Thurs. July 26

The Fireplace in Brookline is always trying to get a little music into the night-time dining experience. Thursday July 26, owner Jim Solomon begins a free series called Latin Music Thursday. This particular Thursday is the Kickofff Party, which begins with an outdoor barbeque at 5 p.m. That winds down at 9 and the music starts then shortly thereafter. (The b-b-q costs $30.) Tony Betancourt, guitarist of the Cuban Jazz Project, is one of the three acts. says, "We've been playing two years," he says. "I was born in Cuba and most of the guys are Cuban, excpet bassist Baron Browne, who's played with Billy Cobham, and Jean-Lu Ponty (among others). We play some orginals, Latin jazz and Cuban funk thing, It's an all-instrumental five piece. It's our 'musical' music hobby, a band we just love not one we make money off of."

1634 Beacon St.,Brookline,  617-975-1900 www.fireplacerest.com