Monday Night Jazz Jam at Bar Louie.

On the first Monday of each month, Bar Louie (7335 W. Sand Lake Rd. Orlando, Fl) comes alive with some of Orlando’s top Musicians and Vocalists performing live Jazz. Some of the talent is Internationally known. The show features Joseph Jevanni on the Keys, Jacqueline Jones doing Vocals, Carl Lewis on the Sax, Doc on trumpet, Franklin on flute, Jerome on the drums and many more. the evening is hosted by Yvonne Coleman, MNJJ Co-Founder and Radio Personality Jazzy103.com

I arrived at around 7:30pm and the musicians were setting up the stage. Yvonne welcomed me warmly and suggested I sit in the area set aside for musicians between sets. Musicians and vocalist rotated throughout the night on stage. These Jane performers are a warm tightly knit community. Some singers including Jacqueline Jones are in their golden years but like a fine wine, age only enriches their musical spirit and love of life.

Carol Stein got on stage and performed on the keys. With one song, she didn’t know all the lyrics, so she made up lyrics on the fly to hilarious effect. She and Jacqueline are board members of the Steinway Piano Society for Under Privileged Youth. This charity supplies pianos and piano lessons to underprivileged children who might otherwise never be exposed to music. All tips went to the Steinway Piano Society. Each month money is raised for some local charity.

This sketch was actually sold to John Glassman Gardner even before it was created. John has a large hand bound sketchbook with rough  watercolor paper. He hires an artist to fill a spread and then hands it off to another artist. When it is filled, it will be quite a collectors item. I’m honored to be the second artist to contribute to the sketchbook. The first artist was Pekar, who painted a sexy green Medusa in 2010.