in, imaginative, cutting-edge improvisation. 8 pm to 11 pm tonight (Tuesday, May 31) at the Highwire. Fresh decor. Sweet stage. Comfortable bar. And eats if you want 'em. Hull Street around the corner from Trappeze.

One of our favorite Athens ensembles -- the Odd Trio -- performs tomorrow night at 8 pm at Hendershot's. No cover. Why do we like the Odd Trio so much? These are top-drawer artists, for one thing. Some of you will recognize Brian Smith (guitar) as one of the principals of the highly-regarded Georgia Guitar Quartet. Brian also is an imaginative composer, drawing from multiple musical traditions here and yon, and his writing is a prominent feature of Odd Trio performances. Marc Gilley is among the area's most in-demand sax players. You might have heard him with Steve Dancz's UGA big band or with the Latin ensemble One Ton Tomato. Marc, Brian, and drummer Todd Mueller spin some of the most lyrical, cooperative, cutting-edge improvisation you're likely to hear anywhere, with Todd employing a range of percussion tools going well beyond the traditional jazz kit. It's a quiet week in town. Why not take advantage of the slower pace and join us for the Odd Trio tomorrow night (Thursday, May 26).

Jake Mowrer sends word that he'll be bringing his quartet to the Porterhouse Grill tonight from 7-10 pm. No cover.

Chris Enghauser on bass and Rand Lines on keys will join Ben Williams on drums with Dave D'Angelo out front on alto tonight at Hendershot's. 8 pm. No cover. This is top-drawer Athens jazz, folks. We're there. Image by Bob Brussack. 

The world, someone said, is ending day after tomorrow. Well, you've been promising yourself you wouldn't go to your reward without hearing Athens' own Half Dozen Brass Band. And they're playing tonight (Thursday, May 19) at the Globe beginning at 9 pm. The whole band will be there, including Gnarly G on bari. If you can't be on Bourbon Street for the eve of the eve of the Apocalypse, this is the next best thing, folks. (I'm thinking it's actually better, but that's me.) Image by Bob Brussack.

Dave D'Angelo brings his quartet to the Hendershot's stage this coming Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Dave and his alto will be joined by Chris Enghauser on bass, Rand Lines on keys, and Ben Williams on drums. We're there, for sure. Image by Bob Brussack.