Orchestras are an infinite palate, the big box of crayons, a full tank of gas waiting to go anywhere the composer wants. However, I've never been all that big on them; they're often just too damn stuffy and restrictive for me. But I'm always willing to take a chance. For instance, two years ago Phil Woods came to the Eastman Theatre to do his interpretation of "Bird With Strings." I was apprehensive at the idea of strings, went anyway, and heard one of the most beautiful nights of music ever.

Well, it happened again Friday night at the Eastman with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra. Schneider put her musicians through the paces with dynamic and wildly colorful material. The music went from a full-blown, full-throttle blast from the whole crew right down to delicate solos.

In the Orchestra's opening number, "Concert in the Garden," guitarist Ben Monder adopted this fluttering, round-toned drone that seemed to emanate from the walls. It was mysterious and so clever in its placement and execution, you could almost taste it.

Schneider's sense of wonder shined as well, with various dalliances and detours throughout the evening on pieces like "Aires de Lando," a polyrhythmic delight based around rhythms she heard in Peru. Its six-count and syncopation left anyone trying to clap along in the lurch.

With Saturday night's cold air chapping my bruised ass (I fell down the stairs naked that morning) I piled the cameras into the jalopy and headed to the California Brew Haus to see the Dirty Bourbon Blues Band - "not just a clever name, but a way of life," according to the band's drummer/singer. The quartet was nursing some Cream to a modest crowd when I made the scene. The band was casual and tight as it boogied nonchalant through its set, including a Count Bishops-fast version of Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge A book By The Cover." The Brew Haus is in the land time forgot; it hasn't really changed since I started darkening its door 20 years ago. And the music sounded good as it leaked out into the Kodak tundra to skid around on the ice.