At the Z Club in Joshua Tree, Susan Henry is on a mission to keep jazz alive. Henry, a longtime performer, opened the club in October to create a space where jazz could thrive and inspire new audiences, especially young people.
Susan Henry said, “It was kind of a goal to keep Jazz alive and get it to the people that aren’t hearing it. And Especially the children and younger people. If they can’t hear it, they can’t fall in love with it. And it’s getting less and less appreciated.”
Henry books some of the finest jazz musicians in the area, including guitarist Doug McDonald, whose Sunday night jazz jam has become a must-see event. With every performance, the Z Club proves that jazz is improvising and evolving. McDonald’s band consists of Emiliano Villarreal, Bassist, and Dennis McDade, drummer.
On the night I went to hear the music, Matthew Bennett stepped in to play the Horn, and Alex Coleman and Brian Beard alternated as drummers. Susan Henry often sang with the band, adding her voice to the evening.
Another jazz hotspot is thriving in Yucca Valley. The Copper Room, tucked inside the historic former airport lounge, has become home to Jim Watson and the Hard Bop Ensemble.
Watson, a Berkley-trained drummer, describes hard bop as an extension of bebop—fast, complex, and full of energy. Inspired by legends like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltrane, Watson’s band takes the stage every Sunday night from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, turning the Copper Room into a vibrant jazz haven.
Jim Watson said, “A lot of younger people never heard live jazz. Jazz is something they think they hear in the elevators. But when they see us really playing and, they are like, this is exciting.”
That excitement has made Sunday night jazz at the Copper Room the most popular night of the week. Tables fill up fast, and reservations are recommended.
A special thanks to Doug MacDonald Trio for the musical accompaniment.
