[Harp-L] Re: How to instruct musicians at open jam

[Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Bill

If I know the groove well in my head, I will vocalize the rhythm I  
want to the drummer and bass player. There is a TRULY EXCELLENT  
resource out there that will help anyone communicate grooves -  
something that is indeed hard to name and do. There isn't just one  
shuffle, there are dozens.

Check out Jimi Lee's "Every groove a bluesman needs to know" - a  
wonderful set of jam trax with guitar, bass, drums and keys - that  
illustrates a BUNCH of different grooves. Each one is named, and there  
is a written explanation of each. Here is the explanation for Disc 1,  
track 1:

"Jimmy Reed Shuffle in E - this is a great place to start. A straight  
ahead shuffle with the bass walking from the root, or 1st degree, to  
the sixth degree. Root-Third-Fifth-Sixth-etc. and the drummer  
shuffling on the snare and ride cymbal. Great songs like Jimmy Reed's  
"Baby What You Want Me To Do" are classic examples and mandatory for a  
Bluesman and any well rounded musician's reprertoire. This groove is  
sometimes called a "Delta Shuffle."

There is an explanation like that for every track and there are 31  
tracks on the 2 CD set. Really valuable stuff that will help you  
communicate with the band.

See http://www.jimileeband.com/ and go to the "Buy CD's" section.

Highly recommended.
----------
/Greg

http://www.blowsmeaway.com
http://www.bluestateband.net
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/duracool/id343874731


> Hello all,
>
> I've been going to a local blues jam lately.
>
> Because I sing as well as play harp, the house band usually lets me  
> call the tunes.   I normally just call out something along the lines  
> of "shuffle in G, from the V" (or whatever else) and count it off.   
> It all winds up sounding good and tight, albeit a little generic- 
> sounding from the rhythm section.
>
> That's all well and good, but I don't know how to communicate some  
> of the shuffle-type rhythms that sound great with harmonica, such as  
> you'd hear Little Charlie and some of the other west coast guys do.
>
> The song I'm thinking of the most is "Too Poor", the Lynwood Slim  
> cover of the Detroit Jr. tune.   How would I describe that type of  
> rhythm to guys who haven't necessarily heard the song?