If somebody invented a means of practical time travel, what would you go see? Cicero addressing the Roman Senate, Shakespeare acting at the Globe, Jane Austen pouring tea? The Sex Pistols in San Antonio? Quarterflash at the Us Festival? For me, it'd be the legendary 1926 Roseland battle of the bands—ebony and ivory—between Fletcher Henderson (Coleman Hawkins on tenor) and Jean Goldkette (cornet solos by Bix Beiderbecke): two blazing-hot combos at the top of their game, slugging it out toe-to-toe. But since I'm stuck here in 2000, I'll settle for Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, who can kick out the jams on a tightassed whiteboy stomp one minute and relax into a bluesy power-wiggle the next: Goldkette and Henderson, all wrapped up in one. Just close your eyes and whaddaya know: time warp. (Monday nights at Cajun)