Curtis Stigers is at Ronnie's and elsewhere ...

I like Curtis Stigers. When he puts his jazz hat on - and he does have more hats than Imelda Marcos has shoes - he's a contender. So, the news that, after his final date at the South Kitchen and Jazz Parlour in Philly tomorrow night, he's heading for the UK and Europe sounded good..

He opens at Ronnie's on Thursday Sept. 30 and hangs around until Sunday Oct. 3 before jetting off to Denmark and Germany.

Stigers returns in 2022 for more UK dates in March and April. Gigs that include Perth, Kilmarnock, Lowestoft, Eastleigh, and Weston-Super-Mare as well as Birmingham and Manchester but, unfortunately, no Newcastle - at least not until June of that year which is when he shows at no less a venue than the Utilita Arena on June 22.

If I shout 'Hoorah' I must confess it won't be a very loud hoorah. In fact, if you were hanging out in the nearby Globe Jazz Bar you'd hardly hear it at all!

Why this reticence? - he's the support act to Barry Manilow!

When I first heard of the Manilow connection I assumed he would be singing Manilow songs which I figured would be ok - they're not bad songs - but, when I realised he was going to be second banana I decided to pass... Lance