Jazz on the Square hits right notes

It's a chilly Thursday night in Woodstock, but Pirro's Ristorante on Woodstock Square is packed. The crowd ranges from groups of women to families to 20-something dating couples. Some are focused on the Italian food on their plates, but more are intent on the stage, where mellow-voiced vocalist Judith Honesty is fronting an up-tempo "All of Me."

This is Jazz on the Square, a weekly jam session that's pulling musicians from all over the Chicago area. The jazz jam is open to anyone who cares to show up and play.

"It's such a blast," says saxophonist Chris Gilmer of Woodstock, 18, between sets. "I'm learning a lot. I feel really lucky."

Her alto sax jives with veteran saxophonist Jim Hecht's tenor, forming a musical bridge between two people who seem otherwise far apart. Gilmer, now a business student at McHenry Community College, plans to study acupuncture at the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. Hecht, who learned to play sax in band class at Woodstock High, has been practicing law in Woodstock for 40 years.

"We were really surprised that it took off so quickly," says Erin Denk, a Jazz on the Square organizer. "The young people who come here are thrilled to have the opportunity to play. There's definitely a lot of people here who like jazz."

Jazz on the Square started in the summer, when Denk, her husband, guitarist Billy Denk, Hecht and two other Woodstock residents -- Bob Honesty and Randy Robinson -- acted on their yen for live jazz in the town.

"There really hadn't been any place for that," she says.

They approached Terry and Mary Pirro, owners of Pirro's, who signed on. Terry Pirro spent a dozen years traveling as a sound engineer for ABC and other networks, and he's very particular about the sounds on his stage.

"The purpose of Jazz on the Square," Erin Denk says, "is to promote appreciation and understanding of live performances of jazz music and to increase participation in the art of making jazz music in the community."

The event also raises money for local charities, with whom the musicians share the tip jar.

On this particular Thursday, only a few add-ons supplement the house band. Gabe Hammer of the rock band Sweet Pick sits in on drums for the first set and then goes off to another gig. Wauconda singer Heather Moran drops in to sing "Bye Bye Blackbird" and a few other numbers between dates of her "Back to Bachrach" show. Billy Denk, on guitar, tries to make up for the absent bass player, who had another job.

Veteran local drummer Johnny Weber is the only one of the house-band members who's a full-time musician. In his day job, keyboardist Dave Childress manages a Crystal Lake health-food store. Woodstock High grad Jeremy Montoto, who's usually on bass, works as field manager for a paintball field in Hampshire. Vocalist Judith Honesty, who commutes out from Chicago each week, divides her time between singing and consulting on organizational development.

On this night the group sticks mainly to jazz standards, but the musical styles vary week-to-week depending on who shows up. Usually things stay in the realms of swing, bop, cool jazz and Latin jazz, but sometimes jazz funk, fusion and blues creep into the mix.

"There's a different sound every week," Moran says. "There was a night when somebody showed up with a flugelhorn. I really like the unexpected part of it."

Pirro, pouring an enchanting chocolate port at the bar between bouts of fussing over his sound equipment, notes that the players typically range from good to excellent. Just about everybody talking about the event mentioned the virtuosity of Crystal Lake sax player Phil Ciancio, a frequent drop-in. When he plays, Pirro says, "he pretty much makes somebody cry every time."

"It's kind of wild to be with these guys," Honesty says. "Sometimes you don't know anyone, and you have one song in common that you all know. I don't know how many other forms of music there are where you can do that."

All that jazz and more

OK, sophisticate, you've got your martini glass in your hand, your vintage duds on your bod, what do you need to complete the picture of ultimate hipness?

A soundtrack. And not Eminem or Fergie. The music that goes with a martini is jazz.

Here's where to find some.

Typically, there is no cover charge although some venues may have food or drink minimums or a charge for special events. Some venues alternate jazz with other live music. Call to confirm schedules and prices.

Jazz on the Square jam sessions

Pirro's Restaurante, 228 Main St., Woodstock, (815) 337-9100, www.jazzonthesquare.net, www.myspace.com/jazzonthesquare

• 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays

Al di La

Oaks of Oakbrook, 600 16th St., Oak Brook, (630) 368-9900, aldilaonline.com

• 8 p.m. Tuesdays and alternate Saturdays

Black Ram Steak House

1414 Oakton St., Des Plaines, (847) 824-1227, www.blackramsteakhouse.com

• 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Braxton Seafood Grill

3 Oak Brook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 574-2155, www.braxtonseafood.com

• 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays

Brookdale Music

Pebblewood Plaza, 1550 N. Route 59, Naperville, (630) 983-5100, www.brookdalemusic.com

• Intermittent concerts, call for schedule, prices and reservations. Next: Steve Duke Trio, 7 p.m. Jan. 26, $15.

Chambers Seafood Grill & Chophouse

6881 N. Milwaukee, Niles, (847) 647-8282, www.thechambersonline.com

• 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

City Club

Iroquois Shopping Center, 1163 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville, (630) 305-0343

• 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays

Cucina Bella

220 S. Main St., Algonquin, (847) 458-2504, www.cucinabellaalgonquin.com

• 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays

Cucina Bella

111 N. Main St. Crystal Lake, (815) 479-1770, www.cucinabellaalgonquin.com

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, with lunch

Docks Bar & Grill

313 E. Liberty St. (Route 176), Wauconda, (847) 526-3625, www.docksbarandgrill.com

• 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and some other dates, call for schedule

Dunhill's Steaks, Chops & Seafood

1501 S. Route 31, McHenry, (815) 578-0600, www.nextleveldining.com

• 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays

Jilly's

103 S. Main St., Naperville, (630) 355-1001, www.jillyschicago.com/naperville

• Call for schedule

Olive Black Martini & Wine Lounge

5607 Broadway, Richmond, (815) 678-7370, www.oliveblacklounge.com

• 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

McAninch Arts Center jazz concerts

425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000, www.atthemac.org

• Call for schedule and prices. Next: The Hot Club of San Francisco Silent Surrealism, 8 p.m. Jan. 18-19 and 7 p.m. Jan. 20, $20-$35.

Pete Miller's Seafood & Prime Steak

1385 Meacham Road, Schaumburg, (847) 330-5500, www.petemillers.com

• 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Pete Miller's Seafood & Prime Steak

412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 243-3700, www.petemillers.com

• 7 to 10:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturdays

Pacific Blue

536C Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 469-1080, www.pacificbluerestaurant.com

• 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Pheasant Run Resort Garden Atrium

4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6300, www.pheasantrun.com

• 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays, jazz brunch

Philander's

The Carleton, 1110 Pleasant St., Oak Park, (708) 848-4250, www.carletonhotel.com/philanders.asp

• 7:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays

Sullivan's Steak House

244 S. Main St., Naperville, (630) 305-0230, www.sullivansteakhouse.com

• 5 to 10:30 p.m. nightly

Tivoli Ristorante

956 Neltnor Blvd. (Route 59), West Chicago, (630) 957-6500, tivoli-ristorante.com

• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Timpano Chophouse & Martini Bar

22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, (630) 753-0985, www.timpanochophouse.net

• 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays

Tuscany

1415 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 990-1993, www.stefanirestaurants.com

• 7 p.m. to closing Mondays through Saturdays

Tuscany

50 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 465-9988, www.stefanirestaurants.com

• 7:30 p.m. to closing Thursdays through Saturdays

Volare

1919 S. Meyers Road, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 495-0200, www.volarerestaurant.com

• 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 6:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano

416 Hamilton St., Geneva, (630) 232-2201

• 7:30 p.m. to midnight Thursdays through Saturdays

Vincitori

14 N. Cass Ave., Westmont, (630) 663-9467, www.vincitori.com

• Monthly jazz night, call for schedule

Wildwood

477 S. Third St., Geneva, (630) 377-8325, www.wildwoodsteak.com

• 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

-- Leah A. Zeldes