Save The Dates!

• October 15, 2010
• December 11, 2010
• February 4, 2011
• April 15, 2011

After a five year break from a weekly club date, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra (NJO) will play Tuesday nights at the French Quarter Café, a New Orleans style restaurant.

Review from JazzReview.com:
http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-7462.html

Review from The Nashville Scene:
http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-11-26/music/nashville-jazz-orchestra-celebrates-repertory-in-new-weekly-gig-at-the-french-quarter-cafe/

Five years ago, the band was invited to develop a concert series at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music as part of its new "Artist in Residence" status. While performances at Blair will remain a high priority for the NJO, the new “Tuesdays at the French Quarters” series should provide a regular informal gathering of musicians and fans. "We might even take a request or two" says Jim Williamson, NJO director. "This is just our part of a larger plan to blow the lid off Nashville's best kept secret: Jazz.”

Yes it’s true, Middle Tennessee is home to many world class jazz musicians. The only problem is not enough people seem to know it. Many of these musicians play jazz for people around the globe yet find few opportunities here in Music City USA. The mutual attraction between jazz musicians and Nashville goes to the heart of what defines the music. Since jazz players usually have extensive training in music theory and technique, the recording industry provides them opportunities as performers, writers and producers. The process of learning the art form also gives them experience in most pop genres. "The variety of deep grooves is what drew us to the music as kids" says Roy Agee, NJO member.

Jazz and blues was at the beginning of pop music in America and all along the way, jazz innovators have influenced practically every pop style. The jump swing of the 1940's led to R & B and the Kansas City shuffle became the underlayment of hip hop. The list goes on.

Although the musicians live here, there's no place where they congregate on a regular basis. Through the years, F Scott's has been the one consistent jazz voice although its size does not allow for the larger ensembles. Not since JC's in the 1980's has Nashville had a dedicated jazz club with a stage and enough room to accommodate the needs of the jazz community. Monday through Saturday the Green Hills jazz club featured big bands, funky horn bands, blues groups and small ensembles. Bands were formed and music was written just to be a part of that scene. The club was successful even during lunch time without live music. "You could always depend on good food, classic jazz on the sound system and the company of other musicians; it was a great hang," says Barry Green, NJO member and longtime Nashville jazz icon.

A commitment to quality performance is the foundation for a jazz venue. "To own a jazz club has always been my dream" says Dennis LeCoure, owner of the French Quarter. "We feel like we can be effective in promoting such a venue and a good start to that process will be the weekly presence of the NJO, the powerful group of 18 top session and jazz players" says Ed Bigler, member of MCJA (Music City Jazz Alliance). MCJA is a group designed to promote jazz in Middle Tennessee and it's comprised of jazz enthusiasts including people from TJBS (Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society), NJW (Nashville Jazz Workshop), NJO and WMOT (Jazz 89.5 FM). MCJA's prime objective is to coordinate the individual group's efforts into a collective, more powerful voice.

Promotion is the key to the success of jazz in Middle Tennessee. NJO member and Nashville treasure, George Tidwell says "Once people experience the band, they're hooked; it's just a matter of drawing them in the first time."

The NJO opens at the French Quarter Café on October 27 at 7:00 p.m. The French Quarter Café is located at 823 Woodland Street Nashville, Tennessee 37206; phone : 615-227-3100.

Web Links:

The Nashville Jazz Orchestra, http://www.nashvillejazzorchestra.org

The French Quarter Café, http://www.frenchquartercafe.com