For the Love of the Music: Seniors Jam (Video)

Editor's note: This article was originally published Feb. 16, 2011. If you want to jam with this group, the next session is this Monday, Feb. 13, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the . Go here for .

Joe Williams and his wife, Kathy Maka-Williams, spent their Valentine's Day jamming in New Lenox last year.

But the jamming isn't anything new; the two New Lenox residents have been playing music together for a while now, most recently performing weekly in a six-piece combo. Joe and Kathy played together again on Monday, which marked the second Senior Jam Session put on by the New Lenox Community Park District.

"It's a great thing for my husband and I," Kathy Maka-Williams said. "It's one of our shared hobbies."

Kathy Claver, the teen/senior coordinator for the Park District, said she wanted something fun for seniors to do if they play music. The jam session is open to all at no cost and is scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month at the room A, 1 Manor Drive in New Lenox.

Only three people played during the jam session Monday, but two more seniors came to watch the band and sing along. Five people played at the first session, but the Park District is always looking for more people to get involved.

The Williams' band also plays at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, but they're looking for something more local. If you want a band to play for tips (or more), contact Joe at ransrocket98@hotmail.com. The band plays swing era, big band music and traditional jazz.

Kathy Maka-Williams said there's not a lot of opportunities to listen to that type of music anymore, but plugged the College of DuPage's Midwest Ballroom program, which is on 90.9 FM from 5-7 p.m. Saturdays.