Jazz Jams brings local musicians together

Sounds of live jazz fill the Hub in the TSC during Utah State University’s monthly Jazz Jams sessions, where local musicians gather to perform and improvise together. 

This free event is typically held in the evening on the last Wednesday of the month, according to event organizer Braun Khan, a professional practice associate professor in the USU music department. 

While music majors make up most of the participants, Jazz Jams are not limited to university students. Khan said community members such as high school students, older musicians and even young children have joined in on the session over the years.  

“It’s open to anybody. Whether they want to come and listen, enjoy the music or play a little bit, they are welcome,” Khan said. 

Instead of having a designated setlist, musicians are invited to write the name of the tune they would like to play on a sign-up sheet.   

According to Khan, one purpose of the jam sessions is to give musicians an opportunity to learn new jazz standards and develop their skills in an informal setting.   

“You’ll notice there’s no music stands onstage, and nobody’s reading music because everybody’s trying to learn these tunes and be able to play them from memory,” Khan said.  

While some tunes return from month to month, the sessions also introduce new music. During the session on Oct. 21, musicians played “Lucky Southern”, a tune composed by pianist Keith Jarrett.  

“It’s a little more off the beaten path,” Khan said. “It’s one that not a lot of folks would know.” 

Khan hopes students who don’t recognize the tune will go home and learn it. 

“One of the fun challenges about being a jazz musician is trying to expand your repertoire so that no matter what tune is called, you’re comfortable playing it,” Khan said. 

In addition to knowing the tunes, musicians must also be able to improvise.  

“Usually, we’ll play the melody of the song once or twice at the start, and then after that, each person can take a turn soloing over the chord progression of the song,” said saxophonist Alec Stoeger, a senior studying computer science. 

The night typically consists of a few tunes performed by the Caine Jazz Combo, a guest artist joining in to play a few tunes, and then the jam is opened up for anyone who wants to play, according to junior Elise Farmer, an upright bassist for the Caine Jazz Combo.  

“We usually have a fair few people come up to play,” Farmer said. “In general, there is usually a pretty big audience, whether or not those people decide to get up and play.” 

Utah State student Haze Newman regularly attends Jazz Jams.  

“The Hub gets pretty full,” Newman said. “I’ve seen people all the way in the back lined up along the benches listening to the music.” 

Newman learned about Jazz Jams by walking by the Hub during a jam session.  

“I saw them playing from outside,” Newman said. “I ran in and was able to talk to some of the people that do it and learned it was a regular thing.” 

While the Hub has been home to Jazz Jams for about three years, it has also been hosted in different places throughout the community.  

“We used to do it at Jack’s Wood-Fired Oven for several years, and then we were at The Cache when they first opened,” Khan said.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jazz Jams moved into the Monon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall.  

“It was easy for students to get to,” Khan said, “but it felt kind of sterile for a jam session.”  

The TSC, Khan said, has been a happy medium.  

 “It’s not in town, so it’s convenient for students to get to,” Khan said, “but it also doesn’t have the formality of a concert hall.” 

 It is Khan’s tenth year as a professor at Utah State, and he said Jazz Jams started long before he got here.  

 “It’s very much part of the jazz history and tradition that this music gets learned through contexts like this,” Khan said. “Where people come together in informal settings and just learn to play together and get to learn from more experienced musicians.”