By the second night of Jazz in the Clubs, Fort Worden felt settled in. Students still buzzed about and people finding their spots could be heard talking about the sets they caught the night before. Faculty and pros mingled about, casually chatting with audience members before stepping on stage. As the week of workshops and masterclasses were coming to a close, there was an easy vibe in the air – half boot camp, half paradise, as saxophonist Christine Jensen described it.

“This is the greatest place on earth, so we should be making some good music for you,” Jensen told the crowd before launching into her set with trumpeter Terrell Stafford. Moments earlier, I passed Stafford in the hall as he arrived just moments before his second night at Jazz in the Clubs. Calm and focused, he was dressed in a royal blue suit that was as striking as his solos. Jensen and Stafford, along with bandmates Randy Halberstadt on keys, Trevor Ford on bass, and Kelby MacNayr on drums, huddled informally on stage before Jensen promised the crowd the set would lean heavy on standards – no complaints here.

The set was relaxed and moved easily from tune to tune. Stafford’s playing moved from incendiary bursts to soft-spoken eloquence quiet on the ballads. On their version of “My One and Only Love” (you can’t get more standard than that), Jensen brought a warm, honest clarity to her alto, that seemed to get right to the song’s core. 

Standards and Classics

Just a stone’s throw from the Jensen/Stafford set, revered pianist George Cables teamed up with trumpeter Thomas Marriott. Steve Kovalcheck was back on guitar as was Jeremy Dutton on drums, while Ben Allison rounded out the group on bass. Comfortable as a highly sought after sideman, Cables doesn’t shy away from taking the lead either as he showed his full command of the Thelonious Monk classic, “In Walked Bud,” a song that many groups tackled over the two nights. Later, he and Marriott delivered a hushed duet of “You Don’t Know What Love Is” (one of my favorites). Marriott played with a muted, understated tone, leaving plenty of space for Cables’ signature depth and warmth on piano.

The Chapel was once again the spot for vocals, with GRAMMY Award-winning Sara Gazarek taking the stage alongside Chilean jazz guitarist and singer Camila Meza. Gazarek, who will wrap up the festival with the group säje at Saturday’s mainstage concert, was joined by John Hansen on piano, Chris Symer on bass, and Jon Wikan on drums.

Done but not over

As the night wound down, pianist Dawn Clement took the stage at the Commons with the incomparable Buster Williams on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Missing out on part of their set, I arrived just as Clement was joined on stage by vocalist Johnaye Kendrick – also a member of säje. Their harmonies blended smoothly as Clement dedicated their final duet to Kendrick, creating a simple moment of mutual respect between the two.

But it didn’t stay quiet for long. As Jazz in the Clubs came to an official close for the week, Clement told the crowd she was going to “close it down with a party tune.” She called several students from the weeklong workshop to join her, along with faculty members, trombonist Ivan Malespin and pianist Helen Sung. Together they kicked off “Night in Tunisia,” with students stepping up for solos and trading phrases confidently with their mentors, clearly taking in this unforgettable moment for them – and the audience.

By the time the last notes rang out, it was clear Jazz in the Clubs had ended on a high. The club shows may be done, but stick around as the festival kicks into high gear with mainstage performances Friday night and Saturday afternoon and evening.