In Pictures: Jazz Jam held at Westport Arts Center

WESTPORT — In a session dedicated to former Westporter and legendary jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, who died on Feb. 19, a group of astounding musicians gave out for a pick-up performance Sunday afternoon in Westport.

For the seventh year in a row the Westport Arts Center hosted a Jazz Jam, with top musicians from the region stopping in to play to a small crowd in the gallery space.

“It brings a lot of people together in a very extemporaneous way,” said Brian Torff of Guilford, bass player and the center’s artistic director for jazz. “We never know what’s going to happen.”

Torff noted Coryell, a pioneer of jazz fusion who lived in town for many years, was a friend and musical inspiration.