The Jazz Fest folks threw a swank party at Max at Eastman Place Friday night, and Netsky and I made the scene. And kids, I got two words for ya: crab Rangoon. And two more: John Nugent. I know these things can be a bit of a circle jerk where politicians and officials rub elbows and chuckle and use disingenuous terms like "patron of the arts" and "rich cultural heritage," but Nugent is the real deal. You really oughta hear this man play. With a trio's support, Nugent honked happy for those digging the scene and those crab Rangoon things I was telling you about - they were so good, I ate one I had dropped. I can hear it now: "Not only is he not a patron of the arts, but I saw De Blase eating off the floor." Anyway, Nugent played it relatively safe, but I know and I've heard deadlier stuff coiled and waiting in his repertoire. You'll hear it too at the nightly jam sessions next week at the Crown Plaza, fo' sho'.

The first East End Fest of the season was blaring as I left, and I toyed with checking it out, what with Joe Beard playing and all, but was assailed by someone covering The Divinyls and decided to split.

Saturday night, I caught Third Estate at The Bug Jar. I've been following them steadily for a while now, and they have really tightened up. The songs are short and sweet without too much posturing or pyrotechnics. This is the perfect blend of pop and punk, and when you see it in a small setting, it's just good old rock 'n' roll.

Shared Genes' Teddy Nicolosi finally penned his first tune - like I always knew he could - and debuted it on "The Shakedown." I was blown away. "April Morning" is an exquisite fingerstyle number peppered with gorgeous tapped harmonics and Nicolosi's mesmerizing chord explorations. He always goes on and on about heroes like Acoustic Alchemy and Tommy Emmanuel, but it won't be long before these guys consider this way-talented kid a contemporary.