SEMJA Celebrates Jennifer Pollard
On June 3, SEMJA piggy-backed on the regular Tuesday night jam session at Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti for a belated ceremony celebrating Jennifer Pollard and presenting her with the 2024 Ron Brooks Award for her outstanding service supporting jazz in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area. The award is named after the great bassist and jazz club owner who was one of the 
founders of the organization. Pollard has been a tireless volunteer promoter of jazz in our area, who has kept everyone informed of events, gigs, and happenings by means of her LiftingUpA2Jazz newsletter and Facebook page, as described in more detail in last month’s Update. Although she now lives in New Mexico, she continues her amazing works providing regular calendars of events in our area, and it was difficult to synchronize various schedules. However, when the board learned that she would be in our area, SEMJA quickly moved to present her with the award and celebrate.
And an event it was! Even at short notice, the room was full, and jazz flowed all around. Before the official festivities had started, Ziggy’s was filling up with SEMJA people, Jennifer’s multitude of friends, as well as musicians young and old. The proceedings were opened by SEMJA board member Linda Yohn, who introduced the house band, this evening directed by another board member, trumpeter Ingrid Racine, in tandem with guitarist Sam Bowen, bassist Sam Harris, and drummer J
esse Kramer, who played a short opening set, setting the pace for the evening with driving versions of a standard, “I Hear A Rhapsody,” and Lou Donaldson’s classic “Blues Walk.” Yohn then took to the stage and introduced SEMJA president Lars Bjorn, who warmly celebrated the award recipient and handed her a very nice plaque commemorating the event. Even though Pollard knew for some time what to expect, she was clearly touched by the great outpouring of love in the room from friends old and new. As part of her acknowledgement of the moment she then joined the band to sing “Day by Day” with a laid-back Latin beat, with obligatos and a well-matched solo by Jake Lee on trumpet, proving once again how deep her love of jazz remains, using her beautiful and expressive alto voice. In perfect synchronism, Steve Rich, accompanying himself on guitar and backed by Ralph McKee’s discreet bass guitar, saluted her, singing “Unforgettable” in a Nat King Cole mode.
Once the ceremonies were over, the weekly jam session started in earnest, with many musicians having signed up to play, shepherded deftly and imaginatively by Racine, who was appointed to the task at the last moment, subbing for board member Kenji Lee, who usually handles the role.
The jam session proceeded in spectacular fashion, highlighting diverse jazz talent from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit. Clearly, the newest generation of players knew the language of jazz as they played through chord changes with inspired solos and clean ensemble work. All the participants knew jazz standards that were called out, so no sheet music was necessary. Lee assured SEMJA that there would be many players at the celebration, as this was the usual “first Tuesday” jam, and he did not disappoint. Ideas, energy, passion, and respect for one another on the bandstand abounded.
The final ensemble included bassist Josef Deas, who had heartfelt closing thoughts to share with the honoree. We paraphrase here:
“In the past seven years, I’ve experienced a remarkable growth in attendance at jazz events and participation from many musicians. You (Pollard) made visible the music we try so hard to make. We can hardly control ourselves, much less our schedules. Thank you for doing the work on the calendar.”
SEMJA joins Deas, the musicians, and the music community with our most heartfelt gratitude to Jennifer Pollard, knowing full well that she will continue to help and inspire our musical community for years to come. We also thank the wonderful people at Ziggy’s, who enthusiastically accommodated our celebration and take the opportunity to thank them for creating and maintaining such an important artistic venue.
photographs by Harold Borkin and Jeff Dunn