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A Swing Jazz Jam? Cool!
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The goal of a jam is to have play music with others, improve your musicianship and have a good experience.
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YES, YOU ARE READY TO JUMP IN!
I know what swing jazz is and can play some standards in this genre, I've heard of Django-style Hot Club swing jazz. I know how to play basic jazz chords, read a basic chord chart (rhythm instruments), and/or know the melodies for some standards (melody instruments) If the above describes you, you can put your name and instrument on the sign-up sheet when you come to the jam. At that time, it will be helpful to choose three songs from the list of songs you see here. If you have other songs that you would like to do, feel free to email me. If it's in the genre, we probably have charts and so forth. TALK WITH JESSICA. I know some jazz standards, but I am not sure if they are in this genre. Not sure what Django-style means. I can only sing and have sung jazz alone, but never with real live people. I play an instrument that is unusual for this genre (a.k.a kazoo, sitar, digiridoo, hurdee gurdee, etc.) It might work. Email me or talk to me at the jam. YOU ARE NOT YET READY FOR YOUR SWING JAZZ JAM DEBUT What is swing jazz? This jam has a genre, and while experienced players can push the genre limits...for instance a Swing Jazz version of a Beatles tune maybe or a blues tune crossover. You will know if you are that player. If you don't know, you are not. I just bought this guitar and know three chords. That's great; learn a bunch more chords and practice practice practice. Can I borrow an instrument? No you cannot. Many of these instruments are worth a lot of money and all of them are precious to their owners. I want to play my own original songs with a band backing me up. That's really wonderful, and sometimes experienced players will call their own songs and hand out a lead sheet/chord chart. However, this is a swing jam, not band practice. It is expected that you will call standards from the repertoire. Can we play, "Freebird"? Yes, but only for a $1,000,000 tip. |
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FOR JAMMERS:
To make it s good experience for everyone, jammers are asked to follow a set of guidelines founded on respect for the audience, music, and each other.
STRUCTURE AND BASICS
- Please sign up on the sign up list (see above). Wait to be invited to the stage, and please make sure you understand basic structure and rules of a swing jam before attempting to participate.
- If the jam grows too large, we may need to limit the number of players on the bandstand at one time by rotating musicians in and out of the jam.
- Jessica, as the leader of the jam, will call the soloists. Usually, you will be given an opportunity to solo over a full form or a split form, but it's fine if you don't want to solo at all. If you call a tune, you can play the head. If you don't know the head, Jessica or another participant can possibly play the head (if they know it).
- Be aware of your VOLUME. Don't play too loudly, especially when someone else is soloing.
- In general, don't call "JAMBUSTERS". These are songs with unusual chord changes or forms. If you are not sure whether a song is a jambuster, ask Jessica.
