Bringing Back Jazz: Matt Kendrick and Company

Over the last century, North Carolina produced some of the most influential artists in American jazz. 

Max Roach, Thelonious Monk, Percy Heath, and John Coltrane were all born in the state; Dizzy Gillespie grew up just beyond the state line in South Carolina, but he attended school and studied music in Laurinburg, North Carolina. For decades the Piedmont Triad enjoyed a thriving jazz scene well into the 90's when it wasn't that hard to find a jazz club or an open mic jam session in progress on any given night. Those 'hey days' days may have come and gone, but Composer/Double Bassist Matt Kendrick, is doing his part to bring them back. Matt is one of the region's finest jazz musicians, and you can hear him swinging Tuesday nights from 8-11 pm with drummer John Wilson and keyboardist Ken Rhodes at Tate's Bar, 4th Street in downtown Winston-Salem. It's open mic night every Tuesday at Tates.