Potential for chaos is one of the best things about jazz, especially at its festivals. And no one is farther out on a ledge than the musicians who temporarily augment visiting ensembles.

It’s easy to get a vicarious thrill when these musicians from our midst hang with the headline acts, enabling celebrity musicians to do their thing without having to transport an entourage thousands of miles.

“Side musician is a great skill to have, because you never know who’s coming into town and you pride yourself in being able to fit in any number of situations,” says longtime Bay Area drummer Jason Lewis.

At a major event like the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, which takes place this weekend, where there will be fill-ins for about 10 percent of the professional acts, one might assume that some musician

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