Garde Oasis Room hosts Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet

While the Hammond B3 organ isn't quite as fossilized as the Mellotron, it is similarly a truly great and oft-overlooked instrument. Personally, I'd rank B3 enthusiasts James Booker, Jimmy Smith and Joey DiFrancisco as some of the more fascinating keyboard players I've heard.

In that spirit, treat yourself and catch Friday's performance by Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet in the Oasis Room of New London's Garde Arts Center.

A highly respected jazz sideman - he last played this venue in Buster Williams' band - the Bridgeport native has also performed with Roy Eldridge, Papa Jo Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Benny Goodman.

On such albums as "Groover" and "Keep the Faith," though, LeDonne more than holds his own as a soul-jazz leader and a composer.

The show includes a pre-gig Lite Bites reception with the artists.

- RICK KOSTER