Jazz and Cocktails ’23: beautiful on all fronts

Marga and Jay McBride opened their home to jazz lovers.

“Jazz and Cocktails,” one of the most compelling excuses for day drinking on the Knoxville social calendar, changed locations this year. A fundraiser for the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra’s youth scholarships, it generally is held at the venerable Maple Grove Estate on Westland Drive.

But this year, arts enthusiasts Marga and Jay McBride generously offered to host it in their fantastic new home that Jay designed for them in the Arcadia neighborhood. The setting, the music and the camaraderie were off the charts for this laid-back Sunday afternoon event. Arcadia is located on a peninsula in deep west Knox County. Formerly a Cherokee hunting ground, it is surrounded on three sides by the Tennessee River and set against the Great Smoky Mountains.

Not only were attendees entertained by well-known jazz pianist Eric Reed and bass player Dean Torrey, who accompanied him, but they also were introduced to a student phenom, Mimi Terry, who attends Maryville High School and stunned us when she took a turn on the keyboards. Expect to hear more from and about her in the near future.

The McBride home. What a setting!

The beautiful living room.

Most of the afternoon was spent outside — where the bar was set up! That’s Alan Carmichael and Cindy Hassil in the foreground.

Elizabeth Grant and KJO Board Chair Kevin Grimac.

Harvey and Karen White.

From left, Melinda Grimac, Cynthia Sowa and Gil Volk.

A piece of Marga’s work, this head definitely was a conversation starter!

The scarecrow guarding the garden was so realistic that even I was fooled. It was rigged up to blow slightly in the wind, making it look alive.

KJO Founder and Director Vance Thompson with his daughter, Sophia, left, and wife, Emily.

Natalie and Jared Dowling.

Michelle Brewer, left, and Terry James.

From left, Kim Visee, Lisa Sailer, Mary Kay Henry and Sheena McCall. They had just come from a croquet tournament fundraiser for Knoxville Opera where the dress code was white!

From left, Mollie Turner, John Trotter and Dani Miller.

Tom Shaw, left, and Vance Thompson.

Very cool piece.

Jay calls the house “Osprey Point” because, well, you can see!

Happy doggie knows who will still be in this lovely environment when the party’s over!

Inside, the music was starting. That’s Eric Reed on piano and Dean Torrey on bass.

Eric Reed.

And then, 15-year-old Mimi Terry sat down and played a couple of numbers. You could have heard a pin drop, everyone was so blown away. She attends Maryville High School.

Marga congratulating Mimi on her performance.

I’m not sure what’s going on here. Ha.

The food was fantastic.

And abundant.

My favorite. Always.

A tower of desserts in the beautiful kitchen.

Don Hough, left, who plays trombone in the KJO, with Vance Thompson. Love his shirt!

From left, Barbara Crist, Edie Volk, and Jan Bechtel, the immediate past chair of the KJO Board of Directors.

Tommie Rush, left, and Sylvia Peters.

Sheena McCall, left, and Natalie Dowling.

Roy King, left, and Richard Jolley.

From left, Lisa King, Tommie Rush and Marga.

Chris and Sheila Hill.

Josh and Dayna Walker. He plays trombone with the KJO.

Marga is an artist, as well as an art collector. This is a self-portrait she did. It’s called “Halo Resting on Horns!” Love!

This piece is called, “Whoops!”

Not sure what this is called, but it’s interesting.

When we went to find Marga to say goodbye, she was talking to Mark Hill. Another great shirt for the occasion!

We passed this garden fairy on the way out. As you can see from the background, there is lots of construction going on in the neighborhood. I can understand why.

It was a beautiful afternoon.

Want to see one of my favorite things that Jay showed us? See below. It’s a lipstick holder!

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8 Responses to Jazz and Cocktails ’23: beautiful on all fronts

  1. Cindy Hassil, on June 5th, 2023 at 2:49 pm said:

    Thank you so much for coming and supporting KJO’s education efforts! It was a gorgeous day and a wonderful event. BIG THANKS to Jay and Marga for their hospitality!

  2. Alan Carmichael, on June 5th, 2023 at 2:57 pm said:

    Visual art and music: great combination.

  3. Jan Bechtel, on June 5th, 2023 at 3:01 pm said:

    Thank you so much for your excellent coverage of Jazz and Cocktails! It was a great afternoon, thanks to the McBride’s generous hospitality and the wonderful music. The Education Funds were also enriched, a win-win all around!

  4. Cynthia Moxley, on June 5th, 2023 at 3:02 pm said:

    Cindy: We had a wonderful time. Great job on the event!

    Alan: Couldn’t agree more!

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on June 5th, 2023 at 3:06 pm said:

    Jan: Thanks for all your help with the names I needed for captions! I appreciate it!

  6. Kathy Brennan, on June 5th, 2023 at 3:08 pm said:

    Great pictures, as always! Especially like Sheena and my new friend Natalie’s photo. Love Marga’s art. She is so talented!
    Beautiful setting and home.
    I missed this one!!! Love Jazz
    Thank you Cynthia

  7. Cynthia Moxley, on June 5th, 2023 at 3:09 pm said:

    Hey, everybody: I just found out that Mimi Terry is playing tonight — Monday, June 5 — at the Bistro at the Bijou on Gay Street starting at 7. Thought you might want to drop by if you are in the neighborhood — as I am, of course!

  8. Vance Thompson, on June 5th, 2023 at 8:42 pm said:

    Thanks so much for your help Cynthia! A lovely remembrance of a lovely day!

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