Best Jam Session

There was a time when Dizzy, Miles, Sonny, and Milt would greet the Lower Fillmore dawn with improvisational blasts of after-hours brilliance at Jimbo's Bop City and other venues. Today, half a century later, the local jazz scene is but a shadow of that halcyon era. There are a few places that are keeping the give-and-take artistry of the jam session experience alive, however: Rasselas, 1534 Fillmore, 346-8696 (Mondays at 8 p.m.); Beach Chalet, 1000 Great Highway, 386-8439 (Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.); and Skip's Tavern, 453 Cortland, 282-3456 (Wednesdays at 8 p.m.). Jazz Jam Cafe is a Sebastopol-based information clearinghouse for everyone interested in Bay Area jam sessions. Call them toll free or visit www.jazzjamcafe.com to find out how you can keep America's classical music healthy and thriving.