Holiday Jazz Central Jazz Jam

Three things: the last hour is the best, you never know what is going to happen and Holidays bring returning jazz jammers. I have said for many years that even if you have other things you need to tend to on Sunday night, 11:00 to Midnight at Jazz Central is still worth the trip. You never know who is going to show up and what musical magic can happen, and often does. But one rule that I even forget about is the Holiday rule. Musicians originally from the area come home for the Holidays. Last night we were blessed with the presence of a musician who started playing there even before he could drive and now he has graduated college and is attending graduate school on Memphis, Keith Moore - Keith always had a distinct style and now he plays even stronger and more confident. It was quite the treat. And another jazz jammer who has moved back into the area after being down in Atlanta for some time is trombonist Todd Bridges. He teaches in the area now and does not always feel he can come down on Sunday nights but no school Monday meant jazz jam on Sunday night. He has some serious chops and trombone players are so rare at the Jazz Central Jazz Jam. Then, to top things off, guitar player extraordinaire Cameron Vorhees showed up to play, and I do mean play! We heard some great solos. The usual jazz jam cast and crew was down to bare bones, John Hampton Wagner, trumpet and vocals, Ron Applebury on bass guitar, Greg Webster on drums (relieved a couple times by "Craig" and Henry Miles Preston) and of course Kenny Baccus on B3 organ but all four carrying the weight of the jazz jam as usual, and it was a good night for a jazz jam.