It was a mild Friday night in December as I strolled past several music venues in the Chattanooga Live Music scene. The air was still and it was early for most venues to bring the music up. I walked past Sugar's Rib on Broad Street to find they were closed hosting a private Christmas party, peering through the window to see a guitar slinger performing acoustic sets to the reserved party crowd. Sugar's is one of those places with great food (specializing in BBQ ribs), drinks and occasional host "LIVE" music for local favorite bands.
As I walked past, I could not help what I heard next.
It was the smooth sounds of someone bearing down on an amplified clarinet. I know the sound well - in my youth the clarinet and baritone sax were my contribution to the junior high band at Ooltewah... ha that was ages ago...nevertheless, no matter how many years its been I stop and listen when I hear one. It was coming next door from Sharon Kelly's Mocha Restaurant and Music Lounge.
The Chattanooga "Live" Music scene continues to grow with additional venues, new, some expanding, and a few relocates. Recently, Matt Busby led the Camp House relocation from Williams Street to MLK Boulevard at Patten Parkway. There was also the announcement by Adam and Monica Kinsey of the expansion of an additional medium-size music hall to the Chattanooga Choo Choo campus, adding the Comedy Catch (relocation), adding bistros, retail outlets and other entertainment in addition to enhancing Track 29.
My interest tonight was drawn to Mocha, it was the jazzy clarinet that opened the door.... where the food is great offering full dining, two beverage bars, a stage with an impressive backdrop as if you are in Coolidge Park with the Southside night cityscape riverfront in the background. It was my second visit to Mocha in the past few weeks. The last visit was to catch up with a very popular local Funk & Soul band, The Power Players. The band has been voted Chattanooga's best party band. The opening act was a New York recording artist Jocelyn Arndt, making a stop while on tour in the South. She will return to Chattanooga on Jan. 10 as Chattanooga "Live" Music presents Jocelyn Arndt with local recording singer/songwriter Jordan Hallquist at Sugar's Rib on Broad Street.
Tonight it was about the Jazz and Soul of Mocha Music... being on the Chattanooga "Live" Music scene for several years on Brainerd Road. I have had the opportunity meeting most of the local bands and other nationally known bands who have played the Riverbend Festival, Nightfall Music Series, Southern Brewer Festival, Wine Over Water, Chattanooga OnStage events, LiveNation and more. The talent at Mocha tonight would bend most people's ears to listen to the smooth jazz musicians and the sultry emotional voice of a lady known as Ms. Courtney Reid.
Walking into Mocha, I greeted Sharon and saw the growth as people entered for dinner. The food is over the top but the music from the stage was drawing people in too. On stage was the Mocha Renaissance Band. A stage of talented musicians, I recognized them with front man Frank Bumpass (who now switched to an alto sax) Sam Patton on sweet keyboard, Jason Foster on his smooth bass, and the emotional drummer DJay Gates.
The Mocha Renaissance Band opening set featured some of the most electrifying jazz I have heard since Jazzanooga a few months ago. The band was a perfect match for the lady preparing to take the stage... her voice heard in several groups, knowing her several years as waitress and singer at the Station House was ending in weeks she had already assembled her band. My friend whom I have known for about three years, Courtney Reid, takes the stage.
Courtney's soulful sound, many locally say she is a modern day Anita Baker (AB was eight times National Academy Recording Arts & Science as one of the best R&B vocal performers). My thought is you need to follow Courtney's events on social media and make a point to attend one soon. Courtney grew up in Memphis, the heart of a diverse music sector. She found her way to Chattanooga for about three years. The Mocha Renaissance band is the house band for that establishment and was recently introduced to the band by establishment owner Sharon Kelley. In an interview Courtney points out that she sings routinely with her own band "In The Making". She came to Chattanooga to find new avenues for her talent... the formerly historic restaurant the Station House was her music residence for three years until recently closing to make way for expanding developments of the Entertainment district flagged at the Chattanooga Choo Choo campus on the south side of downtown. Some of the songs Ms Reid performed included "I'm Saving All My Love" by Whitney Houston, "Tyrone" by Erykah Badu, "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan, "Tell Me something Good" Chaka khan, and "déjà vu" Beyonce cover song.
Mocha Restaurant & Music Lounge relocated from Brainerd Road over a year ago to its current site at 511 Broad St. (Phone 423.531.4154. found on social media Facebook and web at www.mochajazz.net Mocha strives to be a different type of venue, offering fine food, drinks, dance floor, variety of entertainment from "live" music (jazz, soul, funk, rhythm & blues), on site DJ studio, flat screens LED TVs, and comedy stage.
The artists, musicians, bands and establishments mentioned in this journal can be found on social media Facebook.
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Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape/event photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and
contributor to several magazines, venues and Friends of the Festival events.
Email at MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com