July 7-13, 2005

musicpicks

Vince Seneri Quartet

jazz

How about three cheers for jazz journeymen? Cats who've been around for a good long while and can play the dickens out of their instruments yet do not qualify as stars — except to fellow musicians who know a genuine talent when they hear one. That's what you get with Vince Seneri, a masterful keyboardist who cuts it up big-time on the Hammond B3 organ. The guy is a supreme groove-master on the level of such giants as Larry Young, Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff. Less barbecue-style than those gents, Seneri has his own smooth, soulful sound that rides in the pocket. He also indulges in spirited improvisation that gamely pulls apart melody for sheer entertainment value. This weekend at Zanzibar Blue, Seneri is joined by Dave Valentin (flute), David "Fathead" Newman (sax) and Doc Gibbs (percussion) — all in all, a cool cast of jazz vets.

Fri.-Sat., July 8-9, 8 and 10 p.m., $25, Zanzibar Blue, 200 S. Broad St., 215-732-4500.

—Deni Kasrel