Some things in life are so apparent, that we need no proof. That music is healthy, good for me, and satisfies my heart seems obvious to me. I need no proof. But I like proof. And if some folks put together complex studies, gather various forms of funding, and line up experiments, I say—thanks.

Here’s what we know, in our hearts: Happy Music, Happy Heart

It’s a good reminder.

Jazz is like good food—it fills my soul. The better the ingredients, the more tasty it is and the better I feel. While at Whole Foods grocery store in Sugar House, as I sampled pumpkin pie, I heard some real, quality Jazz. It felt live. I turned the corner and—voila—three men playing All the Things You Are.

• Derek Homna on keyboards
• Nate O’ Bryant on upright bass
• Dave Chisholm on trumpet

They are fantastic.

I occured to me that I’ve often heard live Jazz at Whole Foods. It seems an uncommon place to hear good Jazz.  Jazz is, at some level, as nourishing as organic food: pure, rudimentary, and necessary. Live Jazz is such a pleasure to listen to and having it at the grocery store for every age and temperament makes it accessible to larger audiences. It also strips away its elitism.

More Signs of Jazz

Jazz is common and complex, simple and subtle. Some folks understand the structure, the chord progressions, and the references to other compositions. Other folks listen and wonder why the songs bring tears to their eyes, or remind them of their grandpa, or inspire them to listen again. What you take away from it depends on who you are.

I had my son Ronan with me who is seventeen months old.  He loves Jazz particularly. He uses sign language for food, water, nursing, the potty, no, and he made a sign for Jazz.  It looks like he is snapping his fingers to the beat. He loves it. I’ve been singing Jazz, playing Jazz, and taking him to shows since he was in utero. To Ronan, Jazz is something very special and he understands it in his own way.

I think putting Jazz into unlikely venues exposes the heart of it to larger community.  And that is nourishing.

Thanks Whole Foods. Thanks Dave, Derek, and Nate.

The Bayou

645 S State St

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: (801) 961-8400

Cabana Club

31 E 400 S

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: (801) 355-9538

Circle Lounge

328 S State St

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: (801) 531-5400

Monk’s House of Jazz

no more Jazz at Monk’s: it’s Hip-Hop and Reggae to Indie Rock and Punk

19 E 200 S

Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1980

Phone: (801) 350-0950

Zanzibar

679 South 200 West

Salt Lake City, UT 84101-2706

Phone: (801) 746-0590

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