The kushy center of this jivey evening was a guy all the way from Jacksonville named Chad Jasmine. I've grooved on bills with this cat before and he's a real genuine freak, of the best kind-I can assure you. One of his nightly rituals is to bring some ripened melon out onto the stage and to cut slices of it for people to partake of. "Now listen, don't be scared of the fruit," he tells the suddenly shy Sapphire crowd. "Because you will be very pleased in about 25 minutes!" He holds up a piece on the end of his knife, looking slightly wicked. I break the ice and slide the offering from the blade as he cautions "watch your fingers." I'm nibbling some of the tasty melon as a few folks venture to the front of the stage and Jasmine gleefully doles out slices to any who will have. He's been known to refer to the ritual as a "mixer."

By: Ink 19