LIVE JAZZ IS HERE TO EASE YOUR EVENING

I am a guy, and unlike most girls, I cannot multitask for the life of me, with one exception: eating and listening to music. I think that can count as multitasking, right? At least, in my book it does.

Actually, I listen to music just about when I do anything, from homework, cleaning, and working, to running – you get the point. But, I must say, when you are eating a delicious meal and conversing over the table, I highly encourage you to turn on some music and let the melody aid your digestion.

But you know what’s better that just turning on Spotify while eating? Well, I will tell you.

Not too long ago, I was at The Way Out Inn – and while I was eating my delicious pizza, I had the special privilege to eat in serenity, because I got to eat and listen to live music. Like I said before, listening to music while eating is great, but listening to live music is better! Especially when it’s played by local bands such as the Mt. Hood Faculty Trio jazz band.

That’s right: music faculty members from our own MHCC.

Dan Davey (piano), Tim Gilson (bass), and Tim Rap (drums) share at least 100 years of music experience between them. So these guys know what they’re doing. With that much background, you would think they would know everything about jazz. But Davey begs to differ.

“With jazz, you never quite get there,” Davey said of knowing it all. “It’s overwhelming, but yet intriguing. It never ends, but I’ve never been bored.”

Whether you’re a fan of jazz or not, you may or may not know jazz for the most part is improvised. That explains how Davey’s answer when asked when the group first performed together.

“(Tonight) was only our second time with only the three of us playing – Tim Gilson and I have played together quite a bit in the last two years, and Tim Rap and I have only played together twice,” he said. I was astonished hearing this, especially with how well they performed as I ate. They sounded like they had played together since Day One.

Davey explained why this is so easy for jazz players to do.

“Jazz is an improvisational music, so it’s easy for jazz musicians to get with each other and play without rehearsing. Just in the same way as you and I are getting together and talking right now without a script, because I know English and you know English. And we (the trio) have a common thing that we are talking about, so we’re able to have a conversation – all three of us have training, and background in music, so we can make some dialogue around whatever tune it is.”

The way the band came together was quite simple.

“Well, [the Tims] are both great musicians, and we’re here [at MHCC], so why not get together and play?” Davey said. “It can be almost like child’s play, like that kind of fun. When you’re an adult musician, it’s not like, ‘Hey, let’s get go to the park.’ It’s more like, ‘Hey, let’s get together and play (music).’

“I don’t always have the time to do it as often as I would like to, but it’s such an important part of who I am and what I do, that I try to do it as often as I can,” he continued. “So having Tim Rap and Tim Gilson here is kind of an obvious match of putting a trio together, and putting something out there.”

The Mt. Hood Faculty Trio is a great band to spend your time listening to. Whether you are wanting to eat while being entertained, or solely want to listen to some great music, I highly encourage you come out and listen to some exceptional jazz. They’re due to play once a month on a Sunday at the The Way Out Inn. Just check the Inn’s Facebook page for the exact dates.