Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A "jam" session is----NOT jelly on the roll, in blues parlance, according to Al...


Submitted by Al Kanovsky 4/2/13


A "jam" session by any other name is still a-----"jam" session!! "Well, Mr. smart-ass, exactly what is it?" is your question. As defined in the dictionary, a "jam session" is an informal gathering of musicians to play improvised or unrehearsed music. The key words are improvised and unrehearsed. My definition is somewhat different. A group of cats get together in some joint. They all bring their "axes". The sit down and one of them says "B flat". Then they blow. No sheet music or music stands. Lots of times they have never played together before. It makes no difference the key or time signature. Some one plays a bar or two and they blow. Most of all it's meant to be fun. For the musicians as well as the audience. It's a chance to show off your "chops" and sometimes your lack of thereof.

Monday night is "jam" night at The Funky Biscuit. Sunday night at BJB's a gal got up and jammed with the Anthony Corrado's band playing JAZZ tunes. Her instrument, violin. Not seen or heard too often at "jam" sessions. Her name is Jaimy Lynn. Yesterdays blog mentioned her be-bop licks. To use an expression from back in the day, "The chick can play". I told her about "the Biscuit" and she showed up 'axe' in hand and friends in tow. The house band at the Funky Biscuit has the following members(not in any particular order), the guitar brothers Ron & John Tillman, Kenny(one name) on bass, Larry Dillard playing drums and Al Poliak on B3/keyboards and vocals. Al also doubles as bar-back, bus boy, bartender and bowl cleaner when necessary. I think the reason they allow Al to play is that he owns the joint.

It is a great place to "hang", listen to and lose the Monday night BLUES. Especially when there ain't no football. I introduced Jaimy to Al and he asked her to join in the session. She did and everyone in this hi-class "juke joint" was glad she did. As I said earlier "the chick----" Al wouldn't let the gal off the stage, picking numbers that would show off her talent. Other guys joined the session including Jared Weiss(16 yrs. old/guitar), Spencer Dillman(drums),Brad Miller(19/bass), Drew Preston(guitar) and Capt. Reese(bass/vocals).When asked for his favorite BLUES line, he needed some time. The good Capt. told me he'd been singing and playing BLUES for 45 years and there were so many.
A little while later he walked over and simply said "I paid my dues to play the BLUES" It's a B.B. King line and ain't it the truth for all JAZZ and BLUES musicians.

I forgot to mention that young J.L Fulks(guitar/vocals) helped open the night in the first set. If I left anyone out, blame it on Jack (Daniels). They stopped serving booze. Started wiping down the tables and hinted that it was time for me to get my butt home. Time for my after midnight sweetheart, Ms. (the real) Tracy Fields (93.1FM). She brought along Jesse Jones Jr. to play "Take Me Home". Playing flute, singing scat Jesse got me there safe, sound and wondering who played great piano at that session.

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1 comment :

  1. :) The pianist on Jesse's "Comin' Home, Baby" is Dr. Lonnie Smith.

    ReplyDelete