Jam Session Primer by Bill Anschell

Ben Rose · #1 05-09-2005, 06:03 PM

I thought this was pretty funny. Enjoy.

Jazz Jam Sessions: A First-Timers Guide

Doug Ring · #2 05-10-2005, 05:35 AM

Good grief ... the author must have been at our last session

Enjoyed that

thanks Ben!

John Sprague · #3 05-10-2005, 02:44 PM

Fun read! It also explains why I'll never be a good jazz drummer.

arto alho · #4 05-13-2005, 07:50 AM

bassist (digging in): Grrrhh. Gnmnt. Glppnt.

ee-san · #5 05-13-2005, 08:51 AM

OK Arto, I used to go to the jam session at Storyville in Helsinki when I worked there for a few months in 1993-94. I remember a pretty lady pianist with long red hair who always played If I Were a Bell. Is the club still happening? How about the club in the train station?

arto alho · #6 05-16-2005, 04:51 AM

Hey, EE

Storyville is alive and kickin ( http://www.storyville.fi ).
Sorry, they don´t seem to have pages in English, which I find very strange, considering how many tourists visit them, especially in the summertime.
I´ve played there, our next gig with the octet will be on June,
with Steve Gibbons from UK.
The program is mostly "happy jazz", not exactly my style, that´s why I´m not regular there.
In 1993 - 94 the only club near train station was Jumo Jazz club, these days known as Jumo Jazz House. They have moved their location, but are still in the business. It´s the home club of UMO Jazz Orchestra, the best known Finnish big band.
Can´t recall the lady pianist. What age was she back then?

R2

ee-san · #7 05-16-2005, 09:03 AM

<The program is mostly "happy jazz", not exactly my style, that´s why I´m not regular there.>

Not much of a "happy" fan myself but the jam session did some mor e bop oriented stuff. There also was a lady accordian player who did standards. I'm not much of an accordian fan but she was a good musician, if not a jazz player.

<It´s the home club of UMO Jazz Orchestra, the best known Finnish big band.>

Yea, Jumo. I have a CD of the UMO Jazz Orchestra. Good stuff. I saw Freddie Hubbard at the club and also Hal Crook (trombone), who was great. I also remember a vocalist named Mirja Makela who had a great band and some progressive ideas.

<Can´t recall the lady pianist. What age was she back then?>

The lady pianist looked to be in her 20's. I was under the impression that some of the conservatory students came to the jam -- lots of young faces at the time.