Subject: [Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 36, Issue 50 (Jazz Jams at SPAH)

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

SPAH's brand new President Tom Stryker writes:
 
"Now that it is absolutely clear that we need to reorganize the Jazz  Jam at
the SPAH Convention, I ask help for 2007 to assure that we  present in it the
way that best reflects the desires of the majority of  the attendees and
participants.  

To accomplish this I will  be establishing a Jazz Jam Committee consisting of
one participant from  the SPAH community at large and one appointed by SPAH.
It will be the  job of each participant to jointly establish the guidelines
on how to  proceed, based upon the input of the SPAH membership, and to  make
recommendations to the SPAH Board.  Here are the guidelines  for
participating in the Jazz Jam Committee:

1.  Must be a  SPAH member in good standing
2.  Must have been an attendee of  previous Jazz Jams an must be an attendee
at the 2007 convention in  Milwaukee
3.  Must be a Jazz player
4.  The MC and  committee positions are voluntary
5.  The rhythm section  considered will either be those who perform as backup
for other  performers at the convention, providing they are good Jazz
players, or  local Jazz Musicians or other capable Jazz Musicians that meet
the  budget criteria. Other options can be considered.

Yes, this is  early on, but it is only the first of other requests I will be
making  for volunteer participation.  The goal is to make SPAH and  the
Convention please everyone, if that is possible.  This can  best be
accomplished by your participation.  As SPAH's President,  shame on me if I
don't listen and react, but....

So here is your  chance to do SPAH and yourself a great service.  If you  are
interested, please contact me offline at: tstryker@xxxxxxx or call  me at:
(775) 853-5118.

Many thanks to all of you for voicing  your opinions on this important
activity.  It is in this way that  we will improve.


Tom Stryker 
SPAH"
 
....and to my mind, this is what it's all about.  I'm merely a  "listener 
in"...someone who loves Jazz but couldn't in any way, shape or  form be 
considered a jazz player (at this early stage)...though maybe some  day  :)  BUT I so 
want to enjoy hearing all the wonderful jazz  harmonica players (diatonic as 
well as chromatic) not only at next year's  SPAH, but at the Buckeye festivals 
as well. I only wish the Jazz jams  didn't conflict with the late-night Blues 
Jams...since I so enjoy both,  but this is a major step forward.  Way to go!
 
Elizabeth