Press play above to hear as Chris Campbell and the CapRadio production staff visited the Torch Club to get an up-close-and-personal view of the Sunday Sessions.
When Jacob Swedlow formed his experimental jazz/soul fusion band the LabRats, he not only wanted to bring a new approach to modern jazz, he also wanted to unite Sacramento’s rich music scene under one umbrella.
Enter The Torch Club, the home of the new weekly cultural arts and music series “Sunday Sessions.”
“Sunday Sessions is my attempt to gauge the whole music community from all genres and walks of life [and] to bring them into the same room,” Swedlow said. “We have church musicians, rappers, spoken word people, singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, producers and more. Many of them play [instruments], but a lot of them just like to listen and get inspiration.”
Jacob Swedlow of LabRats announces the start of Sunday Sessions at Torch Club on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Since its recent inception, the series has served as a launching pad for numerous creatives and helped them bring their ideas to life from concept to reality.
”I wanted to work on a project, and I didn't feel like I was ready for it,” said nu-soul vocalist Diamond Key. “Being able to come to Sunday Sessions and see the growth of everyone, I've been able to feel like I can be vulnerable enough to push things out. It’s a fun place to express yourself.”
Vocalist Diamond Key sings during Sunday Sessions on Aug. 20, 2023 at Torch Club in Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
The warm and welcoming nature of the series has created an atmosphere where artists feel empowered to grow and thrive.
Rapper Jakhari Smith was wary at first, especially since he had never been backed by other live musicians.
“I’m now way more comfortable getting on stage and getting the crowd involved. It has helped me to grow (as an artist),” he said.
While the series is presented in an open mic format, what makes each night special is the variety of artistic disciplines that are showcased. Performances often turn into full-on jam sessions.
“You know, you can experiment and that's what's beautiful about it,” said Smith, who started out as a rapper, but has branched out to becoming a vocalist since attending the Sunday Sessions. “It’s a jam session and the language that comes from the stage is cutting edge and unique, which makes the music a free-flowing … experience.”
With the Sunday Sessions generating a buzz within the music community, Swedlow hopes to continue growing the series and expanding its scope.
Members of LabRats take a break between their set and Sunday Sessions at Torch Club on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
“I’m happy to see that Sunday Sessions has a solid following,” Swedlow said. “There’s a lot of great artists around town. I want to expand the series to include visual artists who can come in and set up an art table to complement the live performances. I really want to make this a weekly celebration of the arts in Sacramento.”
The Sunday Sessions take place every Sunday evening at 8 p.m. at The Torch Club, located at 904 15th Street in Sacramento.
Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of rapper Jakhari Smith. It has been corrected.
