When four musical travelers converge at Little Jumbo Bar, expect the conversation to wander through territories unmarked on any genre map. One brings a baritone voice seasoned by continents and street corners, another weaves bass lines that function more as gravitational fields than rhythm, a third treats the drum kit like a philosopher treats questions—with equal parts conviction and curiosity—and the fourth arrives carrying the collected wisdom of Asheville church music, Brooklyn beat labs, and 50 countries worth of sound.
This isn't just a quartet—it's four sonic cartographers who've learned that the most interesting destinations appear between the roads already traveled. Baritone reed meets chamber music architecture meets midnight voice memos meets the ghost of four-track cassette experiments, all of it converging in Little Jumbo's intimate geometry where every frequency matters and silence carries as much weight as sound.
In a room where proximity breeds revelation, prepare for an evening where Hard Bop fire dances with Congolese pulse, where hip-hop production philosophy informs jazz improvisation, and where four distinct musical obsessions discover they've been searching for the same thing all along. Sometimes the most profound conversations happen when no one's trying to speak the same language.
Featuring
From San Antonio street corners to Michael Bublé's Grammy-winning stages, Jacob Rodriguez has woven a musical tapestry that spans continents and genres. This Manhattan School of Music alumnus doesn't just play saxophone—he channels stories through reed and breath, whether he's painting midnight hues with Ambrose Akinmusire in Brooklyn's underground scene or igniting arena crowds alongside pop royalty. Now nestled in Asheville's Blue Ridge embrace, Jacob has become the valley's secret weapon, teaching the next generation at UNC Asheville while moonlighting with everything from Hard Bop Explosion's fire-breathing quintet to the mystical rhythms of Coconut Cake's traditional Congolese explorations. His baritone sax doesn't just anchor the low end—it rumbles with the wisdom of a world traveler who's learned that the most profound music happens when you're brave enough to blend your influences into something entirely new.
.jpg)
Quinn Sternberg doesn't just play bass—he becomes the gravitational center around which musical solar systems orbit, his four strings serving as the invisible force that holds melody and rhythm in perfect harmonic balance. In Asheville's intimate jazz venues, Sternberg has mastered the art of musical architecture, building rhythmic foundations so sturdy that horn players can stretch toward the stratosphere while drummers explore the outer reaches of syncopation. His upright bass doesn't merely walk—it tells stories with every step, each note choice revealing decades of deep listening to masters like Ray Brown and Ron Carter while forging his own path through the modern jazz landscape. This is bass playing as conversation rather than accompaniment, where Sternberg's melodic sensibilities transform traditional rhythm section roles into something more akin to chamber music, proving that the most profound musical statements often come from the spaces between the obvious beats, where subtlety meets groove and creates something that makes everyone else in the room sound better.
Al Sergel exists in that sweet spot where jazz sophistication meets genre-fluid creativity—a drummer-composer equally at home behind the kit with jazz legends like Bob Mintzer and Jim Snidero or crafting midnight iPhone memos that eventually become full-fledged musical statements. From his role as Worship Director at MorningStar Ministries to touring with singer-songwriter Jason Upton, from recording with Grammy winners like Tim Lefebvre to leading his own IVtet with Charlotte's finest musicians, Sergel proves that musical boundaries are just suggestions waiting to be reimagined. His "Alfred Sergel IVtet" EP captures this perfectly—what started as late-night voice memos after gigs transformed into a collection that fuses his jazz DNA with pop sensibilities, drawing inspiration from artists as diverse as Beck and Pat Metheny. Whether he's sharing stages with Rick Skaggs or crafting beats that bridge sacred and secular, Sergel's adaptability isn't just professional necessity—it's artistic philosophy, proving that the most interesting music happens when you refuse to stay in one lane.
Originally from Asheville, NC, Chris Bullock's musical obsession began as a child with early interests in the Beach Boys, hip-hop cassettes, and learning the clarinet and electric guitar—a foundation that would eventually transform him into a modern-day musical wanderer who chases creativity across continents. As a longtime member and composer of Snarky Puppy since 2005, this tenor saxophonist has collected five Grammy Awards while performing at major concert halls and music festivals around the globe, proving that the most interesting music happens when you refuse to acknowledge genre boundaries. Over the years, Bullock has evolved from being identified primarily as a saxophonist specializing in flutes, clarinets, and keyboards into a composer and producer exploring recording and production to find an ever-evolving, unique, and personal sound. His 2018 debut solo album "Boomtown" represents this hybrid approach—combining improvisation, jazz, woodwind chamber music, electronic music, and hip-hop production elements into something entirely his own. His interest in hip-hop and electronic music has pushed him into exploring DJ'ing, beat making, and production, while his performance resume reads like a who's who of diverse musical minds: David Crosby, Michael McDonald, Lalah Hathaway, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Charlie Hunter, Chris Thile, Eric Harland, Phish, and Soulive. With degrees from East Carolina University and Michigan State University, plus studies at the University of North Texas, Bullock balances his globe-trotting performance schedule with his passion for education as a clinician and former adjunct professor. From Asheville church music to Brooklyn beat-making to concert halls in over 50 countries, Bullock embodies what happens when childhood curiosity about four-track cassette recorders evolves into a lifelong commitment to making every musical conversation feel like a discovery.
Admission
FREE!