Ryan Howard and The Ladies

Ryan Howard is playing The Elephant Room on Friday, August 28, and he's not coming alone. The show is billed as Ryan Howard and The Ladies, and the title tells you exactly what to expect: Howard has put together an all-female jazz band to back him for the night. It's a one-off lineup rather than his usual group, and the band is made up of first-class jazz musicians he's brought together specifically for this date.

If you've seen Howard play around town, you know the drill—he's a mainstay of the Austin jazz scene, and The Elephant Room is one of his home bases. This particular night is a bit of a departure from his standard sets, though. Instead of his regular ensemble, the focus is on this specific collaboration, with Howard leading a group of women he's pulled together from the city's jazz community. It's a one-night-only thing, so it's not a run you can catch later in the season if you miss it.

That's the core of it: Ryan Howard, an all-female jazz band, and a single night at The Elephant Room. The show starts at 9 PM on Friday, August 28, so it's a late-night slot that fits right into the venue's usual rhythm. If you're out in Austin that Friday and in the mood for jazz, this is one of the better ways to spend the evening.