A Home for Jazz

Gerri Seay engaged in a lyrical metaphor.

“I would liken it to being inside a violin, almost like you can feel the music seep into your skin,” she said in an effort to describe her B Sharps Jazz Club, located in Tallahassee’s Frenchtown neighborhood.

In 2004, Seay used the last of the money she inherited from her mother to purchase a historic building that she converted to the club, a cozy venue that opened in 2008.

Seay knew she wanted something small and appropriate to acoustic music, meaning no amplifiers. Indeed, the building’s wood paneling provides a perfect acoustic sounding board for the noir detective movie sound of a sax and lets the high hats of a drum bounce off the walls and invigorate your soul.

A genuine passion and a love for the craft have garnered B Sharps a loyal niche audience.

↑ The club’s owner, Gerri Seay, and her husband, Clarence Seay, a musician, are passionate about music equity. As the recipient of the African American culture grant, Gerri is working hard to bring about a youth orchestra in Frenchtown. Photo by Dave Barfield

“My husband Mark and I have been regulars at B Sharps for over a decade, and what I especially love about the place is that it’s a true jazz listening room,” said Jan Pudlow, a Tallahassee resident. “Gerri will tap you on your shoulder if you’re not listening.”

Seay’s club reflects her respect for jazz. She recounted one of her first experiences taking in a live jazz performance.

“The audience was noisy and stuck dollar bills into the performers’ clothes,” Seay said. “In many jazz clubs I went to, that’s the only way they would get paid, and that sounds more like a bar than a jazz club.”

Seay’s approach has paid off. To date, B Sharps has hosted such household names as Dr. John, Robert Glasper, Lou Donaldson and René Marie, to name a few.

B Sharps hosts local talent as well, such as FSU Jazz Department faculty and students.

↑ In January, Meder played a gig at the club, accompanied by Ben Tiberio on double bass and Philip Dizack on the horn. Not pictured, Michael Piolet on drums. Photo by Dave Barfield

Visit B Sharps’ website, and you will see the words “Do Everything” in striking lime green. “Do Everything” was a slogan first embraced by women of a temperance movement. Women were encouraged to oppose drinking and trafficking in alcohol wherever those activities occurred, that is, to do everything they could to stop it.

Seay’s building has been many things. It served as an elder care facility during the Great Depression and as a post for African American Veterans in the World War II era. B Sharps was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

“I adopted temperance movement leader Frances Willard’s theory that there is much to do in our communities, and one can’t just do one thing to help,” Seay said. “One must do everything one can do to make a difference wherever they find themselves.”

As the recipient of an African American culture and history grant, Seay is working to bring about a youth orchestra in Frenchtown, Florida’s oldest predominantly Black neighborhood.

↑ In 2004, Seay used the last of the money she inherited from her mother to purchase a historic building and turn it into B Sharps Jazz Club. It was small, but that was what she wanted — something that lent itself to an acoustic sound. Photo by Dave Barfield

The orchestra would provide opportunities for school-age children to learn how to play an instrument.

Seay recalled her own introduction to the world of music.

“When I was growing up, everyone had to learn to play an instrument,” she said. “Nowadays, many don’t even have the option — how can you know you’re good at something if you never have the chance?”

Seay isn’t alone in her philanthropic efforts. Her husband, Clarence Seay, is a bassist and composer who is a strong believer in the importance of music equity.

Ben Tiberio on double bass. Photo by Dave Barfield

He learned to play music when he was part of a youth orchestra in Washington, D.C. He took his first bass home in a shopping cart and practiced in a bathroom.

“I figure there are a lot of kids like him out there who just need to see what’s possible,” Seay said.

She plans to involve local university music and education majors as teachers at the Youth Orchestra.

“Tallahassee has two schools of education and a plethora of music majors,” Seay said. “They will need a place to do their internships and practicums. There is not a lot of hope here in 32304; it’s the poorest zip code in the state of Florida. The youth orchestra needs to be striking and make onlookers do a double take.”