Local 802 was treated to a special concert on Tuesday, October 10 as part of 802 Jazz Night, featuring a performance by the Special Audiences and Musicians Sextet.

Special Audiences and Musicians (SAM) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for musicians with disabilities and senior musicians. Members of the sextet that performed at Local 802 are on the autism spectrum; one is blind and there are other physical disabilities represented. They specialize in performing for audiences who don’t get a lot of opportunity to enjoy live music by performing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other similar venues. The organization recently joined the Local 802 DECIBAL Collective. (Read about the Collective here.)

That night, the group performed a delightful program of all original music by pianist Sam Baum, son of founder Jeffrey Nussbaum. After the concert, there was a jam session hosted by members of the sextet and involving those in the audience who wanted to perform.

802 Jazz Night is held each month in the club room (see schedule here). There are also more DECIBAL events planned, which will be educational, professional, social and will feature more performances.

The members of the Special Audiences and Musicians sextet include Sam Baum, piano; David Segal, drums; Noe Socha, guitar; Tony Ventura, bass; Leo Garfein, violin and Mimi Block, violin. You can learn more at https://www.specialaudiencesandmusicians.org