Smooth Groove Productions Blog: Jazz in The Georgian, August 10, 2013

The incomparable jazz harmonicist Jay Mabin was back again at The Georgian Restaurant inside The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle. For over three years Jay has been a regular guest artist with whom I have had the privilege to play. He is a rare harmonica player who can not only play traditional blues music that the harmonica is so associated with, but can play difficult complex melodies as well as improvise over challenging jazz harmony. Playing over jazz chord changes is really where Jay separates himself with other harmonica players. According to the great Seattle jazz vocalist Greta Matassa, she told me recently that Jay is really a unique harp player. Some years ago she was recording an album and she wanted Jay to be on it. He was unavailable at the time for the session. She did a search for qualified jazz harmonica players around the country, but she was not able to locate someone who could substitute for Jay. True jazz harp players are not abundant. We're fortunate that we have Jay to represent the Pacific Northwest region as our truly outstanding jazz harmonicist.

We had another fun night of playing. Here are a few videos of some of the highlights.

This first video is a Chick Corea song called 500 Miles High. It's a really fun jazz fusion type song. We play it kind of funky.

500 Miles High

This next video is of a great standard by the late jazz legend and pioneer Louis Armstrong called What A Wonderful World.

What A Wonderful World

This last video is a song that he played at the end of the night. We made this one up on the spot. It's called Shuffle In F Thang. This is just some down home blues.

Shuffle In F Thang

Jay Mabin will be back again for Jazz in The Georgian on Saturday, September 14. Hope to see you!

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.