Rhythm guitarist Dave Francis has formed a new trio called Rue de la Pompe, his latest tribute to gypsy jazz and their three-fingered hero, Django Reinhardt. The trio features bass aces Steve Meashey and Bruce Campbell and multi-instrumentalist Ken Gehret on violin and guitar. The trio will perform from 6 to 9 tonight at Effie Ophelia, 230 N. Prince St.

Francis' other band, the Gadjo Playboys, also champions gypsy music originating from Eastern Europe

and Paris in the 1930s. The Gadjos have played locally since 2001.

Trixie Greiner has formed a new band called Chaos Control and the Cosmos that features all new original music by Greiner. The quartet includes Curt Sipe on saxophones, Dave Santana on drums and Mark Ryan on guitar. They will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Belvedere Inn, 402 N. Queen St.

Last month, Trixie and the Don Johnson Project beat 10 other bands in the International Blues Competition held in Steelton. They will travel to Memphis in February to compete in the National Blues Competition.

The Reese Project will be recording a new CD in December with Grammy-nominated producer Jack Kreisberg. The Project will host a rehearsal that is open to the public at Alois Restaurant, 102 N. Market St., Mount Joy. Audience members can listen and ask questions about how a working band prepares to make a recording. Admission is $5.

Catch the Reese Project live at Alois from 10 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 29.

Tom and Laurie Reese's Project band features Aaron Walker on drums, Bobby Brower on guitar and Johnny Bravo on percussion.

The Don Trostle quartet will play a free concert Saturday night at the Art and Soul Café at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 100 Main St., Mountville. Joining him will be Howard Boots on trumpet and clarinet, Don Grabowski on bass and Liz Trostle on vocals.

Don Trostle is best known locally for his decades-long big band gig. They will perform this New Year's Eve at the Masonic Homes Center in Elizabethtown.

Readers of Down Beat Magazine, the fanzine of choice for all things jazz, have voted for the best recordings of the year. The top selection was "Pilgrimage" by Michael Brecker, followed by Herbie Hancock's "the Joni Letters" and Maria Schneider's big band recording, "Sky Blue."