Meet Our Open Jam Man Charlie Duzan

New Bern, NC ~ Friday, March 21, 2025 ~ Many good music stories start at an open mic/jam event. Many music makers on our scene get their jump-start at these “open” stage events. This is also where I send players looking for bandmates. Open mic nights are essential to a thriving music scene, and a good host is also part of a successful event routine.

Some places opt for once-a-month events, while others host weekly events. I even know a few around the region that happen every other week instead.

We have enough music in New Bern for someone to host an open-stage venue. Until that stage is built, however, we have Charlie Duzan. He is our local jam man, pictured above on guitar.

I first met the elder Duzan on Facebook Messenger in 2016 after I published a picture of his son, Tommy Duzan (above), playing on the bench in Bear Plaza in my blog. He spoke of the days when he was his son’s age, wishing he had a place to play here in town. As it turned out, the only thing holding him back was himself. I asked him a couple of times to come out and play, and once he did, life changed for the music maker who is proficient in songwriting.

After communicating with Duzan for several months, I asked if he and his son would consider playing a show for me. The gig was at the Tri Community Fire House in Bridgeton on Saint Delights Rd. I had signed up as a volunteer for feeding volunteers who came to my neighborhood in late November 2018 to assist in debris removal after Hurricane Florence. While buying the ingredients for a huge dinner, I contacted Duzan about offering some music. He has been a part of the active scene ever since.

Duzan started hosting the long-running open mic night at the original Brown Pelican in 2019. After the bar relocated and opened under new management and ownership, Duzan was offered Tuesday nights for jam sessions. The singer teamed up with Arnie Osborne, who runs the recording board for the artists who perform. Artists are welcome to come jam and record their sessions. So much good can come from an idea like this. Artists can use it as a tutorial track to make changes before hitting the studio. Studio time is, generally speaking, expensive. So, having a crash test dummy site greatly benefits artists. The other benefit is for the newly invested novice on his musical path. Leaving a jam session with a track that others can listen to saves money for any starting or starving artist. Duzan has been assisting area artists with such spoils for the last couple of years with his weekly Tuesday Jam Sessions at The Brown Pelican.

Expanding his work, Duzan contacted me early last month to let me know that he would be hosting a new jam once a month, but this one would be in James City and offered on a Saturday afternoon. This is another fabulous idea that I think our area will grow to embrace. The Jam Session Weekend Edition will happen at BrÜtopia on the third Saturday of the month. All jammers are welcome to join in the fun. This jam will get started on Saturday at 1 pm. The jams are welcome until the doors close. The next session is tomorrow, Saturday, March 22, 2025. A signup sheet is on-site, and your host, Charlie, will welcome you. We hope to see you out there.