Hey folks, questions about a Bluegrass jam.

[lnichols]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Darrow

At various times, Jimmy Martin and Jim and Jesse used drummers. Even Flatt and Scruggs have a drummer on the Ballad of Jed Clampett. And if Marty Stuart has a mandolin in his hand on Bluegrass Express, that's Bluegrass.

Yep. I know these guys have used a drummer. I've personally seen a drummer with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. However, I still think it's unlikely a drummer will be present at a jam. I'm sure it happens occasionally, but I've never it.

Leni

[Jeremy Darrow]

Originally Posted by lnichols

Yep. I know these guys have used a drummer. I've personally seen a drummer with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. However, I still think it's unlikely a drummer will be present at a jam. I'm sure it happens occasionally, but I've never it.

Leni

Unlikely, but not unheard of.

Honestly, the whole argument is completely toxic and we need to move away from it as quickly as possible.

[Jason Sypher]

True but it's not really bluegrass with a drummer...(heh heh)

[Jeremy Darrow]

Troublemaker. You and me should get a beer one day, are you gonna be in town on your tour with Mr. Mike?

[Jason Sypher]

I'm gonna be in PA and NC this week...where are you?

[MollyKay]

Yeah…where are you playing!?!

Mike Compton does a song I absolutely love…Evening Prayer Blues.

Have a great gig! Drop by…hint, hint.

[Jeremy Darrow]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

I'm gonna be in PA and NC this week...where are you?

Nashville, I should have specified. Do you ever get down this way? I rarely make it to NYC.

[Jason Sypher]

Hey all. I'm playing Sellersville PA on the 13th, Carlisle PA on the 14th, Raleigh NC 15th at pinecone and the 16th at Wingate University in NC. If anyone wants comps I'm sure I can hook you up. Just PM me.

[JoeDaddio]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the great responses here, I really appreciate it. I'm sorry I made this thread and disappeared. I do most of my internetting at work and have been pretty busy the past week or so.

I think I'll go to the jam. My next chance will be in January. I'll see if I can pick up a book or at least try and learn a song or two beforehand. I'm looking forward to be playing with others: just learning and playing in my living room to my dogs is fun and all, but playing with others I'm sure will help the learning process along (It really helped with my electric playing). So I just need to suck it up and go!


joe

[OmNomNom]

Just go! You have nothing to lose. You are worried about looking bad, but it's just a jam and not Carnegie Hall. Better to try and possibly look bad than play at home by yourself!

[MollyKay]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Hey all. I'm playing Sellersville PA on the 13th, Carlisle PA on the 14th, Raleigh NC 15th at pinecone and the 16th at Wingate University in NC. If anyone wants comps I'm sure I can hook you up. Just PM me.

To take this thread slightly off course…we had the great pleasure of being Jason’s guest last evening for “The Gathering”. Jason provided us with the absolute best seats in the house, fifth row dead center and no one but us in the row of a packed house. We felt like the King and Queen for the evening…an awesome evening. The venue is a lovely older theatre in downtown Carlisle. Its one of those main street movie houses that has survived and thrives in a community full of supporters.

The concert was wonderful on a day otherwise filled with such sorrow. The music was uplifting, heartfelt and wonderfully warming to immerse ourselves in on a chilly evening. Jason is a standout in this group swinging from simple Appalachian beats to a beautiful solo with Rhiannon Giddens. If you have not heard their bass/vocal version of "O Holy Night" you have really missed something special. The other stand out was Mike Compton playing Ebenezer Scrooge mandolin solo, a real treat for the Bill Monroe bluegrass fans. I had only ever heard that song once before performed by Mike Munford on banjo and Jon Glik on fiddle.

After the show we enjoyed meeting Jason in person for the first time and of course we “Talked Bass”. Jason played a borrowed Kay and made it sound like a fine Italian carved bass…well almost. He sounded excellent; the entire group was a joy to listen to.

Thanks to Jason for his generosity and the thrill he got by squeezing the wrong “Mollykay” moments before he met me and my husband. An “artist moment” or so he says.

[Jason Sypher]

Well, the virtual scrim of the interweb is fine and useful but when we actually meet each other in person and share a love of music, and our chosen instrument then you know Talkbass is doing what it's truly meant to do, build community. It was indeed a very sad day and my prayers go out to the bereaved. We struggled a bit with the reality that we were going to perform this happy soulful music filled with hope and grace just hours before a tragedy of enormous consequence. But in a world prone towards violence we felt that this is what we do and this is what we can offer. William Parker once said to me upon walking in to my first bass lesson. "Well, you're already doing something great just carrying that bass around the East Village to come here". "What", I thought, "I haven't even played a note yet." Then he fixed his formidable gaze on me and said "you're carrying a musical instrument and not a gun". "Molly" and "bass monkey" are taller in real life than on the web and even more kind and generous. One day I'll be knocking on their door for a special plywood bass or just a cup of coffee and a visit.

[Bass Doc]

Been in your situation as a total beginner. Showed up at my first jam and stood near the door terrified, someone would figure out I didn't know Bluegrass or belong there. Everyone was very welcoming. Now 1 1/2 years later, it feels like home. Here's the solution for you: Pete Wenick's DVD on "How to Bluegrass Jam" all the info you need is there. Get it TODAY!!

http://www.amazon.com/Bluegrass-Jamm...te+wernick+dvd

For your first 3 jams, limit yourself to playing just 1s & 5s. It will force you to listen to the time.


Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Whit Townsend]

Go play. Listen to which 3-4 musicians has the best timing. Then buddy up to them and go play with them. Remember, no bass player. Chances are you can hook up with the best around. Take advantage.