Solar Quintet is returning to The Loft this week with a highly anticipated CD Release Party. These cats play groovy original jazz. Local jazz icon Jan Humphreys Hyatt wrote the following:

A new plateau for Jazz in the New South has been hit by SOLAR quintet with the release of new, original compositions spawned by the ensemble. From Fred’s lyrical tribute to his mother, Beatrice – to Donald’s disjointed, mixed metered innovation Consolamentum – to Elwood’s latin-funk-rock-jazz mixture, Activation this band be-bops, rocks, swings and lunges through impeccably brilliant tunes to groove a new pathway for the art form in the deep South. If change is the only constant and creativity is fostered by change then this group of men have been in motion for some time now. This project is highly creative and filled with such variation of style and form that each listen reveals a new layer in the evolution of the groove. Enjoy every vibe and know that the heart and soul of these awesome musicians was injected into each tune, the crest of each phrase and the syncopation of each rhythmic pattern. Happy listening!

--Jan Hyatt

To check out their first CD, click here.

Upcoming Schedule

Feb 2 - Solar Quintet reunion and CD release party

Feb 9 - Southern Standard Time featuring vocalist Rusty Taylor

Feb 16 - Impressions featuring Nick Johnson on sax

Feb 23 - Reggie Sampson and Friends

The next time you go see a live musical group, check out the stage. Does it have a wheelchair ramp leading from the audience to the stage or are their steps? Is there a wheelchair ramp backstage? Is there handicapped parking where the performers load and unload? Chances are that the venue doesn’t provide these accommodations. It’s like this: my biggest challenge as a quadriplegic jazz vocalist is finding accessible stages on which to perform. I was once raised up to a five-foot high stage using a forklift and a wooden palette because the stage was not wheelchair accessible. Fortunately, I didn’t die. Point is that there are few wheelchair accessible stages; otherwise, I’d sing much more often.

It’s easy to see why this isn’t a mainstream problem: there are few “physically challenged” performers, but that’s merely an excuse encouraged by indifference. We handicapped performers exist and are eager to share our dreams with fans who dig what we do. But why are we unconsciously ignored? That’s easy: Being unable to perform even the most rudimentary acts of daily living is a major downer; the wheelchair, quite frankly, is a symbol of lost hope. Let’s face it; it’s a marketing problem, and this is where you come in to save the day.

Physical handicaps are wrapped in lugubrious imagery, but not every moment of life in a wheelchair is steeped in mournful decay. Believe it or not, I laugh every day… some days more than others, but if life were perfect, I, for one, would take a bite of forbidden fruit to find some excitement from the decay of entropy (the hypothetical tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity). What I’m trying so desperately to connote here is the fact that having a physical challenge can, at times, be fun and inspirational. What we need is positive imagery, and here’s where I ask for a favor from you, dear reader, and it has to do with social media, more specifically, using the ubiquitous #hashtag: will you help by coming up with a #hashtag meme that has positive connotations for the handicapped and send it to me. This could be fun. Maybe I can come up with prizes for creative contributions. Regardless, this could be the beginning of a social movement that witnesses an outcry of creative energy by talented people who have difficulty overcoming the obstacles that are hidden from people who can hop out of bed running full tilt. By the way, I’ve come up with a possible #hashtag meme that might work: #FantastAbility. What do you think?

The gauntlet has been dropped. Do you accept the challenge? Please reply to this email with as many suggestions as you want, and challenge your friends as well. Let’s see if we can extend this conversation internationally. (Actually, when you send in your suggestions, include the name of your hometown city. We’ll see how far this request goes.) Let’s make the wheelchair a symbol of fun… or grace… or intelligence… or, dare I say it? Let’s make the wheelchair Sexy!

Make Concert Stages Wheelchair Accessible

I sang with Ted McVay last Friday at the Equality Performing Arts Center in, obviously, Equality, Alabama, and what a ride. We didn't know it, but Equality, Alabama doesn't have any landmarks that designate it as a city... or township... no traffic lights, no town hall, no police department, not even a sign welcoming one to the city... nothing. In fact, our electronic map couldn't even find it. We were lost and anxiously low on gas, so we asked our electronic map for directions to the nearest gas station, and it found one about ten miles from where we were. We had forty-five minutes before the show, and we had to set up. Time was pressing on us like a bad dream.

Fortunately, we found a gas station of sorts. It had the rectangular gas pumps that were popular in the 70s, so we filled up. We asked them about Equality, Alabama, and, wouldn't you know, we were in Equality. How fortuitous, right? So we asked about the Equality Performing Arts Center. It was just two buildings over... in the antique shop adjacent the volunteer fire department. That was all there was to Equality. Nothing more. No wonder we couldn't find it save for the guidance of ethereal puissance... call it what you will. 

Unfortunately, I had promoted this gig more aggressively than I have promoted anything else in my entire life... ANYTHING! I used social media as aggressively as a malnourished hyena's stalking a wounded calf, electronically notifying as many people as I could that I was going to broadcast the gig using 'facebook live.' Yes, I was ready to broadcast the concert of original music throughout the Universe at the speed of light. Except...

The Equality Performing Arts Center in Equality, Alabama has no Internet connection! No lie. I never dreamed of even thinking about asking if the public venue had Internet connectivity. Ted was setting up for the gig, and I was in the back trying to setup the computer for our 'facebook live' debut. What saddens me most is that I polluted my facebook group "Make Concert Stages Wheelchair Accessible" with requests for folks to experience our synergetic auricular thaumaturgy. It is my intention to use this platform as the social media epicenter to disseminate a much wider outrage that too many stages are not wheelchair accessible. I have been inspired to use 'facebook live' to broadcast my singing in such venues and hope that by recognizing the concern, powerful people who are capable of making changes will see that it is not an insurmountable cost... that it may bring in additional revenue from fans of talented performers who need assistance with acts of daily living... like ambulating. 

I had shamelessly promoted the gig throughout the morning, even sent the communiqués to celebrities who have far better things to do than to listen to a quadriplegic's harmonizing with a singer/songwriter who has unique talents, not to mention my importunate invitations to family members and friends who have more important things to do other than wait by their respective computers for a concert that couldn't be broadcast simply because the Internet connectivity that I ignorantly thought to be ubiquitous isn't really everywhere; there are, in fact, many areas that simply don't have the technical luxuries I so insouciantly take for granted, but that's how psyched I am about my singing with Ted. It is infectious, and I am desperate to share it with as many people as possible because, quite frankly, none of us is promised tomorrow. Of course, we'll try again to broadcast our next gig, hopefully in the not too distant future. 

As a side note: Ted and I sang well. Sure there were a few minor glitches, but there were also moments of magic, not only for our blending voices but for the quality of Ted's songwriting. It's interesting from my personal perspective to witness folks reactions to my singing: when they first realize that I am going to sing on stage, they are naturally skeptical, but when they hear my voice, the dulcet sonority juxtaposed against my obvious lack of physical prowess transmogrifies doubt into near reverence, plus Ted has a knack for melody and for lyrics that can be poignant or funny. After the gig, a few audience members told us that we sounded like Simon and Garfunkel. You can't imagine how much that geeks me. I'm prouder than a peacock with L.E.D. feathers. 

Although our first attempt to broadcast internationally failed miserably, there was no loss of life. Ted and I will try again. I am also more determined to focus attention on accessible concert stages. Every Tuesday, the Eighth and Rail has a jazz jam in Opelika, Alabama from 7-10 pm Central Time. I generally make the gig unless I die during the week, so I am going to ask Mike Patterson, the proprietor (who has booked my vocal jazz band twice within the past six months and who goes out of his way to assist me in any way to facilitate my singing at his warm and cozy venue)... I will ask Mike if I may broadcast the weekly jam on my band's facebook page (@SSTJazzVocalist). Hopefully, we can raise awareness to the cause, and we can inspire the construction of new concert venues with wheelchair accessibility. 

I have a gig on February 9th with my vocal jazz band Southern Standard Time at The Loft in Columbus, Georgia from 7-9 pm Eastern Time, and I plan to broadcast it via 'facebook live,' so keep your eyes peeled for more info. Incidentally, The Loft's owner Buddy Nelms not only built a relatively inexpensive wheelchair ramp to the stage (that can be used by roadies to facilitate the transfer of heavy electronics), but he also installed an elevator... an obvious testimonial that accessibility is symbiotic to both entertainer and entrepreneur. (Can I get an 'Amen! or maybe an 'A-woman!) 

I am really confident that 2018 will be a groovy year of revolution. Women, especially women of color, will become political juggernauts; Jazz will replace kitsch in the mainstream of the musical industry; and concert stages will become wheelchair accessible.

By the way, if I'm ever invited back to sing in Equality, which doesn't seem that far fetched, I'm going to ask for gas money; it's about a two-hour drive from my house.

Peace Through Music

The Eighth and Rail in historical downtown Opelika, Alabama is the venue for a wildly groovy weekly jazz jam as hosted by the Jane Drake Jazz Band. It's a cozy celebration of life that has become a buzzing collection of jazz-loving fanatics gathered together in a coterie of peaceful, fun-loving positive energy. I am downright proud as a peacock with enhanced LED-flashing feathers to participate in the jam on a regular basis, and I really love it! Proprietor Mike Patterson makes the wonderful sushi and Miss Tiffany keeps the affable atmosphere at a lovely level of emotive satisfaction. Plus... they serve an awesome cheesecake that'll make you wanna slap yourself so hard as to tell horrific knock-knock jokes to mimes. No lie. We have really talented musicians come in from the bi-state area: Auburn, Montgomery, Tuskegee, Columbus, LaGrange, Fort Valley, et al. The jam begins at 7 pm and ends at 10 pm CT. Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Eighth and Rail Website

Venkman's is a nightclub in Atlanta, a venue that Joe Gransden uses for his weekly jazz jam. This is where the Who's Who of the Atlanta Jazz Scene come together to dazzle us mortals. It's free and starts at 8 pm ET. Fo' mo' info, click link below. I've participated in this jam a couple of times, and I love it as well. Joe Gransden always welcomes me with a smile that will melt antarctic glaciers in the middle of winter, which, oddly enough, is during June through August... when it's so hot and humid in middle Georgia that my toenails sweat. Nevertheless, Joe's band often includes keyboardist Kenny Banks (sometimes Kevin Bales), drummer Chris Burroughs and bassist Craig Shaw, and these cats kick it. When I find the transportation, I'm going.

Venkman's Website