Re: [Harp-L] blues v. bluegrass jam formats

["David R. Fertig" <dfertig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here in Southern Cal we got the Elmtree Blues Society jams, these are 
usually a bunch of players sittin' under a big tree with a bunch of 
instruments (with some, sometimes lotsa, amplification) to virtually no 
audience but ourselves, playing with and to one another, for the fun of the 
music.    In fact, I specifically invite no audience, players only, and god 
players keep coming back, apparently the format is appealling.

It's blues, not bluegrass, mostly gut bucket blues, often like what I heard 
as a child, from Chicago to the Georgia Sea Islands, from movement 
singalongs to church meetings.   But then, I'm no aficionado, haven't 
learned overblows and cornering and gapping and other positions and such, 
maybe I'm just ignorant, a no-count sleepy blueshound too lazy to chase the 
chickens.  (Sorry, Willie D!)

But I have played lotsa club/tavern/bar-jams, too.   While I love playing 
these and will continue to do so, these are usually, in addition to making 
great music, also about wowing the audience and selling booze and 
food.   And occasionally about cuttin' heads, c'est la vie en la cite 
grand.  (Sorry, Nicholas F!)

There are as many different dynamics as there are jams.  An Elmtree Jam 
ain't about wowing anybody or selling anything, it's more about having a 
musical conversation, or exploration, or whatever feels good to the 
players.  When it's effective it's as good or better than anything 
else.    Otherwise, we call it a practice!

I'll let y'all know when the next open Elmtree Jam is held, hopefully 
before I leave to go pester Professor Fouquet, and everyone else, in France!

-Dave Fertig


At 09:30 AM 2/4/2005, Richard Olson wrote:
> Hi Harp-Leers,
> I've had a (almost) life long affection for Blues and Bluegrass Music. 
> Although, long ago, I played in Blues and Bluegrass bands (60's & 70's), I 
> never really enjoyed performing.
> What I have enjoyed is informal rehearsing and "jamming".
> It seems that in Blues, jamming has evolved to mean playing out in a 
> bar-club or stage environment in front of an audience of God-knows-who.
>
> In Bluegrass, jamming still means (IMO) playing (and singing) with (and 
> for) other musicians(usually 2 to 12) sitting in a circle with NO 
> AMPLIFICATION! Each member of the jam takes his or her turn in rotation 
> choosing and leading a song while the other members fill in and take solos 
> as directed by, usually, eye-contact or e.g., "take it, Snuffy!". The idea 
> is to try not to "step on" other jammer's solo's, The jammers tend to be 
> the same people over time, and so the repertoire becomes familiar to all 
> the players and there often develops a mutual sense of caring and 
> tolerance. The better jammers are mentors and teachers to the less 
> experienced members.
>
> Harp-L is a wonderful resource and it's strength is in it's diversity. And 
> while I have little interest in the finer points of Amplification, etc., I 
> enjoy getting the digest and learn a lot from it.
>
> I guess my question is - Is there a List niche that enjoys "Jamming the 
> Blues" in the Bluegrass Jam format? And If so, is/are there jam(s) in the 
> Hartford, CT area that I could check out?
> Goin' down slow,
>   --Cal Sag (Too Rich O.)No virus found in this outgoing message.
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