Trumpets Jazz Club-Restaurant   

Trumpets is silent on Mondays and major holidays, but pretty much any other day of the year you can expect to hear the sounds of jazz -- quartets, vocalists, soloists, whatever -- floating across Depot Square in Montclair. Trumpets is the epicenter of a burgeoning local jazz scene, and pulls from a roster of nearly 30 regular musicians to keep its calendar full and its large, blue-and-white front room equally packed with sound and happily swinging locals. Trumpets' stage has seen some big names, but it's best for low-cover shows featuring top local musicians, and its low-key, casual air. There's some pretty decent food here, too, and while the Trumpets 'megaburger' or the numerous broiled fish and grilled meat aren't going to change the way you think about dining out, they're very good by jazz club standards. The jazz brunch is a good deal, but also popular as all get out, so bring something to read while you wait. Or you could just listen to some jazz. When the music swings like this, why not? -- D.J. Roth