This is our first-ever open-mic performance competition and last week was packed, and tons of fun!Throughout the month of June, we are searching for the most enjoyable performance we can find, and the winner will earn a coveted spot on The Velvet Note weekend calendar. 

Hosted by Club Owner Tamara Fuller and silently-judged by celebrity music couples, each jam night is sure to feature the best vocal and instrumental music, tons of fun and a benevolent, the very best house band, welcoming audience cheering you on. All genres are welcomed and encouraged. 

About our Judges: 

Gary Motley is a jazz pianist and composer. He is best known for his captivating performances, classic yet current sound, and popularity in the southeastern United States jazz music scene.

Motley has received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and the American Composers Forum (ACF). Featured on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, his notable performances also include the premiere of his first orchestral work “The Artist and the Visionary,” duo performances with pianists Dave Brubeck and Kenny Barron, and concerts with Jon Faddis, Eddie Daniels, Benny Golson, and others. Cited by his home state for his artistic and educational achievements, Gary was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 2015.

As the Director of Jazz Studies at Emory University, Gary has developed The Strickland Jazz Studio – an interactive teaching facility that integrates the rich heritage of American jazz with today’s technology practices. He holds memberships with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Jazz Education Network.

Veronica Motley, Ed.D.  is a psychotherapist, writer, educator, vocalist, wife and mom.