After the Thanksgiving adventure of having Aunt Maggie hook up her RV in your back yard, you may want to get away for a little while. Nothing helps one’s mental health better than music or shopping, I always say. The Black Friday shopping spree at Brookwood Village might be more palatable since The Shaun Pezant Trio will be playing from midnight to 4 am. The trio is a Birmingham jazz favorite for their slick sound. Keyboardist Shaun Pezant, saxophonist Mike Hamm and guitarist Norris Jones are spellbinding in their natural bar-scene habitat and should be a good distraction from fighting with strangers over sales items.
But if you are like me, one of the best things to do after having slept in on Friday is to take your favorite visiting relatives out to see Goodfellas jazz duo Jeff Lopez and Ken Talley play at Michael’s Steakhouse in Hoover from 8 to 10 pm. They have played throughout the southeast for over 15 years and are two of the most talented musicians this city has to offer. Goodfellas plays an amazing variety of songs from originals to covers of artists like Seal, Van Morrison, Earth Wind & Fire, Sting, Eric Benet, Frank Sinatra, the Neville Brothers, Otis Redding, Spyro Gyra and an extensive repertoire of Steely Dan tunes. Goodfellas is one of Birmingham’s best kept secrets.
By the time Saturday night rolls around you will most likely be ready to venture out until the relatives leave town. A perfect attitude for hanging out at Marty’s on Birmingham’s south side where Chad Fisher’s 1930’s Swing Band will be performing from 7 to 10 pm when Earthbound takes the stage for late night entertainment. Fisher, an established jazz trombonist, has put together another fabulous musical experience in the 1930’s Swing Band. Put aside your expectations of what you think swing is and be ready for Chad-styled improvisation instead. Earthbound’s groove is a mixture of folky country, jazz and psychedelic rock if that is at all possible. Marty’s is open until
