(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The Jay Messer Quintet will bring its jazz stylings to Baba Louie’s Backroom on Friday, December 6, 2013, at 8pm, in a concert produced by Berkshires Jazz in conjunction with downtown Pittsfield’s First Fridays Artswalks, in which two dozen venues will be featuring paintings and other hanging art from local and regional artists.

Jay Messer’s ensembles have performed throughout New England, at West Coast jazz festivals, and in Paris. A bandleader since the 1970s, Messer brings his well-traveled quintet to Pittsfield for the first time in six years. In addition to the leader on guitar, the quintet includes Rob Faulkner, trumpet and flugelhorn; Felipe Salles, saxophone and flutes; Dave Santoro, bass; and Claire Arenius, drums.

Studying with guitar masters like Barry Galbraith, Herb Ellis, Attila Zoller and Tal Farlow, Messer developed a strong jazz style of his own at a young age. A musician with great jazz chops, as well as a producer, composer, and arranger, Messer has performed with many jazz artists including Herb Ellis, Eddy Jones, Benny Waters, Eddy Locke, Tom McClung, Steve McCraven, and Ed Byrne.

Tickets ($15 in advance, $20 at the door) are now on sale at Berkshires Jazz and at Baba Louie’s. Dinner will be available earlier in the restaurant (34 Depot St., Pittsfield), as well as in the back room starting at 7pm and continuing during the music.