Jazz Jam at Church Brewing Company blurs the line between performer and audience — and gets Acadia students on stage.

 

Once a month, the evening begins with Mark, Nic, and a guest musician playing a few tunes to set the tone. Then the room opens up. Anyone who wants to play, can.

"Many of the audience members are the performers," Mark says. "We invite people to play with an ever-changing cast of musicians at all skill levels, from amateur to professional. Audiences love the chemistry, exploration, and the support musicians share for each other.”

The series came together with the support of Kim Barlow, an Acadia songwriting instructor and founder of Music in Communities, whose encouragement Mark credits as a key spark.

A notable range of musical guests have already come through the door. In January, Canadian keyboardist Graham Howes joined as the Jazz Jam’s first guest. February featured saxophonist and Acadia educator Nicola Miller. On March 25, the guest will be Jackson Fairfax-Perry: an award-winning African Nova Scotian composer, producer, sound designer, and multi-instrumentalist.

For Acadia music students, the jam sessions offer something a university classroom can't easily replicate.

Maya Duhamel, a second-year music student (percussion) at Acadia, has played at two sessions so far. "It's so different. You're really getting up-close and personal with the other musicians, playing the music off of feel," she says. "It's listening, feeling, and experimenting."

That exposure, she says, turns out to feel less frightening than it looks. "It first feels like you're being thrown into scary, unfamiliar territory, but you quickly realize it's the safest musical experience you could be in. There is no wrong — and that is the best and hardest lesson to learn when you're used to being told exactly what to do."

Colin Roberts, a third-year math and music student, came to the evening relatively new to playing jazz in public. "There is a certain amount of imposter syndrome that comes with playing in public with such experienced musicians," he says. "But it is their support, and their appreciation of what you bring to the table that builds so much confidence."

For Colin, the value extends beyond performance. "Music is at its heart about communication," he says, "and being able to do that with the wider community is such a gift."

He also sees the Jazz Jam as part of something larger. "With the provincial government's recently announced cuts to arts funding, it is more important than ever that we continue showing up for organizations like Music in Communities. It is an opportunity to make clear how important these events are to us in Nova Scotia."

Mark is candid about what's at stake. "Arts, music, theatre, dance — these are things that reflect community and bring people together to experience emotions collectively. These are hard times right now for the arts, and I want people to come and experience these spaces with us."

Maya agrees, describing Mark, Nic, and Kim as people who give generously to the community and have a great deal to pass on. "If you have a chance, please come to these jams and feel the connections," she says, "You won't regret it."

The next chance to do just that is this Wednesday, March 25. To learn more, follow Mark Adam @thewoodsmarkadam.