A Louisiana-style dinner, complete with jambalaya and jazz music, greeted customers of Gumbo and Jazz, 1133 E. Grand River Ave., Wednesday night.
MSU jazz studies students Michael Zurmehly, Sarah Slonim and George DeLancey performed alongside Wess Anderson, an MSU professor of music, to work on their skills and give the restaurant an authentic Louisiana feel.
Anderson, who operates Gumbo and Jazz with his wife, Desi, suffered a stroke in July 2007 and has returned to teaching after more than a year of rehabilitation.
Anderson said he’s doing fine and glad to be practicing and teaching his passion – jazz music.
“I feel good. I’m just taking my medicines and trying to stay away from sweets,” he said. “Everybody comes in and shows their support, which is good.”
A little more than a year after a stroke incapacitated Wess Anderson, the MSU associate professor of music and local restaurant operator is nearly fully recovered and back to teaching his passion — jazz music.
Not only is jazz Anderson’s passion, it also served as the instrument of his recovery as he and his alto saxophone were virtually inseparable in the months following his July 2007 stroke, he said.
“Even when I was paralyzed, I could use jazz to start mentally repairing myself,” Anderson said. “From there, everything started coming together. I had to do physical and speech therapy for six to eight months after I was released, but I didn’t let it discourage me. I was here at the restaurant the whole time, which was very good therapy since it allowed me to interact with other people and with myself.”
Anderson and his wife, Desi, are the owners of Gumbo and Jazz, 1133 E. Grand River Ave., an authentic Louisiana-style restaurant that opened in October 2007.
The restaurant is experiencing stronger sales as people become more acquainted with its location inside Bell’s Greek Pizza, 1135 E. Grand River Ave.
“The summer was rough, but things are smoothing out in the fall,” Desi Anderson said. “We can’t thank people enough for the support they have given us.”
Wess Anderson began teaching again this fall after receiving doctors’ clearance and said he’s glad to be back doing what he enjoys, but it takes some work.
“I feel good. I’m just taking my medicines and trying to stay away from sweets,” he said. “Everybody comes in and shows their support, which is good.”
Since his recovery, Wess Anderson has taken a trip to France for a jazz festival as well as occasional trips with Desi to their home state of Louisiana.
The Andersons moved from Louisiana to East Lansing in 2006 and still own a home in the bayou.
The fact that it’s one of just a few authentic Louisiana-style places in mid-Michigan gives Gumbo and Jazz a sense of originality, Desi Anderson said.
The restaurant has had a part in an MSU graduate school event, a private party and a book signing in the past month and is planning to help out in a leukemia fundraiser in November.
Habib Jarwan, owner of Bell’s Greek Pizza, said having Gumbo and Jazz in the same building gives students and residents more eating options and helps draw in more traffic.
“When (Desi’s) not looking, I go and steal a bite because I like it,” Jarwan said.
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