Jazz at Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville is now — on certain Saturday afternoons — available on more than just CDs.

A monthly "Live Jazz" series, featuring local jazz musicians, will continue at 2 p.m. Feb. 11, March 4, April 29 and May 20 in the library’s downstairs Lord Auditorium at 67 Biltmore Avenue. Admission to the hour-long concerts is free.

The series started Jan. 11 with a sublime performance by a trio comprised of violinist  Christian Howe, bassist Zack Page and pianist Michael Jeffry Stevens. 

Stevens, who also a composer, is hosting the shows, along with the Friends of the Library.

The trio delivered an hour-long set of traditional jazz to an appreciative audience of about 50. Titled  "Mostly Ellington" the show included seamless renditions of music made famous by Duke Ellington. Opening the set was a smooth "In a Sentimental Mood," a hopping "Jitterbug Waltz" came soon and a version of "Take the A Train" —  that steamed — closed things out.

Preceding the finale, Stevens, who teaches at the Asheville Music School and gives music lessons, delivered a bit of jazz history.

 “Everybody thinks Ellington wrote that, but actually it was written by Billy Strayhorn,” Stevens, whose dossier includes work in New York jazz clubs, said. 

 He then noted that Strayhorn was 17 years old when he met Ellington in Pittsburgh and showed him several of his compositions. Ellington was impressed enough to get Strayhorn to move to New York, where the A Train was the subway line that led to Ellington’s house. The two became prolofic collaborators, creating — among other tunes — the swing classic “Satin Doll.”

“Mysteriouso,” a Theolonious Monk composition that moved from near silence to thunder, was a highlight of the show. The piece featured seamless trading of licks and imaginative — yet not overly long — solos from all three of the trio members.

The well-known ballad  “Of Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars” delighted the crowd, as did a lesser-known one called “Brasa Mai Mollo.”

“It was written by a 14-year-old girl who didn’t know if she was ever going to find love,” said Stevens, composer  of more than 340 jazz pieces himself. “I don’t remember her name, but I do remember mine.”

During a 45-year career, Stevens has won countless awards and fellowships and has recorded enough of his music to fill 80 CDs. Many will undoubtedly be on sale at the upcoming shows, as will ones recorded by Howe, who assists classical musicians who want to transition into jazz.

“There’s nothing a musician loves more than selling CDs,” Stevens, whose products go for $10 each, said. “It’s better than Christmas.”

He will perform as part of the ensemble at all the updcoming “Live Jazz” concerts. On Feb. 11, he will be joined by bassist Shannon Hoover and drummer Rick Dilling. On March 4, he will take the stage with vocalist Paula Hancke and guitarist  Al Schimm. On April 29, the show will include vibraphonist Jason DeCristofaro.

Acoustics at Lord Auditorium are good and the Steinway piano met the standards of Stevens, a former New Yorker who came here via Memphis. “It’s hard to find a good piano in this time, but this is a good one,” he said. 

Stevens, who plays occasional gigs at clubs and churches, also thanked the Friends of the Library for its help in setting up the series. 

In addition to its work with educational events, the all-volunteer Friends organization operates the used bookstore inside the first floor of the downtown library and asseses the condition of  books on the shelves in all of the library system’s branches.