Professional double bassist John Geggie teaches a student during a jazz mentorship night.
Jazzy rhythms and impromptu musical instruction are being combined at a Centretown night spot where the next generation of performers is getting a taste of entertaining a live audience under the guidance of trained professionals.
Freelance guitarist Tim Bedner has launched the second season of Jazz Mentor Nights, a monthly event that brings student musicians and Ottawa’s jazz experts together to perform.
On the last Monday of every month between September and April, Bedner invites an established local musician to Café Paradiso at the corner of Bank and Nepean streets.
The jazz mentor plays with three students, providing constructive criticism and practical knowledge to the inexperienced musicians in front of a live audience.
Bedner, who also teaches jazz guitar at Carleton University, says he hopes this year’s program continues to promote the local jazz community and give aspiring musicians the chance to learn.
“It’s a great way for everyone to learn something and support our upcoming artists,” he says.
“What I’m trying to do is grow an audience, help this jazz musical community flourish and give back what was given to me.”
Bedner says while studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he performed with his teachers at restaurants across the city.
Then, after moving to Ottawa, he discovered that very few young people attended the city’s professional jazz performances and decided to make a difference.
“I really wanted (students) to be aware of what was going on in the jazz music scene here,” he says. “So I thought if I could make an opportunity for them to play with these jazz professionals and hook them up in a mentoring situation, they’ll want to come out.”
John Geggie, a professional double bassist who mentored the first evening of the season in September, says it’s inspiring to see the students benefit from the program.
“It’s stimulating to hear what young people are doing and the challenges they are dealing with,” he says.
“In the moment, I think they are quite challenged by the process, but they just try to handle it as best they can.”
Geggie, who runs his own invitational concert series at the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage, says he would describe the mentorship event as a “live coaching.”
He says that after playing each song with a student, he assesses the musician’s performance, pointing out areas for improvement and aspects that turned out well.
“The benefit for the student is that they get input from professional musicians in a very informal fashion,” he says. “Hopefully that moves them onto another level.”
Deniz Lim-Sersan, a pianist who participated in the mentorship program for the second time in September, says each evening has brought him “up to the next level.”
“I find I learn a lot more with professionals in that kind of relaxed setting,” the 16-year-old musician says.
“Every time I sit at the piano, I’ll learn something. But playing with them, I’m learning something and they’re teaching me at the same time.”
Bedner says the project is a “labour of love” for everyone involved, as no one gets paid for their efforts.
He says even Alex Demianenko, the owner of Café Paradiso, donates his stage for free and doesn’t charge the audience at the door.
Demianenko says the mentorship program is the most positive event his business has supported.
“It’s really good for the community and the kids coming up,” he says.
“It’s good to know there’s another generation out there that care about jazz besides their parents.”
The next mentorship evening takes place on Nov. 29, led by pianist Mark Ferguson.