Jam nights... OMG

[Boodang]

As I've just moved to Riga, I thought I'd check out some jam nights to see if I can find some musicians to hook up with. However, it's turned out to be some of the worse musical experiences I've ever encountered, to the extent that I'd say it's been audible torture. 

First off, a commune style, shoes off, basement studio where those not playing an 'instrument' were handed a djembe. What a noise with no direction as far as I could see very little talent (I'm trying not to be condescending but it was awful). I think it actually might have been a recruitment drive for the Hare Krishna movement (they have a big presence here). Nice people tho. 

Then there was a bar which had local musicians hosting a jam night, but nobody seemed to know what to play so it was just noodling. Another bar, this time a bunch of teenagers who sounded like they'd just picked up their instruments with someone on 'vocals' doing a trumpet impression. 

So, off to the jazz club and they host a jam night and the local jazz musicians are v talented.... so talented in fact that it instantly turned into free jazz nonsense and I had to leave (don't get me wrong, I love jazz but free jazz is a mess that only those playing get anything from it). 

It seems like there's either no prep or the musicians just don't know what to play. I mean, how difficult can it be to be musical over ii V I or I V IV! Once I do find some blues musicians I'll try and redress the balance by having regular jam nights based on blues and jazz standards (bring your fake book type stuff). 

In the meantime where are you @nilorius?! Our resident Riga bass player needs to introduce me to some musicians..... please!

An excerpt from the Krishna recruitment evening. 

 

 

[knirirr]

48 minutes ago, Boodang said:

...free jazz is a mess that only those playing get anything from it). 

 

 

I'm not sure about that - I've got quite a few free jazz albums and enjoy listening to them. Of course, I usually have to wait until my other half is out in case she complains of "oh no, not more Desolate Shore"... 
BTW, a couple of times I've seen arguments about free jazz break out on another forum, where things can get quite heated indeed. I failed to make clear that I liked listening to it and received some interesting abuse. 

Re your jams, it seems a bit off that there's no planning. Good luck getting a house band together and starting your own!

[Dan Dare]

Sounds grim. It appears from what you say that everyone pitches in all the time, which sounds like a recipe for disaster. All the decent jams I've been to and go to put together various combinations of some of those present to play a few numbers before changing the mix. It's one thing ensuring a jam is inclusive and that everyone gets a chance to play, but a total free for all from start to finish sounds ghastly.

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, Boodang said:

An excerpt from the Krishna recruitment evening. 

 

 

Cool 😎

[Boodang]

2 hours ago, knirirr said:

 

I'm not sure about that - I've got quite a few free jazz albums and enjoy listening to them. Of course, I usually have to wait until my other half is out in case she complains of "oh no, not more Desolate Shore"... 
BTW, a couple of times I've seen arguments about free jazz break out on another forum, where things can get quite heated indeed. I failed to make clear that I liked listening to it and received some interesting abuse. 

Re your jams, it seems a bit off that there's no planning. Good luck getting a house band together and starting your own!

Thanks. There's a few bars here where I think the jam nights are driving away customers, so there's some opportunities once I get some musicians together. 

As for free jazz, it obviously has it's place but sometimes it can just be a nonsense. In the case of the last one I went to the guitarist was determined that anything coming out of his guitar should not resemble a guitar sound... scraping,  bashing, anything than actually playing a note!

I think the main difference between a free jazz jam and a jam night where it's a noise, is that free jazz musicians know what notes should be played and avoid them, whereas at the jam night they play those notes by accident!