On Thursday night, Jazz Explorations transformed Gallery Art Bar into a jazz playground. The ensemble performed a two-hour set in the dreamy venue, closing out a weekly residency during the month of January.
For the final night, Louie Pappas brought along Nate Hahn on bass, Mark White on guitar and Michael Linder on drums. Pappas curated each show by featuring friends from various music circles, rotating different musicians into the mix each week.
Musically, the group blended traditional jazz standards — like “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock and “Little Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard — with its own unique spin. As the set unfolded, Pappas moved between the soprano and alto saxophone.
After several songs, Pappas addressed the audience.
“This is Jazz Explorations,” Pappas said. “We don’t really know how this is gonna go, but we’re gonna try it out.”
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The band embraced that uncertainty. At times, the four musicians would choose which song to play next by having quick, onstage conversations before seamlessly launching into the next tune.
Despite the spontaneity, the band was tightly connected. Hahn’s bass drove the music, acting as a steady pulse that allowed each instrument to shine. Improvisation was constant, with solos unfolding naturally as the musicians listened and responded in real time.
Jenelle Orcherton, a local musician and Urbana resident, attended the show in support of her friend Hahn, with whom she has played in other bands. She said it’s the unpredictability that keeps her coming back.
“There’s a lot of improvisation, of course,” Orcherton said. “It’s fun to hear different people’s takes on standards or just their version of things.”
Hahn said that this sense of surprise is just as exciting on stage. He has been playing with Pappas since 2021 and participated in the same weekly shows the year before. To Hahn, not knowing where the music will land is part of the appeal.
“The tunes are great, but I also know what’s going to happen, and sometimes there’s really cool surprises where I wouldn’t have necessarily thought it was gonna go a certain place,” Hahn said. “That’s the fun part about playing with (Linder) and (Pappas) … They both will catch that real quickly, and we’ll all of a sudden be in a different spot musically.”
The ensemble built that necessary trust long before the group ever stepped on stage. According to Pappas, Jazz Explorations grew out of a simple idea. After years of playing in funk and soul bands, Pappas wanted to form a group with his friends where they could learn standard jazz songs together. Through playing together constantly, they were able to let that familiarity enhance the music over time.
“I like the chemistry,” Pappas said. “Then the music can stretch out because we jam together so much in different scenarios.”
After the set came to a close, audience members called for an encore. The band returned to the stage without hesitation, delivering one final song.
For Pappas, the motivation behind Jazz Explorations remains rooted in passion.
“The love of the music keeps me inspired to play,” Pappas said.
