UPDATE: Since posting yesterday's announcement, I've been informed that the House of Shields has decided to cut us loose for the time being, so tomorrow will be our LAST performance there for the foreseeable future. You'll definitely have more opportunities to hear the Quintet, but it may take a while to cultivate new venues, so it'd be nice to have a good crowd tomorrow for our farewell gig, and maybe to demonstrate to the owners that people do appreciate this kind of music. Anyway, thanks for listening during this three-hour tour that became a three-year mission.---Dear Friends and Listeners:I recently discovered that April is the nationally-decreed Jazz Appreciation Month, or "JAM" (Get it?), and some research led me to this information on the subject:

On August 18, 2003, President George W. Bush signed Public Law 108-72, which includes language strongly endorsing jazz and urging that 'musicians, schools, colleges, libraries, concert halls, museums, radio and television stations, and other organizations should develop programs to explore, perpetuate, and honor jazz as a national and world treasure.'

Since I would hate for any of you to run afoul of Public Law 108-72 and possibly end up taking an unwanted vacation to, say, Guantanamo Bay, I'd like to provide an opportunity for you to fulfill your presidentially-mandated Jazz Appreciation Requirement (JAR) by coming down to the House of Shields—a federally recognized Jazz EndorsementEstablishment (JEE)—this Tuesday, where my quintet, a certified Jazz Delivery System (JDS), will be offering actual jazz music for you to "Explore" (but remember, you explore with your ears, not your hands), "Perpetuate" (until 8:30, anyway), and "Honor as a National and World Treasure" (tip jar's on the bar).Anyway, you don't have to thank me for calling your attention to this—it's all part of my duty as a practitioner of this National and World Treasure, which, it turns out, is a metaphor—there's no actual treasure. That information would've come in handy about fifteen years ago.---WHAT: The Ian Carey QuintetWHO: Ian Carey, trumpet; Jon Arkin, drums; Adam Shulman, piano; Fred Randolph, bass, Evan Francis, saxophone.WHEN: Tuesday, April 11, 5:30-8:30 pmWHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, S.F.HOW MUCH: Nuthin'.

So you got downsized. So you lost a fortune betting on Michelle Kwan. So tax day is coming and you're going to have to sell your last kidney. So you spent your kids' college fund to build a Y2K bunker in your backyard, only to learn it already happened six years ago. So your wife left you for Gavin Newsom. So what.Put that all behind you, friend, and come on down to the House of Shields, where everybody knows your name (provided it's "Joe") and they're always glad you came (provided you brought your credit card).And best of all, there's no cover charge, so not one cent will be diverted from your libationary budget to pay for the fine entertainment being provided by none other than San Francisco's own Ian Carey Quintet (minus Evan).----WHAT: The Ian Carey Quintet Minus OneWHO: Ian Carey, trumpet; Jon Arkin, drums; Adam Shulman, piano; Fred Randolph, bass.WHEN: Tuesday, March 28, 5:30-8:30 pmWHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, S.F.HOW MUCH: Zip.

Tuesday's gig went well, and I was happy to see some familiar faces and return visitors. The group has really developed over the past year or so, and it feels good to know it hasn't been in a vacuum.

Alex Budman (who heads up the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra) also sat in for a few tunes, including the Evan Francis-suggested Have You Met Miss Green Dolphin Jones?, which actually worked out better than you would've thought.

The photo is by James "in2jazz", an avid jazz photographer and writer, who stopped by and took some pictures. You can see them all here. An added benefit of this is that I can clearly see that my posture is atrocious. (Especially when you compare it to James's photos of Nicholas Payton, who looks like you could hit him with a wrecking ball while he's playing and it would bounce off.)

In keeping with our policy of offering something for those who couldn't make it this week, here's a long excerpt (the entire song lasted 18 (!) minutes, but I whittled it down to 13 and change) from a familiar tune by Herbie Hancock.

• D*lphin D*nce (Hancock) Soloists: Evan, tenor saxophone; Adam, piano; and Ian, trumpet; with Fred, bass, and Jon, drums.

Enjoy! (Bonus points for finding the spot where a bar patron shouts, "You picked the wrong scene, man!" Never a dull moment at the House of Shields.)

The "original" quintet is back for another hit at the House of Shields. Stop by and soak up some culture, without even having to make a generous pledge or end up on a government watch list!And as a bonus for those who might've missed it the first time around, here's a sample from last Tuesday, followed by a fascinating interaction with a "fan" who really wants to hear When the Saints Go Marching In, and seems to think that insulting the band is the best way to make it happen.You just don't get this level of service from ordinary bands!

• Cherokee (Noble) The old warhorse burner was the last tune of the evening, so it's fast and loose.
• Can you play 'When the Saints'?, featuring the vocal talents of Ian Carey, Evan Francis, a fan who proves that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and the background chorus of the patrons of the House of Shields.

---WHAT: The Ian Carey QuintetWHO: Ian Carey, trumpet; Evan Francis, saxophone; Jon Arkin, drums; Adam Shulman, piano; Fred Randolph, bass.WHEN: Tuesday, March 14, 5:30-8:30 pmWHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, S.F.HOW MUCH: Zip.P.S. Jazz appreciators: Doug Ramsey linked to some great Charlie Parker clips over at Rifftides today. Check 'em out.

The original Quintet returns to the House of Shields! Come on down and show your support for actual live music played by human beings. It's fun, it's free, and IT'S THE LAW.

WHAT: The Ian Carey Quintet

WHO: Ian Carey, trumpet; Evan Francis, saxophone; Jon Arkin, drums; Adam Shulman, piano; Fred Randolph, bass.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 28, 5:30-8:30 pm

WHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, S.F.

HOW MUCH: Zip.

Last Tuesday's gig was really satisfying, so I thought I'd share some of it for those who weren't able to make it. Although we were short two of our regular members (pianist Adam Shulman and bassist Fred Randolph), Seth Ford-Young filled in ably on the bass, and Evan and I have been playing together long enough that the lack of a chordal instrument, rather than leaving an empty sound, actually opened up possibilities for loose, exciting interplay. Also, the fare was mostly standards, which was refreshing in itself--we usually play originals and arrangements, which are interesting and challenging, but it's great to be able to really open up on some old stand-bys.

Here are a couple of examples:

• ...What Love Is (DePaul/Raye) Featuring: Ian, trumpet; Evan Francis, alto saxophone; Seth Ford-Young, bass; Jon Arkin, drums.
• All the Things... (Jerome Kern) Same personnel.

There's a little distortion in the sound, which I apologize for--this was the first time using my new MP3 recorder, and I neglected to check the levels until after we'd already finished. (Although this isn't exactly CD quality, I'm mainly proud of the musical work, which I think comes through. For CD quality sound, click the album cover to your left.) Enjoy!