Events

Next Jazz Session:
This Saturday,
feb. 21, 1:00-3:00 pm

Featuring Willie Silas with Jeremy Wright, Todd Bobo, and Raphael Semmes

There are a number of great talents in the historic pantheon of Jackson Jazz O.G.'s. They includeke yboardists Andy Hardwick and Kermit Holly, saxophone icons Ron Wesley, Sherill Holly, Charles Fairley, Toby Tenhet, Jay Stricker and Russell Thomas, and trumpeters like Sonny Hill and Charlie Wicker. On bass there's the great London Branch and Herman Fowlkes along with guitarists Skeets McWilliams, Jerry Puckett and Mike Elia. There were vocalists Margaret Rundles, Jimmy King and future legend Cassandra Wilson... and many more dating back to the 1950's. Right there in the middle of them you'll find this month's guest on the Jazz Spot: drummer Willie Silas.

The Jackson area at that time was a hotbed of musical styles from Country and Rock'n'Roll to Blues and Gospel, and he participated fully, playing with a variety of artists and bands, but when your band needed to swing you called Willie. According to Fusion host Raphael Semmes, "Back in the 80's when I moved here I had been playing jazz and I was eager to find out more about the Jackson scene. I was in a band with Ron Wesley and mentioned I'd like to go somewhere and play some Jazz. One Sunday night he took me to a little store in Southwest Jackson. It was closed and when we went in it was dark, but there was a drum set sitting there bathed in the light of a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, and there sat Willie Silas. We met and the three of us played trio style (a la Sonny Rollins) and I'll never forget it."

It's a safe bet that you won't forget this special February session on the Jazz Spot either. Come early for best seats and the best coffee in the Metro. Accompanying Mr. Silas will be Jeremy Wright (guitar), Todd Bobo (sax) and host Raphael Semmes on bass.

 

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Save the date: 19th Annual Township Jazz Festival

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Stay tuned for announcements coming in February!