Alex Slomka, Heavenly Echoes to play today

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Hochanadel

Some summer free-show series have wrapped up: Alive at Five, Music Haven and a few others; yet some few free shows remain.

Schenectady jazz trombonist Alex Slomka leads his trio at Jazz on Jay (Jay Street pedestrian mall, Schenectady; rain site: Robb Alley at Proctors) today at noon. He played in the “Chicago” pit band all summer in Washington Park, plus gigs with Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble and his own small band shows. www.downtownschenectady.org/events/jazz-on-jay/.

Also today, Heavenly Echoes harmonize southern soul-style Gospel at Upbeat on the Roof (Tang Teaching Museum, Skidmore College, N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs). 7 p.m. www.tang.skidmore.edu. The late Deacon James Edmonds of Albany’s Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church founded this choir more than 50 years ago; they sing with guitar, bass and drums.

On Friday, the River Junction Band plays country-rock at Rock the Block (Canal Square, Cohoes) 6 p.m. www.ci.cohoes.ny.us/; and singer-songwriter Nick Coluccio plays at Powers Park, Troy. 6 p.m. www.rensco.com/events.asp

Freedom Park (Collins Park, Scotia) celebrates a busy late-summer weekend. Rockers Up All Night play on Saturday, the Mia Scirocco Trio plays original and classic pop on Sunday; and on Wednesday, country rockers Skeeter Creek take over. All shows at 7 p.m. www.freedomparkscotia.com. Riverlink Park (Amsterdam) also boasts a busy schedule: Country rockers True Grit Outlaws, and Tunnel, team up on Friday, fireworks follow; and on Saturday, Mariachi Flor de Toloache imports lively Latin dance music. Both shows, 7 p.m. www.riverlinkconcerts.com.

Next Wednesday, guitarist Jon Stickley brings his jazz trio (Lyndsay Pruett, violin; Patrick Armitage, drums) to Made in the Shade of The Egg. (Empire State Plaza, Albany). Noon. 473-1845 www.theegg.org

MORE DAVELL CRAWFORD

On Wednesday, New Orleans piano great Davell Crawford returns to the Cock N’ Bull (5342 Parkis Mills Road, Galway). His third show there, it’s likely to sell out like the first two, and deservedly so. Playing solo, Crawford brings to the stage his deeply rooted mastery of hometown piano pyrotechnics, an authoritative singing style and about three million songs he can weave together in endlessly fascinating medleys. Show time 8 p.m. $65 show and four-course prix fixe dinner, $20 show only. 882-6962 www.thecocknbull.com

ECK AND CARVER

Michael Eck sings songs inspired by novelist and short-story writer Raymond Carver next Wednesday in the Albany Public Library (161 Washington Ave.) Reading Music Series. Eck may be our most consummately literate songwriter; he carefully crafts lyrics of grace and precision, at times emulating (non-musical) prose masters. He more than held his own opening for the great James McMurtry in February at the Hangar, singing songs based on John Steinbeck’s novel “East of Eden” plus original murder ballads depicting true Albany crimes.

Eck’s presentation “Signals: Songs from Raymond Carver” co-stars Times Union writer and non-fiction author Paul Grondahl, reading from and speaking about Carver’s writings. Other contributors to this series include musicians M.R. Poulopoulos, Matt Durfee and Gail Sparlin; with songs inspired by authors William Kennedy, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut and others. 7 p.m. Free. 427-4300 www.albanypubliclibrary.org

STOCKADE KIDS SERIES

At Proctors GE Theatre (432 State St., Schenectady), young area musicians take over the spotlight in the new Stockade Music Live! Series, launching on Friday. Singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Justin Friello stars in the first offering Friday, presenting new music he recently recorded for a new EP and a short film, both titled “Jack and Jill.” (N.B., the film includes nudity.)

Friello played most of the instruments on the record himself, but he brings the large Jack & Jill Orchestra to play Friday’s show. Friello also performs as part of the Stockade Kids who’ll play Jan. 22 to wrap up the series after band-mate Scottie Monaco plays the series on Nov. 4. 7:30 p.m. $15. 346-6204 www.proctors.org

Reach Gazette Columnist Michael Hochanadel at [email protected]