The Jazz Depot hosts the weekly Jazz Jam in downtown Tulsa at Baxter’s Interurban Grill, 717 S. Houston Ave., #100. The event is held on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Jazz Jam is an event where anyone can go and just enjoy the performances or participate in a performance using instruments provided by the Grill.

Even though it is a restaurant hosting it, everyone is invited and welcome to enjoy or play at the event for free. I highly recommend bringing someone else with you so it will be a good time to relax after a hard day of work.

The Jazz Depot also has another event its sponsors at the Grill on Wednesdays called Eicher Wednesdays, where the musician Shelby Eicher and another special guest come in and perform at the Grill from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. weekly. He does Jazz but he’ll also switch it up from time to time.

As the name suggests, Baxter’s Interurban Grill is a restaurant where you can order and watch the performances. Albeit a bit on the expensive side, the restaurant has really good food selections and appetizers.

The musicians performing on the night that I attended were a seven-man army. The seasoned entertainers were good considering it was an impromptu between the group of people but they still managed to play some very smooth jazz.

One noticeable aspect of the entertainment though was how the group played off of the man with the electronic keyboard, who seemed to be much more experienced than the rest, though everyone enjoyed the performance all around that were in attendance that evening.

One of those in attendance for the first time who was experienced in using the trombone for the Owasso High School for his four years there, but he had this to say about the Jazz Jam event:

“It was very interesting on bow the music wasn’t practiced in the traditional way. In marching band, the band practices every aspect and leaves none to chance, but the jazz players simply played their own tunes and changed them to fit together. Patrons could just get up and play an instrument, with the piano player leading their sound by being the loudest instrument.

In the professional world the idea of an audience member simply getting on stage and playing along with the band is unheard of, but here it’s entirely normal. I enjoyed the personal connection each of the musicians has only by their love of music. People who would probably never meet just sitting down and playing music with each other and enjoying their time.”

If you want to find more information on the Jazz Depot’s events, here is its website and a social media page, Jazz Depot Live or its Facebook page – Jazz Depot Live – Facebook page