Jam nights - cliquey

[dclaassen]

On 15/04/2025 at 10:36, zbd1960 said:

As a sax play and someone who has an interest in jazz, one of the things that I get frustrated with going to listen to a jazz gig is the typical way that playing is approached. The typical method is: play the head, perhaps repeat head with some variation/decoration, everyone takes a solo for 16, 32, 64... bars (cue perhaps solo sax, trumpet, guitar, bass, keys, drums...). After 15 minutes of boring the audience to death, return to head and finish. Repeat process with next tune. 

 

You do not need to have everyone taking a solo in every tune, but that's what a lot of jazz groups do. They then wonder why their audiences almost no one under 70 in them.

 

I don't go to a lot of jazz gigs, but I've been to enough, first one in my 20s, and they all operate this way. More imagination would go a long way. 

 

This is exactly my experience with jazz jams. I do not find it enjoyable.

[Gasman]

Maybe it's an attention-span deficit in the  audience's young'uns - jazz is about exploring a melody, chord sequence, harmonies, over a reasonable number of choruses, but usually a lot fewer than guitarists belabour in a 'Red House' rock/blues jam and a lot prettier...

[dclaassen]

2 hours ago, Gasman said:

Maybe it's an attention-span deficit in the  audience's young'uns - jazz is about exploring a melody, chord sequence, harmonies, over a reasonable number of choruses, but usually a lot fewer than guitarists belabour in a 'Red House' rock/blues jam and a lot prettier...

In an ideal world, this is true…..but very few “Jazz players” are capable, and many rely on a few licks, don’t listen enough to respond musically to other ideas, and usually (sax and guitar) play wayyyyy too many notes. Tbf, I can’t solo like Ron Carter either…

[Geek99]

If only I had the talent for either 

[JJTee]

You all have it all wrong. THIS is how a jam night should be…

 

[D.I. Joe]

On 15/04/2025 at 20:09, Stub Mandrel said:

 

I went to one event where what was basically the whole of a Grateful Dead tribute got up and for their first song launched into Dark Star... 😂

 

Hey, I resemble that remark!! 🤣

[Burns-bass]

I went to a jazz jam session at a rehearsal room and the drummer ran it really well. We discussed each tune, organised the solos and played to the nod. Was brilliant fun.

 

What I’m trying to say is that not all jazz jams are bad, they can be really good. I guess it depends on who sets the context.

[MacDaddy]

On 25/04/2025 at 19:56, JJTee said:

You all have it all wrong. THIS is how a jam night should be…

 

 

I watched the video but got distracted by a couple of things...

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, D.I. Joe said:

 

Hey, I resemble that remark!! 🤣

 

Rumbled! 🤣🤣🤣🤣