SoZo's, 256 E. Beaver Ave., will add a taste of jazz to the State College music scene Sunday night.

SoZo's third Jazz Jam will take place at 6:30, featuring SoZo's house band and anyone else who wants to express themselves through jazz performance.

"It's a routine thing we do the last Sunday of the month," Will Snyder, SoZo's coordinator, said. "It's one of the things that we'd like to get established as a part of SoZo's in general."

The Greg Johnson Quintet has become known as the venue's house band, because they usually play at SoZo's, he said.

"They do a set for about a half hour, and people can sign up to play," Snyder said. "Then Greg calls them up and they just jam and rotate songs. Greg's house band fills the gaps."

Johnson (freshman-saxophone performance) said he helps recruit new musicians for the event and that he plays mostly original music with his ensemble.

"This quintet is really something special. We try [to] play new stuff every time, usually all compositions or arrangements. We played "Tequila" last time and some other popular tunes. I think it's more challenging to write all your own arrangements."

Adam Kurland (graduate-chemistry) said he met Johnson when the two musicians played together in a campus band and is now the keyboard player for their quintet.

SoZo's, which is an alcohol-free venue, also offers young musicians the chance to gain some experience, he said.

"Students and younger musicians especially don't necessarily get the opportunity to go out and play often," he said. "[Jazz Jam] gives them a chance to be exposed to the music scene and playing with new people. It's an important social impact and musical impact for their development."

There were adults, college students and a lot of high school students at the previous Jazz Jams, Snyder said.

"I'm impressed with the jazz community because they can pick up anything and play it. It's just phenomenal," he said.