Blackbird Society Orchestra

Wed., Dec. 29, 7 p.m., $10, Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

[ jazz ]

This occasionally 11-piece ensemble (sometimes stripped to a single strolling violinist, namely Michael Salsburg) does the hot-jazz thing and covers Joe Venuti, Eddy Lang, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt or reaches into the songbook of Marty's playful fave, Louis Armstrong. The Blackbird Society Orchestra also has authentically arranged tunes of composers Hoagy Carmichael, Fats Waller and Duke Ellington. For Wednesday's gig at Chris', improvisational cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and amiable saxophone legend Frankie Trumbauer are at the top of the Blackbird's pecking order. Needless to say, it'll be a hot time in the old jazz café.

Wed., Dec. 29, 7 p.m., $10, Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.