Velvet Elk Funky Jazz Jam Sessions -

Find your groove, meet fellow musicians, and help build Boulder’s music community. The Velvet Elk Funk & Jazz Jam Sessions bring players and music lovers together for an evening of funk, R&B, soul, and jazz, featuring classics from the ’60s and ’70s through today’s popular music.

For musicians: Come ready to listen, collaborate, and contribute. Experience playing these styles is recommended, and some jazz experience is helpful. Above all, bring the ability to lock into a pocket, interact with the band, and confidently call or lead a tune in your preferred genre.

How the jam works:

• Sign up when you arrive.
• Each musician will have the opportunity to play two songs, including calling one tune.
• Come prepared to communicate your song’s key, feel, and arrangement.
• Additional playing opportunities may be available as time allows, with priority given to making sure everyone gets a turn.

Keep it musical. Respect the band’s volume, leave space for other players, and listen as much as you play. Be mindful of how your sound fits into the group. A simple groove or a little breathing room can make the biggest impact. Bring kindness, respect, and a positive attitude toward everyone sharing the stage.

Whether you’re stepping up to play or settling in to listen, you’re part of the experience. Together, Velvet Elk Lounge and Roots Music Project are creating opportunities for musicians to meet, form bands, and build lasting connections within Boulder’s music community.

Come for the groove. Stay for the connection.

Jesse Ogle — Bass

Jesse Ogle is the Community Development Director of Roots Music Project in Boulder and a Colorado bassist, producer, and bandleader. He bridges soul, jazz, funk, and electronic music through projects including Nu Bass Theory, J-Calvin, and Hello Dollface. His touring career has taken him across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Northern Europe. Co-founder of Durango’s nonprofit iAM MUSIC, Jesse pairs his performance career with a commitment to music education, mentorship, and building community through music.

Blessing Chimanga — Drums

Zimbabwean drummer, marimba virtuoso, singer, and songwriter Blessing “Bled” Chimanga brings vibrant African rhythms and magnetic stage presence to Colorado and international audiences. His career spans performances in more than 20 countries and collaborations with artists including Oliver Mtukudzi, Sona Jobarteh, and Freshlyground. A former music director of Zimbabwe’s Harare International Festival of the Arts, Blessing connects cultures through performance, education, and an infectious joy for music.

Guillaume Metz — Guitar

French-American guitarist Guillaume “Will” Metz brings a versatile musical voice to Colorado groups including Elder Grown, J-Calvin, and Nu Bass Theory. A touring performer, recording artist, and educator, he is also the author of the two-volume Music Theory for the Self-Taught Musician series and founder of the Will Metz Guitar Academy, helping guitarists worldwide develop their improvisation and musical expression.

Ian Arras — Keys

Front Range keyboardist, organist, and producer Ian Arras moves fluidly through jazz, funk, soul, and R&B. His performance credits include work with Wrenn Van, Thom LaFond, Fruta Brutal, and Hazel Miller. As leader of the Ian Arras Organ Trio, he brings groove-driven improvisation to stages including eTown Hall and Roots Music Project, alongside an active career as a sideman and studio musician.