For musicians looking for a tangible and meaningful place to showcase their talent or hone their skills, the Wednesday-night jam session at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, hosted by pianist and composer Dr. Teddy Harris, is the best thing to happen on the jazz scene in years. The music in the club gets so hot and sticky that the walls sweat. At times, even the instruments have to take a break to catch their breath.
Musicians travel from out of state to play at the session.
Bakers' jam session stands out because it offers young jazz musicians a chance to blow with, and learn from, older musicians. For example, Harris will invite a young horn player on stage to play with his world-class rhythm section, which includes drummer George Davidson and bassist Don Mayberry. In doing so, the club is transformed into a classroom where the young lions get nurtured by the old tigers. After the young musicians finish, the veterans take center stage, and this is when the night becomes magical. Pamela Smith's singing and scatting could make Ella Fitzgerald dance, and Johnny O'Neal sings the blues as if Big Joe Turner was standing behind him whispering the lyrics into his ear.