"Since I was a young lad, I can remember watching live jazz at the Concourse Bar, or swinging over to Restaurant Magnus," explains Jon Worrell, a visual communications student at MATC. "Gaining an appreciation for live music and love for Madison," he continues, "I attribute much of this love from the simple teachings of my father."
That would be Cal Worrell, a pillar of the Madison jazz scene, who died in August 2005. Worrell helped promote local artists and live music from his position as manager at the Concourse Hotel. Among his contributions to the music in the city is Jazz at Five, an end-of-summer weekly outdoor concert series at the top of State Street that he co-founded in the early '90s with Kathy Sullivan.
On Aug. 16 of last year, Madisalsa played one of its regular gigs over the years at Jazz at Five, a performance captured on video by Jon Worrell. "So I guess in a way this is my tribute/contribution to my father and Jazz at Five," he concludes. "You can bet there are plenty more to come."
This live concert video of Madisalsa performing at Jazz at Five last year follows below.
Jazz at Five celebrates its 14th season this year; the weekly shows start on Wednesday, Aug. 8, with performances by the Richard Davis & Willie Pickens Duo and the Karrin Allyson Quintet. The 2007 series will run another four weeks through the end of summer.
If you have a video by, of or about Madison and Madisonians, please consider adding it to the Isthmus YouTube group or send a message.
