Divas and more at Brandt's

Mae "Lady Jazz" Wheeler

If you saw the recent KETC special on the rise, fall and rebirth (as a residential neighborhood) of Gaslight Square, you may have noticed an interview segment with restaurateur Jay Brandt in which he talked about working at his parents' place in the historic entertainment district while still a teenager. Now it looks like Brandt is bringing a bit of the old Gaslight Square to the U. City Loop, booking well-known names from back in the day like Mae Wheeler, Jeanne Trevor and Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum into his place.

Part of Brandt's entertainment calendar is devoted to what they're calling "Divas of Jazz," and it is under that banner that Ms. Trevor will appear tonight, Friday, May 13, with Ms. Wheeler to follow tomorrow night, Saturday, May 14. Whalum, the uncle of well-known smooth jazz saxman Kirk Whalum, is doing one Thursday a month and performs next on June 9. In addition, both Trevor and Wheeler have return dates throughout the summer, and Brandt's schedule also includes several other performers jazz fans may enjoy, such as the John Norment Trio, Swing Set, Jobim Dreams, and the still-ubiquitous Erin Bode.