How to go
What: Blues jam hosted by Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders
Where: Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., Dayton
When: 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10
Cost: Free
More info: (937) 223-9205 or www.myspace.com/oregonexpress
Artist info: www.michaellocke.net
When Michael Locke was first learning to play jazz guitar in Miami, he never had an opportunity to play in low-key, nurturing jam sessions. He knew, given the opportunity, he’d run things differently.
“I’m an old guy,” Locke, 48, said recently. “Back in the day when I was a kid, I was really trying to be more of a be-bop player, a jazz player. There were jam sessions, but it was really only professionals. If you got up to play and didn’t know everything about what was going on, they got you off stage real quick.”
Now, decades later, Locke is a blues guitarist based in Germantown. On Thursday, Sept. 10, he celebrates five years of hosting his Thursday night open blues jam at Dayton’s Oregon Express. The weekly event gives Locke and his band the Repeat Offenders an opportunity to support beginners and established musicians in a way he never experienced himself.
“We want to get players that are just coming up and haven’t gotten to play and others looking for a place to play,” Locke said. “It’s a place for people to come and experiment.”
On any given Thursday evening, you can see respected local players such as Eric Jerardi and Steve Arrington mixing it up onstage with newbies and out-of town players.
“This jam is what got me into the Dayton music scene,” said keyboardist Mike Jordan from Richmond, Ind. “I’ve met a lot of great people and got some gigs I’d have never gotten if it hadn’t been for this jam, so it’s definitely worth the drive.”
Local act Brown Street Breakdown has been hosting various jams around town for decades now in different locations, but Locke’s blues jam is now the longest running in the same venue.
“We’re proud of it lasting five years,” Locke said. “We really want people to come out next Thursday and celebrate and play.”
“I have to tip my hat off to Michael and the band,” said Oregon Express owner Joe Bavaro. “These guys are just really great. They’re really gracious to the musicians, and that’s why people keep coming back. They pull it off week after week.”
“And not to pat each others’ backs, but Joe has kept this going during a pretty rough economy,” Locke said. “When he’s had bad nights, he’s still had us back.”
“Michael and I work well together,” Bavaro said. “That’s what it takes. We’ve also got great musicians, a great staff and a great venue and that’s why the jam is still going after five years.”
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