Sunday, June 13 was a notable night in the Oregon District as the Dayton Blues Society returned to Tumbleweed Connection for the monthly DBS Blues Jam.  Our new photographer, Michelle Flory, was on hand to record the event for posterity and we really appreciate her contribution to the organization.

The host band was Tim Arnold and the Temporary Saints. Their four piece band kicked off the night with a great set of Blues classics.  Tim’s dazzling guitar stylings set the tone for the jams to follow.  Mike Sonderman had his Hammond B3 organ there, as usual to spice up the numbers with crying B3 chords and every jam set was filled with punchin’, rockin’ blues.

Our thanks goes out to the Tumbleweed for having us over.  

Sunday, May 16th was a year and a week from the last time we held our “Blue Sunday” Blues Jam at Jazz Central on East 3rd Street. Once again the doors flew open and the blues poured out as the owners and patrons of the event welcomed us with open arms. This time they even had food set up outside with fish, hamburgers, BBQ, and fries for those hungry souls who needed a little food to go along with their music. The seven piece Jazz Central Blues Band took the stage a little after 6pm and treated those in attendance to a heavy helping of their own blend of jazz injected blues. Special thanks to the fine folks at Jazz Central and the Jazz Central Blues Band for making this a very special blues jam. At one time during the evening we had 21 players on stage … I believe a DBS record!!!

Much has been documented, and deservedly so, regarding the late Roger Sayre's standing, regard, and position on the fine art ladder of echelon. He was and will continue to be a success.

From a musical standpoint I would like to share how much his influence had on a generation of local guitarists.

Roger and I attended the College of the Dayton Art Institute for a couple of years in the mid-60's He was a mentor to me, but in a musical as opposed to a visual arts context. Nearly every Friday afternoon the Institute’s cafeteria turned into a jam room of sorts as Roger would bring his Orange Gretsch Chet Atkins, or his father "Red" Sayre's pre-war Martin D-18 and we would proceed to delve into early works of Bobby Bland, Kenny Burrell or Rogers favorite blues man John Lee Hooker. As I recall "Boogie Chillin" and "Dimples" were two Hooker numbers that Roger had a particular proclivity for.