Joe Mazzaferro, Sacramento native and jazz educator, started the idea for an open-jam session in 2007. Originally, the night was held at Capitol Garage Grill where a solid group of about fifteen students attended the session. Many of the original group graduated and the Capitol Garage venue did not extend support when numbers decreased. Instead, the jam moved to a more inviting atmosphere at the Naked Lounge downtown. ‘”The Naked Lounge has a more intimate, club vibe. They want to support what we are trying to do,” Mazzaferro said. The new location better supports the original purpose for the session. “It is a steady place to go play. People look forward to hanging out with the other mus

Cheryl A. Lockett, originally born Cheryl Craig, speaks to Sacramento Press about working in northen California and the jazz scene in Sacramento. When did you begin CaliJazz? CaliJazz started in 2005 although I had been doing similar work since then. The name is actually an acronym for my name with the “I” for Independent Jazz. Your parents were involved in music? Tell us. I’m a proud product of a line of recording musicians called The Merced Blue Notes. The Blue Notes are music of the 50s and 60s, not many 1st generation members are still alive. The band ceased in late 60s, early 70s. Their music was re-released in 2004 by Ace Records from the UK. The music is alive and well. What has

Sacramento’s independent music store, The Beat!, is a real gem when it comes to buying great music. The large, one-story location, on the corner of J and 17th , is stocked with videos, cassettes, vinyl, and cds and dvds. The Beat! has six sections for jazz music including new and used vinyl, rare jazz vinyl, new and used cd's, and a jazz cassette section. The shop has been at its current location for the past eighteen years. When it started in 1982, the store was located around the corner from Sacramento State. Next year, The Beat! will be celebrating its thirtieth year on the scene. The owner, Robert Fauble, his brother Brad, and a staff of 12-13 people keep the store up and running. Mr.

The 5th String Music Store, located at the intersection of J and Alhambra, is at the crux of the local music scene in Sacramento. Started in 1982, the store has been the home of rare and quality acoustic instruments for decades. These include mandolins, banjos, guitars, fiddles, and ukuleles. Two Oscar Schmidt Autoharps hang adornedly near the banjos, both new and antique. Guitars include Martins, Taylors and a few rare brands. The most popular item is the Blueridge Guitar. "Blueridge, although not as long on the market as Taylor or Martin, has proven to be a quality, affordable guitar-maker, making it a valuable option for beginners." noted Stephen Ward, the store's clerk. Stephen has wo

On Thursday, May 12th, 2011, the proposed Community Garden Ordinance was reviewed at the City’s Planning Commission Meeting. The discussion on community gardens was first presented to the Law and Legislation Committee in August of last year. Since then, it has moved forward due to general support for urban agriculture in Sacramento. The current ordinance is a proposition to amend the zoning law, which prohibits agriculture in residential or non-agriculture zones. The new amendment extends only to private property and does not apply to city-owned land. The public land issue has currently been tabled but is nevertheless pertinent to the future of sustainable urban agriculture. Let’s take a