The Jazz Society of Pensacola will have opportunity to hear a guitar trio headed by Pensacola musician Walt Kattner. Bassist Jo Jo Morris and drummer Jimmy Roebuck will accompany him. Kattner indicates that there may be a surprise new Pensacola vocalist who could make a “cameo” appearance with his group.

Future Jazz Gumbo events include:

Monday May 16, blues singer/ guitarist Steve Cheseborough in solo performance. Cheseborough is a native of upstate New York who has lived for several years in the Mississippi Delta in order to study and perfect his blues technique. He is the author of a book entitled, Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, which has gone into a second printing. Cheseborough will also be performing the following night for “Blues on the Beach” for the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Cheseborough has been a featured artist on the Delta Queen Line Mississippi River Steamboats.

Monday June 20 will feature jazz guitarist Mark Guest of Bay St. Louis, MS. A bassist will accompany him. For the second set, the Johnny Gimble Family Band will perform. Jazz violinist Johnny Gimble, now residing in the Austin, Texas area, has been a featured artist at the Pensacola JazzFest. He has performed frequently on the PBS program Austin City Limits. A friend and frequent golfing partner of Willie Nelson, Gimble has been in all of Willie Nelson’s movies. In addition, he played the character of Western Swing violinist and bandleader Bob Wills in a Clint Eastwood movie.

When Gimble and wife Barbara lived in Nashville, they discovered Pensacola and are frequent visitors to the area. Gimble will perform with family members also at the Farmers Opry in Chumuckla on Saturday June 25.

Monday July 18 Jazz Gumbo will feature Pensacola/Nashville vocalist Kitt Lough.

Monday August 15 Jazz Gumbo will feature Pensacola saxophonist Jim Andrews performing the music associated with a variety of saxophone masters.

Friday May 13 “Jazz in the Country” at Farmers Opry.

The Jazz Society and the Farmers Opry in Chumuckla will feature Nashville steel guitarist Doug Jernigan a native Pensacolian who moved to Nashville in 1968. Jernigan is a jazz steel guitar artist who makes his living in Nashville playing country music. However, Jernigan has recorded with jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and was recorded with jazz violinists Stephane Grappelli and Vassar Clements. Jernigan will perform with area jazz musicians led by saxophonist Joe Occhipinti.

We anticipate this will be a wide interest to jazz enthusiasts and to those who appreciate the versatility of the steel guitar. Those persons who remember the music of Western Swing will probably recall Bob Wills hit recording of Steel Guitar Rag.

Cost for the performance is $12.50 per person. A wonderful home-cooked meal is available before the performance for $9.95. The dining area opens at 4:30 p.m. The musical program begins at 7:00 p.m. Reservations may be made with Farmers Opry by calling 994-6000. The Jazz Society will have a small bus to transport those who choose not to drive. We will also have carpool information and driving instructions to Farmers Opry.