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The latest edition of JamCam Chronicles concerns the Jammy award winning BIG Summer Classic’s two-day stop in Schaumburg, Illinois in 2005 (A note: monetary issues actually caused this edition to be mailed out a few weeks later than anticipated, but everything is reported to be back on schedule for the upcoming release — I still say this is a project worth subscribing to!). The theme of this DVD is one of collaboration and friendship among musicians working together to bring a festival environment to the people. The BIG Summer Classic was a touring festival showcasing bands like String Cheese Incident, Michael Franti, New Monsoon, Keller Williams, Umphrey’s McGee, and additional ones in different cities. Summing it up, SCI’s bassist Keith Moseley says, “It’s a festival everyday. How can you go wrong with that?” I don’t think you can!

Now that festival season is swinging and a lot of us are busy packing (I’m trying to pack in the middle of finishing this review), driving, partying, packing, driving.........seeing JamCam Chronicles is even more of an adrenaline rush than the editions I received in the spring. As I prepare for All Good, I’m watching this edition and am so excited just to leave for the festival grounds that it’s hard to work out a review, but it’s a good thing. I actually saw the BIG Summer Classic tour while at last year’s All Good festival, as they managed to route the tour into the middle of the three-day festival to entertain us on Saturday. It’s funny how things tie back together…as I write this, All Good 2006 starts tomorrow!

I mentioned collaborations. The collaborative aspect of the BIG Summer Classic was this tour’s main selling point. Umphrey’s McGee plays with SCI’s Michael Kang, who walks out for a violin solo before Keller Williams (acoustic guitar) and Yonder Mountain String Band’s Jeff Austin (mandolin) join the pack to finish off “The Triple Wide” (ending with a “Stairway to Heaven” tease). The same crew also interprets the Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water.” Williams plays with Franti (a freestyle out of “Freek Show” with both artists taking beat box duties for the other to flow), Austin joins New Monsoon for “En Fuego,” Franti and Spearhead invite SCI’s Bill Nershi to grace their set (“One Step Closer to You”) and on…

Like all of the JamCam Chronicles DVDs, this one provides spinning and dancing crowd footage along with shots of children at play (we are the scene people!) and some all-star interviews focusing on the friendly vibe shared by the bands and their fans. Along with that friendly vibe comes some rivalry that just amplifies creative drive and makes the improvisational elements captured on this DVD that much better.

There’s even a sweet bonus section after the always-interesting JamCam Chronicles credits roll. This will be your incentive to find someone with the DVD or get your own subscription, because it’s a jam session not to be missed. I just have one question: Do you like your Umphrey’s with Cheese?