Jazz is in the air in San Jose. After another spectacular San Jose Jazz Fest, the town is abuzz with talk of the abundance of musicians, fans and dedicated promoters. From intimate club shows to the massive, downtown-packing summer festival, San Jose has revealed itself to be a current hotbed of jazz.

One of the local hubs for jazz musicians and fans alike is the Hedley Club Jazz Jam that takes place on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm in the Hotel De Anza. Built upon a jam that was held at the hotel a few years ago, the Wednesday jam provides another way for the jazz community to come together.

“The inspiration for the jam was to have an inclusive jam where a lot of people would feel welcome,” says Matt Beasley, co-founder of the event. “It’s a way to create a network, to build the music community and to meet people.”

Open to players of all levels, the jam generally starts with the house band, which features hosts and co-founders John Worley and Oscar Pangilinan on trumpet and saxophone, respectively. After they warm up the room, anyone can sign up to play a couple of tunes backed by the band.

The jam, which recently had its one year anniversary, got off to a great start but Beasley explains that when San Jose Jazz got involved it “kicked it into another gear.” The organization’s commitment to jazz education and the local community brought in a diverse crowd of jazz enthusiasts.

“There’s a lot of energy,” says Beasley. “I’ve never seen younger and more experienced musicians connect as much as they do at the jam.”

According to Beasley, the Hedley Club, with its art deco theme and welcoming atmosphere, is a big part of the event’s success. “It’s one of the nicest clubs that you can find from Gilroy to San Francisco,” he says. “It’s a gorgeous room, but it’s not overly-formal. It’s very well-suited for a jazz jam.”

Considering San Jose’s growing appreciation for jazz, the Hedley Club Jazz Jam is a great way to get out and get into the mix whether as a musician or an audience member.

“The jam has an element of bringing people in,” says Beasley. “There were people with a vision and it just really came together.”