By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

Who said leap year was only about bounding forward?

Mobile’s intrepid group of jazz messengers, the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed (or MOJO) are turning back the clock to the last few years of their presentations. Since 2003, the group’s monthly Jazz Jambalayas have combined music and information with food and fellowship to periodic acclaim and in this fifth year of programs, the aficionados have decided to revisit some of the most popular artists saluted in that period.

Things begin with a February nod to guitarist Wes Montgomery, a musician honored in April of ‘03 with a program assembled by yours truly. For the unfamiliar, Montgomery sprang from a brood of Indianapolis jazz musicians to become one of, if not the, most popular and influential guitarists in the genre. His lush style, phrasing and speed amazed straight-ahead technicians and his interpretations of contemporary songs were a precursor to tonal elements found in today’s smooth jazz.

MOJO’s first salute to Montgomery featured the trio of Pensacola guitarist Walt Kattner, drummer and former Renaissance Café owner Jim Marshall and legendary local bassist Joseph “JoJo” Morris, Jr. playing on the ground floor of a Dauphin Street restaurant. The night was simple and straightforward without any of the dramatic accoutrements that adorned the inaugural three shows in the then-new series. The music was utmost, unadorned and top notch.

This time around, some elements will be different. The locale has shifted to the Gulf City Lodge at the corner of State and Warren streets in downtown. This historic building across from Dunbar Performing Arts School stirs with a magical ambience on the nights MOJO brings a crowd. The ghosts of the previous century seem to reawaken then and you half expect to see John Coltrane chatting at the bar, Duke Ellington flirting with a waitress or Louis Armstrong trying to sneak back into line for another bowl of Creole food.

The musicians for this presentation stand to easily match the contributions of the previous group and even contain one carryover. JoJo Morris returns to man the upright bass, displaying the renowned virtuosity that has taken him on tours across the globe with big wigs like Dakota Staton.

Notorious Mobile drummer John Milham, brings his own lengthy pedigree that includes a stint at Berklee School of Music, time playing with national jazz stars and a recent spot in Grayson Capps’ Stumpknockers.

The man pulling the daunting spotlight duty of saluting Montgomery is guitarist Corky Hughes. A native Mobilian, Hughes first grabbed attention as the fast gun with local rockers Excalibur then moved on to play with Southern Rock stars Black Oak Arkansas for a pair of tours. He then met his future wife and relocated to Atlanta for a while.

There’s an aprocryphal tale about Corky impressing guitar colossus Jeff Beck at a gig during that period. I once asked Hughes the validity of the story and in his typically understated way, he let me know enough to confirm the gist of it.

In 1992, Hughes returned to the Port City. Once home, he branched out from his prior persona and began to experiment with local jam bands and jazz fusion projects. The result is a reputation among Mobile area musicians as an incomparable artist in a panorama of styles.

The combo at the MOJO gig-Hughes, Milham and Morris-are the founding nucleus of local jazz group Vibration Configuration who hold heavyweight bearing among Azalea City hipsters, cognescenti and music lovers of various stripes. All the players boast individually rich resumes but their chemistry is superlative. Morris’ jazz-anchored style plays off Milham’s jam band-enriched voicings, complementing Hughes’ acrobatics and forays perfectly. Their sense of dynamics is strong, deep and multi-textured while their ability to hypnotize listeners is impeccable.

In another nod to the previous Wes Montgomery program, this author will again organize and narrate the program.

C’mon, man, as a lapsed guitarist, I “gots” to. Wes was a god.

For music buffs yearning to see first-rate talent in a setting tailor-made for the occasion, you’ll find any reason you can to be there. I’ve seen these guys strut their stuff in front of aficionado crowds and it’s breathtaking, something attendees are bound to be talking about for a while and a perfect way to mark the midpoint of Lent.

The show is Monday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Gulf City Lodge. Entrance is $10 for the public, $7 for MOJO members and includes a jambalaya dinner.

Of course, a cash bar will be available. We are talking about jazz, after all.

Next month’s show tips a hat to Miles Davis, initially saluted in February of 2003 with a creative show presented by Dr. Joseph Mitchell. New program developer Carmen Brown and trumpeter jerome English will be hard pressed to match it this time.

No further shows have been announced at this point, but don’t be surprised if they include a return nod to Coltrane or local legend Lil Greenwood.

After all, taking a look back doesn’t necessarily mean taking a step back.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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