Barnstable-HyannisPatch

Jazz Jam Review

By Jen Villa

June 2011

This month's Jazz Jam held at the Island Merchant was an incredible collaboration of jazz musicians that performed for a packed house.

It was a perfect day for a Jam. The afternoon light was falling and Main Street in Hyannis was buzzing with the energy of families and Father’s celebrating, whether through a shared meal or through taking in the view of hundreds of Antique cars that had filled the street earlier in the day.

At 4 p.m., upon entering the Island Merchant, the place was already electric. People were greeting one another, like old friends reuniting and new ones meeting for the first time. The entire bar was already occupied with bar stools facing the front windows, anticipating the start of music. The tables were nearly all full and without a reservation, it would’ve been quite a challenge to secure a seat.

Bart Weisman, director of the Jazz Jam, held monthly at the Island Merchant, greeted the crowd and made a few related announcements. Then, literally began what would be a 3 hour jam session of incredible Jazz music.

The evening was supported by the trio mostly consisting of Weisman on drums, Fred Boyle on piano and Rich Hill on Bass. Weisman spent most of the evening directing the ensembles while juggling all the guests that join in, including numerous musicians that simply entered the restaurant mid-jam and jumped on stage, many for the first time. Rich Hill on bass was the only musician that played the entire show.

The Jam had an incredible amount of talent and variety within the participating musicians. Just in this month’s show, ages varied hugely; ranging from a phenomenal 13-year-old on the sax to an 82-year-old who rocked the crowd with his soprano sax playing.

The evening boasted more than 20 different musician combinations and was an incredible site to see. The talent and excitement was quite impressive for a Sunday afternoon in Hyannis. After the show, Weisman excitedly explained, “you come next Sunday and it will be an completely different experience. There is never a repeat and you never know what you’re gonna get.”

And that’s the beauty of a true Jazz Jam. Add it to your calendars and reserve your spot for the next one. It’s indeed a one of a kind experience.

Jazz Jam runs on the third Sunday of every month.