Instruments: Three-finger banjo

Location: Bojangles Rockin’ Robin

Jay Hachen

Instructor

Jay Hachen first encountered bluegrass in Los Angeles in the 70s and fell hard for the three-finger banjo sound, famously shaped by Earl Scruggs’ pioneering playing and later by Béla Fleck and other greats.

Most Wednesday nights these days, you’ll find the recently retired Jay at Buffalo Grille off Bissonnet right here in Houston, picking in the weekly bluegrass jam, a friendly gathering open to players of all skill levels. While Jay also plays piano and trumpet, at Bojangles, he is focused on teaching the banjo to beginner and intermediate students.

“Picking up an instrument adds to your quality of life, and you can do it at any age,” Jay says. “There’s such joy in playing music.”