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A brewery by my house is starting a jazz jam. I missed the first week but made it this week. I got to play Bags Groove and then Satin Doll a little later. They’re going to try and keep it going every Thursday.
My spirits are high, what a great opportunity.
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07-06-2023 10:31 PM
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Nice!
Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Carpe diem!
Hopefully you can turn it into more playing opportunities for yourself on top of having a place close to home where you can hone your skills. Best of fortunes out there.
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Playing live is the best test and pleasure.
Good luck
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It only gets better from here on!
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That’s great, I hope you enjoy many more to come! Nothing beats a fun jam session. Let us know your thoughts on the next one. Is there a house band?
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The house band was a singer, guitarist, piano who also played trombone, electric bass, and drums. Originally Posted by JazzPadd
There were two other trombonists and me as the jammers.
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Nice, I rarely get to play with trombonists. Sounds like a blast!
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The piano was up there and instead of trying to play chords I was either just sitting there listening or trying to comp with long notes like Baker/Mulligan. It was really great to put some of this stuff I've been working on to use.
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Great ! If they are good and you make some friends there you will get busy soon.
If I were a broken record I would say you should get a 7 string guitar in order to make the difference.
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Excellent! Nothing beats playing real music with real people. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Great news!
I might mention that almost everything I've done musically for the past 30+ years grew out of meeting a bassist at a jam session.
So, good luck with making a positive change in your musical life!
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Went to the jam again Thursday and was able to play 2 sets totaling 5 song. First set was
Nows the Time
Satin Doll
All of Me
and I must say, I did good. I stuck close to the melody, listened to everyone. There was no piano so I sparsely comped and tried a little Mulligan/Baker stuff behind the trumpet players solo.
Then the band played a little more and I got to go back up
Moanin’
Bag Groove
These songs were not as great and something was just off. Unfortunately this was the set I recorded and it was as bad as I remember.
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That’s great, thanks for sharing your experience!
Those 5 tunes are amongst the ones called here, too. Perhaps “Now’s the Time” and “Bag’s Groove” a little less so. Maybe I’ll work them up to call at the next session here!
Does the house band call the tunes, or is it decided by those invited up to play?
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They asked me what I wanted to play. The drummer asked for Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, but I said I didn’t know it. The house band has had charts both times, but I can’t look at changes and play so I go up with nothing.
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I see, interesting, thanks.
Been meaning to learn the head to Softly, it gets called a lot here.
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I have started to go to jazz jam sessions as well and if I am in such a situation (often Originally Posted by AllanAllen
) I (try to ) comp with simple two-note voicings (third-seventh resp. third-sixth) pn strings three and four. That is relatively easy for me as practicing tunes I use simple shell voicings a lot. I try to quickly understand what is going on harmonically and then I try to throw in a sub here and there. Of course I make mistakes but never got thrown off stage so far ...
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I thought it was an easy one, it sits on the fretboard well. Originally Posted by JazzPadd
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My ears aren’t that good yet. Getting better, but I can’t hear changes and learn a song on stage. Originally Posted by Bop Head
I have started to go to jazz jam sessions as well and if I am in such a situation (often) I (try to ) comp with simple two-note voicings (third-seventh resp. third-sixth) pn strings three and four. That is relatively easy for me as practicing tunes I use simple shell voicings a lot. I try to quickly understand what is going on harmonically and then I try to throw in a sub here and there. Of course I make mistakes but never got thrown off stage so far ...
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This is a great opportunity, Allen -- I'm glad you're returning each week!
Playing with a pianist can be fun, and a challenge for guitar (depending on the skills and ears of each player)! I've played with some who played all 88 notes, every song, all night long, so I learned to just sit and play when soloing (like a horn player); I've also had the joy of playing with pianists with big ears, who knew how to "take turns" or even play off/with the guitar -- so nice!
Regardless, as others have said, playing live with real people is lots of fun, and you will learn WAY MORE than in your practice room at home!
(including what you need to go home and practice!)
You're near Chicago, and mentioned "Softly .." Here's how local Chicago boys Paul Wertico and John Moulder play it:
Marc
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The person in charge of the jam is moving away and I’m trying to inherit it. It’s real hard lining up players. Hats off to everyone holding down a gig.
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Dropbox - Part of Satin Doll.m4a - Simplify your life
Guess I never shared this. From a few weeks ago, I play the head and first solo.
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