JAZZ

By Tim Stevens, Contributing Editor

MICHELE BENSEN AND CHRIS PANGIKAS IN CONCERT
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 through Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Jazz vocalist Michele Bensen will once again partner with keyboard wizard Chris Pangikas this month. Every Tuesday in November, you can see this phenomenal duo perform at Spin Bartini & Ultra Lounge in Shadyside. November’s a big month for Bensen, considering she expects her new CD, Moments Like This, featuring pianist Bob Alberti, bassist Ben Tucker, drummer Chris Russell and bassist Lee Burrows, to be available for purchase. A recent inductee into Pittsburgh Jazz Society’s Hall of Fame, Bensen was recently honored with the “Walt Harper ‘All That Jazz’ Award from LJS Publications. 7-10 p.m.
(Spin Bartini & Ultra Lounge, 5744 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside
Event phone #: 412/362-7746
Event Website: spinbartini.com)

JAZZIZ PARTY AT SEA
Sunday, November 15, 2009 through Sunday, November 22, 2009
Local vocalist Donna Bailey has been invited to perform on the first "Jazziz Party at Sea." The cruise, planned to be an annual event, will take place Nov. 15 through Nov. 22. A boat will depart from Miami, Fla., and go to Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Pittsburgh jazz fans have been assigned a personal cruise agent, Kristol, and "code" to make arrangements easy for what should be a fun trip.
(
Event phone #: 262/595-0284. Mention the code: Vic-Pitt.)

GENE LUDWIG IN CONCERT
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 05:00PM
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 05:00PM
One of the most passionate exponents of the jazz organ, Pittsburgh’s own Gene Ludwig, will be displaying his enormous talents on Wed., Dec. 9, and also on Sat., Dec. 12, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstage Bar at Theater Square.
Tickets: Free
(655 Penn Ave., downtown
Event phone #: 412/456-6666
Event Website: pgharts.org)

TRIO BRAVO IN CONCERT
Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 07:30PM
Look for some very special and absolutely beautiful interpretations of Christmas classics when Trio Bravo comes to Westmoreland Museum of American Art on Thurs., Dec. 17. The local trio, comprising John D’Amico on piano, Virgil Walters on bass and Lenny Rogers on drums, is truly one of the best jazz trios anywhere. Usually Trio Bravo’s performances have attracted standing-room-only audiences. This year probably will be no different, so make sure to get there early.
Tickets: $15; students, $3; Westmoreland Jazz Society members, $10.
(221 N. Main St., Greensburg
Ticket phone #: 724/837-1500, ext. 27
Event Website: wmuseumaa.org)

BEGGAR’S HOLIDAY
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 08:00PM
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 08:00PM
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 02:30PM
Yes, Mackie’s back in town, and you can find him this month at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. MCG Jazz and co-directors guitarist Marty Ashby and saxophonist Mike Tomaro are working together on a production of Beggar’s Holiday, the only Broadway show Duke Ellington wrote music for. This will be an updated and totally Americanized version of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, from the 18th century. The orchestrations have been created by Mike Tomaro, who, in the past, has shown his excellent ability to put some powerful, moving and musically compelling arrangements onto discs. The story features romance, corruption, thievery and passion, all personified by the lovable rogue Mack the Knife, inspired by the character in Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera, which was also based on The Beggar’s Opera. The original lyrics are by John La Touche, with updates by Dale Wasserman.
Tickets: $42.50
(MCG Jazz Hall, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, 1815 Metropolitan St., North Side
Ticket phone #: 412/322-0800
Tickets online: mcgjazz.org)