The Rake Magazine

(Click on any image to view slides. Photos by Talib Cadogan.)

As much as I love jazz — and as well as I know that no one really becomes a jazz musician just to make money — my expectations were low for a nonprofit jazz group with a mission of "presenting vibrant, original music by local and national musicians" — even with Jeremy Walker at the helm. Boy, was I off. These guys were fantastic!

The NOWNet features some of the Twin Cities' most skilled jazz musicians — and that says a lot with artists like Nachito Herrera and Gordon Johnson in our midst. But it's not just skill present on stage; it's verve, panache, soul. Yes, call it soul. And the power of subtlety. It's the beauty and impact of understanding the nuances of jazz, what moves us.

Ironically, the first NOWNet musician to impress me with this ability — to move me with his eloquence — was the man in the mohawk, Kelly Rossum. Despite his seemingly rough exterior, Rossum addresses his trumpet with the right, light touch in all the right places. He knows how to lay it out softly, sprinkling in a few raw, rougher, notes where it counts, like a well-trained lover. And I'll refrain from puns about his damper.

Anthony Cox, on bass, was truly amazing, the very essence of soulful, with skills to boot. And Jeremy Walker, well, what can we say? The man traded in his long-time saxophone for the piano and still manages to deliver the same deep resonance and spirit.

Adding to the expert mix were Scott Fultz (delivering a fabulous sax twitter in the first set) and Chris Thomson on saxophone and Kevin Washington on drums.

Join Jazz is NOW! on July 19th, at 3 p.m., for a fundraiser and NOWnet open rehearsal party with pizza and beer.