It IS heaven Rick. I have finally found a niche that works. Don't get
me wrong. Jams are ok and we did that for years, but the problem you
run into is they were always open jams, and anyone who thought they
had something to add, would be able to play. This lead to situations
whereas we would get as many as:
1....trumpet
1....sop sax
2....ten sax
2....alt sax
2....guit
1....bone
sometimes a violin, sometimes a flute, and yada yada ALL trying to
play on the same tune. Sometimes as many as 11-12 musicians playing.
Then, the tune gets kinda long. If you play a tune too long, it gets
boring. Then you have to cut everyone to 1 head OR 1 bridge. Then you
always have the hot dogs who have to spray the place with
testosterone as they endeavor to be 'Star for a Day'.
Right now, all I have to do is show up, plug in my Peavey black
diamond and start a 'restrained, low tones' tune like Take 5, Around
Midnight, Nightlife, Haarlem Nocturne, Killer Joe, and watch the
people eating, drinking, talking, and in general having the good time
they originally set out to do.