Hi Listeners: I'm going to be returning to the Parc 55 for two shows this week, filling in for Betty Fu while she travels the globe, secret agent-style.

I'll be joined by I.C. Quintet member Adam Shulman on piano, and either Noah Shenker (Thursday) or Ron Belcher (Friday) on bass, and we'll be playing standards and jazz classics, as well as some originals by myself and Adam.

So stop by, have a delicious cocktail, enjoy some live jazz music, and wonder how the heck it got to be October already.

What: The Ian Carey Trio
Who: Ian Carey, trumpet and flugelhorn; Adam Shulman, piano; Noah Shenker/Ron Belcher, bass
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th, and Friday, Oct. 5th, 7-10 p.m.
Where: The Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St., San Francisco, just steps from the Powell St. BART station. (415) 392-8000
How Much: No cover.

In case you missed last week's show at the Parc 55, you'll have another chance to hear us tomorrow evening. I'll be joined by two great young local players: on piano, Michael Coleman (of the Beep Trio), and on bass, Adam Gay (of Spaceheater). We're going to be playing a mix of standards, jazz classics, and originals. There's no cover charge and lots of comfortable couches, so come on by, have a cocktail and drink a toast to the end of the minor league baseball season. Or whatever.

What: The Ian Carey Trio
Who: Ian Carey, trumpet and flugelhorn; Michael Coleman, piano; Adam Gay , bass
When: Friday, September 7, 7-10 p.m.
Where: The Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St., San Francisco (Just steps from the Powell St. BART station.) (415) 392-8000
How Much: Zilch.

I'm also going to be playing again this Monday with the great Contemporary Jazz Orchestra at Pearl's in North Beach. So stop by and check out the giant sound of San Francisco's longest-running big band.

What: The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
When: Monday, September 10, 8pm & 10pm
Where: Jazz at Pearl's, 256 Columbus Ave., S.F.
Tickets: $15

Hi folks, hope you've all been enjoying your summers, staying out of the poison oak, getting your wallet-making merit badges and avoiding the dreaded "Slip 'N' Slide burn." Now that regular summer is winding down and Indian (Native American?) Summer is on the way, may I suggest you celebrate by enjoying a delicious and nutritious after-work cocktail and taking in some fine jazz music? I have just the place in mind. ("How conveeenient," you say.)

Next Thursday, August 30th, bassist Noah Schenker and I will be playing at the Parc 55 Hotel, and we'll be joined by the great pianist Matt Clark, all the way from New York. Matt was a fixture on the Bay Area jazz scene for many years before heading East several years ago, and we're lucky to get a chance to play with him during his summer visit. We'll be playing a combination of standards, jazz classics, and originals.

Most importantly, there's no cover charge, so no one has to know that you nearly bankrupted yourself going to see Harry Potter 30 times.

What: The Ian Carey Trio, with special guest Matt Clark
When: Thursday, August 30, 7-10 p.m.
Where: The Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St., San Francisco (415) 392-8000
How Much: Nada.

I'm happy to announce that after a slow spell, I'm going to be performing in three events in the next few weeks for your discerning ears.

The first is an event at the Red Poppy Art House called "JAZZ & THE PETIT CINEMA," which combines a performance by the Adam Shulman Quartet (presenting "all original compositions that draw from the idioms of modern jazz, late 19th century classical and pop rock") with short films from Future Shorts (which takes "the best international films and gathers them into a monthly compilation, featuring some of the most highly acclaimed shorts from around the world"). We're going to be playing music from Adam's new album, as well as at least one brand spanking new composition.

What: The Adam Shulman Quartet
With: Adam Shulman, piano; Ian Carey, trumpet and flugelhorn; Smith Dobson V, drums; and Devon Hoff, bass
When: Saturday, July 14, 9pm (doors open at 8:30)
Where: The Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St., S.F.
Tickets: $12-$15 suggested donation

I'll also be performing the next two Mondays with the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra at Jazz at Pearl's. The CJO is a San Francisco institution which has featured many of the Bay Area's finest jazz musicians over the years, and features a repertoire of 400+ arrangements from Duke Ellington to Thad Jones to local composers and beyond. This 16-piece big band also regularly plays host to great vocalists such as Kenny Washington, Duane Lawrence and Kim Nalley.

What: The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
When: Mondays, July 16 & 23, 8pm & 10pm
Where: Jazz at Pearl's, 256 Columbus Ave., S.F.
Tickets: $15

I hope you have a chance to come out to some of these shows and support live jazz in the Bay Area.

I'm pleased to announce that after weathering a dry spell, the Ian Carey Quintet is reuniting for our first East Bay show. The venue is Anna's Jazz Island in Berkeley, which is a nice room with a fine piano (and it's next door to some of the best carnitas nachos I've ever had).

Evan Francis, our regular saxophonist extraordinaire, is unfortunately going to be out of town, but the great Joe Cohen (of Jazz Mafia and Cannonball), who was a frequent guest of ours back in the House of Shields days, will be filling in. We'll be playing music from our CD as well as some new originals and jazz rarities.

There's an $8 cover, but that's less than almost anything else you can think of to do (outside) on a Thursday night.

WHAT: The Ian Carey Quintet
WHO: Ian Carey, trumpet; Joe Cohen, saxophone; Fred Randolph, bass; Adam Shulman, piano; and Jon Arkin, drums
WHEN: Thursday, April 12th, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Anna's Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. Phone: (510) 841-JAZZ
HOW MUCH: $8.

Tonight, Monday the 11th, and the next two Mondays as well, I'll be playing with the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra at "Jazz at Pearl's" in North Beach. The CJO, a 16-piece big band, is a San Francisco institution which has been featuring some of the region's finest jazz musicians (and sight-readers) every week for over a decade.

The repertoire includes classic charts by Thad Jones, Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, and many other legendary arrangers, as well as original arrangements written specifically for the band. I consider it a privilege (and a challenge) to play with the group from time to time.

So come on out for some rollicking big band sounds!

WHAT: The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
WHERE: Jazz at Pearl's, 256 Columbus Ave., San Francisco; phone: (415) 291-8255
WHEN: Mondays, September 11th, 18th, and 25th; sets at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $15