Re: [Harp-L] Jazz Jams at SPAH 2009 - and not just jazz

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 3, 2009, at 12:33 PM, IcemanLE@xxxxxxx wrote:

> What happened to the Jazz Club setting?

They still have that, or should I say, since Milwaukee 07. It's an on  
and off situation.

 Used to be back in the early 90s, Ron Kalina or Bob Beck would come  
down to the piano bar (or in the case of Dallas..the library), and  
start to play. Conventioneers would gather around and some would  
actually try to sit in. Ron would change keys about a quadra-zillion  
times just to make it fun. One by one, players would drop out and by  
the mid 90s, when Randy first started coming to the conventions, we  
would do this multi player thing and after a while, the only ones  
left standing were Randy Singer (& sometimes me).

I had suggested to Gordon to start a 'jazz club' but since it  
entailed added expense, he wasn't interested. In the late 90s Randy  
was finally able to persuade the board, and that's when it all started.
> I remember a small stage w/PA, a back up jazz band (stand up bass,  
> drum,
> pianist), acoustic piano (tuned) - even a Yamaha Grand, seats in  
> front of
> the stage and MC Randy - either in a private room

The private room was a bad idea. First of all, some harmonica players  
are show offs and playing in a sterile room with plasticine wall  
coverings, bad acoustics, harsh lighting was lame. Secondly, no one  
realized what was going on. There were NO passersby. If you didn't  
read the schedule, you never knew there was a jazz showcase going on.  
Thirdly, sometimes it ran CONCURRENT with the major show. That, in  
itself, made attendance lame. It was all lame. Thankfully, that all  
changed in Milwaukee.

As a side note, there should be multiple mikes. There are times when  
'trading riffs' is fun and also adding background (IF you know how to  
do it) to another's solo, makes for a fuller sound. This shouldn't be  
a problem with pros. Pros know when to play and when not to play.  
It's the jams co-ordinator duty to control grand standing.

> or in an area of the  hotel
> that was open and conducive to a Jazz Club, during the "Golden Age  
> of  SPAH"
> years.

Elizabeth was suggesting ADDING something for the less accomplished  
players who want to try, and have a proclivity towards jazz, but the  
combo situation is a wee too intimidating. Let's face it, Randy's  
jazz club DOES attract some pretty heavy hitters. I believe that the  
Wizard (Winslow) is correct. The people who feel that they are not  
'quite' up to the jazz club's hype, should endeavor to get involved  
in as many impromptu jams as possible. Even maybe start their OWN.  
ANY impromptu jam will attract onlookers.
> In a message dated 6/3/2009 11:06:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> In a  separate post, Randy Singer mentions that he will be using
> Band-in-a-Box for  his hallway jazz jams.
>
> OK, so a hallway jam isn't the same as a  nightclub with a live  
> band in
> front of an audience. But is a nice low-pressure  opportunity to  
> get your feet
> wet in the ocean of jazz  improvisation.
>
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