WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2012 >>>

1. Maia Santell and House Blend perform its traditional holiday jazz and blues show at Jazzbones at 7:30 p.m. The band plays an upbeat brand of R&B with a little jump blues and big band jazz thrown in for a party second to none. Santell has been called the Northwest's queen of swing for her high-energy shows and boisterous vocals. Yet, unlike so many female singers, she is not a screamer rather possessing exceptional vocal control that is rich and warm.

2. Two authors from Fox Island will sign books at 6 p.m. inside the Full Moon Art Gallery in Gig Harbor. John C. Robinson, Ph.D, D. Ministry will be signing his two latest books, The Three Secrets of Aging and Bedtime Stories for Elders: What Fairy Tales Can Teach Us About the New Aging. Charron Plumer will be signing her debut novel, Missing Mothers.

3. Calling all jazz aficionados, virtuosos and wannabes. At 7 p.m. inside The Swiss, it's a free-for-all jam session for enthusiasts of all skill levels. Led by saxophonist Kareem Kandi, organist Delvon Lamarr and drummer Adam Kessler, you are invited to jam the night away. So all you noobs with stars in your eyes, here's your chance to shine.

4. Join the Cartoonist's League of Absurd Washingtonians for its fourth annual White Elephant Gift Exchange at 7:30 p.m. inside King's Books. You are invited, even if you can't draw or don't own a fez. The rules for the White Elephant Gift Exchange are as follows: 1. The gift must be "absurd." 2. If you buy the gift, you must not spend more than $20. 3. Your gift must be wrapped, or at the very least fully concealed in a festive bag. 4. Those who bring get to participate. 5. Numbers will be drawn from a fez to determine order. 6. You can select a gift from a table or steal a gift from a person who already chose a gift. 7. A gift can only be stolen three times, at which time it becomes locked-in. 8. A gift doesn't have to be unwrapped until all gifts are selected. 9. Once all gifts are locked-in, those that have not been unwrapped should be unwrapped. 10. The Trading, purchasing, bartering or auctioning of gifts after the exchange is allowed. www.kingsbookstore.com/event/CLAWdec

4. Makkk Hussien, Shorte Ru and Cally Reed will celebrate Sunny Red's birthday at 9 p.m. inside The Loch's club. There will also be a $50 cash battle between D Fly Da Monsta and Boogie4Briz. Expect some surprise hip-hop artists too.

LINK: 12-12-12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area