Louis Armstrong once said, “Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them.”
This quote fits Mark Ammar like a glove. After close to a two-year absence from the regional music scene, the St. Albert based drummer is resurrecting Mark Ammar’s Saturday Sessions Jam.
The new afternoon jam, his 752nd show, began as a regular feature at the Bourbon Room on March 2 and returns each Saturday.
“I’m so happy to be back and I’m going to do my best to reach 1,000 shows,” said Ammar.
In describing the new venue he added, “I like the room. It’s a nice intimate room. The sightlines are great. Everywhere you sit, you can see the stage. Bourbon Room has a reputation for food and I hear they’ve hired a mixologist.”
As one of the area’s most connected music promoters, he’s formed a house band of the finest musician/recording artists around town.
In addition to Ammar on skins, the amazing lineup includes folk-roots guitarist Gord Matthews, blues guitarist Jimmy Guiboche, bass player Randy Forsberg and guitarist Ralph Pretz, aka Mr. Versatility.
Ammar first hosted blues jams in 2004 at the Blind Pig Pub. Throughout the last 15 years he changed location many times entertaining crowds in St. Albert at LB's Pub and the now closed Castle Rock and Taphouse.
By 2013 he shifted the jam to Edmonton at The Leaf Bar and Richard’s Pub, where he stayed for three years promoting both emerging artists and nationally acclaimed road warriors.
Through the ups and downs, his passion for music, deep desire to entertain and push to promote diverse talents never wavered.
Several guests that showcased his stage were Big Hank & a Fist Full of Blues, jazz-pop singer Crystal Hanson, blues-reggae singer Billy Campbell, folk-roots artist Bob Jahrig, saxophonist Dan MacDonald and Canadian Country Music Award winner Chad Melchert.
In keeping with Ammar’s tradition of inviting special guests, blues champion and vocalist/saxophone player Joe Piccolo was featured March 9 while on March 16, special guests included first-call percussionist Dwayne Hrynkiw and keyboardist Dennis Meneely who played with Streetheart.
The jam runs 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bourbon Room is at 205 Carnegie Dr. No cover.
