Sometimes the most powerful revivals happen when five master musicians gather in an intimate room and decide to resurrect the soul that made jazz matter in the first place. Jacob Rodriguez's world-traveling baritone sax brings the grit of San Antonio streets and the polish of Grammy stages, ready to channel stories through reed and breath that connect Brooklyn underground scenes to Blue Ridge mountaintops. Quinn Sternberg anchors this sonic revival with bass lines that don't just walk—they preach, transforming rhythm section duties into gravitational sermons that make everyone else sound sanctified.
Joe Enright treats his drum kit like a revival tent, his sticks weaving rhythmic narratives that bridge Asheville's mountain soul with metropolitan jazz sophistication, while Alex Taub's piano becomes both altar and architect, finding those sacred spaces between classical precision and jazz spontaneity where musical miracles happen. Andy Page completes this congregation with guitar work that's traveled from Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival to Japan's jazz cruises, bringing two decades of Blue Ridge wisdom and academic soul to every note.
At Little Jumbo Bar, where the walls themselves seem to lean in when real music is being born, prepare for an evening where the soul jazz tradition gets resurrected not through imitation, but through five musicians who understand that the deepest grooves come from the spaces where technique meets spirit, where mountain wisdom meets world-class artistry.
Some revivals don't need preachers—just musicians who remember why the music mattered.
The Jay Sanders Quintessence distills the pure essence of improvisational expression, where four musical alchemists converge to transmute sound into its most fundamental form. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the primordial substance from which all musical reality springs.
Rooted in Taoist principles of interconnectedness, the Quintessence operates as a living system where individual consciousness dissolves into collective creation. Each performance becomes an exploration of Bill Hicks' profound insight: "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration; we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively." The music flows as pure energy exchange, where traditional boundaries between composer and improviser, leader and follower, self and other, dissolve into unified creative expression.
The quartet's repertoire crystallizes the essential qualities of diverse influences—jazz sophistication meets rock power, blues authenticity converges with Americana's pastoral beauty, while African rhythmic wisdom weaves through it all. Sanders' original compositions serve as launching points for spontaneous musical conversations, where through-composed themes evolve into groove-based explorations, peaceful melodicism transforms into free jazz adventures, and moments of cacophonous noise resolve into transcendent harmony.
Through years of improvisational study together, these four musicians have learned to access that rarefied creative space where genres become meaningless, where technique serves spirit, and where the music creates itself through willing vessels. Each performance with the Quintessence is both a meditation and a celebration—a sonic demonstration that we are indeed all particles of the same infinite energy, temporarily organized into the beautiful illusion of separate beings making music together.
In the end, the Quintessence doesn't just play music—it channels the fundamental frequency of existence itself, reminding listeners that life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.
CRAFT’s concept is simple:
Denise Kiernan sits down with a writer in this speakeasy setting to discuss not only the writer’s latest publication, but also the craft of writing itself. For each featured author, the Little Jumbo staff will create a specialty cocktail—or mocktail—inspired by either the featured book or the author themselves.
WHO
Me, Denise, sitting down with authors from all walks—literary fiction, nonfiction, graphic novelists, mystery authors, romance writers, TV and film folks…You get the idea.
WHAT
An hour of conversation about the guest author’s work, writing process and more, with time for audience questions. Conversations are followed by an author signing. Books provided by Malaprop’s.
WHERE
Little Jumbo, located at 241 Broadway Street in Asheville, a bar and then some, offering classic and classically-inspired craft cocktails, food, games, and more.
When
WHEN
The second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 4. Conversation starts no later than 4:30 PM.
Free parking is available in the lot at 5 Points Restaurant across Broadway, in addition to general street parking. On-site book sales will be provided by Malaprop’s.
When four master stringsmen gather to channel the spirit of Django Reinhardt, expect the kind of musical magic that happens when tradition meets fearless innovation. The Page Brothers—Andy's jazz guitar sophistication meeting Zack's rhythmic prowess that's averaged 275 gigs per year since the '90s—anchor this drummerless exploration of gypsy jazz at its most sublime. Steve Trisman's fiddle brings the fire that transforms contra dance floors into celebrations, while Leo Johnson's golden-era guitar mastery channels the soulful echoes of Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery.
This isn't just a tribute to Django's legacy—it's a conversation between four musicians who understand that the most compelling gypsy jazz happens when technical virtuosity serves pure emotion. Without drums to rely on, every rhythmic pulse must emerge from the interplay itself, creating the kind of intimate musical dialogue that made Django's original quintet revolutionary. From Andy's academic wisdom to Zack's restless American spirit, from Trisman's dance-floor magnetism to Johnson's timeless swing sensibilities, this quartet proves that some musical conversations are worth having without a timekeeper.
At Little Jumbo's intimate setting, prepare for an evening where strings tell stories, where silence becomes rhythm, and where four musicians prove that the deepest grooves sometimes come from the spaces between the obvious beats.
Sometimes the most driving music happens when nobody's driving.
The Jay Sanders Quintessence distills the pure essence of improvisational expression, where four musical alchemists converge to transmute sound into its most fundamental form. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the primordial substance from which all musical reality springs.
Rooted in Taoist principles of interconnectedness, the Quintessence operates as a living system where individual consciousness dissolves into collective creation. Each performance becomes an exploration of Bill Hicks' profound insight: "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration; we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively." The music flows as pure energy exchange, where traditional boundaries between composer and improviser, leader and follower, self and other, dissolve into unified creative expression.
The quartet's repertoire crystallizes the essential qualities of diverse influences—jazz sophistication meets rock power, blues authenticity converges with Americana's pastoral beauty, while African rhythmic wisdom weaves through it all. Sanders' original compositions serve as launching points for spontaneous musical conversations, where through-composed themes evolve into groove-based explorations, peaceful melodicism transforms into free jazz adventures, and moments of cacophonous noise resolve into transcendent harmony.
Through years of improvisational study together, these four musicians have learned to access that rarefied creative space where genres become meaningless, where technique serves spirit, and where the music creates itself through willing vessels. Each performance with the Quintessence is both a meditation and a celebration—a sonic demonstration that we are indeed all particles of the same infinite energy, temporarily organized into the beautiful illusion of separate beings making music together.
In the end, the Quintessence doesn't just play music—it channels the fundamental frequency of existence itself, reminding listeners that life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.
The Core represents everything essential about Asheville's jazz DNA distilled into five musicians who understand that the best ensembles aren't just collections of individual talents—they're alchemical reactions where individual voices merge into something greater than their sum. This quintet embodies the mountain city's unique musical ecosystem, where Blue Ridge authenticity meets sophisticated harmonic exploration, where the intimacy of local venues allows for the kind of musical risk-taking that transforms standards into personal statements. Named for their ability to get to the heart of every song they touch, The Core strips away musical pretense to reveal the emotional architecture beneath, proving that jazz at its best isn't about showing off—it's about showing up completely for each moment, each phrase, each possibility that emerges when five musicians breathe together in perfect musical democracy. In Asheville's thriving jazz scene, The Core stands as both inheritors of tradition and pioneers of what's next, reminding audiences that the most profound musical experiences happen when virtuosity serves vulnerability, when technique becomes the vehicle for something infinitely more human.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
The Brian Felix Organ Trio brings the church to the cocktail lounge on October 27th, with special guest Will Boyd turning sacred fire into sound. Felix's fingers conjure Jimmy Smith's ghost through drawbars and Leslie speakers, walking bass lines with his left hand that make upright players weep with envy while his right hand preaches the gospel according to groove. Behind him, Evan Martin's drums don't just keep time—they tell stories, whispering and roaring in perfect collaboration. Dr. Tim Fischer brings that rare fusion of doctoral precision and street-level swagger, where European sophistication collides beautifully with American blues DNA.
Then there's Will Boyd, carrying the lineage from Orangeburg church pews to Japanese concert halls, his saxophone speaking that ancient language where Eddie Harris meets Hank Crawford, where soul isn't a style but a requirement. This isn't background music for your Monday night—this is spiritual transportation disguised as entertainment, where the floor becomes congregation and every note is testimony.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
Join us at Little Jumbo for a night where the veil between worlds grows thin and the beats never stop! DJ Lil Meow Meow spins hypnotic rhythms that'll wake the dead and keep the living moving until dawn.
Adorned with marigold petals and flickering candles, our dance floor becomes a sacred space where ancestors boogie alongside the breathing. Paint your face with sugar skull artistry, sip on mezcal cocktails that taste like liquid starlight, and let the music carry your spirit between realms.
Come celebrate life, honor the departed, and dance like your abuela's ghost is watching (because she probably is, and she's got moves). Traditional altar offerings meet modern beats as DJ Lil Meow Meow weaves together sounds that bridge the earthly and eternal.
Death is just another reason to party—and this fiesta promises to be absolutely killer.
Costume encouraged, dancing required, spirits galore.
When two tenor saxophone masters converge at Little Jumbo Bar, expect nothing less than a masterclass in how geography shapes sound. Jack Wilkins brings his musical atlas—seven albums worth of landscapes painted through reed and breath, from Canadian Rockies to Appalachian ridgelines, Swedish jazz clubs to Grammy-nominated orchestral suites. His horn doesn't just play melodies; it composes entire emotional terrains, whether channeling Banff Centre residencies or mining Blue Ridge mountain soul. Dylan Hannan arrives as the genre-hopping storyteller, his saxophone carrying tales from Florida sunshine to Glenn Miller Orchestra tours across 18 states and four Canadian provinces. This former salsa band opener for Arturo Sandoval brings a musical passport stamped by everything from classical chamber competitions to R&B grooves, proving that the most interesting conversations happen when versatility meets tradition.
Together, they're supported by the Page Brothers—Zack's bass lines that have averaged 275 gigs per year since the '90s, moving from Virginia backroads to Swiss festivals, and Andy's guitar work that's traveled from Montreux to Japan while teaching the next generation at Appalachian State. Justin Watt completes this musical geography lesson, his Ohio-trained rhythms having anchored everything from Glenn Miller's legacy band to Asheville's intimate trio conversations.
At Little Jumbo's intimate setting, prepare for an evening where two tenor titans prove that the most compelling musical dialogues happen when master storytellers speak the same language through completely different accents.
Sometimes the best conversations happen when two horns remember they're telling the same story.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
The Core represents everything essential about Asheville's jazz DNA distilled into five musicians who understand that the best ensembles aren't just collections of individual talents—they're alchemical reactions where individual voices merge into something greater than their sum. This quintet embodies the mountain city's unique musical ecosystem, where Blue Ridge authenticity meets sophisticated harmonic exploration, where the intimacy of local venues allows for the kind of musical risk-taking that transforms standards into personal statements. Named for their ability to get to the heart of every song they touch, The Core strips away musical pretense to reveal the emotional architecture beneath, proving that jazz at its best isn't about showing off—it's about showing up completely for each moment, each phrase, each possibility that emerges when five musicians breathe together in perfect musical democracy. In Asheville's thriving jazz scene, The Core stands as both inheritors of tradition and pioneers of what's next, reminding audiences that the most profound musical experiences happen when virtuosity serves vulnerability, when technique becomes the vehicle for something infinitely more human.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
When three master musicians converge at Little Jumbo Bar, expect the unexpected. Jacob Rodriguez brings his world-traveling baritone sax—seasoned from Michael Bublé's Grammy stages to Brooklyn's underground scenes—ready to paint midnight stories with reed and breath. Quinn Sternberg anchors the room with bass lines that don't just walk, they architect entire musical conversations, transforming rhythm section duties into chamber music poetry. Al Sergel completes the triangle with his genre-fluid drumming philosophy, equally comfortable crafting beats for jazz legends and pop sensibilities.
This isn't just a trio—it's three musical chameleons who've learned that the most interesting sounds happen when you refuse to stay in one lane. Rodriguez channels everything from Hard Bop Explosion fire to Congolese mysticism, Sternberg builds gravitational centers that make everyone else sound better, and Sergel treats musical boundaries as suggestions waiting to be reimagined.
In Little Jumbo's intimate setting, where every note matters and every silence speaks volumes, prepare for an evening where San Antonio street corners meet conservatory training, where midnight iPhone memos become full-fledged statements, and where three master storytellers prove that the best conversations happen without words.
Sometimes the most profound music comes from the spaces between genres.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
The Core represents everything essential about Asheville's jazz DNA distilled into five musicians who understand that the best ensembles aren't just collections of individual talents—they're alchemical reactions where individual voices merge into something greater than their sum. This quintet embodies the mountain city's unique musical ecosystem, where Blue Ridge authenticity meets sophisticated harmonic exploration, where the intimacy of local venues allows for the kind of musical risk-taking that transforms standards into personal statements. Named for their ability to get to the heart of every song they touch, The Core strips away musical pretense to reveal the emotional architecture beneath, proving that jazz at its best isn't about showing off—it's about showing up completely for each moment, each phrase, each possibility that emerges when five musicians breathe together in perfect musical democracy. In Asheville's thriving jazz scene, The Core stands as both inheritors of tradition and pioneers of what's next, reminding audiences that the most profound musical experiences happen when virtuosity serves vulnerability, when technique becomes the vehicle for something infinitely more human.
Sanders, Boyd, Page & Hall distill the pure essence of improvisational expression, converging as alchemists of sound, transmuting musical elements into their most essential forms. This quartet embodies the philosophical concept of quintessence—the fifth element beyond earth, air, fire, and water—representing the fundamental substance from which all musical reality springs.
Their original compositions crystallize the essential qualities of diverse influences, oscillating between through-composed musical themes, groove-based soul explorations, traditional jazz-influenced pieces, Americana-inspired peaceful melodicism, world music influences, free jazz adventures, and occasional forays into cacophonous noise music. Through years of improvisational study, they've learned to access that rarefied space where genres dissolve into pure creative energy.
In this musical laboratory, Sanders' guitar becomes a conduit for universal vibration, Boyd's reeds channel the breath of consciousness itself, Page's bass provides the fundamental frequency of existence, while Hall's percussion creates the rhythmic heartbeat of the cosmos.
Ring in 2026 the only way that matters—with five master musicians who understand that the best celebrations happen when soul meets jazz and midnight meets pure musical magic. Jacob Rodriguez's world-traveling baritone sax brings the perfect soundtrack for crossing into a new year, channeling stories through reed and breath that connect all the places you've been to all the places you're going. Quinn Sternberg anchors this New Year's Eve sonic revival with bass lines that don't just walk into the future—they dance, transforming the countdown into gravitational grooves that make every moment before midnight feel sanctified.
Joe Enright treats his drum kit like a time machine, his sticks weaving rhythmic narratives that bridge 2025's mountain memories with 2026's metropolitan possibilities, while Alex Taub's piano becomes both reflection and resolution, finding those sacred spaces between what was and what could be where musical miracles happen. Andy Page completes this New Year's congregation with guitar work that's traveled from Switzerland to Japan, bringing two decades of celebration wisdom to help Asheville ring in the new year with style.
At Little Jumbo Bar, where the walls themselves seem to lean in when real music is being born, prepare for a New Year's Eve where the soul jazz tradition gets resurrected not through nostalgia, but through five musicians who know that the best way to celebrate time passing is to make every moment swing. Forget the ball drop—this is how you step into 2026.
Some countdowns don't need clocks—just musicians who make every beat matter.
