Knoxville adds more class with monthly jazz lunch on Market Square

In partnership with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra and WUOT 91.9FM, The Square Room is now hosting a Jazz Lunch series on the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1pm.

The next Jazz Lunch concert will take place on Wednesday, December 5th, from noon to 1pm. Pianist Scott Simmerman and his trio will present a "Tribute to the Ray Brown Trio". Simmerman will be joined by David Slack (bass) and Thad Brown (drums).

Admission to the concert is $15 and includes a lunch buffet served up by Café 4. Tickets are available online at www.knoxjazz.org or by visiting Café 4 in person prior to the show.

Bassist David Slack and pianist Scott Simmerman have been playing jazz together on and off for the last 20 years, having both started their jazz studies at the University of Tennessee in the early nineties. They are joined on drums by Thad Brown, son of Keith Brown, UT's drum set instructor. As a trio, they have been working together for several months, honing their sound through exploration of the music that Ray Brown's trios recorded during the 1980s and 90s.

Bassist Ray Brown is probably best known for his extensive work with legendary pianist Oscar Peterson and for being the husband, then ex-husband of vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. Starting in the 1980's, Brown began leading a series of his own high-octane piano trios, melding unbelievable improvisatory chemistry with the sort of finely detailed arrangements that you might expect out of a big band. The group's repertoire featured everything from jazz standards like Thad Jone's "Don't Get Sassy," to surprising classics like "You Are My Sunshine." A guaranteed toe-tapping, good time.

The Square Room is a new, state-of-the-art performance venue in downtown Knoxville, TN in the Historic Market Square district. It is housed in the rear of the 4 Market Square Building along with its counterpart Café 4, a full-service restaurant and coffee bar.

Published November 23, 2012