We be jammin'

Bobby G · Mar 4, 2007

Has anyone any good suggestions for tunes to learn that can be called at a jam session?

I'm thinking particularly of maybe harmonically simpler tunes that would suit less experienced or adventurous players, but also could be opened up a bit more by experienced player; the kind of tune that everyone could get a blow on.

I'm sure house bands get tired of 'Blue Monk' being called, similarly I am sure many less able or experienced players dread 'A Night In Tunisia'. You get the picture....

Probably something like Moanin' or Cantaloupe Island or Watermelon Man would fit the bill if you don't think they've been overdonewhich can be a problem for someone with either a limited repertoire or reading skills.

Cheers, Bob

Linky Lee · Mar 4, 2007

I like Moanin'.....

Georgia is a lovely one that has lots of potential for expansion and is probably what I'd call a middle ground one.

Just go through the standards and any of them would be fine, they generally cover the more basic to medium/advanced area but there a few that are quite tricky, though usually they aren't as well known at jam sessions etc.

You could try It don't mean a thing if it ain'..... can't be bothered 😛

mfox · Mar 5, 2007

yeah moanin' is a good tune to mess with , also work song, and tequila,, these three can also be linked together quite simply too..
but also consider
a foggy day.. loads of room in that one.
my little sued shoes .. parker latin thing that is quite simple
in a mellow tone.. great long choruses for getting teeth into.
doxy.. my fav jam tune, go through all the keys.
blue 7.. as above
sonnymoon for two.. staying with rollins..
chitlins con carne.. cool kenny burell tune..

hope you try 1 or 2 of these..they are all pretty simple tune, but the best ones are..

tengu01 · Mar 5, 2007

The regulars which get called out which everyone can usually get into and have a chorus on:
Watermelon Man
Canteloupe Island
Footprints
Four
So What/Impressions

Some which would be good to hear more:
St Thomas
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Chameleon
Misty
Somewhere over the Rainbow

There's always someone who wants to go burning through
Confirmation
Anthropology or
Giant Steps

....at which point, I get off stage and enjoy the fireworks.

frank_johnson · Mar 5, 2007

St. Thomas is a great favourite of mine!
How's about 'Don't Stop The Carnival' (or the jam session for that matter).

I've just discovered, and can just about play the theme to the Godfather.My family are walking everywhere humming it. >:)

tris · Mar 5, 2007

Jean-Pierre by Miles Davis is a great jamming tune... nice and spare and harmonically simple.

Pete Thomas · Mar 5, 2007

There's a big list on this page:

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/jazz-repertoire.html

Bobby G · Mar 5, 2007

Thanks everyone, that could all be most helpful - I just need a few tunes to call rather than the traditional 'Blues in F', or if I'm feeling very adventurous, 'Blues in Bb'. I have a soprano-playing acquaintance who always seems to call 'Bags Groove' which is another easy one to get into.

I like the groove-based things too, like Cantaloupe Island, with that straighter 4's feel. Was it, umm, Ramsey Lewis who used to do a lot of piano-trio tunes in that style and rhythm, often with groovin' handclaps?

Cheers, Bob

disco_volante · Mar 5, 2007

On a similar subject, I've been roped into jammin 'Giant Steps' with a local sax player at the next jam night I'm going to. I've got about a week to prepare. Should be ok cos i don't think i'm gonna be taking any of the solos. Phew!

Jules · Mar 5, 2007

How about "Back in the Chicken Shack" & "C Jam Blues"....... Or that great jam structure thing of any 16 bar groove and then go up a minor 3rd..

mfox · Mar 5, 2007

modulation is always good in jam sessions...
in a proper band situation though i never modulate.. i feel if a tune need modulation it isn't interesting enough to start with.. exceptions are naturally modulation like " my girl" ottis redding..
but in practice and jam sessions modulation is really very important.

Linky Lee · Mar 5, 2007

Modulation can really lift a tune, for example you could have played a verse a few times and a chorus and just had a middle 8, you're really into the song but don't want to repeat something again, what do you do?

You can build up to the chorus again but move the chorus up a tone or something, Modulation is a device to be used but I think it has to be used sparingly, too much modulation can cause something to seem un-related and not very flowing. Though many songs actually manage to pull this off, it's just a credit to their compositional skills.

Lots of riff based stuff needs modulation as well and licks are quite often repeated up a third then up another third etc. which is all modulation really.

tengu01 · Mar 6, 2007

Speaking of modulation, I saw Maceo Parker in concert last year. Him and his band have an amazing technique for modulation on-the-fly. They'd be playing a funk number, and in the middle of it, he'd turn to the band and point upwards once. On the count of 4, the band would modulate the tune up a whole tone or a third. Twice, up two whole tones (or whatever step they're using) and the same going down. Amazingly tight and coordinated.

The one thing with modulation during a jam is trying to get everyone to go at the same time. It's happened on a couple of occasions that they guys actually watching the rhythm section will go on time and a couple won't catch it and have to scramble to keep up.

Amusing if you saw it coming. Grim if you're the one everyone's glaring at 🙂