Jazz and classical pianist and composer Harry Pickens has put together a special concert to benefit the family of Maria Ndimuzigo, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident recently. She sang with the World Refugee Day choir last year and leaves behind two young daughters.

Dale Moss at the C-J reports in today’s paper that the Speakeasy jazz club in New Albany will close tonight (Wednesday, October 29). While this comes as no real surprise, following the demise of the Jazz Factory in downtown Louisville, it leaves jazz fans with very few options to hear their music - the occasional shows at the Comedy Caravan in the Mid-City Mall and the Seelbach Jazz Bar, about which we have heard little of late. Of course, the failure of both full-time jazz clubs suggests that jazz fans are not going out very much and/or that jazz is not very popular, even with two university-level jazz programs running in the city. Whatever the answer, it’s a shame and a loss to the Kentuckiana area music scene.

Your humble editor caught the Squeeze-bot/Java Men show last night at the Pour Haus and I was once again reminded that Louisville music fans are simply over-saturated with music. How else to explain a fairly small crowd for such a show, particularly with the original Java Men, Craig Wagner, Todd Hildreth and Ray Rizzo, on hand? Rizzo, who’s currently living and working in New York City, has adopted a distinctly Rasputin-esque appearance, thanks a black bead that falls a third of the way down his chest, but don’t let that fool you - he beats the skins with a passion and style that’s more Gene Krupa meets Animal from The Muppets - but tastefully and to the point, musically speaking. I’ll upload a bit of video later today.

So what’s with the ‘Vote for Squeeze-bot” title? The band is trying to win an online contest to play at the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass and Blues festival, which comes with a $500 check as well. To vote for the band once a day, vote here. I mean, what’s a Blues and Bluegrass festival without a band that features accordion, banjo, tuba and drums?

The October cover story for Louisville Music News is the Troubadours of Divine Bliss. Check that out, along with all the latest columns, performance and CD reviews in the print edition.

The deadtree copies will be on the street beginning today - later than usual, due to the problems caused by Hurricane Ike.

Martin Kasdan Jr goes off the reservation to write a LEO preview for Rachel Z and the Department, scheduled into The Comedy Caravan on Monday, Sept. 15.

LMN Jazzin’ columnist Martin Kasdan goes off the reservation to preview the Mediski, Martin and Wood show for the C-J.

It’s dueling weekly pubs on music time - LEO’s Music issue is out and Velocity has a sampler for the cover. LEO gets the call, though, as they have a cover story on none other than Travis Meeks, a feature certain to cause some disturbances in the ether. Seems Meeks’ has Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s in-n-n-n-terresting reading.

There’s a lot more about music in the town - LEO devotes the whole issue to various aspects, so pick up a copy on read it at leoweekly.com

This week’s Velocity cover story features a peculiar selection of clubs and performers in the Louisville area on June 27 and 28. Really peculiar, although I didn’t check their choices against Velocity’s ad list. Everybody has their preferences…but it’s really just impossible to get it all into one story, even a long one.

The Louisville Orchestra’s Chase Pops series at the Louisville Palace has been announced for 2008-2009. Briefly, it looks like this:

Ticket prices have not yet been posted at the Louisville Palace’s website.

This weekend has so much music going on in the Louisville area that the C-J had to spread it around their staff, instead of just leaving it all to J. L. Puckett. In no particular order, there’s the Lebowski Fest, covered by Puckett plus, of course, LMN and 37 Flood, which has an interview with Will Russell. And more.

Next, there’s the Water Tower Blues and BBQ Festival, awarded the first choice in the C-J’s Hot List

Puckett touts Your Black Star, which was the LMN cover story back in May.

Finally, there’s the LMN list of music for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.