Quintet Music Friday April 16

Taxes behind you?  Time to relax with some fine live music.

Trinity-on-Main, 69 Main Street in New Britain, present the Britton Brothers Band as they embark on their CD Release Tour.  Formed by brothers Ben (tenor saxophone) and John (trumpet), the quintet features Jeremy Siskind (piano), Taylor Waugh (bassist) and Austin Walker (drums.)  Their music channels the energy and influences of the Dave Holland Quintet, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Douglas, and others (one hears blues and gospel in the mix) into a fine blend that swings hard and makes one listen. The debut CD, "Uncertain Living" (self-released) sounds both quite mature as well as youthfully exuberant.  Tenor saxophonist Chris Potter appears on 2 tracks and easily weaves his sound into the band. To find out more about the recently released CD and the band, go to www.brittonbrothers.com.  For ticket information (the suggested donation is just $5 and, believe me, it will be money and time well spent), go to www.trinityonmain.org/events_programs.htm.

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery (pictured left) joins his high school friends Amanda Monaco (guitar) and Noah Baerman (piano) in a project (not a reunion) called Playdate. Along with the rhythm section of Henry Lugo (bass) and Vinnie Sperazza (drums), they've recorded a self-titled CD for Posi-Tone Records and will be playing a CD Release Concert at Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven.  The band's music rides atop the active drums of Sperazza and solid bass lines of Lugo, each member contributing compositions.  Escoffery's strong tenor and sweet soprano lines mesh well with intelligent counterpoint of Baerman's piano and the more angular guitar riffs from Monaco.  The debut CD, recorded in 2007, is in a mainstream mode and one expects the live shows to grow from that, for each player brings different strengths and influences (for instance, Amanda Monaco is a strong rhythm guitarist allowing Baerman to be more adventurous in his piano work.) 

They'll play 2 sets, 8;30 and 10 p.m., and, since they all have family and friends in the New Haven area, the shows have sold well.  For more information, go to www.firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.