The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

For the second week in a row, the Sisters Fire Hall was transformed into a "Green Room," a place where band members can go to relax and grab a bite between sets.

The southern California band Chicago Six found some time Friday afternoon to refresh themselves before their next gig.

Bob McKewen, who plays sax and clarinet in the band, gave a brief history of the Six.

"It got started by Bob Finch 21 years ago," said McKewen. "He owned a nightclub called Jazz Unlimited back east. After he moved to California, he still had the itch for jazz. Finch and the drummer are the only musicians from the original band.

"I didn't join the band until I was paroled," he joked.

Finch, being one of the more mature musicians in the jazz culture, was the butt of many good-natured heckling throughout the weekend.

"Yeah, old Bob always shows up for his yearly autopsy," wise-cracked one of the members of the Titan Hot 7 at the Village Green stage, as Finch relaxed in the Green Room.

This year marks the Chicago Six's ninth year as festival participants. Finch is upbeat about the future of jazz.

"Jazz has made a comeback," he said. "It's had its ups and downs, but is here to stay."

"Jazz is more than just music," added McKewen. "It's a fraternity and a sorority, too."

Gator Beat leader and accordion player Rich Domingue agreed.

"The music we play -- Cajun and zydeco -- works well with a community," he said. "The music comes out of families playing together on their back porches. It's a family-based sound, and it appeals to people."

Domingue started Gator Beat 15 years ago but says he's been playing all his life.

"My grandfather was a Cajun musician," said Domingue. "He played fiddle and even made guitars out of plywood. I grew up with music."

Myrna Cooper plays rub board for the group -- not to be confused with washboard -- and only started performing with Gator Beat about a year ago.

"They just told me to start playin' the rub board," she said. "So I did. And I'm still learnin'."

"Sisters is a nice play," she said. "The accommodations and shopping were great. And I really liked the people."