The Cherry Pit Presents: Bible Study Open Jam (feat. Solorah The Essence)

A very special house band will open this evening’s jam: Solorah The Essence, Rawtwhylah, and Freakwhensee of up-and-coming jazz/R&B group Bakkwooddrift. Marvelous from The Cherry Pit will join them on keys. After the Solorah show, the house band will stick around to jam.

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The Cherry Pit presents an open jam for musicians and music lovers in the Twin Cities. It’s a social hub for Twin Cities creatives, a training ground to refine musicianship, and a vehicle for high-vibrational improvisation. This is not a free-form basement jam or strictly a jazz jam. Our goal is to find an equilibrium between freedom/fun and excellence. Even if you don’t play an instrument, stop by to experience the warmth and wonder of the show; you never know who might take the stage.

Why “𝔅𝔦𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔖𝔱𝔲𝔡𝔶”? Are we studying holy scripture at the jazz club? … No! Bible Study takes place on Wednesday nights, just like Bible study at church. We are honing our skills and knowledge, gathering with spiritual intent, so we can shred on the weekends in service to a higher power! Whatever that means to you.

To make this community activity possible, we ask that you contribute musically or financially. Jammers may enter free of charge. For everyone else, entry is pay what you can, with a suggested donation of $15.

We will have a house drum kit and a Steinway baby grand piano available for use. Jammers should bring their other instruments to the session!

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Charmaine Douglas, aka Solorah The Essence, is a Minneapolis-born jazz, soul, and R&B singer whose voice carries the weight of lived experience and the light of healing. A dynamic performer and multidisciplinary creative, Solorah weaves personal growth, love, joy, and resilience into every lyric and craft. Her art is a journey inward and upward—an invitation to feel deeply and grow boldly.

A seasoned backing vocalist, Charmaine has supported Grammy-nominated artists such as MMYYKK, Brandee Younger, and Stokely, as well as local powerhouses like PaviElle French and Vinny Franco. Her artistry has graced iconic stages including First Avenue, the Dakota Jazz Club, Green Room, and the Turf Club.

Charmaine’s roots in music began at 11 with piano, soon followed by songwriting and performance. In 2021, she released her debut EP, The Orange Sand and The Black Sea, a vulnerable reflection on her teenage years and early encounters with adversity. Today, she fronts the group BAKKWOODDRIFT, which is known for its genre-blending sound, electric performances, and packed-out shows.

Beyond the stage, Charmaine is also a dedicated teacher and crafter. A former early childhood music educator at School of Rock and a current full-time instructor and administrator at MacPhail Center for Music, she combines her passions for music and creativity in the classroom. Her crafting journey—spanning crochet, punch needle, and embroidery—began as a tool for self-expression and mental health, evolving into The Heartcraft Collective and its flagship community event, The Crafter Party, where others are invited to find healing and connection through art. Sometimes, you’ll even catch her crocheting on stage—an act of grounding and focus that embodies her mission: to live and create with purpose, presence, and soul.

7:00 PM Show, 8:00PM Open Jam