Jazz unites local artists

Local professional musicians are calling all music lovers to join them in a jam session. \nAt 7:30 p.m. today in the John Waldron Arts Center auditorium, 122 S. Walnut St., the third annual gathering of "Jammin' With the Pros" hits the stage. Professional musicians Jeff Hiatt, Pete Wilhoit and Craig Brenner will perform and give students and Bloomington residents a chance to play music. The event, which is free of charge, will allow people to play jazz tunes while improvising with the professionals.\nHiatt, a bass player and graduate of Bloomington High School North, has been playing professionally for more than seven years. Wilhoit, a drummer and graduate of Bloomington High School South, has been playing professionally for just as long. Brenner, an alumnus and piano player, has been playing piano for more than 40 years. He is in a band called the Crawdads, which perform at various events in Bloomington, including the upcoming retirement celebration for Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Lois.\nStudents are encouraged to bring their own instruments and music to the event.\n"People learn a lot from what they hear, and they are not given as many opportunities to hear and learn if they just play with other students," Brenner said. \nBrenner said he hopes this event will allow students to advance their love for music and ear for sound. He said it will be a comfortable environment where people can have fun. The men will start by playing together, and then anyone can submit a request and perform.\n"Students are not on the spot like they may be during a band recital at school," Brenner said. "They should come to have fun and enjoy playing with the professionals."\nPeople of any music ability are encouraged to come.\nSenior Todd Sibener played trumpet in middle school and quit. He said he would have jumped at the chance to play with professionals for fun, rather than be in the spotlight and nervous at a recital. He said it is a great idea to get children interested in pursuing music. \n"If I could have played with a professional, and he could have shown me a couple of things, I might have kept with it," Sibener said. "It would have been like playing basketball with Michael Jordan."\nBloomington High School South Band Director Bob Dubinski said the event is a wonderful opportunity for students.\n"It will be an evening of celebrating jazz music," Dubinski said.\nThe event has no scheduled time for conclusion and could continue for several hours.