Many of the musicians and vocalists who were present came “after work” that Saturday night, and a fun time was had by all. The word spread. Trumpet player Ike Brown, leader of the Jazz Prophets, was certain that once others heard about the jazz birthday party, professionals who didn’t participate in the first one would surely want to be at the next one.

     One year later, in spite of awful weather - - a major snowstorm was taking place - - 80 jazz aficionados braved the elements, and the second Jazz Jamm was another huge success. Said jazz vocalist and legend Jimmy Scott: “This is the way we used to do things back in the ‘40s and ‘50s…going from house to house, musicians getting together to jam.” Alto sax player Bruce Williams added, “Give me a call anytime you have a set like this. I love these sets where I can play without any stress and have some fun.”

     Encouraged by the enthusiasm of both the professionals and the guests, it was only a matter of time when the idea occurred to Rick that this would be the path he would follow when he left the corporate world…and the rest is history. In May 1996, he hosted the first Rick Gee’s Spring Jazz Jamm; 150 guests attended. Thirty musicians and five jazz vocalists participated. Everyone had a swingin’ time.

     Due to the popularity of Rick Gee’s Jazz Jamm’s, Rick decided to not only host personal special events twice annually in May and in December, but to make this his life’s work by promoting concerts, and representing jazz groups as their agent. Rick continued to promote jazz concerts, act as agent, and host his special personal events up until 2003. He then made the decision to relocate to St. Petersburg, Florida.

     Ever since 2003, his first year, as a relative newcomer to Florida, Rick began writing his own jazz column, “Rick Gee’s Jazz Jamm” for The Weekly Challenger, a local and weekly newspaper in the City of St. Petersburg. He has also served as President of the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. In addition, since 2003, Rick has served as a Director on the Board of Directors of the Jazz Club of Sarasota. He has chaired the Club’s “Jazz on the Water” event each year in the month of May, and was co – chairman of the Club’s 24th Annual Jazz Festival in 2004. Also, in 2004 Rick assumed the chairmanship of the Club’s “Jazz In the Park” event in March/April of the year, and continues to spearhead the production of that event.

     As a resident of St. Petersburg, Rick would like to see a jazz festival produced in his adopted City, and his dream is to be the organizer. Rick says, “With jazz being America’s only original art form, what better way to help it to survive, we don’t want to lose it. I love jazz and my dream is to organize a jazz festival for the City of St. Petersburg. So, I’m here to serve the community and because of my knowledge of jazz, my background and my connections with jazz musicians and other promoters and agents, I feel as though that’s one small thing that I can do.”

     Today, Rick Gee’s Jazz Jamm, Inc. continues to offer a combination of good food (Side Door Cabaret Jam Session), good people and, most notably, GREAT JAZZ!