Project: Latin Jazz

If there's one thing musicians love, it's honorifics. Just look at Queen Latifah, Dr. Hook and Reverend Horton Heat. It must be great to slap on a title like that without all the hassle of actually attending medical school, for example. But then you have people like Craig Russo who are doctors, but onstage are content just being musicians. Russo's traveled to Cuba to hone his craft as a drum-set artist at Havana's National School of Arts — we bet that's like going to Johns Hopkins for med school. On top of that, he has two decades' worth of traditional jazz experience. Tonight, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Finale Music & Dining (8025 Bonhomme Avenue, Clayton; 314-863-8631 or www.finale-stl.com), see the doctor in action when he plays with the tenor saxophonist, pianist, bassist and drummer who together form the Afro-Cuban-influenced Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project. The group's music is upbeat and fiery, so please, don't ask Russo to look at that trick elbow. Tickets are $10 and available through Ticketmaster (314-241-1888 or www.ticketmaster.com).
Thu., Aug. 31; Sat., May 12