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Since this is a new publication that deals with "Jam Bands", I thought it would be interesting to sit back for a while and contemplate what a jam band really is. Let's face it, the first time we strapped on, sat down in front of or started to beat on an instrument with our buddies in Mom and Dad's basement, we were in a "Jam Band". The fact that you only knew four versions of two songs dictated that you were a "Jam Band". How else were you going to fill an afternoon ? The thing is, you were probably dreaming of being Led Zeppelin at the time so you spent hours practicing those two songs over and over until they were technically perfect. This approach was defeating the "Jam Band" ideology before it had a chance to go to bud !But what is a "Jam Band" really ? According to the Webster's dictionary (and I will dissect in the interest of space), here is a selective definition: Jam; (vb) to force one's way into a restricted space. Sounds reasonable. I know some nights in MudStik land it feels just like that ! In the interest of comparrison, jam is also: boiled fruit and sugar; a scoring round in roller derby; and, the ability to make something unintelligible by sending out interfering signals. All of these things describe a jam of some sort and yes, sometimes these all pertain to the musical connotation as well. But we still haven't really nailed down what a "Jam Band" is.
Jazz musicians have long known that if you throw "seeds" to the wind the harvest you reap can be far more fruitful than if you had carefully marked out the rows. What this really means is that if you plan something down to the endth degree you can actually have an adverse reaction or at the very least be disappointed with the result. Jazz, by its very nature, is loose, free wheeling and yet somehow it always seems to be controlled in some way. If this music were scored it would probably lose some (if not most) of its feel and thus, become forced and come off sounding contrived. Ahhhh, now we're getting somewhere ! Or are we ?
A good friend of mine who owns a small, private studio in his home invites me over every now and again to lay down some tracks. Usually this process will start with me noodling on the acoustic guitar until I find some sort of a groove. Once we have established a foundation we will take turns noodling over top with various instruments and then I will leave him to his technical devices to tweak knobs and dials until he finds the sound he likes (whatever that is). Although we are doing this in a "studio atmosphere", aren't we really just jamming ? It's not live, there is no crowd energy involved and no glowstick wars but he will argue that what he and I are doing is just as valid a jam as the one's the band pulls off at shows. If you agree with that train of thought, one person could, in effect, be a "Jam Band".
Technical prowess is another interesting component of the "Jam Band" issue. If you put a number of very schooled musicians together they should be able to make music of some sort (much like a group of lawyers can always put together an argument). Does this make them a "Jam Band" or mearly a bunch of good musicians that can jam. Speaking from personal experience I can tell you that some of the best jams I have ever heard were played by folks that didn't even know the names of the chords they were playing. They were using feel. Feel is kind of hard to explain to people that don't play an instrument but I've always tried by saying, "When the feel is right, the music flows like water". Stevie Ray Vaughn used to come up with a hot lick and then he would take his guitar to where Double Trouble was and literally show them the lick because he didn't know how to compose the music in his head and put it to paper - it was purely visual with a soundtrack. If you ever saw Stevie live (as I have), you know that the man had feel !
Comfort level is another very important factor. There are some folks out there that need to know what song is next in the set and many bands that have a set list that has remained virtually unchanged for who knows how long. Sure the licks may be hot and the tunes may be good but if it's too predetermined, the spontaneity is lost. There are some bands you can see once and you have seen the whole tour and others who don't play the same tunes from one night to another. It takes a certain comfort level just to get up in front of people and play but an even larger comfort level is required if you are going to hang it all out there with no idea of how (or when) it's going to end. The latter is not recommended for those of you who get bummed out about the odd bad note !
A good "Jam Band" (IMHO), is a band that can play the same song five times in a row and never play it the same way twice. Sure you can tell that it's the same tune but because it is always a work in progress the song changes each time with the different ebs and flows. In fact, a good jam is quite often not even a tune but a compilation of sound with one note feeding off the last until the final result is a "soundscape" of sorts. But does this soundscape approach have to be achieved in a live, band setting to qualify as a jam ? More often than not the answer (to me) is yeah !
Does any of this bring us any closer to the answer for the question, what is a "Jam Band". I doubt it but allow me to wax philosophical in summary anyhow. First a "Jam Band" needs instruments. you know, stuff to strum, pluck, hit, etc. You could do it vocally but that's a whole 'nother article for a whole 'nother time! Second, a "Jam Band" needs a space. No not outer space or rented space just a space in which to put down sound. Third, a "Jam Band" needs a feel and groove. Remember the sum is greater than the parts of the whole. Lastly, I feel that a "Jam Band" has to come to it's own terms as to what jamming is. I know what I'd like to achieve when I set out to play a gig but having said that, if you ever see me with a pre-determined set list in my hand -- confiscate my stash and slap me ! The opportunity to jam for a musician that likes to jam (and there are some that are not comfortable doing it) is like a blank canvas to a painter. The chance of creating a masterpiece is just as good as it is to create a yard sale special and you won't know until it's finished.
When a "Jam Band" runs four songs together in medley and finally pull out to finish the first song of the night (total run time of about an hour) and the guy standing beside you at the show says "What song was that ?!?". There, now you've got some jammin' !
I'm sure all of you will formulate your own thoughts about what a "Jam Band" is and for those of you who are reading this article, that conclusion may have already been reached. Whatever your idea of a good "Jam Band" is, this is probably the right place for you to find out about, read about, learn about and generally enjoy the whole "Jam Band" experience !
Peace To All
Cam Duffy can be found in his basement in Central Ontario most Saturday nights (unless there is a gig to play) searching for the meaning of a good jam with his band MudStik
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