Re: [Harp-L] Low Wattage Jazz at SPAH

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sep 1, 2013, at 2:30 PM, David Fairweather wrote:

> I agree with everything Slim said about jazz harmonica.   If you don't have
> a great appreciation for and understanding of jazz,  you won't be able to
> play jazz piano,  jazz guitar,  jazz trumpet or jazz harmonica.   And
> you're not going to get that foundation in a 1 hour seminar for beginners
> at SPAH.

I agree also, and that's where the dichotomy enters the picture. And why I have had trouble flow charting a program.
The into would not be a seminar anyway. It would be an introduction. More or less round table. To determine a starting point.
More for the level 4, 5, 6 players. The level 7 players 'should' be able to wade in the water without too much trepidation.  
> 
> Another problem I see with a "beginner's jazz jam/seminar" would be
> deciding who is already too advanced to participate.   I fully understand
> the intimidation factor that often keeps beginners (including myself) from
> getting up on the stand at the formal jazz jams.   That's part of the
> reason I much prefer the hallway jazz jams.

Which is all I did for many years. And yes, determining the level of a player WOULD be a factor. It gets pretty involved. Me? 
I really liked your tracks that one year where we all read off your lap top. THAT was boss. That was salad. 
> 
> By my count there were about three corners where hallway jams could develop
> without audible interference from neighboring groups.  One corner was
> usually occupied by beginners playing folk music - the "Red River Valley"
> crowd.   Another corner was often occupied by blues players.
> 
> The jazz corner was the furthest away and hardest to find.

I never knew about it. But then I had the wife with me, so not as (shall we say) fluid as I usually am. 

>    The first
> night (Tues),  it actually had a real piano and that was wonderful.   Ron
> Kalina and Sam Friedman provided live piano accompaniment to the jazz
> jammers.

This is what we had in the old days. In fact, I think it started with Kalina and I. 

>    The acoustic piano disappeared after the first night (it was
> moved onto a stage).    An electric keyboard showed up a couple of nights
> later,  but then it also disappeared.    After that I provided some
> computer generated accompaniment.   But because of the "floating" impromptu
> nature of the jam and the difficulty in finding it,   there were quite a
> few fine jazz players who never even knew it was happening or never knew
> where to find it and they never dropped by.

Right, maybe we can change that next year? 
> 
> So how about designating a semi-official jazz jam corner next time and
> letting people know where to find it, and even providing a permanent piano
> for it (either electric or acoustic)?    .