Fwd: [SlideMeister] Jam Session Etiquette!!!!!!!

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
>
> On May 16, 2004, at 2:03 AM, randysinger wrote:
>
>> 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>.
>
>     * I find it interesting that he is a Sax man, more on THAT later
>
>>>  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:
>>> 	? 	 Don't be a solo hog. Say what you have to say in as few choruses
>>> as possible.
>
>     * The problem(s) with solos is that now and again you have a
> situation where if one person goes over on their solo, that throws off
> the timing of the tune. Then, what you have to do is cut people here
> and there. For instance, one person takes the head and another takes
> the bridge, then another back to the head and so on. So what happens is
> that the solo hog, takes a piece that's too long and it gets difficult
> to fit everyone else in. Extreme case is that some poor slob gets cut
> (entirely) from the tune. Even IF the solo hog is the "Proverbial"
> star, this sucks.
>
>>> 	? 	 Don't cut another soloist off by jumping in.
>
>     * True, but the soloist (also) should know when to give it a break
> and leave enough room at the end of their passage for the next player
> to "ease" in. I prefer the "feather" method (myself). Gradually
> "waterfall" DOWN in both pitches AND volume as you look over at the
> next player and nod.
>
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>     * Who s the judge as to whether a person has paid their dues. Just
> because a person is a slightly lesser player than another doesn't mean
> they haven't worked very hard at what they CAN do, BUT I (technically)
> agree.
>
>>> 	? 	 Don't tell the leader what to do. It's their Jam. Not yours. You
>>> can always get your own jam someday.
>
>     * The problem (generally) isn't the leader. A lot of times the
> leader won't put the naughty player in their place. There are many
> reasons (i won't go into) but if they know each other fairly well, the
> leader will usually let the naughty player get away with crap that
> other players can't get away with. As far as getting your own jam
> someday, it won't happen if you're not pushy. A laid-back humble (but
> GOOD) player who doesn't push his way into everything, doesn't get
> noticed and doesn't get the respect. Everyone notices the flamboyant
> and equates that with "what a performer".
>
>>> 	? 	 Know when to play.
>
>     * Some players jump in out of turn. This is the fault of the leader
>
>>> 	? 	 Know when to sit down and chill out and enjoy the other players.
>>> 	? 	 Have respect for the other soloists ideas by not doodling' 
>>> around
>>> on your ax when they are playing.
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>    * riffing: this is a sore spot. Many times a player will have done
> his solo and instead of stepping away from the mike, will use riffing
> as a ploy to STAY at that mike (therefore, tying it up), so that when
> the group comes back to the head they will be in the perfect position
> to blast away again.
>
>>> 	? 	 Remember the solo order so when fours come up, everybody gets a
>>> turn.
>>> 	? 	 The Bass doesn't need a solo on every tune.
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>     * A lot of leaders need to be told this, as I have experienced that
> when returning to the head, most want you to STAY on melody ONLY. I
> presume this is because, other harmonies may be confusing them. In this
> case, they are NOT pros.
>
>>> 	? 	 When playing a Ballad, split up the choruses in half, so the 
>>> tune
>>> isn't an hour long.
>
>    5-6 minutes is about what most audiences can stand, (unless there 
> are
> numerous key changes). This is where the solo-hog throws everything
> off.
>
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>    * VERY good point. As you know, some people will play if someone 
> goes
> by the refridgerator, accidently opens it, and the "Light" goes on.
> This is another place where the "Mike-hog" needs to be spoken to. When
> you have several people using (say 3) mikes, the PROPER thing to do is
> that after everyone has started the tune and people go into their solos
> (or improvs), as each one is done, they should step back from the mike
> and leave it free for the next soloist. Too many players KEEP that mike
> in their hand and you can't pry it away with a crow-bar.
>
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>    * the ONLY thing you should mention is pitch, as in: Hey Steve,
> you're sax is getting a little sour as your horn warms up. Maybe you
> need to adjust the "riser".  The rest will take care of itself, don't
> be a prima donna.
>
>>> 	? 	 Never be a mike hog. Always share.
>
>    * HAH, Don't make me laugh, (I have chapped lips).
>
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>    * Sometimes it's necessary to call an uncommon tune to be able to 
> get
> any play time. If I have to stand there through another "Here's That
> Rainy Day", "Sophisticated Lady", "Satin Doll", I feel that when (More
> likely IF) my turn comes, I have the right to pick something that's not
> such a drag-ass, tired-ass, slow-ass, dirge. BTW, in MY world: behind
> the water pipes, mens room, south east corner, Hendry St Station,
> Cherokee is a slow tune.
>
>>> 	? 	 Learn some tunes that you love, and do them.
>
>>> 	? 	 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. 
>>> 	? 	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.
>
>    * I had mentioned (earlier) that I found it interesting that this
> list was written by a sax player. Here in (SW) Fla, they are like some
> sort of locust plague. They show up, they Charlie Parker barf their
> guts out for 2 sets and then disappear. The leader only lets one guitar
> man play at a time, but sometimes we have as many as 3 saxs going. They
> walk all over each other, and each one tries to outdo the other. The
> leader doesn't do anything because "Hey, we're getting them for
> NOTHING", or "Hey, these guys all played with BIG bands at one time".
>
>>> 	? 	 Use space. Don't play every Jamie Abersold lick that you know in
>>> the first three minutes. Save some ideas for later.
>>> 	? 	 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.
>
>    * show off. Good words
>
>>> 	? 	 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.
>>> 	? 	 Play in tune with each other. Don't have the attitude that "I'm
>>> right, Everyone else is Flat".
>>> 	? 	 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.
>>> 	? 	 For singers at sessions.  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.  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.  If
>>> the singer sings a pretty tonic at the end the piano player knows 
>>> that
>>> he/she is a professional.
>
>>> 	? 	 Horn players trying to play endings behind singers....stay the
>>> f*** (I changed that spelling) out until the chord is established!
>
>      * Just do ONE sustained (low volume) note.
>>>
>     * In conclusion, Randy sent us some GREAT stuff here, and I (for
> one) am going to take it with me to our Sunday GIG. I have already
> determined that the Wed. Jam is a lost cause.
>
> smokey joe  with  Kiss my Brass
>
>>>  
>
>
>
>
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