On a typical Sunday night at Aretha’s Jazz Café, the music comes first, the lessons sneak in and the community does the rest.
The venue’s Sunday evening educational jazz jam sessions are celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2026 — a milestone that underscores how a simple idea, done well and done consistently, can leave a lasting mark. The sessions are curated by their creator, Scott Gwinnell, Music Hall’s music education director and lead teaching artist.
For arts institutions juggling tight budgets and big expectations, measuring impact can be elusive. Not every program lands where it’s intended. But after a decade of weekly jams, the success of Music Hall’s Sunday series is evidenced by its longevity, its growing audience and the musicians who keep coming back.
A Sunday tradition built on sound, learning and community
Held on most Sundays when the Music Hall’s main stage is dark, the jam sessions blend jazz’s time-honored mentor-student tradition with modern educational support. Participants have access to online resources, hands-on coaching and personalized guidance that touches on both musical development and career pathways. The result is a learning environment that feels equal parts classroom, workshop and hang.
Each year, more than 150 musicians take part, spanning ages 8 to 80 and representing every level of experience. Sessions often zero in on a single tune, pulling it apart piece by piece — harmony, rhythm, form — while keeping the groove intact. The deep dives turn familiar standards into fresh teaching tools, revealing the small choices that shape the music listeners know by heart.
The confidence boost is hard to miss. Musicians are challenged to play in unfamiliar keys, tackle demanding tempos and perform in front of an audience, often alongside people they’ve just met. Through nods, glances and subtle cues, players sharpen their jazz language and bandstand instincts. Veterans and beginners share the stage, carrying forward a mentored approach to learning that has defined jazz for generations.
“There are high school students, college students, professionals, amateurs, adult students,” said Gwinnell. “Sunday nights, from 7 – 10 p.m. You don’t predict how long a gig’s going to go, and it’s really surprising when it goes 10 years, but through the support of Music Hall and (Music Hall CEO) Vince Paul, this has pushed forward and made it kind of an institution.
“It’s a safe, creative environment where (musicians) don’t have to worry about someone shouting at them if they lose the form of a tune. If they’re playing a song where maybe they’re going to make a mistake, we give them assistance if they want it. It’s both an education and a performance session, so it’s really kind of special that something like this has existed.”
Marking a decade with a homecoming celebration
Gwinnell’s trio forms the foundation of the jams, with Gwinnell on piano, Jordan Schug on bass and David Zwolinski on drums. On Sunday, March 8, they’ll mark the 10th anniversary with a special evening.
“We’re inviting everyone who’s been a part of our family over the past 10 years to return,” Gwinnell said. “We’re hoping to bring some of our old friends back, and anyone new who wants to give it a try. We’re planning on taking a group photo. Jeff Dunn, the Detroit Jazz Festival photographer, is going to come and take a group photo of everyone, one of those celebratory moments in time to commemorate the event.”
Aretha’s Jazz Café programming director Ted Nagy said he has seen amazing transformations in jam session participants over the last decade.
“I’ve seen kids, young piano players, come in, and they’re blinking at the keys, just trying to find the notes. And then, a few years later, they’re playing in the big time. Suddenly, they’ve got their own gigs, and the next thing I know, they’re asking me for (booking) dates for their own groups! That’s a great feeling, to see the kids grow. It’s been fantastic. And through the weeks, you see a lot of the networking that goes on, where people are making plans to get together and work on stuff outside of the café and then bring it back next week to work on together.
“It’s been a great networking thing, in that respect. And also, a lot of times, it’s kind of hard to get people to leave afterward. They want to hang out, they want to talk about what they performed: ‘Check out this recording of this tune.’ ‘See how she played this.’ And, ‘You should try this.’ And Scott’s giving them advice, and it’s really cool. I love that about my job, when I can see that excitement. What music can do to people.”
Under Gwinnell’s guidance, the jam meets musicians where they are. Many participants return year after year, and several have gone on to advanced study and professional performance. The open-door philosophy extends to the audience as well. There’s no charge to participate or attend.
“I cannot believe,” said Gwinnell, “with all the stuff that’s going on between school teaching and gigging and stuff, that Sunday night has become my favorite night of the week — but it’s just so different from everything else that I do in my life.”
Come for the music, stay for dinner and a drink, and keep an eye on the bandstand. On a Sunday night in Aretha’s Jazz Café, the next generation of jazz artists might already be finding its voice.
Aretha’s Jazz Café jam session
7-10 p.m. Sundays
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
350 Madison St., Detroit
Free to attend and participate
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jazz magic happens at Sunday jam sessions at this Detroit venue
Reporting by Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
