An unforgettable Jazz Night with Jory Woodis

I’ve never really been into jazz music. Of course, I’ve heard it in elevators, movie soundtracks and as background noise in restaurants, but I’d never actually gone out of my way to listen to it.

That changed last week when I found myself at Fritzel’s Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street, the day after Mardi Gras in New Orleans. When I finally got a seat, I sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers, waiting to watch my friend and Rocky Mountain High School graduate Jory Woodis perform.

From the moment the music started, I knew I was in for something completely different. It was loud — not just in a noisy way, but in a way I could actually feel. The sound didn’t just fill the room; I could feel it in my chest and buzzing in my ears. It felt like the whole place was shaking.

Jory, who I’d last seen playing in a school band concert 20 years ago, was now front and center, totally in his element. His clarinet wasn’t just playing notes; it was practically singing. His whole jazz band seemed to be having a full conversation with their instruments, jumping in and out, picking up where the others left off. There was no script, no set routine — just pure energy bouncing around the room.

The crowd was just as much a part of the experience as the musicians. Some people were dancing, others were clapping and a few were shouting things like “Yeah!” and “Let’s go!” like they were at a football game. I just sat there, a bit overwhelmed, taking it all in — totally out of my element but kind of amazed by the whole thing.

By the time the set was over, my ears were ringing, my heart was pounding and I finally understood why people love jazz. It’s not just music you listen to, it’s music you feel. And for one night, I got the whole experience.

I would have never gone to this Bourbon Street bar and paid eight dollars for a Coke if it weren’t to see Jory. On one of his breaks, I got to spend a few minutes with him backstage (actually, in an alleyway behind the pub) and catch up a bit.

Jory grew up in Cowley and developed a love for jazz in elementary school. While most kids were listening to NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys, Jory was into Benny Goodman and Miles Davis. He gives a lot of credit to Grandfather John Fuller, who introduced Jory to Louis Armstrong and New Orleans Jazz from the Golden Era of Jazz from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. He was immediately attracted to the sound of the clarinet in the recordings, not just the way the clarinet sounded, but the role the clarinet played. He loved listening to the unique clarinet notes that underscored the trumpet’s melody.

Woodis, a 2004 graduate of RMHS, was already performing in groups around the Big Horn Basin by the time he finished middle school. He credits Rocky music teachers Chris Olsen (now Chris Harder) and Todd Rosenberger for their encouragement and motivation.

Jory went on to attend BYU on a music scholarship, eventually completing his degree in music from Utah Valley University. After college, he drifted around a bit and performed in several groups across Utah, Wyoming and Montana before getting his big break in 2019.

Jory had been to New Orleans a few times with university groups, playing in a few shows and on a riverboat, but after marrying Brittney (also a talented musician) she convinced him to take an extended vacation to New Orleans. He reflects on it now by saying, “There was a part of me that knew that we would eventually find our way here together.”

This is how he describes his big break: “We went to a few clubs, and I was invited to come and ‘sit in’ and play a song or two everywhere that we went, as is custom here. At a few places, I was invited to remain on the bandstand for the duration of the night and invited back the next night to play with the band. A few weeks later, when we had returned home from our trip, I received a phone call from one of the bandleaders, saying that they had a vacancy and were wondering if I was interested in moving to New Orleans to fill it. I hung up and called my wife to tell her, and she said, ‘Well, what are you doing? Call him back and take the gig!’ and so I did.” 

They finally were able to move to New Orleans in March of 2020. (Yes, THAT month).  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s uncertainty, Brittney secured a job at Ochsner Medical Center while Jory pursued his dream in the birthplace of jazz.  After five years he describes the city as “a community full of passion with musical genius in a way that you don’t find in other cities. It’s awesome, in the truest sense of the word.”

During the few days we were in New Orleans Jory played in three different venues, each with a different group of musicians. He describes the tight community of musicians there saying, “Many of my colleagues are just like me, they grew up somewhere else, maybe went to college and studied music, or were playing professionally in other cities but were ‘called’ to New Orleans because of the music.”

During my four days in New Orleans, I ate some of the most incredible food — plates of jambalaya, rich shrimp gumbo, perfectly blackened catfish and fresh Gulf clams. But the real highlight? The life-changing beignets, warm and pillowy, buried under a mountain of powdered sugar. Every bite was pure magic.

But the real highlight of my trip was the incredible sensation of being surrounded by constant, wonderful music. Jory describes the city this way, “New Orleans’ music is on the loudspeakers at the grocery store. It’s in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. It’s played at morning meetings in elementary school before they start the day. It’s played at school assemblies, and it’s the hold music when you call emergency services.”

My biggest takeaway from my trip? Rethink everything you’ve heard about New Orleans. If you love flavorful, spicy food, rich American history, stunning architectural bridges and, most of all, incredible music, this historic gem on the Mississippi River is a must-visit. And while you’re there, look up Jory Woodis — one of Wyoming’s most talented musical exports — and catch him live. You won’t be disappointed.