LIVE: Underground Jazz Jam @ the Falcon Underground, 5/10/16

Review and photographs by Rudy Lu

Jam sessions…

Often these are behind-closed-door sessions that are played strictly for fun – or the musicians’ own amusement – in the late, late evening/early morning times in after-hours lofts and bars.

But that’s not necessarily so in the Hudson Valley.

Tony Falco, the owner of The Falcon in Marlboro has recently renovated the basement of his building, and it’s now open as a separate performance space. Eventually, it will also become a beer garden featuring New York State craft brews and spirits known as the Falcon Underground.

On this occasion, the jam session started early – even before the sun went down. Children were welcome and well represented in the audience. Falco introduced the musicians who were the core of the session – Adam Nussbaum on drums, Ira Coleman on bass and Aaron Goldberg on piano, all first-call musicians on the NYC jazz scene.

Before the set started, Nussbaum asked, “Have we played together all at once before?” Nobody seemed to remember, but it didn’t seem to matter. Standards – such as “Body and Soul,” “I Mean You,” “All Blues” – were performed as though the trio had been playing together for years. Heck, they interacted as if they could read each others thoughts.

Singer-songwriter KJ Denhert was called in to supply some vocals, and the versatile vocalist delivered a more than adequate performance as a jazz chanteuse, singing “The Sandpiper” and several other standards.

This was the start of a monthly series of jazz jam sessions that will take place at the Falcon Underground. Other Wednesdays of the month are reserved for poets, blues musicians and singer-songwriter open mics. Check out the website for details.

By the way, the Underground is quite a story in itself. It’s decorated with rock & roll memorablia from the Avalon Archives, and its ceiling is covered with recycled doors. Stay tuned for another Nippertown.com story about the venue itself…