Jazzerwocky had a decent sized crowd of about 50 people enjoying some jazz music and poetry at Whispers, Oct. 22.

Gordon Leigh and the Naked Ear with the Scott Davidson Trio played some jazz music while Jay Gamble and Richard Stevenson  read poetry.

 This was one of the coolest events of the year. I arrived at the end of a set from Gordon Leigh and the Naked Ear. And while I don’t listen to a lot of jazz, I was digging it.

Leigh alternated between French Horn and trumpet, while reciting poetic lyrics, in between riffs.

The drummer held a steady beat while the bassist grooved and the percussionist’s hands were a blur,  rapping on djembe, bongos and chimes, adding to the atmosphere of the music.

Richard Stevenson, who has written books and numerous poems inspired by Miles Davis, sounded amazing, backed by the band. Stevenson, wearing a black T-shirt with miles Davis’ face emblazoned on it, stood hunched over the microphone reading his poems, while the band added horns, percussion and a  beautifully simple bass groove setting the rhythm.

 Stevenson read poems and told stories about  Davis, like how much his minimalist  style was influenced by boxers like Sugar Ray Robinson while the band played selections from throughout Davis’s career including some weirder material from the ’70s, which Leigh played a key-tar set on keyboard stand.

It was ear and mind blowing watching these cats groove and improvise together listening to this crazy poetry, while the band played in the pocket.

Over at the Slice, surprisingly, Leeroy Stagger and his band began their Oct. 21 show, leaving the headlining slot to his protégé Matthew Robinson and his band.

While he sounds amazing with just him and his suitcase and guitar,  Robinson sounded great backed by his band and has drawn a lot from Leeroy Stagger, with whom he is recording his new CD.

He played a lot of new indie-rock, folkish songs, including a really nice one he co-wrote with Stagger, and “dusted off” a couple older songs.

One of the other big shows on Oct. 21was the latest edition of Chicks with Picks, a group of Lethbridge’s finest female musicians who packed the Owl Acoustic Lounge. It was also a successful fundraiser for the YWCA.

 I arrived midway through the show just in time to see a tassel- spinning contest hosted by  local burlesque trio the Horrorshow Groodies, in which they invited several audience member to try spinning tassels on their chests.

 Several of our finest female musicians including  Katie Striebel,  Kelsey Jesperson  plus Brenna Lowrie and  bassist Dil Blackmore , got together as the Black Jespas to play a variety of innovative covers beginning with a  unique, mandolin powered version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Numerous Lethbridge musicians and fashion designers got into the Halloween spirit early at the Lethbridge College Barn, Oct. 21 with Rock N’ the Nation III. A good sized audience  was on hand to listen to local talent like Jolene Draper, Lance Tail Feathers, Shocked Standards and Curt Young.

 I arrived at the end of Simone Smith’s set of upbeat pop music including an a capella version of Four Non Blondes’ What’s Going On.

 There was an extended break before the fashion show  began including numerous outfits designed by local designers including Simone Smith. There were a variety of gowns and even a wedding dress.

 Young metal band Shocked Standards took the stage   and played a variety of classic metal from the likes of Metallica, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne as well as Joan Jett and even an extended version of the Power Rangers theme.