Name: Word Jazz
Start: 2026-03-27T19:30:00-04:00
Location: Sharp 9 Gallery

Word Jazz, our mashup of improvised theater and music, returns to Sharp Nine Jazz Club in Durham, March 27. Inspired by Ken Nordine’s eponymous 1957 album, Word Jazz is comprised of scenes based on improvised monologues and live music by a quintet. Spontaneous songs also figure into the mixture and it’s all initiated by audience suggestions.
The band is Ricky Bloomfield (tenor sax), Rob Ladd (drums), musical director Glenn Mehrbach (piano), Grammy nominee Scott Sawyer (guitar), and Paul Westlake (bass). Parker Bach, Hailey Hill, Dana Marks, and Steve Scott join director Greg Hohn in the cast.