New Year’s Eve is definitely the year’s biggest party night and for anyone who enjoys funk, soul or R&B, the best option for fun that evening is going to be Detroit Underground at Humphrey’s Backstage Live. There will be great dockside scenery as well as the venues excellent food, but the highlight will be the dance floor filling sounds of this nine piece band, with a set list that includes the likes of Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Michael Jackson. This will be a crowd-pleasing way to dance the night away as we say goodbye to 2016.
Detroit Underground: Saturday Dec. 31, at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 9 p.m. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com Anyone jaded by the plethora of singer-songwriters playing local stages will want to check out Joe Cardillo, who performs at the Kona Kai Resort on Dec. 29. Though he performs solo, he is a veritable one-man band, using looping to add percussion and rhythm to his guitar, to which he then mixes in flute, clarinet or saxophone, the latter adding a nice R&B feel to some of his material. As much fun to watch as he is to listen to, Cardillo is a major talent whose heartfelt, soulful material is well worth hearing. Joe Cardillo: Thursday, Dec. 29 at the Kona Kai Resort, 1551 Shelter Island Drive. 6 p.m. www.resortkonakai.com No doubt about it San Diego is in the midst of a musical renaissance and nowhere is that more visible than in the jazz community, which has turned out an impressive wave of young talent over the past several years. Near the top of the list would be pianist Chase Morrin who performs at Dizzy’s on Dec. 30. Currently, a Harvard student, this homecoming show promises to be special. While his most recent album, Turtle, focuses on original works, for this show he will reimagine standards, accompanied by bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Nathan Hubbard. Chase Morrin: Friday, Dec. 30, at Dizzy’s, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. www.dizzysjazz.com Anyone hoping to get a head start on your New Years Eve festivities will want to head to Firefly. The venue will have two musical offerings on that day, with blues and jazz chanteuse performing at 10 a.m. and singer-songwriter Mike Officer at 6 p.m. Both are excellent singers, but the edge here goes to Shay who is fast becoming an international presence. Just back from a tour of Brazil, Shay is one of San Diego’s most electrifying artists, with a sassy, brassy stage presence that makes her one of the area’s top performers to watch in 2017.
Whitney Shay & Mike Officer: Saturday, Dec. 31 at Firefly, 1710 West Mission Bay Drive. 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 21 and up. No cover. www.thedana.com/dining On New Year’s Eve, Beaumont’s will host a night of classic rock and dance favorites with an appearance by Slower. The quartet has a widely varied set list that can include AC/DC and Jet as well as Pitbull and Bruno Mars, offering up something for just about any musical taste. Beaumont’s is a wonderful neighborhood spot, with a great atmosphere and a decent sized dancefloor. Anyone looking for a more intimate New Years Eve party, that’s still a lot of boisterous fun, will want to head to Beaumont’s. Slower: Friday, Dec. 31 at Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd. 9 p.m. 21 and up. www.beaumontseatery.com The Queen of boogie-woogie piano, Sue Palmer, will have a Tuesday night residency at Tio Leo’s in January. Gracing the cover of this month’s Boogie Magazine, Palmer is a local institution and world class talent on the 88’s, with a great repertoire of blues, jazz and pop standards. For these Tio Leo’s shows, Palmer and her band will specialize in more uptempo numbers, such as New Orleans-styled “I’m Blue,” from her latest album, The Thunderbird Sessions, perfect for swing dancing or just a great soundtrack for a mid-week night out.
Sue Palmer: Tuesdays, Jan. 3, 10, 24, 31 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. www.tioleos.com.
