My NW Indiana and More: 73rd Acoustical Jam

I would like to mention, this gallery exists for the artists to present their work to the public. The gallery gives the environment for the public to enjoy and connect with the artist, and for the public to purchase some of the artists work. Browse the gallery when you are there on a Thursday night, ask about any of the art, the artist, even ask if the artist is there that night. The acoustical artist who come out to JAM Thursday night typically have a gig the upcoming weekend. The Thursday night JAM has become their playground for practice, which is what makes Thursday night fun. The gallery encourages the JAM artists to advertise, and the JAM artists would like you to enjoy their work in other atmospheres too. There are many places the artists go to "do their thing" for each of us to enjoy in our own way. I would like to ask that you take time to find that experience and show the appreciation to the artists. As I become aware of Internet information on the artists, I will post a link to their site to the right of this blog under "Friends of Wesley", so you can keep up-to-date on what is new with them and where they will be.

First up to warm us up was Lou Shields. This time he brought his "possum stomper"!

Next up was Meredith Judd on his banjo. Meredith is a good old sole that probably enjoys life more than we could ever hope for ourselves. Anyway, after talking to him that is how his life looks to me . . .

After Meredith came Mycul Hanus . . .

The crowd was great as always, along with the art in the gallery . . .

Do you recognize the next photo JAM artist? Okay, maybe not by the shirt, but by the hands. It was Rich Hall.

Rich is so into it, he eyes became keyboards . . . okay, I am just pointing out the fact you can see the reflection of the keyboard on his glasses in this photo . . . (click on the photo to enlarge it)

Later in Rich's set, Melissa Welch joined . . .

And now I will say, Melissa kicked some saxophone butt last night . . . she needs to be recorded!!!!! You can tell the crowd thought so as well, because the applause put a smile on her face :)

And they kept on playing . . . YES!

It became perpetual fun with Melissa throughout the rest of the night . . . she whaling on the sax making us smile, us making her smile, she returning the favor with some more sax . . . and and and . . . Thank You Melissa from all of us!

Next up was another first time artist to JAM with the clan . . . and that was Lisa Garcia. This night, though the first for Lisa, she asked the audience and other artists to jump in and play / sing with her, and it was fun.

Next up was Dan Serapin (left) and Adrian Remeriz (right), with Melissa joining the first song.

Then Thomas Matecki on piano and Richard Alvarez on bongos . . .

Remember the show Dobie Gillis? Specifically, do you remember the statue of The Thinker? Hmmm . . . this next photo is of photographer John Brudek. I don't know if it is good or bad, photographer's taking photos of photographer's. Must be a beatnik thing . . .

And we know who's next by this photo, right? Okay, even I would not know. It was Don Taylor with Melissa joining him on the first song.

Next, Michael Hanus and Mark McKechnie . . . and Mark alternated in and out with Ben Perkins . . .

And later joined by "bongo Rich" . . .

Next was Lee Watson, who eventually had the other JAM artists up with him. And here is the funny side of this. Not only has Lee been supporting the gallery, he was also my son's first boss and I did not know that at the time I was taking the photos!! The laugh's on me this time . . .