...and the jam is free!

by J. Sanders-Nelson

Courtesy of NPN, the South Dallas Cultural Center welcomed the M.U.G.A.B.E.E.’s to the stage for an all out jam session with some of Dallas’s premier musicians and vocalists.
The jam was initiated with a deep tribal din, which arose from the mass of talent gracing the stage and it thread wove and spread through the modest audience like trembling gossamer ropes, smooth, glistening and dripping with sound.

A trumpet, in the hands of Maurice S. Turner, II , like caressing resonance within the walls of SDCC, warming tones snaked through the auditorium making way for the deep and dangerous tenor saxophone of Jason Davis which mingled with the clarity of a single clarinet, brought to life by Jonathan Jones. “Wade in the Water” wailed out to the too small but appreciative and faithful faction. Freddy Jones spun silky sounds of soulfulness from his trumpet that angels would envy as he led the jam toward “Summertime”, enhanced by the profound percussions provided by Jamal Mohamed which led the group of masterful musicians toward a musical odyssey. Allowing the muses to lead them astray and into instrumental territories yet unknown. And it sounded so good!
Carlton Turner, proffered explosive spoken-word with rapid fire precision, that teased and pleased the crowd. The cocoa rich vocals offered up by Mahogany Miller and Rachella Searight, smoothed out the stream of sophisticated sound in an astounding rendition of “Blue Skies”, and “Caravan”.
The evening culminated in an acrobatic beck and call showdown between trumpet and saxophone, which evolved into a cataclysmic, rhythmic clash of the wind Titans. Each instrument in its owner’s most masterful way played a serious game of cat and mouse, chasing and following each other in playful cadence. Solos from bassist Brandon Bowman and drummer Jeremiah Evans edged the engaged audience into complete symphonic splendor. Ending the night in a mellowing swell of melody, as all good things must, the jam session, featuring M.U.G.A.B.E.E.’s, came to a euphoric end.