Weekend 23 Jazz Preview

So much for a summer slow down.

June 3, 2010; 6:00 AM • by Dean Christesen

So much for a summer slow down. Hmm, I think I’ve written those words before (hint: I have).

So why am I always wrong about my prediction for the volume of gigs once summer hits? Somewhere in the back of my mind is this memory that when school lets out for summer, the children (I can say that now that I’ve graduated) pack up from their dorm rooms and get out of here, and the scene suffers. Apparently it’s all in my head, and this weekend is proof.

Take a look at the calender. Let’s walk through this together, shall we? Oh, and it looks like the weather this weekend might be a bit dismal, so you might as well seek shelter where there’s live music.

Not into any of these picks? I guess that’s allowed. Hop over to 5 Things and see what else is going on this weekend.

Friday

It’s First Fridays Artwalk time. There’s no jazz publicized, but you never know what you’ll come across in the galleries and walking out on Broad Street. (event)

Bossa Brava begins their “trifecta” at Bogart’s. For a five buck cover, hear this female-vocal led quartet play you some samba, e bossa novas, e fado. (event)

And as always, Doc Branch and his Key Notes are at Emilio’s, waiting for you to come sit in. (event)

Saturday

Richmond Youth Jazz Guild and Jazz Composers Alliance are hosting The Jazz Out on Saturday afternoon at MUSE Creative Workspace. It’s a benefit to send one of their students, a rising senior, to the Berklee College of Music 5-week Summer Performance Program (his full tuition scholarship doesn’t cover room and board). The Richmond Jazz Collective will be performing, as well as the youth group. (event)

Fresh off the road with guitarist Ed Ricart and drummer Calvin Weston (Ornette Coleman, Blood Ulmer, Lounge Lizards), Tim Harding is playing at Ellwood’s Coffee with his band Hotel X. As always at Ellwood’s, show’s free. (event)

Bossa Brava continues their weekend at (appropriately enough) Dora’s Brazilian Grill downtown. (event)

Elana Hyner sings with her trio over at the new Emilio’s, just west of Short Pump Town Center. (event)

Sunday

Here we go…

Interested in brunch? Roger Carroll and Alan Parker play at Current (event), and Carol Covell and Stan Smith play at Mosaic (event).

I first saw Richard D’abreu and Jazz In The Spirit at the 2008 Second Street Festival. I used words like “Sabbath”, “seaside party”, and “Mardi Gras,” and remember it being a great time. He plays at Milestone. (event)

This just in! There’s this brass band from Fredericksburg called ELBY BRASS and they’ll be playing at Broad Appétit on the MetroSound Stage. We know how we like our brass bands (or at least one of them) here in Richmond, but these guys sound pretty good. (event)

Bossa Brava closes their busy weekend at The Camel with two other bands: the Narod Ensemble (who take the beautiful folk music of Armenia and add their own improvisational elements) and Flamenco del Sur. They’re calling it World Jazz Night. (event)

I saw someone on Twitter earlier this week bashing Bottoms Up Pizza. Hard. I’m no pizza aficionado, but what? Paired with a set by Butterbean Jazz Quartet, how can you go wrong? (event)

Roger Carroll Quartet (with guitarist Alan Parker, drummer Johnny Hott, and bassist Brian Sulser) play Emilio’s. (event)

Guitarist Adam Larrabee’s trio with bassist Randall Pharr and drummer Brian Jones play Commercial Taphouse for what I’m calling my weekend pick. (event)

Photo credit: Henry.