Jay Rogers: ALL THAT JAZZ

 All that talent and dysfunction rolled into one, pop a drama desk nomination on top and it was like gay Christmas. 

Some of this might seem shocking, or a callous recounting of the facts, but they are told with great admiration and love. 

I met Jay Rogers at 88’s piano bar in 1998. He had just returned from a hiatus after having falling onto the tracks of PATH train, breaking his collarbone and nearly dying. We were working upstairs, and he was defiantly sober.  

At least for three quarters of the shift.  

We were working a treacherously boring and under attended cabaret show upstairs on a Wednesday night at 10:30. 

Once I started counting the money, He made himself a margarita and told me not to tell anyone as this was the first drink he’d had since his fall. I don’t know if that was true, but we talked a lot that night and the next day about how that hangover felt.

Fast forward five fabulous fucking years of working and laughing,…

I was working at Judy’s in Chelsea. He was working at Mama’s. 

I had an impromptu night off, (due to another under-attended cabaret) and I rolled on into his happy hour, and proceeded to get drunker than I’d ever been. Strawberry flavored vodka is not something that should ever have existed. 

The next thing I remember, I’m waking a state of panic at about 7 AM. (I was home, which answered my first question. The second? Blissfully alone. Whew. Could’ve gone either way.) 

So, now I don’t quite know why I felt such panic. Still feeling a general unrest, after a few hours I picked up the phone and called Jay. 

It wasn’t a good sign that he picked up the phone hysterically laughing. 

 

Apparently I had gotten very drunk, ultimately stood on the bar and announced my desire to have coitus with a handsome gentleman well within earshot, stumbled into a cab and left (all before 9pm). 

Just as this shock was rolling over me I got a buzz on my apartment door. 

It was the Chinese food delivery man. 

In a moment of flooding revelation,it all came rushing back to me while I was on the phone with Jay. 

I had no money to take a cab home and when I was trying to pay for my cab with an ATM receipt, my local Chinese food delivery man saw me, paid for my cab and I gave him my backpack as collateral. And this entire realization came, it was explained in excruciating detail to Jay Rogers over the phone that morning.

I think he always felt the need to nurture me, or try to protect me. In his defense, I could make a mother out of anybody. Well, if not a mother, then certainly an Auntie Magnolia. 

I miss him, and while I adore that there is so much documentation of his talent and artistry, i’ll always see him as my bartending cohort. Doing schtick behind the bar for a laugh, and being one of the most caring people I’d yet to come to know. 

He also told me it was good to vacuum in heels. 

I write this with great respect for his beloved husband, Aaron.