Lorenzo Monk Quartet

Lorenzo Monk plays the Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge on Friday, October 23, leading his quartet for a one-hour set. It's a short window—the music runs from 5:30 to 6:30 PM—so if you're planning to be there, you'll want to arrive with some time to spare. Doors open at 5:00, which gives you a half-hour to get settled before the first note.

Monk is a jazz pianist based here in Columbus, and he's got the academic pedigree to back up the playing. He earned his bachelor's from Oakwood University and went on to get a master's from the Eastman School of Music, one of the top conservatories in the country. That kind of training usually means a strong grasp of the jazz tradition, and when he steps out with a quartet, he's got the rhythm section to let him stretch out and lead from the piano.

If you're not already familiar with the spot, the Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge is at 17 Buttles Ave, right in the Short North. It's a dedicated jazz room, so you're getting a proper listening environment rather than a band playing over the noise of a bar. The set is billed as a "Power Hour," and the title fits the timing—one hour of music, start to finish, without a long break in the middle. It's a tight window, so it works well as a pre-dinner stop or a way to kick off your Friday night before heading elsewhere.

Tickets are $10. With the show running from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and doors opening at 5:00, you've got plenty of room to get in and get a drink before the quartet takes the stage.