Ralph Peterson & The Messsenger Legacy
The Blue LLama
Ann Arbor, Michigan
May 25, 2019

Driving distance from both Detroit and Lansing, Ann Arbor has always had a healthy music scene which is further bolstered by the presence of the University of Michigan. Live jazz was on the downtown menu for decades thanks to bassist Ron Brooks and his fabled Bird of Paradise club, which operated from 1985 to 2004. When that club closed, local singer Susan Chastain picked up the slack by occupying the original location of the Bird at South Ashley beginning in 2000. Unfortunately, an ill-fated move to Main Street in 2007 brought with it financial woes and the club's eventual downfall in 2009.

So aside from the rare jazz show at the iconic Ark, a Main Street venue known more for folk and blues gigs, there has been a ten year void in terms of a viable jazz club in Ann Arbor. The dry spell though has fortunately ended with the newly-opened Blue LLama Jazz Club, an upscale spot on Main that has been the talk of the town since their debut back in April.

The brainchild of owner Don Hicks, Blue Llama sports a contemporary atmosphere with superb sound and a trendy menu overseen by executive chef Louis Goral. In fact, the capital "L's" in the name stand for "love of food" and "love of music." With live jazz running Wednesday through Sunday evenings as curated by musical director Dave Sharp, a palpable new energy and respect for the music is being fostered in a prime downtown location.

Playing four sold out shows at the end of May, drummer