[Harp-L] Re: Buddy Guy Legends Monday Jam

[Jim Rossen <jimjimdr@xxxxxxxxx>]

I went once when it was on Wabash, don't recall who was hosting.
Signed up early-ish, played the last two songs of the evening using a
vocal mic (use of guitar amps for harmonica was discouraged), very
loud stage volume, could not hear myself.

Jim R

On Sep 15, 3:45 pm, buzz krantz <bu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>   On 9/15/2010 3:19 PM, Bill Hines wrote:>  I feel that I should follow up here since I am guilty of perpetuating
> > what may now be a false accusation about the jam at Buddy Guy's
> > Legends club in Chicago. Cliff notes in case you don't want to read
> > the long diatribe below: it was alllll good. Go forth, and do not be
> > afraid.
>
> I don't jam at Buddy's much anymore. But I've always been treated with
> respect there. I'll have to check out the new place.
>                    buzz..............................................
>
>
>
> > I recently asked on this list about Chicago jams and noted that I
> > wouldn't go to Buddy Guy's Legends club jam because I've heard stories
> > of extreme favoritism to locals, head cutting, etc. My trip got cut
> > down to "one night only" as they say in show biz (even though I was
> > going there for a tech/geek event) so I figured I'd just pack my five
> > essential harps (A, Bb, C, D, G) and practice in my room some, maybe
> > catch an act in town if there was one Monday night, or go check out
> > this notorius jam.
>
> > Didn't see much in the way of acts to catch that particular night, at
> > least right nearby as I didn't have a car. So I went to Legends which
> > was only a few blocks from the hotel. They moved to a new location
> > about three months ago. I wasn't going to bring the harps, but since I
> > only had a few I said "what the heck" and stuffed the soft case into
> > my belt, under my jacket. I could always say I went there and tried to
> > play, and got shot down, to add my story to the others. A short cab
> > ride later, I was pushing through the door with some dudes carrying
> > guitar cases. They asked for a $10 cover, but said if you are playing
> > this is waived. I saw the signup sheet and said (dishonestly maybe at
> > the time, as I still had no intention of playing, but by now I'm
> > thinking "hell they aren't going to call me up from what I hear about
> > this place, I might as well sign up") "I'm playing" and went to sign
> > up. The bouncer said "Where's your instrument?" and I said "Harp!" and
> > started to reach behind my jacket. He rolled his eyes and said
> > "Nevermind, go ahead".
>
> > I did notice that out of the dozen or so players signed up already,
> > there was nobody playing harp on the list yet. It was pretty early
> > though, about 8:45pm and the jam starts at 9:30. Anyway, to the bar,
> > some beer and dinner, chatting up the local musicians (everyone has a
> > story.....) and folks in town on business or pleasure.  I asked the
> > bartender who the guy was that was running the jam, I needed to talk
> > to him. I was going to explain that I had come on a whim, so I only
> > had five harps rather than the full set a "real" musician would travel
> > with, and if that's not OK to take me off the list. Not that I was
> > going to play anyway, but just to be sure. I started having flashbacks
> > of the jam at Rum Boogie in Memphis, packed house, and the singer
> > calls a tune in B, with an E harp being the only one I didn't have on
> > stage with me (had one back in the room, but who's going to call a
> > tune in E? - lesson learned - I thought until now). The house band
> > starts, run by a guy named Jimmy Burns and the house band was pretty
> > damn good - Jimmy on vocals and guitar. Jimmy blew some harp on a
> > number at the end, pretty basic blues stuff into the vocal mic. Big
> > crowd by now, I noticed. Sound man in a proper sound boot, big stage
> > with stage lighting, the works. Lots of folks patiently leaning on
> > instruments, waiting.... (nobody leaning on a harp though)
>
> > They played a set and then Jimmy said he was going to get this jam
> > going and they would be right back. I went back to my business at the
> > bar. Next thing I know he's up there with the signup list calling
> > folks up.  He called up a drummer, keyboardist, bassist, guitar,
> > guitar/vocalist.....and then me. First set. I was momentarily in
> > shock, and deciding whether to look around and say "Where is that
> > a-hole?" and then work my way out the door, or just go up. I hadn't
> > had a chance to explain I only had five harps (and little position
> > mastery outside of 2nd and a lame 1st/3rd - note to self, work on
> > that!). I also had no gear at all, not even the digitech I sometimes
> > pack along for situations like this. I had a few beers, not drunk but
> > enough to give me courage to do the right thing. I had gotten in free
> > after all, under the pretense of being a musician. Time to pay the
> > cost. I went up nonchalantly, like the badass I am (not). Chatted up
> > the guy settling down on keys, he was from out of town and as lost as
> > me as far as how it works. The rest of the band looked like hardened
> > regulars from the streets of Chicago, scowling hardened no-nonsense
> > pissed off mofos.
>
> > Anyway, I was happy that the first song was called out in A, and
> > grabbed my D harp. Even happier when he called G for the second, and I
> > could use my trust C harp. Both were blues classics, I forget which
> > now, but ones that I knew well from our own (awesome) local jam in
> > Harrisburg PA. So I was comfortable, and it was a rush while playing
> > to think I was up there on Buddy Guy's stage in downtown Chicago, home
> > of electric blues, Muddy, Walters, etc. Now, I'm no Smokey Joe Leone
> > or anything, but the crowd seemed to appreciate what I was doing, or
> > was extraordinarily sympathetic (or drunk), I heard noises resembling
> > clapping, whistling and hooting. The sound was fantastic on stage. I
> > was worried about feedback, cupping the SM58 vocal mic, but heard none
> > so I assume the sound guy saw me grab it, noted "F'ing harp players"
> > and adjusted the EQ. I sure wished I had my Sonny Jr Cruncher though,
> > then I would have showed them!!
>
> > I was in the zone after two songs, ready to go. What's next!! Gimme
> > something hot!! And then I heard the "Thank you's" and saw the rest of
> > the crew packing up. Whoops, two songs only here, as opposed to our
> > jam where you get four. Understandable given the numbers, but still a
> > bummer.
>
> > So anyway, maybe the jam is different when Jimmy Burns is running it,
> > or maybe things have changed with the new location, or it was just a
> > lucky thing but I have nothing but good things to report about Buddy
> > Guy's Monday night jam at the Legends club in Chicago. Go for it!!
>
> > Bill Hines- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -