On Sunday afternoon, June 12, Iron Road Brewing hosted it’s first jazz show since the pandemic was declared. The talented house band, The Malt Men, played two sets of jazz standards before an appreciative audience. The musicians included Aaron MacInnis on guitar, Stefan Thordarson

on violin, Alex Ward on bass and Jared Wilman on drums. Each musician was given time for solos on most tunes. Later, when the band played Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints,” they were joined by Emilio Pagnotta on clarinet.

While there were many highlights, I enjoyed the warmth and familiarity of the Rodger’s and Hart classic “Have You Met Miss Jones?” The band, also tore up the place with their version of John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.” This was made all the more interesting without the use of a saxophone. Most of the audience stayed for both sets, enjoying the fresh brewed products and food. I was glad to hear that there are plans to have more frequent jazz sessions at Iron Road Brewing. That is great because both the audience and the musicians enjoyed their Sunday afternoon of jazz.