On February 16, renowned soprano saxophonist Marion Meadows and his Black Pearl Band — Will Gaines (bass), Will Brock (piano/vocals), and Jabari (drums) — performed at Blues Alley Jazz Club in Georgetown. Blues Alley, as Meadows shared with the crowd, has been ranked second in the world by Jazz Times and recognized by The New York Times and The Washington Post as an authentic jazz institution. This year marks Blues Alley’s 60th anniversary, making it the oldest continuously operated jazz club in America.
This tucked away venue was buzzing with excitement even before the performers appeared on stage. The crowded room was filled with couples, families, friends, visitors, and locals. The walls of the tightly packed venue are lined with posters of jazz icons, from legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis to local performers such as Marion Meadows himself.
Eventually, Meadows and his band took the stage and started warming up with the crowd. Meadows explained that he and his Black Pearl Band were dedicated to keeping the tradition of jazz alive, and with that, joked that some songs would be long, because “we take our damn time, we don’t care,” whatever it took to “nurture and relish in the musical spirit.” With that, they began.
If the beauty of jazz is the emotions it evokes in its listeners, the beauty of those emotions is their need to be expressed. Nearly every member in the audience was swaying, snapping, dancing, and cheering to the lively beats from the bass, chaos of the drums, melodies of the piano, and, of course, the incredible skills of Marion Meadows’ saxophone. When a single performer would take the lead, encouraging chants came from the audience, like those of a close friend. The only ones having more fun than the audience were Marion Meadows and the rest of his band. While Jabari jumped around and flipped his drumsticks, Gaines danced and smiled as he masterfully delivered riffs. Solos often bounced from one instrument to another, creating the illusion of a conversation taking place in a language only the musicians could understand.
One piece that stood out in particular was Marion Meadows and his band’s rendition of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” The lyrics, typically performed in rock style, were delivered by Will Brock with incredible soulfulness and funk. The gaps between verses were filled by scat and improvised solos from the other three men on stage. During the song, audience participation was required. Meadows and the others would play a riff, point to the audience, and in unison we’d chant the lyrics: “come together.” This moment, hearing the voices of everyone — young and old, women and men, all different backgrounds — chanting “come together” made clear the true beauty and message of the night: music, specifically jazz, unites people. If you like engaging, authentic, down-to-earth performances, I highly recommend a visit to the Blues Alley Jazz Club.
Leave a Reply