Fifth-year U of M music student Brandy Lafond will host this month’s jazz jam at Must Be The Place, a bar at 84 Stradbrook Ave. on Dec. 11.

The idea began last year when she noticed a problem — there was a lack of opportunities for jazz musicians in Winnipeg to play for fun. She and her classmates would only play together at the university. 

According to Lafond, many large cities have established venues for jazz artists, hosting regular jam sessions for anyone who wishes to join in and play standard songs. Unfortunately, there is no such venue in Winnipeg, or even much of a jazz scene at all. Such events are integral to jazz because of the genre’s culture of collaborative improvisation, so Lafond sought to create one.

She said she is pleased to have opportunities to play jazz for fun instead of for school. The enjoyment of playing with her peers and discussing music together is what motivates her to pursue her music degree. Many people outside of the U of M jazz program have also joined her jams, and she hopes more beginner musicians will feel comfortable joining.

“Seeing everybody just enjoy themselves and have fun is the number one thing,” Lafond elaborated. “Sometimes when I’m hosting my jams, I’ll sit back and observe the room and I’ll just see people […] having fun. That’s the most important thing to me and it brings me a lot of joy.”

Lafond saw the opportunity in September 2024 when she performed at the then-new cocktail bar Must Be The Place with her indie rock band Strawberry Punch. It occurred to her that the “chill vibe” of the bar would help anyone feel comfortable jamming. So, she approached the owners, Taiza Konrad and Colleen Ans, with a proposition for monthly jazz jams. They agreed to give the concept a shot and were happy with the results. It has been a regular feature at the bar almost every month since, under the name Brandy’s Jazz Jam. As a musician involved in both local jazz and indie rock, Lafond is also especially thankful for her events at Must Be The Place as an opportunity to bridge the scenes together.

Last May, Lafond also hosted an inaugural three-day edition, Brandy’s Jazz Fest, to provide young local jazz musicians with more opportunities to play live. The festival is expected to take place annually. 

For more information, visit the jam session’s Instagram page @brandysjazzfest.