By Dr. Anna C. Gersh, A2 Jazz Fest Administrative Director
When Dave Sharp, bassist, bandleader, A2 Jazz Fest founder and artistic director at Ann Arbor’s Blue LLama Jazz Club, first thought of putting on a jazz festival, he was just trying to solve a problem: the jazz music program at the Ann Arbor Music Center (AAMC), was really starting to grow in popularity. With teachers like Dave and his colleagues, Detroit-based drummer, Gayelynn McKinney, and Ann Arbor-based saxophonist, Paul Vornhagen added to an already all-star popular music slate that included Theo Katzman (former Vulfpek frontman), Ann Arbor’s only Rock Band School—now with Jazz - was bursting at the seams.
It was a good problem to have, but the students needed performance opportunities. Rock bands were easier to accommodate—they could play football games and ice cream socials, but jazz needed a dedicated listening environment.
In 2016 there weren’t many venues for emerging jazz musicians. Bass player Ron Brooks had closed his Bird of Paradise in 2004, and singer Susan Chastain’s Firefly Club was shuttered in 2009. The only venues left were playing folk, rock, or blues music.
Sharp started with Ann Arbor’s Old Town Tavern. Located across the street from the AAMC, it was an opportunity for Sharp and his musical colleagues to perform and a place for everyone to send their students to hear the music they were learning, played live.
Dave knew former co-owner, Steve Pawliki from his college days at UM, playing frats and coops with his popular psycho-metal band, Mol Triffid, whose theatrical stage performances were noticed by the brilliantly weird Buzz Osborne of the Melvins - Dave’s super heavy bass lines got him that gig for one red hot American rock summer, immortalized in the seminal 90s indy rock doc, Hype!
With weekly jazz nights, the Old Town was soon developing into a vibrant musical community. The venue was appreciated, but it wasn’t an ideal location for emerging young jazz musicians. Competing with drinkers and TV is even harder than competing with ice cream and noisy families.
A trained educator, Sharp knew the young students needed an opportunity to show what they were learning, and his fellow musician-educators needed an opportunity to share what they were teaching and contributing to Ann Arbor’s re-emerging jazz scene.
It had been 10 years since Ann Arbor’s famous Blues & Jazz festival. With the growing audiences for the Old Town’s jazz nights, Sharp was confident there would be strong community interest. He put up a Kickstarter campaign and let the other teachers know he was going for it.
But there are other characters in the A2JF story, the first and most sustaining of these is Jennifer Pollard. Dedicated music fan, singer, and educator, when she heard about the possibility of a free local jazz fest, she reached out to Sharp immediately. As a fellow educator and music lover, Jennifer was eager to promote those aspects of the festival that were really resonating with her: Community; Opportunities for young musicians, and free music!
Pollard was a doctoral student in Higher Education at University of Michigan and a regular attendee of The Canterbury House (CH) Sunday Jazz Jams—CH continues to host music that is free and open to the public, but performers are limited to UM students. Pollard was eager to share these young musicians outside of campus and the A2 Jazz Fest was a perfect opportunity. In addition to supporting the welcome desk and volunteer coordination, the festival became the impetus for her authoritative, and popular local calendar of jazz performances and happenings called, Lifting Up A2 Jazz.
Her support for this community lives on in this calendar and even though she’s currently living in New Mexico, she continues to publish weekly to well over 2,000 subscribers across southeastern Michigan. We’re excited to welcome her back to celebrate with us in September!
Many others were drawn to the festival: Patrick Chong, who created the first website, musicians and educators Alex Annest and Um Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation Chair, Andrew Bishop; and former WEMU jazz host, Michael G. Nastos. There were also jazz students, and their families, and friends who gave their time, money, and critical resources to build the A2 Jazz Fest into an enduring community festival.
10 years later, the A2 Jazz Fest has continued to expand our artist outreach, our valued volunteers and patrons, our community goals, our musical opportunities for young people and our fans. This year we are excited to host seven amazing performances, all free and open to the public!
Beginning on Saturday, September 26th, at our outdoor stage at the Rabbit Hole, and following our free student workshops, led by master musician-educator, Sean Dobbins, we are honored to welcome back Ann Arbor prodigal son, Noah Hogan, recently returned from a year, working and refining his guitar chops in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Following Noah’s trio, we’ll welcome Detroit’s own award-winning, Tariq Gardner & Evening Star. Expect a brilliant first act of high energy original Detroit legacy jazz, followed by an exciting and potentially transformational social experience. Evening Star has been lighting up social media with their “Come One Come All” community singing experience. The community sing is an infectious and uplifting communal happening. Using popular tunes frontman Coleman Ward, with the band’s support, turn collections of strangers into a temporary musical family with their happy, hopeful, and engaging community-oriented performance. This free family-friendly event, runs from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Courtyard Stage. Wrapping up day one will be the always electric Sean Dobbins Organ Trio.
On Sunday, we’ll be heading over to our old friends at The Ravens Club. We’ll be celebrating our fourth consecutive year closing out the Festival with homegrown musicians Elvin Sharp Quartet and the Alex Hoberty Quintet. Finishing out the night with Detroit giants of the jazz astral plane, Aya Sekine & Djallo Djakate’ Junk Jazz, with special guest Jake Shadik.
We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, September 26th at The Rabbit Hole & Loft at 210 South First Street from 2 to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 27th at The Ravens Club located at 207 South Main Street, from 6 to 10:00 p.m. for two totally free nights of brilliant Michigan Jazz! Consider checking out our awesome 10 Years Young A2JF KICK OFF Party! Sponsor packages available! More information can be found at a2jazzfest.com
