Choices, choices

Dean Christesen — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0000

The weekend is mere hours away, and with it brings many chances to check out great music.

Friday

Music at Black Hand Coffee continues this week with Evan Sarver Trio (fb). This series of shows has proven to be an interesting afternoon experience with some great new groups like R2Dtoo and Use the Vastness. This one with Sarver (bass), Devonne Harris (drums), and Marcus Tenney (trumpeter gone tenor saxophonist) should also be great. 5pm, $5 suggested donation, website, map

Afterward, take your pick of a couple gigs that are happening at a more typical time of the evening for jazz. Oregon Hill Funk All Stars will be playing at The Camel (fb). You may notice something a little different at the venue. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it involves a bigger bar in a totally new place. 9pm, $7, website, map

Or check out Wise & Otherwise at Que Pasa (fb). Saxophonist and Oberlin student David Wise is in Richmond for the summer and has been taking his music to various venues like Bogart's and Mulligan's. This time he'll be at the new Church Hill hot spot, which is a Cuban/Puerto Rican restaurant and bar. Also, the kid can play. 9pm-12am, $5, map

As he is every Friday night, Doc Branch and his faithful Key Notes will be at Emilio's in The Fan. 10:30pm, $5, website, map

Saturday

If you haven't had enough of bass-playing Sarvers after Black Hand and Que Pasa--and why would you?--go see the Russ Hanchin-Joe Sarver Duo play Brazilian jazz at Richbrau's Taphouse Grill in Shockoe Slip. 7:30pm, free, website, map

Catch saxophonist James "Saxsmo" Gates later at Bogart's. 9pm, map

Sunday

Chez Roue man Roger Carroll is pairing up with pianist Anthony Dowd at Emilio's. 7pm-10, website, map

Welcome Taylor Barnett back to the states at Bogart's with a performance by his quartet that includes guitarist Trey Pollard. 7pm, map

If the weather is nice, head to the roof of Mulligan's Sports Bar in the Fan for Dave Pillsbury Toot Sweet Jazz Ensemble with vocalist Carol Covell. The bar's TVs may be on, but the spotlight is always on the music upstairs at Mulligan's. 7pm-10, free, map

The Butterbean Jazz Quartet is always a lovely way to end the weekend. Their weekly gig at Bottom's Up Pizza (just awarded best pizza place by Richmond Magazine's Best & Worst of 2009) has taken place every Sunday night for a while now, seeing through the release of the group's self-titled debut album. Bring your horn for the last set of the night. 7:30pm, free, website, map

Know of anything that I missed, or have any non-jazz suggestions for the weekend? Hit the comments section below.

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