Community Jazz Sessions at Heartwood Soundstage

Join us for an evening of live jazz, community, and creative collaboration at Heartwood Soundstage. This monthly Jazz Jam features a professional house rhythm section, spotlight performances by local jazz artists, and open opportunities for jazz musicians to sit in and play or sing.

Players with jazz experience at any level — from emerging improvisers to seasoned performers — are invited to bring their instrument and sign up for an opportunity to be featured with the house rhythm section on a tune or two of their choice. Jazz listeners are warmly invited to come enjoy the music, discover local talent, and be part of a growing Gainesville jazz community.

Whether you come to play or simply to listen, this evening is designed to be welcoming, lively, and full of the spontaneous energy that makes jazz such a powerful shared experience. Everyone is welcome!

Want to sit-in with the rhythm section and play your tune? We welcome you!! Please fill out this form!

https://forms.gle/EhkaBiAnUWaDtupq7

July's Jazz Sessions feature:

TBD

Rhythm Section:

Ryan Hecker - Drums

Ryan Hecker is a new resident of Gainesville, Florida. Prior to the move, Ryan was an active drummer and percussionist in South Florida for over fifteen years. Ryan is a graduate of Florida International University with a B.A. in Jazz Performance and the University of Miami with a M.M. in Jazz Performance. Ryan can most often be heard in the theatre, with recent performances including In the Heights at the Arsht Center of Performing Arts and On Your Feet! at the Actors’ Playhouse. Ryan spent his pre-college career as a member of the Florida Youth Orchestra and continued playing with the Sunrise Symphonic Pops Orchestra throughout college. This experience combined with his schooling in jazz has shaped Ryan’s goal for his music career, which is to expand and redefine the definition of what a “Drummer” can and is expected to perform. Currently, Ryan is a Professor of Fine Arts at Santa Fe College teaching a variety of music courses and percussion lessons.

Cindy Mueller - Piano/Host

Cindy Mueller is a Gainesville-based jazz pianist and vocalist, with many years of experience as music educator, musical director and bandleader. A summa cum laude graduate of James Madison University in Music Education, she has worked as a performer, musical director/pianist, and teacher in the United States and internationally, including with the USO in Germany and Italy. With fellow jazz musician, John David Eriksen, she has released the jazz album Sixes and Sevens, available on major streaming platforms. After hosting jazz sessions in her own music studio for years, Cindy is happy to help bring this kind of welcoming musical gathering to Heartwood Soundstage as pianist and host of the Heartwood Jazz Sessions.

Instagram: @cindymuellerjazz

Album: Sixes and Sevens, streaming on all platforms

Jens Watts - Bass

Jens is a bassist, ethnomusicologist, and educator who has performed around the country and continental Europe. He holds a BA in Music from Brigham Young University, where he performed for four years with the jazz group Synthesis. After moving to Gainesville, Jens received an MM in Ethnomusicology from the University of Florida. During his master’s degree, he performed with UF’s Jazz, Brazilian, and Afropop ensembles, as well as undertaking a research trip to São Paulo, Brazil. He will be continuing his studies at UF as a PhD student in the fall. Jens can be heard on recordings with BYU Synthesis, The Fabled Folks, Jumpmonk, and a forthcoming UF Jazz Band album.

Indoor Stage

All Ages

Free Entry

Sit-ins welcome

Bring an instrument

Everyone is welcome!

A HUGE thank you to our Jazz Sessions sponsors for making this event possible!

Gainesville Big Band www.gainesvillebigband.com

Roger Reep

Darren Burgess

Edward White