rmorris Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 6 hours ago, Staggering on said: To make it even better (or worse depending on your point of view) I play tenor banjo in a trad jazz band and in the bluegrass band I play bass but get to listen to our excellent 5 string banjo player...best of both worlds.😄 Edit: I had to remove the ' that somehow slipped into the original post...I am getting old I guess.🙄 This is getting dark now 😳 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 12 hours ago, shoulderpet said: I used to go to a jam night a while ago and stopped going in the end. Problem was the house band always had there favourite musicians so there favourites would be on for several songs and unless you were lucky you would get squeezed in at the end for 1 or 2 songs and occasionally if it was a busy night you might not get to play at all so you would end up at the pub till half eleven on a work night so that you could play for 3-6 minutes, to make it even worse if you showed up even slightly after 8pm they wouldn't even bother trying to make sure you got to play and would use that as an excuse. tbh ime any "Jam Night" organised by performers taking part is more about the ego of those performers. With little self awareness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekomatic Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 Well tonight the house band had ACTUAL RICHARD WETHERALL on piano, and since no pianists turned up until later on he stayed on for the jam, which means I have now jammed with ACTUAL RICHARD WETHERALL. Blimey. For the benefit of non-jazzers this is someone I would be reasonably confident of placing in the Premier League of current British jazz pianists. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 That’s pretty cool. The jam I go to is regularly hosted by Nicolas Meier who is well known on the circuit (and spent some time in Jeff Beck’s band,!!). When he’s not available Pete Roth often steps in to cover - another amazing jazzer and regular at Ronnie’s etc. What a pleasure to get to play with players of that calibre - not to mention how great the song the house band play to open the night is!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knirirr Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 Last night's jam involved too many gypsy jazz guitarists some of whom were, I think, trying to wind me up. Unfortunately I don't think they'd easily find another bassist so I feel obliged to keep attending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 I’ve been playing in the house band that hosts a blues jam for over 25 , close to 30 years now. We’ve seen many mature and become excellent players , and others that have not. You’re always dealing with various levels of ability. We try and get everyone up , at times that is simply impossible. If I see a bassist in the house , I try and get them up. I have no issue letting others play my gear. (although these days I’ve been using a big orange Gretsch hollow body and most Fender players are completely thrown by that) (and yet some absolutely love it) It’s not an easy job. And when somebody is playing the wrong chords , do you play it their way , or play it correctly? When somebody that is a great player turns up you want to hear them play a little more. You cannot please everybody. They say a good night has a little heaven and a little hell. A great one does too. I don’t see it as an ego thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 (edited) On 27/03/2024 at 08:47, shoulderpet said: I used to go to a jam night a while ago and stopped going in the end. Problem was the house band always had there favourite musicians so there favourites would be on for several songs and unless you were lucky you would get squeezed in at the end for 1 or 2 songs and occasionally if it was a busy night you might not get to play at all so you would end up at the pub till half eleven on a work night so that you could play for 3-6 minutes, to make it even worse if you showed up even slightly after 8pm they wouldn't even bother trying to make sure you got to play and would use that as an excuse. I can understand your frustration. Our jam night works on a first come basis. Many years ago, couple of the better players tried turning up late, so they could get the "top spot" and finish the show, but on busy nights they didn't get to play, which taught them a lesson. We have a trumpet player who regularly turns up. She hasn't learnt a new note in 3 years, she's terrible, but she is called up every time she turns up. That's a jam night. Edited June 20 by chris_b 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekomatic Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 Well last week’s jazz jam may be the last, as the pub is closing this week. Sounds like the brewery have kicked the landlord out and may install a new one, so it might be back, or might find new premises. Would be a shame if it doesn’t carry on somehow though, as it was a really nice crowd and vibe. I’m told the one at Matt and Phreds in Manchester is good, so might chance that next month… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 If you were drawing a crowd with an established time slot I would think it in their own interest to continue. The old dive I loved so much closed last week , they are changing location so they’re expected to reopen in several weeks. 28 years for the jam in the old place , I’ve been there since the beginning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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