Bringing a hired gun like multi-instrumentalist Kevin Breit into your crew will no doubt sharpen your sound. But if you're smart you'll view those lethal chops as an invitation, or a challenge to match the heat. When I first saw guitarist Dawn Thompson, she played rudimentarily slick and precise. It was pretty, but relatively close to the ground. Thompson's warm honey tone - on her guitar and voice - makes her music perfect for a memorable tete-a-tete over cocktails. At The Rochester International Jazz Fest holiday soiree at Max Of Eastman Place Thursday night, Thompson and her band swung top notch. Breit (better known perhaps as the devil in Miss Jones' band) was scary brilliant, like an understated Sonny Landreth switching from Tele to mandolin. He created a sonic wash in waves that spoke of big skies and trips demarked by well-worn frets. Thompson expertly chorded beneath him, and when it came for her time to shine, she jumped to the upper register with guts. Maybe Breit brought it out. Maybe it's been there all along. I suspect the latter. Anyhow, it was cool. I dig this chick.

The wind chill had completely pantsed the thermometer Saturday night, but a few folks still managed to make it down to Montage Live Music Hall to trip to Trip Throttle as the duo celebrated the release of its new disc, "Wild Kingdom." I gotta tell ya, that crunchy guitar is that spoonful of sugar to get the techno to go down for all you analogue luddites out there. I don't pretend to be super-enlightened or anything, but though I naturally gravitate to the guitar, Trip Throttle's electro throb and thrill will make you move, baby. The music, though structured and fairly precise, still swaggers like rock 'n' roll. And honestly, that's all rock 'n' roll needs to be rock 'n' roll... a little heavy guitar never hurts neither. Oh, and some lasers. And a mohawk.