Finding Aid for Nature's Table Collection, 1979-1999 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Nature's Table Collection, 1979-1999

ID: 12/9/144

Primary Creator: Nature's Table (1971-1979)

Extent: 4.25 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Textiles are arranged by date, with undated items following.

Paper and photographic records are arranged according to the original order of the materials.

Date Acquired: 08/17/2015. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Art, Bluegrass Music, Blues-rock music, Clothing and Textiles, Jazz, Local History, Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Restaurants

Languages: English

Consists of textiles, paper records and photographs, audio recordings, and digitized scrapbook, documenting Nature's Table restuarant and music venue in Urbana, Illinois from 1979-1991. Of note are rare recordings of local jazz performers Ron Dewar, Guido Sinclair, Joan Hickey, the Sorgum Quartet, the Memphis Nighthawks, the Jeff Helgesen Quintet, the Tom Paynter Trio, the Jack Webb Band, Condition Blue, and Ray Sasaki and Morgan Powell.

Nature's Table was a small health food restaurant and jazz club in Urbana, Illinois, that was operated by Terry Masar from 1979 to 1991. It was located on Goodwin Street across from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to providing customers in the local and campus communities with reasonably priced meals, inside the restaurant patrons could attend live shows and also view and purchase art produced by local artists.  Featuring live performances by many local and regional bands, the restaurant created a lively environment for budding new musicians and artists.  Nature's Table was known for attracting nationally recognized jazz artists, such as Von Freeman, Herb Ellis, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Peter 'Madcat" Ruth, and Jon McNeil, who frequently performed there. It was also considered a home for many local jazz, blues, alternative rock, and bluegrass ensembles, including a young Alison Krauss. Nature's Table was built on campus property, and in 1991 the university forced the closure of the restaurant and venue to make way for a new Chemical and Life Science Lab building.  Numerous reunions of the Nature's Table staff and the artists who frequently played there took place after its closing until Terry Masar passed away on October 23, 2011.

Art
Bluegrass Music
Blues-rock music
Clothing and Textiles
Jazz
Local History
Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Restaurants

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Reel to reel recordings were donated to the Center by Paul Mueth February 27, 2019.

Acquisition Source: Donated by Jeff Machota and Sean Kutzko

Acquisition Method: Gift.