Playing the saxophone Jam Session

[Greywolf]

I'm interested to know what other people's experiences/expectations of jam sessions are.

I attend a jam session every sunday afternoon, which is great fun but it seems to me that wherever they are, whoever runs them there always seem to end up being 'issues'.

Our session is 'open to all' but on a local bulletin borad it has been described as 'cliquey'.

Now to me a clique is a group you would like to be a part of but seen from the outside. I have seen people come into the bar carrying an instrument., put it down, buy a drink, listen for a while, pick up their axe and leave. I wonder whether, it's not their sort of music, we're too good, we're not good enough, we're too cliquey or whatever.

I've thought about this for a while and I've sort of decided that if you want to play in the session you have to approach someone and say. I'd like to play. That's the entrance fee if you like, the stake. You have to step up to the line. That's hard but it shows to us and yourself that you mean business.

I'd be really interested to hear other people's views/experiences with this.

I should add that I didn't start the jam I just take my horn along and blow.

 

[Greywolf]

Pete,

I got carried away and I think this post should be in another category. Are you able to move it?

 

[Smiffy]

I'm going to my first one tomorrow, it was going to be Friday but has been moved

I know one of the people so it should be easier for me, if I was going somewhere that I did not know anyone, I guess I would be looking at body language and if the " group" were friendly towards others in the pub/hall, or just seemed like a "private, don't disturb us/. unapproachable " group

 

[Col]

I sometimes go to one in a local near me, very rough pub but great crowd. You have to had done time to drink there kindda vibe.

Everyone else played drums or guitar, I turned up with my sax and all of a sudden I was a god! (never been that before, or since).

I went back a couple of times and the moment I walk in I got "It's the sax man". I even got phoned when I didn't turn up, my wife started teasing that needed my weekly fan club fix - fair enough I guess.

However I noticed a trend. Youngsters (20-ish) would play early on, heavy, loud ear-splitting rrrrock, and the old folk (35+?) would push them off and take over for the last hour or so. Sometimes it got quite threatening, but never any trouble (so far).

I love it. Diving into the unknown and holding your own. Great learning curve, my blues in F sharp are coming along great!

 

[Taz]

I'm with you on this Col, I'm on my way to a jam in about an hour. Its a great affair. GW the way our night works is people turn up with their weapon of choice and then do their own "thing". If its their own materiel they tend to just get on with it. If they play covers then they tend to do the first one or two after which other muso's tend to join in. At the end of the night there is a free for all (the landlord then closes the pub to all except musos and we play and drink till......) 8)

 

[mfox]

greywolf what jam is that.. i'm only up the road in kendal and i'm quite often in morecambe..maybe we could meet up?.. i also often play at the gregson centre , john o gaunt and the robert gillow in lancaster. you would be quite welcome to come and blow your horn with us..

 

[Greywolf]

HI mfox

I have PMd you.

 

[Taz]

Its amazing who shows up at jam sessions!!!!!!! I've just got back from the Squirrel in Rugby. Its a VERY small pub, thirty people and it's heaving. Any way half way through the evening a very large black dude strolls in with a guitar on his shoulder. He sat at the bar for a while, not talking to anyone, just soaking in the atmosphere. After a while he was invited to get up and play. And play he did! Wow, the pub went quiet and this guy did his stuff, amazing!
So who was this guy? None other than Adrian Byron Burns! (Not that I'd ever heard of him :whistle: )
Here is his website
As soon as I've downloaded the video (sorry it was taken on my mobile) I'll post it on here.

 

[Greywolf]

This is all very interesting. Please keep it coming guys.

Our 'nearly happened' was getting Courtney Pine down to the Stonewell Jam on Saturday night after his gig at the Dukes. My step-daughter went up to ask him to come down and he said he'd see after his takeaway, but he was really tired.

I can vouch for that. I was there and he looked totally knackered. Damn fine gig though.

 

[Smiffy]

Well the time has come and I have to head off to my first jam

I'm not worried at all at the mo, maybe a wreck when I get there and have to blow :erm: :S

Oh well see ya later *gulp*

 

[Taz]

Good luck Smiffy, you'll have a blast (if it ain't too loud) ad become totally addicted. 😉

 

[mick_wilson]

I have been to Jam sessions in Hinckley as a guitarist. I have found that they are run by a group of musiciands who generall hog the floor all night and if you want to have a jam you end up asking to play and if they dont know the song will ask if theres more that you know. instead what should happen is you go solo they shut up and let others have a go. it annoys me to the point i think whats the point. its there floor you can play a song with us or clear off :erm: :erm: :erm: jam session dont think so not if its run like this. there was a bassist turn up 1 night and he was told you play bass along side the other bassist or dont bother.

i was tempted to take my aria pro bass the following week to out play him but thought what the heck he aint worth the hassle and its never a good thing or proffessional to brag or outplay a fellow musiciam 8) 8) 8)

 

[Greywolf]

How would you describe the important differences between a jam session and an open mic session...if you think there are any?

 

[Col]

Open mike: structured, pre-booked slots with an allocation of numbers you can do. I'm at one next wednesday with my new band, we're doing 5 blues/funk numbers to see how we play togther live.
Jam: Free for all. Turn up and barge in, play with anybody and everybody. I'm going to my local one tonight (all this talk has got me back into it, so thanks!!) I usually unpack my horn at the bar and, if it's a blues, start playing as I walk up to the band and barge in (ex-rugby player).
Makes me feel like Charlie Parker in the film Bird, though I stress I don't sound in my wildest dreams anything like him and never will.
Still, it's good to dream 🙁

 

[mick_wilson]

lol nice one maybe ill try that lol one day :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: