IN MEMORY OF: Wednesday night, Texas Woman’s University will put on a benefit for the Brian Leavell Endowed Scholarship. Brave Combo will play, as well as a slew of other respected Denton musicians. But who was Brian Leavell, and why is half of Denton gathering on Wednesday to celebrate his life? The Denton Record Chronicle tells the story of the music educator who inspired students at both TWU and the University of North Texas before his sudden death earlier this year.

MUSIC IN HIS VEINS: Fort Worth’s Austin Allsup is building a reputation for himself as an energetic singer-songwriter who has enough material to play for hours on end. You might think that only stands to reason as he is the son of Grammy-winning guitarist Tommy Allsup. But Austin didn’t learn to be a musician by taking lessons from his dad as a toddler. In fact, Austin didn’t really even get to know his father until Tommy came and visited him when he was 17 and already doing a stint behind bars. Fort Worth Weekly has the story of how that late in life father-son relationship helped put Austin on the North Texas music map.

LISTENING LOW: Wednesday night, the Jazz Roots Series we told you about way back in July kicks off at the Winspear Opera House with a concert by pianist Ramsey Lewis and singer Al Jarreau. The series is the brain child of record producer Larry Rosen, who said back at the July press gathering that he hoped it would educate people about jazz. So to help educate you before your further education begins Wednesday night, take a look at this post from Doug Ramsey’s Rifftides jazz blog about the importance of listening for the bass player. Interesting stuff and good advice.