What a cool scene it was Tuesday night at Gillies. I finally went there to catch Howard Brofsky play jazz there (he plays every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., joined by a special guest). It's a mellow scene, but the music is good, the food and service are the tops and the crowd is eclectic, but friendly. Brofsky was in fine form, sounding really good on the cornet, and he was joined by an old friend, guitarist Jay Messer. Together, the two engage in musical dialogues as well as everyone. It was a real treat, and I recommend it for anyone, even if you don't totally dig jazz. If you see Howard today, May 2, wish him a happy birthday. He is 80 years young. He will be featured in Thursday's Ovation section of the Brattleboro Reformer, and you can celebrate his birthday with him on Saturday when he plays at the Vermont Jazz Center in a special concert in his honor. Brofsky is one of the treasures in our area. Don't miss him.