Sweet sounds for delicious dinners

The Yuma Jazz Quartet is dishing up a spicy sound at a local restaurant and it seems that audiences' appetite for the group just isn't going away.

The popular jazz group has been a big hit ever since they started performing gigs on a regular basis at Julieanna's Patio Cafe about 1-1/2 years ago. That's why the group has been signed up for some more nights in the future, including their next appearances this weekend.

"All of it has really been fantastic," said Steve Hennig, trumpeter for the group. "It's really been nice to be appreciated for something you really enjoy doing."

Hennig added that the musicians have loved seeing regulars not only attend show after show at the restaurant - one of their most frequented venues - but request their favorite tunes as well.

The Yuma Jazz Quartet's next shows are set for 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Julieanna's. Admission is free and audience members can order from the menu or not.

The quartet is a branch of the larger Yuma Jazz Company, of which the Yuma Jazz Quintet is still the main performing group. The quartet features Hennig on trumpet, Jon Knudtson on bass, pianist Jimmy Griffin and drummer Brandon Coz.

The two remaining musicians who help make up the larger group are Brian Carlson, who plays the saxophone, and Carl

Posch, who plays guitar.

The Yuma Jazz Company was formed back in 2002 when the various players were brought together for a performing arts series at St. Paul's Cultural Center. For more about the band's history, go to www.yumajazz.com.

A trio had been performing at Julieanna's, but the group decided it was time to build things up a bit with some dates for the quartet.

"This lets us have a lot more variety in our sound," Hennig explained. "We'll be playing sambas, bossa novas and swing, on top of straight-ahead jazz standards."

Some of those pieces will come from the Yuma Jazz Company's first and only CD, "Shades After Dark." Some of those songs are original pieces, too, having been composed by Hennig.

After this weekend, the Yuma Jazz Quartet's next show at Julieanna's will be May 5-6. In the meantime, the musicians also will be playing April 22 for the "Field of Dreams" show to benefit Yuma Catholic High School.