Quintet

If the string quartet is master of the instrumental chamber music idiom, the woodwind quintet sleeps with the servants. Oh, how the great composers lavished extraordinary care on their string quartets. Franz Joseph Haydn, the inventor of the genre, wrote more than 80 of them. Beethoven gave us 16 that span each period of his artistic life. But works for an ensemble of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn in those two canons with no orchestra or piano to accompany them? Good luck trying to find one. Still, there is a marvelous woodwind quartet repertoire.

Concert Aaron Neville Quintet Tonight at 8, the Aaron Neville Quintet hits Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis, for a holiday-themed show. Tickets are $69.50 and are also avail able for a show tomorrow night at 8. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramsheadtavern.com.

Tenor saxophonist Greg Thompkins leans into the music as if he's searching for something very important and very elusive in the composition he's playing. The new gold-tone neck on his silver sax glitters in the bright light of the room where he's rehearsing the Greg Thompkins Quintet for the first Baltimore Jazz Composers Showcase on Sunday afternoon at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center. He's a big guy with a big sound and a gentle manner. On his left, Scott Tiemann, his coolly impassive drummer, listens carefully as he plays.

This year, Danity Kane, the all-female quintet that came together in MTV's Making the Band 3, released its second album, Welcome to the Dollhouse, which made its debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. As a result of Making the Band 4, P. Diddy gave singer Donnie Klang a solo recording contract and formed the all-male R&B/pop quintet Day 26. All three acts perform at Pier 6 Pavilion tomorrow for Making the Band 4 -- The Tour. The show starts at 7 p.m. The venue is at President Street and Eastern Avenue.

The Towson Chamber Players will open their new series of five free Sunday evening performances Oct. 14 with a concert highlighting the group's soloists. Taking part will be Reynaldo Reyes, piano; Sara Landgren, flute; Edward Palanker, clarinet; Michael Decker, guitar; Ruth Drucker, soprano; and Gerald Phillips, baritone, among others.The schedule: Nov. 4: chamber ensembles; Feb. 17: Baltimore Trio; March 10: Towson Brass Quintet; April 7: Towson Fine Arts Wind Quintet. Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. in the Towson State University Fine Arts Concert Hall on Osler Drive.

Annapolis Brass Quintet since 1971:* 2,000 concerts.* Repertoire of more than 2,000 pieces.* Up to 110 concerts a year.* 100 concerts with Charlie Byrd Trio.* 60 original compositions played.* 16 recordings.* Performances in 22 countries: 17 European tours, Middle East, Africa, Central America, Orient.* All 50 states, virtually all Maryland counties.* Only 10 members in 20 years.

Chamber music Chamber music fans can find some of the most involving performances -- in some of the finest acoustics to be heard in this region -- at Second Presbyterian Church. The annual "Chamber Music by Candlelight" series there, featuring members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, gets under way for another highly promising season with a typically enticing program. Mozart's gentle, exquisite Clarinet Quintet and Brahms' sweepingly passionate F minor Piano Quintet are the main items on the bill.

Charlie Byrd, the favorite guitar player of many peers after more than 50 years at it, is looking forward to a "Byrd and Brass" concert with a veteran's know-how and a rookie's drive. Saturday at 8 p.m. he plays Christmas music with the Annapolis Brass Quintet, two things he enjoys dearly.With his jazz trio of brother Joe Byrd on bass and drummer Chuck Redd, the legendary musician, now 65, joins forces with the Quintet at Friedberg Concert Hall, Peabody Institute. It's their 100th joint concert in five years, more or less, and their first Christmas concert (though they have recorded a Christmas "Byrd and Brass")

All Mighty Senators Tonight, Charm City-based quintet the All Mighty Senators start a three-week stint at the 8x10. The rock and soul group, which recently opened for rapper Busta Rhymes, will perform three Thursdays in a row. The gigs are part of the club's new emphasis on residencies. The 8x10 is at 8-10 E. Cross St. Tickets are $5. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more information, call 410-625-2000 or visit the8x10.com.