I’d been looking forward to this night for weeks.
The Johnson City jazz scene has always had a pulse—a slow, steady heartbeat that never rushes, always swinging, always keeping the flame alive. It’s a scene that’s part underground, part family reunion, and always full of possibility. Maybe that’s why Al Capone liked to visit Johnson City. I can’t say for sure, but I know one thing—Bill Perkins and the crew behind the weekly Johnson City Jazz Jam have built something lasting. Every Thursday at Capone’s, the lights go down, the instruments come alive, and the stage is a proving ground for musicians who love this music.
Having my name on that list was a bucket-list moment.
Our first scheduled gig got bumped due to a booking error, but that just made the anticipation stronger. When we finally got our chance—Thursday, July 17, 2025—it felt like the right night to make some noise.
I don’t get to play jazz every week, but I will any time I can. The momentum from these weekly jazz jams is something special, and it’s worth mentioning that this fall, the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra will be holding a residency at the historic Bonnie Kate Theater—absolutely worth checking out if you love live music.
I’ve been lucky over the past few years to work with John Grayson and Charlie Aesque—two friends who share my passion for Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Robert Glasper, and beyond. We’ve traded solos at chamber events, benefits, and anywhere a jazz set would fit. Our trio isn’t about perfection—it’s about conversation, in rhythm and harmony, stitched together from our influences and our trust in each other’s instincts.
That night, I sat down at the piano and let my fingers drop a whole-tone scale into an F anchor—an opening gesture to Monk’s In Walked Bud. Monk’s connection to Bud Powell has always fascinated me, so our next tune was Powell’s own “Night in Tunisia,” a nod to Dizzy and a bridge to all the greats. From there, we moved through Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, and a few pop standards dressed in swing.
The crowd was more than just an audience—it was a reunion of my musical life.
- KD Forsha was there with his wife MC. When I was a teenager, KD was the prog-rock wizard with lightning hands on the Hammond, Moog, and ARP.
- Fred Goodwin, whose father Charlie played big-band piano with effortless grace, offering the kind of swing that’s burned into my memory.
- Tom Bettini, rock ’n’ roll to the core, tie and side-chain wallet in place, bringing the energy of decades onstage with Jackyl.
- My old radio friend Dave Carter, who helped keep the regional music scene thriving, and who first shared airwaves with me back when I hosted A Taste of Jazz on WQUT. Dave introduced me to Gregg Voorhees that night—yes, one of the original bassists for The Allman Brothers—sporting a seafoam-green Fender and slipping into the jam like he’d always been here.
- And old friends from high school, from former bands, and from decades of musical adventures—Danny and Tracy Strickler, Kevin and Pat Roth, Steve Reeve and his wife Tonya.
After our set, the jazz jam opened up, and we played a special “4 on 7” with Bill Perkins himself—Bill, who’s been the keeper of this city’s jazz flame for over a decade. Jason Carpenter took the drums, horns filled the air, and young lion Colton Fenner jumped in on keys with a swinging “Billie’s Bounce” that reminded me that this music’s future is in good hands.
The beauty of a night like this is its imperfection—the missed cues, the unexpected turns, the pure human spontaneity that no algorithm could ever fake. Jazz is life—unpredictable, improvisational, deeply personal. Lately, I’ve been thinking about this “New Romanticism” in art—a movement toward embracing the handmade, the flawed, the personal. That’s what we do when we gather for live music.
For me, this was more than just a gig. It was my coming-out party as the self-named David Cate Trio. It was a gathering of friends, past and present, who’ve shaped my journey. It was proof that Johnson City’s jazz heartbeat still swings, and that when you sit down to play your favorite music with the people you love—well, that’s about as good as it gets.
