Chattanooga's Up And Coming Jazz Scene

Well Chattanooga it's mid May and with the weather getting hot there's no better way to cool down with some smooth jazz and the Bluffview art district's river gallery is featuring an exhibit that does just that.

" This month at River Gallery we are featuring the work of Bedonna Wakeman she is an artist from New Orleans. She exhibits in the streets of New Orleans. That is her home as well, she stayed in New Orleans after Katrina. He images are portraits of the Icons OF Jazz History." said Angie Supan assistant director River Gallery.

Wakeman's pieces all feature warm and sultry colors that transport the viewer the smoky rooms of the French Quarter, listening the likes of Miles Davis And Billy Holiday.

Also exhibiting this month is Alabama steel sculptor Julia Peerson Carpenter.

Her steel and scrap metal dress forms are a throw back the speak easy's of the prohibition era.

But don't try dancing in these dresses...they weigh in between 150 and 200 pounds.

Both Wakeman and Peerson's work can be viewed and purchased seven days a week at the River gallery nestled in the heart of Chattanooga's Bluffview art district until the end of May.

And a portion of the proceeds from Wakeman's History of Jazz series will go to the arts council of New Orleans to help rebuild the arts community in the French Quarter... much of which still lies in ruin 5 years after Hurricane Katrina.

Now that the River Gallery has wet your appetite for New Orleans Jazz for your eyes...it's time to tickle the fancy of your ears...as well as your belly.

And there's no better place for that then Chattanooga's own Blue Orleans.

With locations on Amnicola highway and downtown on Market Street owner Mike Adams knows just what it takes to bring customers the true *blue* experience.

" When you think of New Orleans you think of good food and good music and we try to encapsulate both of them in blue orleans concept"

restaurant goers can also sit back and enjoy the likes of point of view host Booker T Scruggs and other local Jazz greats every Friday night at both locations.

So weather it be for the eyes the ears or the stomach there's a distinct flavor of the birth place of jazz right here in Chattanooga for WDEF news twelve's scenic city scene I'm Tobias Parrish.