DaytonDailyNews.com

Pamela Williams is widely known for her sultry smooth-jazz saxophone playing. Singles from her seven albums have garnered extensive radio play, and she has proven her mettle on stage with jazz and R&B musicians.

Here in Dayton, though, Williams is also gaining notoriety as an entrepreneur. The "Saxtress," as she is often called, opened a coffeehouse that features live jazz in a cozy setting. The Jazzy Java Cafe opened in the Oregon Historic District in September.

Williams, a Philadelphia native, was in Dayton for a performance a year ago when a vacant building on Fifth Street caught her eye.

"I remember the first time my manager drove me through the Oregon District, and I really liked the area," Williams says. "We were walking down Fifth Street, and my manager looked in the window of a vacant building. She said, 'It would be so fun to open a coffeehouse that features jazz.' "

Williams liked the idea, and when the building was up for sale she made the purchase. Upon acquiring the building in May, Williams and her crew set out to make it their own.

"People say they get a warm feeling when they come in, and I think it's because of the colors we chose," says Williams. "It's very laid back. There is a small stage for performances."

One of the other visual features is artwork. Williams has been an artist even longer than she's been a musician, and some of her own work is featured on the walls. She also wants to invite other artists and photographers to display some work in the cafe.

Williams has her hands full with music, art and the cafe. Keeping it all going is demanding, but she feels it is worthwhile.

"It is really hard to balance everything. I've been running on fumes for the past few months ... but it's enjoyable work."

It also helps that she has relocated to Dayton, and now lives close to the cafe. Williams says her visits here piqued her interest in the city, and now she enjoys living here.

"I like the fact that Dayton is a smaller city ... it's small enough to get to know everybody and not a lot of traffic, but there's still a lot to do," she says. "Dayton has a lot of talent, and I've met many talented musicians here."

The Jazzy Java Cafe will give some of those musicians the opportunity to display their talent, and Williams says she will often get into the mix. She has musicians all lined up for Friday and Saturday, and chuckles, "I'll probably bring my sax down and play a couple songs with them."

Matt Warner can be reached by

e-mail at warner.matt@mac.com. Jazzbeat appears every Sunday.

How to go

What: Jazzy Java Cafe, featuring Boston Stoker coffee, desserts and live music

Where: 438 E. Fifth St., in Dayton's Oregon Historic District

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; live music 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays

More info: (937) 938-9103