Sundays at Kelsey’s

When drummer Tony Day invited me to sit in on a Sunday night at Kelsey’s in Atlantic City, I didn’t know what to expect. The last time I’d sung in the casino city was way back in the day when musicians could still get regular gigs there. Not so anymore. The casinos are barely hanging on. But I wondered if there could be a musical renaissance happening outside the slot and roulette scene.

Kelsey’s, at the corner of Pacific and Kentucky Avenue (the historic street of jazz and black entertainment in Atlantic City from the 1930s to the 1960s) is a soul-food restaurant owned by Kelsey and Kim Jackson. Kelsey, chef and menu wizard, and his wife have created a spot that is an oasis from the glittering gambling traps along the boardwalk. There’s music seven nights a week, with jazz on Sundays from 6pm to 10pm, hosted by Tony Day and his Across the Globe Band.

Where AC is still jumping

I brought a few friends to the restaurant with me, including my guitarist Tom Glenn, and an aroma of barbecued spareribs, sweet yams, and corn bread immediately wrapped me up. This soul-food bouquet led me by the nose to one of the few remaining open tables. This joint was certainly jumping.

Tony Day has led the Sunday jams for more than seven years. That night, a rhythm section to die for was on stage, with bassist Cedric Napoleon, a founding member of the…