Barnstable-HyannisPatch

Jazz Jam on a Sunday Afternoon

By Jen Villa

June 2011

Five years ago, 40 musicians gathered on a Sunday afternoon for a jazz jam at the Provincetown Jazz Festival. That gathering of musicians sparked what has become a monthly tradition, hosted by the Island Merchant known simply as the Jazz Jam. 

The event is hosted by Cape Cod musician and bandleader, Bart Weisman and is held the third Sunday of every month. The “jam” starts at 4 pm and runs for three hours straight of non-stop music.

After that initial Jazz Jam in Ptown, the group bounced around a bit in Harwich and Dennis and found it’s home at the Island Merchant in 2008. Now, once a month “The Merchant” packs in a crowd and erupts with jazz music, uniting professionals and students of all ages, locals and those from all over the world including Boston, Providence, New York City, San Francisco and Paris.

The host of the evening discusses the Jazz Jam with passion and pride. Weisman says, “I love passing this music to the next generation, so when a 15-year-old sax player comes and blows the audience away, this is great!  I also love the networking that goes on with the musicians and the jazz jam is where I met my pianist Fred Boyle, who resides on Cape Cod.”

The Sunday affair is very popular, so it’s suggested to call ahead and book a spot. Viewers can expect the backbone of the evening to be lead by the trio of Fred Boyle on piano, Laird Boles on bass and Bart Weisman on drums, but the additional performers are often unknown up until the last hour before the Jam. Spontaneous vocalists, pianists, trumpet, sax, clarinet, bass, drums and more will join in. Weisman explains that all of these musicians come to the jazz jam prepared to perform as a feature and/or part of an ensemble.