There’s something coming to Southampton to get jazzed about…
Starting at the beginning of next month, Southampton Cultural Center (25 Pond Lane, Southampton, 631-287-4377) will host a new jazz jam session series for musicians of all ages.
Spearheaded by East End Jazz director, acclaimed bassist and composer Iris Ornig, the series is dubbed “East Meets West Jazz Jam Session” and will be held every first Sunday of every month from 2 to 5 p.m. starting on Oct. 5 and continuing until the end of the year. The event is open to everyone — musicians of all skill levels, music lovers, jazz enthusiasts, young upcoming musicians, families and friends. All instruments and vocalists are welcome to participate. For Ornig, the series started as a way for her to unite her fellow musicians from all points across the East End, as well as from points west, like Manhattan and beyond.
“My thing with the jam session is just to get the community out here together,” Ornig says. “I know so many musicians, and I thought one thing that’s really great to have would be to have musicians and music friends able to meet and and have a jazz jam session together.”
According to a Ornig, the inaugural session next month will feature a 30-minute performance by a quartet led by the guitar-playing Peter Watrous, former New York Times jazz critic and curator of the music series at the Arts Center at Duck Creek. The house band for opening day will also include Jane Hastay on piano, Ornig on bass and Brian Woodruff on drums.
Additionally, the series will serve as an opportunity to bring younger, school-aged musicians into the mix, offering an opportunity for student musicians to be able to “jam” with the pros.
“It’s also so they can get a better understanding of community building and creativity,” Ornig says of the workshop possibilities for kids. “I really believe they’ll see much more potential.”
The East Meets West Jazz Jam Session is a free event with no admission charge. To sign up to play or to learn more, email [email protected].
