Rudy's hosts the official pro jazz jam. Come out and experience some of music city's best as they take the stage with Nashville's next generation of jazz performers! You will hear a variety of young, old, new and undiscovered players showing what they can do on stage. Part of the jazz tradition and what jazz embodies is the unknown and spontaneous exploration of new musical territory with new musicians sitting in live on stage; you never know who or what to expect other than the unexpected!

We welcome all ages to this show and have a $10 food or beverage minimum.

The Kentucky-born, New Orleans-schooled, New York-based Cowherd is best known for his long-running partnership with drummer/bandleader Brian Blade, with whom he co-founded the Brian Blade Fellowship, whose acclaimed, influential albums showcase Cowherd’s stellar keyboard work and singular compositional skills. When not recording and touring with the Fellowship, Cowherd has worked extensively with a broad array of players and singers from the jazz, pop and rock worlds.

Brian Blade Fellowship Band and his impressive resume aside, Mercy is the most compelling example yet of Jon Cowherd’s remarkable sensitivity, inventiveness and versatility. Recorded in an inspired three-day session at New York’s Avatar Studios, the sterling set is comprised of ten new Cowherd originals, with his sublime keyboard work anchoring an all-star quartet that includes Bill Frisell on acoustic and electric guitars, John Patitucci on acoustic bass and longtime collaborator Brian Blade on drums. The resulting album is a creative landmark for Cowherd, with such ambitious numbers as “The Columns,” “Postlude,” the three-part “Mercy Suite” and the playful departure “Recital Hour (Timmy’s Theme)” demonstrating his gifts as an instrumentalist and composer.

“It definitely feels like a personal milestone,” Cowherd says of Mercy. “My collaboration with Brian Blade has given me the freedom to record my own pieces, but I still felt the need to make a statement under my own name. That notion was intimidating for a long time, and I never felt ready until the last couple of years. I felt that my playing had to get to another level before I released something as a leader. Studying classical piano with Jeff Goldstein from 2001-2009 really helped me gain that confidence.”

A consistent dedication to honing his talents and broadening his musical horizons has been a lifelong mission for Cowherd. Growing up in Kentucky as the son of musician parents who doubled as music educators, he embraced music early in life, taking up piano, french horn and violin as well as singing. In 1988, he migrated to the musical mecca of New Orleans to attend Loyola University. There, he studied jazz piano and improvisation under Crescent City piano legend Ellis Marsalis and with noted players John Mahoney, Steve Masakowski and Michael Pellera. He also joined local bands led by Tony Dagradi and Delfeayo Marsalis, and played with the New Orleans Ballet and the New Orleans Symphony and Opera. In 1993, Cowherd moved to New York, where he earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the Manhattan School of Music.

It was in New Orleans’ hotbed of musical inspiration that Cowherd met fellow Loyola student Brian Blade, with whom he would form the Brian Blade Fellowship. With Blade on drums and Cowherd on piano, and both sharing compositional duties, the Brian Blade Fellowship has proven to be an enduring and rewarding creative unit, releasing the albums Brian Blade Fellowship (Blue Note, 1998), Perceptual (Blue Note, 2000) and Season of Changes (Verve, 2008).

Pianist Pat Coil leads his quintet featuring the innovative Los Angeles based jazz violinist Doug Cameron, with Brian Allen on bass, Jordan Perlson on drums & Hunter Strasser on guitar.

Pat Coilis an accomplished pianist, composer, producer, arranger, teacher, and highly respected studio musician. His credits span the musical spectrum of jazz, R&B, pop, country and gospel. Touring Europe, Japan, South America, Australia, Canada and the United States with exceptional artists; Pat has toured with Michael McDonald, Carmen McCrae, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Woody Herman, Larry Carlton and Olivia Newton John.

Partial recording credits include: Natalie Cole, Carmen McRae, Trisha Yearwood, Ernie Watts, Michael McDonald, George Strait, Peter Cetera, Scott Henderson & Tribal Tech, Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein, Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, Clay Aiken, Kristen Chenowith, Mandy Barnett, Bill Medley, Woody Herman..etc. Pat has also played on hundreds of commercials, televisions shows and film scores, and composes for several library and TV/Film companies, including music for Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray, Drew Barrymore and Inside Edition.

Living now in Nashville, Tennessee; when not touring and working on others' projects, Pat continues to compose and produce original music, underscores and musical projects which are heard worldwide in a variety of media. Additionally, Pat served as an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University Of North Texas (UNT). He currently teaches jazz piano and improvisation at Vanderbilt Blair School Of Music.

Pat has recorded several solo albums including his newest releases "Music For Humans & Other Species". Other releases include "Schemes & Dreams" (produced by Lyle Mays), "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "Everything I Love" on the Burton Avenue Music label, featuring his trio with Danny Gottlieb on drums, Jacob Jezioro on bass and Joel Frahm on sax. These are available at patcoil.com and all music media sites.

Doug Cameron has long been a favorite on jazz radio internationally. Widely considered one of the true innovators of jazz violin, He has performed internationally, and is well known for his dynamic performance and trademark blue electric violin. Cameron has ten CD’s to his credit, which feature many of his own compositions. A veteran of the Los Angeles studio Scene, he has recorded and performed with a wide range of artists, including George Benson, Doc Severinsen, Tom Petty, Cher, The Allman Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Tony Bennett, renowned producer, David Foster as well as recording for numerous motion pictures and commercials. Cameron keeps busy with his recording schedule which includes an album every year or so. He has also been appearing regularly as a guest soloist with symphony orchestra in a unique pops program featuring all of his own arrangements. His inspiring concert with The Kansas State University Orchestra was chosen for a PBS special.

Cameron’s CD’s feature many jazz luminaries, including David Benoit, Lee Ritenour, Boney James, Gerald Albright, Joe Sample, and Russell Ferrante from “The Yellowjackets” His latest project, Different Hats is a two CD collection, which contains tracks from each of his previous seven releases, as well an eclectic mix of new material.

Cameron has been exposed to the music and entertainment industry from a very young age. In the golden days of live radio, his mother, singer-songwriter Barbara Cameron had her own radio show on WLW in Cincinnati where she replaced Doris Day and often sang with Rosemary Clooney and The Clooney Sisters. She is best known however for writing and singing The Road Runner cartoon theme and is featured on Different Hats in a jazz arrangement of the tune. Now it has come full circle as both of Doug’s boys, Alex and Sean ages 10 and 7 are playing the violin and performing with him in a family program which has been a winner with audiences.

One of Doug’s focuses has been working with young musicians in an inspirational master class/workshop environment. “This has truly been some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done. I believe it is more important than ever that young people become exposed and involved in music. Music is a gift that I am grateful to have in my life, and it’s my hope to be able to share it with as many young people as possible.” Cameron has recently released his second instructional series for the violin entitled “Swing your Strings”. In this series Doug takes well-recognized Suzuki pieces and adds jazz, hip hop, Celtic, country, gospel, reggae and other styles. The project has been endorsed by The International Suzuki Association, and is being distributed by Alfred Music. Doug has recently made two trips to Cuba to teach at the “Escuela De Artes” (Cuba’s Julliard) as well as perform (Doug speaks fluent Spanish). He was there this year to play The Havana Jazz Festival. “I believe the young people of Cuba are the key to Cuba’s future”, says Cameron. “They love everything American, and loved the interaction they had with me being an American musician”. Doug’s documentary on Cuba is on YouTube as well as www.dougcameron.com.