Jam Session Etiquette!!!!!!!
- Subject: Jam Session Etiquette!!!!!!!
- From: randysinger <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 02:03:52 -0400
- --Apple-Mail-14--993949357
Hi Gang,
Found some great words of musical wisdom.
Every pro harp player should have this MEMORIZED.
peace and harps,
randy singer
www.randysinger.com
- ------------------------------
>
> Jam Session Etiquette
> by Grant "King" Koeller
> Foreword by Harri Rautiainen:
> Mr. Grant "King" Koeller is a contributor to the Saxophone Discussion
> Forum <http://forum.saxontheweb.net>.
> The following Jam session rules have been extracted from one of =
King's
> Forum postings. I am sure you can benefit from his great experience,
> too:
> =95 Don't be a solo hog. Say what you have to say in as few =
choruses=20
> as possible.
> =95 Don't cut another soloist off by jumping in.
> =95 If you don't know the tune, don't solo. Nobody wants to =
hear a=20
> person who hasn't paid their dues on their horn make a complete fool=20=
> of himself by trying to make every one think he knows how to play.
> =95 Don't tell the leader what to do. It's their Jam. Not =
yours. You=20
> can always get your own jam someday.
> =95 Know when to play.
> =95 Know when to sit down and chill out and enjoy the other =
players.
> =95 Have respect for the other soloists ideas by not =
doodling' around=20
> on your ax when they are playing.
> =95 If the other players start to riff behind the soloist, =
then go=20
> ahead and join in, but remember the balance, don't cover the soloist=20=
> up.
> =95 Remember the solo order so when fours come up, =
everybody gets a=20
> turn.
> =95 The Bass doesn't need a solo on every tune.
> =95 If there is more than one horn present don't all play =
the melody=20
> in unison. Use different harmony parts and chord tones to create=20
> interest.
> =95 When playing a Ballad, split up the choruses in half, =
so the tune=20
> isn't an hour long.
> =95 Don't insist on staying up on stage all night. Play =
your 3 or 4=20
> songs and make room for the other soloists who haven't played yet.
> =95 Never be critical of another person on the bandstand. =
If you have=20
> something to say to someone about their pitch, tone, sense of time, or=20=
> what ever, wait until the break.
> =95 Never be a mike hog. Always share.
> =95 Don't call tunes in order to impress somebody. No one =
wants to=20
> hear Carla Bley Tunes with no Bar Lines performed at the speed of=20
> Cherokee. Or Anthony Braxton tunes performed with a polka feel.
> =95 Learn some tunes that you love, and do them.
> =95 Don't judge other people's tunes. If you hate the song =
Stella by=20
> Starlight, instead of complaining about it, go sit down and take a=20
> break.=A0
> =95 As a horn player, when the singer sings don't play. It's =
ok to=20
> fill in between their phrases as long as it's done tastefully.
> =95 Use space. Don't play every Jamie Abersold lick that =
you know in=20
> the first three minutes. Save some ideas for later.
> =95 Be Mature. A jam is supposed to be about mutual respect =
for all=20
> the players regardless of ability, and not just a cutting contest.=20
> There is no room for "Higher, louder, faster," types of players who=20
> want to show off.
> =95 If the person ahead of you just took 8 choruses on the =
blues,=20
> don't try to "better" him by playing more if you have nothing to say.
> =95 Play in tune with each other. Don't have the attitude =
that "I'm=20
> right, Everyone else is Flat".
> =95 When ending a tune, look to the Bass or piano player =
for signs as=20
> to which type of ending will be used. Is it the 3 times a charm=20
> ending? Or that everybody stops at the same time with tight cut off=20
> ending? Is the rhythm section going to put a turn around at the end=20
> and vamp for a while ending? Turn on your radar.
> =95 For singers at sessions.=A0 Unless you have played with =
the piano=20
> or guitar player before and have rehearsed particular endings, always=20=
> try to end a tune by singing the tonic.=A0 The piano players always =
want=20
> to make the singer sound good, and that's very hard to do if he has to=20=
> search for some "hip" last note that he doesn't know is coming.=A0 If=20=
> the singer sings a pretty tonic at the end the piano player knows that=20=
> he/she is a professional.
> =95 Horn players trying to play endings behind =
singers....stay the=20
> fuck out until the chord is established!
>
> =A0
- --Apple-Mail-14--993949357
<color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>Hi Gang,
Found some great words of musical wisdom.
Every pro harp player should have this MEMORIZED.
peace and harps,
randy singer
www.randysinger.com
- ------------------------------
<excerpt>
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><bigger><x-tad-bigger>Jam
Session =
Etiquette</x-tad-bigger></bigger></fontfamily></bold></excerpt></color><ex=
cerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><bigger><x-tad-bigger>
=
</x-tad-bigger></bigger></fontfamily></bold></color></excerpt><excerpt><it=
alic><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param><=
smaller><x-tad-smaller>by
Grant "King" Koeller =
</x-tad-smaller></smaller></color></fontfamily></italic></excerpt><excerpt=
><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<italic><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>Foreword
by Harri Rautiainen: =
</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></italic></color></excerpt><excerpt=
><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
=
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><smaller><x-tad-smaller>Mr.=
Grant "King" Koeller is a contributor to the Saxophone Discussion =
</x-tad-smaller></smaller></smaller></fontfamily></bold></color></excerpt>=
<excerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
=
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><smaller><x-tad-smaller>For=
um
=
<<http://forum.saxontheweb.net>.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></smaller></font=
family></bold></color></excerpt><excerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</par=
am>
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><smaller><x-tad-smaller>
The following Jam session rules have been extracted from one of =
King's</x-tad-smaller></smaller></smaller></fontfamily></bold></color></ex=
cerpt><excerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
=
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><smaller><x-tad-smaller>For=
um
postings. I am sure you can benefit from his great =
experience,</x-tad-smaller></smaller></smaller></fontfamily></bold></color=
></excerpt><excerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>too:</x-tad-smalle=
r></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><color><param>0808,111=
1,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't be
a solo hog. Say what you have to say in as few choruses as =
possible.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt=
><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't cut
another soloist off by jumping =
in.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><colo=
r><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
If you
don't know the tune, don't solo. Nobody wants to hear a person who
hasn't paid their dues on their horn make a complete fool of himself
by trying to make every one think he knows how to =
play.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't
tell the leader what to do. It's their Jam. Not yours. You can always
get your own jam =
someday.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt>=
<color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Know when
to =
play.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Know when
to sit down and chill out and enjoy the other =
players.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt>=
<color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Have
respect for the other soloists ideas by not doodling' around on your
ax when they are =
playing.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt>=
<color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
If the
other players start to riff behind the soloist, then go ahead and join
in, but remember the balance, don't cover the soloist =
up.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><colo=
r><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Remember
the solo order so when fours come up, everybody gets a =
turn.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
The Bass
doesn't need a solo on every =
tune.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
If there
is more than one horn present don't all play the melody in unison. Use
different harmony parts and chord tones to create =
interest.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt=
><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
When
playing a Ballad, split up the choruses in half, so the tune isn't an
hour =
long.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't
insist on staying up on stage all night. Play your 3 or 4 songs and
make room for the other soloists who haven't played =
yet.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><col=
or><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Never be
critical of another person on the bandstand. If you have something to
say to someone about their pitch, tone, sense of time, or what ever,
wait until the =
break.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><c=
olor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Never be
a mike hog. Always =
share.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><c=
olor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't
call tunes in order to impress somebody. No one wants to hear Carla
Bley Tunes with no Bar Lines performed at the speed of Cherokee. Or
Anthony Braxton tunes performed with a polka =
feel.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Learn
some tunes that you love, and do =
them.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><co=
lor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Don't
judge other people's tunes. If you hate the song Stella by Starlight,
instead of complaining about it, go sit down and take a =
break.=A0</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt=
><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
As a horn
player, when the singer sings don't play. It's ok to fill in between
their phrases as long as it's done =
tastefully.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excer=
pt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Use
space. Don't play every Jamie Abersold lick that you know in the first
three minutes. Save some ideas for =
later.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><c=
olor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Be
Mature. A jam is supposed to be about mutual respect for all the
players regardless of ability, and not just a cutting contest. There
is no room for "Higher, louder, faster," types of players who want to
show =
off.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><col=
or><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
If the
person ahead of you just took 8 choruses on the blues, don't try to
"better" him by playing more if you have nothing to =
say.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><col=
or><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Play in
tune with each other. Don't have the attitude that "I'm right,
Everyone else is =
Flat".</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><c=
olor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
When
ending a tune, look to the Bass or piano player for signs as to which
type of ending will be used. Is it the 3 times a charm ending? Or that
everybody stops at the same time with tight cut off ending? Is the
rhythm section going to put a turn around at the end and vamp for a
while ending? Turn on your =
radar.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><c=
olor><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
For
singers at sessions.=A0 Unless you have played with the piano or guitar
player before and have rehearsed particular endings, always try to end
a tune by singing the tonic.=A0 The piano players always want to make
the singer sound good, and that's very hard to do if he has to search
for some "hip" last note that he doesn't know is coming.=A0 If the
singer sings a pretty tonic at the end the piano player knows that
he/she is a =
professional.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><exc=
erpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =95 =
Horn
players trying to play endings behind singers....stay the fuck out
until the chord is =
established!</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><exce=
rpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller> =
</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><color><=
param>0808,1111,0000</param>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>=A0</x-tad-smaller=
></smaller></fontfamily></color></excerpt><excerpt><color><param>0808,1111=
,0000</param>
</color></excerpt><color><param>0808,1111,0000</param>
</color>=
- --Apple-Mail-14--993949357--
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