Things to do this weekend

Take time out to go hear some great music LIVE this weekend. Your choices are immense -- from jazz to Christmas carols to Penderecki's "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" at the CSO.

Besides our massive calendar at cincinnati.com and the Barry Douglas interview in today's weekend section, check these out:

Pianist Ed Moss (pictured) joins Sandy Suskind on flute and alto sax with the Sandy Suskind Quartet tonight and Saturday at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sandy and Ed have been "musical and philosophical colleagues since 1975," Sandy tells me. (And I hear that Ed is Paavo's favorite local jazz pianist.) By all means, check out the Blue Wisp, which is under new management, and stay tuned for a New Wisp story running in Sunday's Enquirer.

Canterbury Brass joins the Vocal Arts Ensemble (pictured above) in its annual holiday concerts, today through Sunday. The program will include a cappella works of American composers such as Eric Whitacre and Aaron Jay Kernis; music from Renaissance and Baroque periods and a Canadian Brass arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Earl Rivers, who is in his final season as music director, conducts.

Concerts are 8 p.m. today, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Anderson Township (with guest choir the Anderson High School Mixed Chorus); 8 p.m. Saturday, St. Boniface Catholic church, Northside, with the Kettering Children's Choir-Chorale; and 8 p.m. Sunday in St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, downtown, with the Cincinnati Children's Choir: Jubilate and Lyric Choirs. Tickets are $20; $10 students and Enjoy the Arts/Start members. 513-559-0000 or click here.

And don't forget the Azmari Quartet, pictured on this blog, below, tonight at NKU.