WILLIAMSBURG— Along with warmer temperatures, the sound of jazz will fill the air at Silver Hand Meadery as they launch Silver Hand Sessions: Jazz Fridays, a new live music series featuring some of the region’s most talented jazz musicians.
The Meadery states that performances will take place from 7-9 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of each month in a listening room format where guests can enjoy mead, drinks, and food in an intimate, cabaret-style setting.
The series kicks off Friday, March 20, with The John Toomey Trio, featuring Jimmy Masters and Chloe Youtsey, performing selections from the Great American Songbook.
Silver Hand Sessions builds on the growing success of the Meadery’s Friday Jazz Jam, held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. These jam sessions have become a beloved gathering for local musicians and audiences alike—often drawing standing-room-only crowds. During Jazz Jam nights, guests can enjoy live jazz and even become part of the music themselves by bringing an instrument and joining in.
The popularity of the jam sessions inspired Silver Hand Meadery founder Glenn Lavender, a bassist with deep roots in the local jazz scene, and jazz jam organizer Tony Mata, a well-known regional musician, to expand the Meadery’s jazz programming with curated performances on additional Fridays throughout the month.
The result is a dynamic mix of experiences: interactive jam sessions where musicians can sit in and play, coupled with featured performances showcasing accomplished jazz artists from across the region.
“Music has been part of the DNA of Silver Hand Meadery from day one, with every mead tied to a song in some way,” said Lavender. “With my own history in the local jazz scene, hosting our Jazz Jams at the Meadery became a natural fit, and the response from the community has been incredible. As that momentum has grown, we’re expanding to host live performances so Williamsburg can hear top-quality jazz musicians right here at home. It’s one more way we continue to savor what is good together.”
The initial March through May lineup includes:
- March 20 – The John Toomey Trio, featuring Jimmy Masters and Chloe Youtsey, performing selections from the Great American Songbook
- April 3 – George Cruz performing jazz standards
- April 17 – The Weldon Hill Trio performing arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions
- May 1 – The Ayinde Williams Duo (piano and bass)
- May 15 – The Tony Mata Trio performing the music of Thelonious Monk
These events are free to attend. No tickets are required.
For additional performance information, visit silverhandmeadery.com.