Trumpet player Jody Henderson listens to a trombone solo during a set at the Be Bop Coffee House on Sunday morning.

By Keith Chu

The Be Bop Coffee House hosted its last jam Sunday, but an ensemble of local musicians made sure they squeezed out a few notes before the doors closed for good.

”Sorry we got a late start,” said trumpet player Jody Henderson to a jam-packed crowd of nearly 60 people, as the show started Sunday morning. ”This is a morning we don’t want to end.”

For the past 1 1/2 years, Be Bop has hosted live shows on weekends and become a hub of the local jazz community. They’re closing because the coffee bar is a consistent money-loser, Holmes said.

”The shows aren’t a problem, it’s making the space work the rest of the week,” said Sarah Holmes, who co-owns the cafe with her husband, Michael.

During a break, Henderson, who teaches music at Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School, said Be Bop is unique.

”This draws such an easygoing crowd,” said Henderson, 40, whose 15-year-old son Jared joined him, plucking and plonking on upright bass. ”There are other places to play, but none like this.”

The Holmeses started making biscotti in Bend seven years ago, under the name Be Bop Biscotti. They sold a majority stake of the business to DiLusso Bakery in April. The coffee shop that grew out of the biscotti business started hosting live jazz shows about 2 1/2 years ago, Holmes said. The business moved from a spot on First Street to its Division Street location 18 months ago.

But even on the last day, she saw something new.

”Oh look, a sailor,” said Holmes, as a young man in a Navy uniform walked by. ”We’ve never had a sailor before.”

Regular attendee Bob Webber said the coffee house has attracted a community of jazz lovers. He used their nicknames to point them out, because he never learned their real names, Webber said.

”See that guy in the hat? That’s Dr. Jazz,” said Webber, nodding at an elderly man in a bright green stocking cap and a red sweatshirt with what looked like a Batman logo on the front. ”He knows more about jazz than anybody in here.”

Jazz musicians and aficionados plan to meet at the cafe on Saturday at 10 a.m. to discuss ways to create a sustainable jazz venue in Bend, Holmes said. One idea is to operate the space as a cooperative, she said.

Webber, for one, said he hopes they can come up with a plan.

”It’ll open up somewhere, it has to,” Webber said. ”We’ve got to find a new home for this.”