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I really enjoy it. To be fair, I'm not the regular guy. I sub on maybe a half dozen a year, so I can see how it would get old. But most people mean well and want to do it the right way. In that case, the most taxing part is that they really just need someone to hold their hand and tell them to chill and explain the process to them to or three or seven times, and you're that person by default.
Originally Posted by wintermoon
But every now and then you get someone who really just is not getting it and is treating it like an open mic night with their personal house band and you have to try to get them to behave like they're on stage with other people who just showed up to play. That can be really tough.
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12-01-2025 04:04 PM
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Also to some of Allan's points -- the session I sub on is hosted regularly by a guy who takes it really seriously, and it's in a brewery where the owner is a songwriter, trumpet player, and pretty active bass player. So the owner is the regular bass in the house band and really appreciates it and stuck it out to get it through some of the growing pains.
So I really enjoy sessions generally, but also the one I go to and host sometimes might be kind of a unicorn in some really positive respects.
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I never go to jam sessions because they really do very little for the player in most cases. If you are a beginner starting out, I can maybe see the draw. If you are a seasoned pro, I just do not see any draw. Go play a gig and use the folks you normally play with so that things come off ok. One could sit a jam session and make fool of themselves, or they might be a top-notch player but in the wrong setting it comes out less than the best.
I really think the only way this can happen is in a few select spots. Here in the middle of cornfields there is no jazz jam sessions going on. Also, I don't like being out late so they would need to be in the afternoon. How likely is that? To me jam session are completely overrated and this is not the playing field of what went on many many years ago.
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Being the guitarist for the host band of an open jam four hours every Sunday evening for over ten years was the best thing I ever did - playing tunes you've never heard before with musicians you've just met makes you grow fast in all aspects of music.
Everyone recommends learning fastest by playing with better musicians than oneself. But then we have to give back to those coming up to speed, pro bono, in order to serve the musical public good.
If you are part of the host band, the open jam is the gold standard of development, and the gold standard if you are a beginner / intermediate. It is not so great if you are quite good and dislike waiting to play just a couple of tunes, depending on your personality... it helps if you remember how important your influence as the "better musician" becomes for others.
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Womp womp womp Originally Posted by deacon Mark
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I am slow what does womp mean? Originally Posted by pamosmusic
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it’s the sad trombone sound. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
i don’t know man. Lots of reasons in your post that jam sessions are lame. But playing with people and hanging out with other musicians and being a supportive part of a musical community is fun and rewarding
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Jam sessions can be fun and can also be really frustrating and I think both of those things help you grow as a musician.
Playing music with other people is fun, especially when they're great musicians. Conversely, it can be really challenging when you're playing with not so good musicians, or when you aren't having your best night. But the test of being a good musician is being able to make everyone you're playing with sound good no matter the circumstances. A jam session is an on the spot test of your ability to do that.
I've been hitting sessions consistently for the past couple years and I think my musicianship has grown a lot as a result. I've also gotten some gigs from people I've met at sessions, so cost of doing business I guess.
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They are great if one guy in the host band loves to micro manage stuff. I worked with a bass player and we ran a blues jam for a while and dude always had his blues police badge polished and gleaming like the sun. I played for 40 minutes and he took charge though a couple times I did have to tell him to cut a couple dudes who genuinely were there to learn some slack, lol. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
The dudes running my home city blues jam right now don't actually even play more than one blues song. It's all classic rock. It's pretty sad tbh. I've actually been witnessing this way too often lately with host bands. Pisses me off. One dude I know, more than half his "gigs" right now are just running jams and all he plays is Hendrix and Journey bullshit, no blues. It's pathetic. He's actually pathetic though so I guess it's to be expected.
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This can be very stressful.Especially when the jam session starts and you have never heard the musicians play and at what level. Originally Posted by BreckerFan
I"ve had all these situations in my experience.
All this can happen in front of the public and someone can record the bad situation with a phone....
Then the question comes to my mind: what am I doing here?...It"s not cool.
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This is a wonderful thread, I'm really enjoying it, and I especially appreciate viewpoints from different locales. Aside from a few sporadic solo and combo gigs, participating in jazz jam sessions is my main musical activity here in Japan. I see a lot of my experiences embedded in some of what you all have been experiencing at jams. For those who may be interested, I kept a detailed monthly "Jam Session Journal" for most of 2023 and 2024 about my jam experiences, and you can find them in the "From the Bandstand" forum.
There are currently five venues within reasonable driving distance from where I live that hold jazz jam sessions on a regular basis. They are all somewhat different, although the participants overlap on some of them. Some are weekly, some every other week, others monthly. Depending on my at times busy work schedule I can jam several times a month.
All of these jams are held at regional jazz cafes or live houses. These venues are not bars nor restaurants. They are small Mom and Pop shops, the primary purpose of which is to provide an open performance space for amateur, part-time and full-time musicians. It seems to be a thing in Japan that dates back to the early 20th century, outgrowths of the "jazz kissaten" (urban listening spaces for jazz on vinyl) and "music halls" for small scale live performances. Some are mixed genre, but all have jazz jam sessions. They are "pay to play" in the sense that these venues are all set up with a stage, amps, drums and percussion, a piano, lighting, a PA system and so forth. Jam sessions are part of their weekly activities that also include hosting performances for regional and touring acts.
Participation fees vary from 1000-2000JPY (about 5-10EUR / 6-12USD). Most include coffee, tea and lite snacks, although other drinks and foods are extra. Some jams are partially hosted, others self-managed by the participants. There are no house bands that start off with a set, although the hosted sessions might begin with the host musicians playing a tune or two to get things rolling, and they cede their seats to let others play.
Beside the five venues described above, which are all centered around a couple of small regional cities, I have also participated in jazz jams in Tokyo and other much larger cities. In those locales, there are far more musicians of a generally higher level of skill and the venues are much more crowded, so the jam session experiences can differ significantly.
What gets called at jams appears similar to repertoire experiences shared in this thread in general. Each venue here may have its own character, depending on regular participants. Some are focused on standards, others on fusion and funk, one has a preference for hard bop, another for bossa. But in general, at least within my experiences, anybody can call anything within reason. Reading is OK, and most venues have copies of the Jam Session Bible on hand (something like a Japanese Real Book). Of course, no books is more fun.
Aside from a couple of jams in the Dallas area, my jam session experiences have been limited to Japan and mostly in this one region. There are other venues that hold blues jams and rock jams here, and some have open mics, but I don't go to those regularly.
As for the OP question, Yes or No, in my case it's a resounding Yes! My experiences here have been quite positive, and there is a real overall community vibe. Beginners and new comers are welcome, while alumni of these venues who have moved on to other locales (including some advanced players now working as full-time musicians in Tokyo and New York City) come back to participate when in town (e.g., during holidays like Obon). In a way, jazz emerges, at least in my limited experience, as a kind of social music and I feel very fortunate to be a part of that. I could say more, about how these jams have helped me to develop into a better player, but this is already verbose so I'll stop here. Thanks!
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I just dislike jam sessions from either end. If you are in the section like WM says it is the same changes for a long time. If you are soloing really what good is it except to see where you are as a player. To me I would much rather play a gig with a set of tunes and structure it just makes more sense. Plus these things go one late at night and I am early bird so no chance. It seemed to be something to do in my 20's but in my 60's it is something to avoid.
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The two jams closest to me are 7-9pm (or 9:30pm) which is quite reasonable. With an early start for work I'd avoid the late ones too. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
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A pro only jam, sure, why not?
A jam with amateurs? That is a hard no, even if I was offered pay to be in the house band.
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I'm lucky to have good, regular opportunities to play in public on DB. As an advanced-beginner guitarist sessions can be the only public playing I do on guitar for months. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
I'm lucky to be able to go, hang, play and learn. Every time I let that happen it happens.
Sometimes it leads to gigs on bass. It has even lead to a few gigs on guitar. But I'm not there to pick up gigs: I'm there by choice, to be present with other players.
For me, "Opportunity to listen, work on not being stuck and work on helping to bring the music somewhere." Originally Posted by deacon Mark
The answer to, "Where am I at as a player?" is the same as it has always been: I'm not as good as the players who inspire me. I'm not as good as the best people I play with. I'm a little bit better than I was a year ago. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
I don't play jazz to be in the comfort zone. I'm don't play jazz to feel in control. Playing sessions tugs me away from the familiar. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
I know plenty of tunes. When I don't, I peek at my phone for a chorus then practice listening.
But what I don't know is where the tune is going right now. No matter what level people are at, I can learn from them if I let myself.
100% agree. That's never been compatible with maximum hang. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
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fair enough Originally Posted by deacon Mark
Not to put too fine a point on it, but that's kind of a personal problem.If you are in the section like WM says it is the same changes for a long time.
But this one I just can't really understand. What good is it? Playing with people is fun. Playing with new people is exciting. Having music come off when there was no music before is an exhilarating experience. I dunno.If you are soloing really what good is it except to see where you are as a player.
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Hard no for me. I come from many years of really good, rehearsed bands and theater. One of my mentors in the 70s told me to never allow sit ins because they don't know your arrangements and you have no idea what they're going to do (like calling a tune in D and singing in Bb). It usually ends in a train wreck. My bandmates and I are being paid to provide the best music possible for a given engagement - we're not there for Aunt Gertie's cousin's nephew Clyde to show us how good he can play "Wildwood Flower". If it's a former band member or player we know is a pro, we might make an exception. I'm enough of a control freak that I don't enjoy playing with others, especially those I don't know because I don't know what they're going to do - I thrive on tight, rehearsed arrangements where everyone is on the same page. Same goes without saying for theater.
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Open jams have reasons for how things are done; some do it better than others.
The host band starts by playing a set; this is done because the musical evening needs to start independently of when guest musicians may show up. Showing up to hear the host band teaches stagecraft to beginners and gives the guest musicians a comparative gauge on the musical style and level of play.
The order of guest players loosely proceeds to more advanced throughout the evening; part of this reflects the traditional recital in which the newer students play first, then the intermediate, then the advanced students. This lends an ascending profile to the evening encouraging people from leaving early. Part of this profile is done by the guests themselves when they sign the sheet. You may have noticed that advanced musicians will sign for the later spots when earlier spots are still unsigned. By the end of the evening it is typical that the profile is peaking with the stage deep in talent blooming musical magic.
To the degree that the sheet's a public document typically resting on a table near the stage, it is part of the open jam as a connection hub; including your contact info enables offers to audition, sit in, sub, host, or join a band.
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Perhaps all the magic of a jam session depends on the proper conduct of this jam. Originally Posted by pauln
I mean organizing groups and the order of performing musicians.
There must be a person who can organize it.
Who is supposed to do it?
I've been to various places and jazz clubs for jam sessions.
There were all sorts of ways and everyone was quite satisfied.
In one of the clubs it was a group of advanced and knowledgeable musicians (often by sight and hearing).
The musicians were able to organize themselves.
It was impressive.I really liked playing there.
In another club, the jam was arranged by the owner of the club.
The owner of the club approved the line-ups of musicians for jam.
It worked, but to me it seemed artificial.There was a lack of spontaneity, but there was order.
You have to remember that at jam sessions musicians play for free.
This often means that you never know who you're going to be on stage with.
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"....I've been to various places and jazz clubs for jam sessions."
What's a jazz club? Where I'm from, we have sports bars and those Tiki bar Jimmy Buffet kinds of places.
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I'm surprised at all the negativity here towards jam sessions. I still use them as proving grounds for new licks and tricks since it's kind of a no pressure atmosphere since I'm not being paid, yet there is still a crowd so it's live experience. The other great part is when you run into a musician with real skills, it can be a great learning experience. I crossed paths with a female drummer from New Orleans a few months back. Amazing, authentic second line style drumming I hadn't seen in person before. Unbelievably smooth. It was a joyful moment.
I always just figured that jams are part of one's musical development and the scene would be worse than it is already without them. They are simultaneously some of the best live events I've attended, and also some of the worst.
I can't believe I'm one of the most open minded people about this. Maybe I should have a worse attitude but I reserve the badittude for dopes that want to play cissy strut and other rock music at blues jams. My guitar is going right back in it's case, lol.
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what part is unclear? the jazz or the club? Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
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Just sayin' there's no such animal in my neck of the woods......big city thing I'm guessing. Originally Posted by djg
what part is unclear? the jazz or the club?
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The session I go to is at a normal bar. Owner is a musician and super supportive. The guy who runs it is a long time guy on the local scene and has always been really big on helping people get out there. Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
They've worked their way up to music every Friday night. Session second and fourth Fridays. Booked acts for the rest.
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Must be nice! Only bands working around here are in garages. Otherwise, it's singles and duos using tracks for the tourists. Not what you'd call a healthy musical climate. Not even country bands....and I'm a 50 yr pedal steel player and no work. Originally Posted by pamosmusic
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