Finding "Compatible" Musicians to Play With - Any Thoughts?

[Cunamara]

Probably a few places have something like this, but Minneapolis has had a open-to-the-public jazz workshop for close to 50 years, originally started by a pianist named Sam Favors and a horn player named Gene Adams. Both were professional musicians who felt the need to help people learn how to play and appreciate jazz in a practical, experiential way. They have both passed away, I believe, and Sam's wife kept the workshop going for years (she is a vocalist). I started going there about 15 years ago now and went for about five years; several of us got together and started a band which we kept going for seven years. When I started going to the workshop, there were only a few people turning up to play; I put an ad announcing it on Craigslist and darned if we didn't start having 10 to 15 people turning up. There is a demand for this, at least an areas that have enough of a population. The trick is finding somebody who knows how to play jazz to show other people how to do it. If there is a college with a music department in the area, the odds are good that there are some jazz musicians associated with that.

I hesitate to paint the Twin Cities as a hotbed of jazz, but there are at least a few gigs around, some excellent local musicians and a couple of places to learn jazz Including the Walker West Music Academy, Jazz Central Studios, Minnesota Jazz Education (originally sponsored by The Dakota jazz club and now integrated with Walker West).

[rpjazzguitar]

If there really aren't any players in a particular area, that's that.

That said, in my area, it turns out that there are many more players than I might have imagined when I moved here. (suburb in NCal).

While a certain kind of jazz is my favorite, I like a lot of kinds of music and I'd rather play other styles in a band context than practice alone.

Which makes me think that advertising is a good idea. Being willing to drive a good distance might be necessary.

[Hugo Gainly]

Forgot to say - Jazz Summer Schools can be fruitful and I know people, not least the tutors, who have kept up playing relationships for years after. The vibe of summer schools, at least in the UK are very collegiate and co-operative.

[Stringswinger]

If there really aren't any players in a particular area, that's that.

That said, in my area, it turns out that there are many more players than I might have imagined when I moved here. (suburb in NCal).

While a certain kind of jazz is my favorite, I like a lot of kinds of music and I'd rather play other styles in a band context than practice alone.

Which makes me think that advertising is a good idea. Being willing to drive a good distance might be necessary.

Rick, IIRC, you and I met 45 years ago due to a musicians wanted ad I place in a Berkely/Oakland free paper called the. Classified Flea Mart.

[rpjazzguitar]

Rick, IIRC, you and I met 45 years ago due to a musicians wanted ad I place in a Berkely/Oakland free paper called the. Classified Flea Mart.

Memories fade, but I think that's right. Or maybe it was the Express.

More than 30 years ago I answered an ad about a jam session in the Express. It was there that I met a bassist. We put together a band. One thing let to another. And, everything I do now comes from a connection that goes back to that ad.

[Jonah]

difficult... and even more more amateurs (accomplished players I mean)... they have less time and possibilities for networking and socializing... and often do not go for compromises (as they do it as hobbyist so it is clear they want to be kind of pleasurable %100)...

Pros can be less selective but it also opens some doors of communication... sometimes you have to play with someone that you do not like at the beginning and then you discover that you change your mind, find the way... amateurs often do not reach that moment.

But whatever it is.. pros or amateurs I found that if I have to play with people and get pleasure I have to build up something myself... then there is a chance that even non-perfect match will turn out to bee ok or maybe even great.
In some cases I noticed I build up something FOR myself so i can basically be with other people but I just do my thing.

To find real 'soulmates' though is not that easy... and tbh I feel like in music I have problems with that. I met very good musicians of different level but I never met one that I really had the feeling that it could be long time match and collaboration, same conceptions, ideas, feeling... I never had it.

[Skip Ellis]

I think the issue can sometimes be boiled down to getting a bassist who wants to play the same sort of music.

You can do a lot with just guitar and bass. If there are any compatible people on other instruments, or vocals, they may find you, somehow. If not, there's a lot you can do as a duo.

But, first, a bassist.

Yep! Check out Hirofumi Asaba on YT. This would be my dream - perfect for restaurants, coffee shops, cocktail parties, galleries, etc.

[ragman1]

This is good too.