MJJ Sep19, 2011

The Sunday Jam Session: Is it just me, or . . .

It is generally held to be true that a total lack of relevance was a feature of the midnineteenth century Balkan conflicts, although relevant to what remains a question barely worth asking. Rotten Ronnie, a pale saxophonist not much given to speculation was contemplating something other than this whilst gazing longingly at the empty stage of the Strangled Parrot, only last Friday. Madge has gone on holiday apparently, and will possibly be spending two weeks wedged in the X Ray machine at Tulla , hoping to return with a fabulous tan. And the vicar's bicycle still stands forlorn and rusty at the side entrance to the Altona Country Women's Association Social Club. Meanwhile, the Sunday arvo jam at the Leinster Arms, mouldering pile and favoured watering hole of several gentlemen not entirely in possession of all their teeth, was distinctly average. Ballads were mangled, forms were stuffed up, bossas were swung, and several people sang. Mercifully, several others didn't. As jam sessions go however, Sunday barely got out of first gear, giving plenty of opportunity for mindless gossip, fat chips and the spreading of false rumours. Kind of fun if you like that sort of thing. Strangely, but inevitably, next week will be entirely different. Go figure. Disclaimer: None of the above is remotely true or not as the case may be . . . All names have been changed to protect the innocent, and then deleted anyway to allow the guilty to get away with it. More of this rubbish can be found at http://www.jazzidiot.blogspot.com. Alan drummed beautifully. TW To the ed

Jam Sessions at the Leinster Arms Hotel Friday 7:00pm till late Sunday from 4pm

Thought you might like this old chestnut which I understand was told by Ronnie Scott when he introduced this song that the group were going to play at his club one evening. "The band will play "Saint Louis Blues by W.C.Handy and its always good to have a w,c handy. He also told the one about the group supposedly put together by Stan Getz and another musician whose surname was Tuft, The Getz/Tuft Quintet. Jack Morris.

Let the Radio choose your playlist: what I have been listening to:
The trouble with staff is they keep asking questions, and distract you from important things, like, er, writing drivel for the Jammers Newsletter. So my favourite strategy is to put on a big set of headphones, and pretend I am listening to music, which seems to do the trick, in an uninterrupted sort of way. This week, I went one further and actually plugged the earphones in to my favourite radio station: http://www.sky.fm/pianojazz/ So what I have been listening to is Erroll Garner (pictured below right ), Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock (sublime version of My Funny Valentine today) Dave Mckenna (my favourite stride pianist) (pictured left ) and a whole bunch of others. Every time I hear a piece of music I like, I can flick over to the Jazz.FM page and it is often one of those four. The great advantage of letting the radio choose your playlist is you get to hear stuff you would otherwise not know about. And if you listen first, look up the name after, you can prove to yourself that you are an unreconstructed dag. Or is it just me? If, on the other hand, you are lucky enough to be a music student, you do not have this luxury, as there are musicians you must not listen to if you want to stay uber kewl. These are: Any of the musicians listed in your course notes. Any musician getting air time on ABC FM, even if it is in the alternative gardening section Any musician your father liked, unless he was your father Any musician that anyone on your course has already listened to. Any of the pianists listed above, except you may listen to Herbie provided it is a German cover of the deconstructed neo-punk garage fruit loop version of the B side to a previously unreleased recording. Unplugged. Wayne Shorter

On top of that, the uber kewl must not be seen dead at a jam session, must wear quirky brightly coloured clothes to show that they do not kowtow to the blackened dictates of Melbourne fashion, and must affect an air of disdain for any type of musical activity which does not involve a fee nearly as big as the amount of money that the venue manager is prepared to lose on them, complimentary drinks other than Sacred Hill Shiraz, and the possibility, however slight, of a sexual dalliance with the door bitch. You wish!

That should do it. I try really hard to offend everyone equally, so if I haven't offended you, I apologise unreservedly, and wish to assure you that no personal slight was intended. The jam sessions were fun, by the way . . . TW

from the editor This week feedback includes a joke and Zoot getting something of his (her?) chest. While feedback is encouraged and is published you should note that it is not the opinion of the editor you are reading. Similarly it is not the collective opinion or position of the Melbourne Jazz Jammers but rather the opinion of the writer. By the way Glen and the gang at the Leinster are planning something really special for Grand Final day so put it in your diary and make sure you are at the Leinster that day. If you are looking for a band or just want want to play with others let me know and you can have an ad in our new section which will be launched soon. Brief details are all you need to supply and of course contact details that can be published in enews and on our website. Feedback or comments can be emailed to melbournejazzjammers@gmail.com Rob McCue 19 Sep 2011

Grand Final
Watch the Grand Final at the Leinster Arms.

Free drinks
from the bounce until the first goal is scored drinks are free. Yes, thats right free. Grand Final at the Leinster is something really special.

The Leinster Arms Hotel

66 Gold Street, Collingwood For dinner bookings phone 9417 5720

www.leinsterarms.com.au

From Marg, my little offering... Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime (TV Special 1968) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m31P9rPSAHQ Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRyDB4RWJdw&feature=fvsr

To the editor Melbourne Jazz Jammers I thought John Perris website posting was both constructive and quite restrained. It does seem to me however that perhaps the objectives of these jam sessions are a bit ambiguous. Are they intended to help the players develop their jazz improvisation skills to suitable levels, or are they to serve just as a feel-good social gathering? If (hopefully) the first purpose is to be pursued, many participants need to prepare themselves better beforehand (as John has suggested) in both individual capacities and in the niceties of ensemble playing. The ensemble line-ups need a consistently good drummer per se to support the present strong bassist and allow tempos beyond ballads and barndances to be tackled. Also, why not confine ensemble repertoire to an agreed core list of say 20/25 evergreen/jazz standards and a few Latin and blues numbers, and work progressively on each until the dots can be discarded and true jamming can take place. And please, you players of transposing horns, stop kidding us that you can simultaneously transpose and read melody, chords and indeed improvise off concert parts! Why drive with the hand-brake on? As for individual capacities, Steve Ouimettes ten commandments (mainly for guitarists) assume more advanced starting points than is the general standard here. Just how good is your attention to tuning up, intonation and dynamics? And your technique across the various scales, arpeggios, patterns, articulations, rhythms and reading generally? How good is your feeling for tune structure, time and functional harmony? Do you know the lyrics? Those couple of Aebersold books youve got arent going to help you much in these areas go now and find yourself an appropriate teacher to fill the gaps. You do want to play jazz, dont you? Zoot 17 Sep 2011

Jammers Newsletter
The Newsletter informs interested people of Jazz Jammers events, CD launches and jam sessions. It reviews past sessions, promotes events being put on by Jammers and encourages people to get involved in live performance. It also provides an informative and friendly network for musicians and followers of jazz.

The Jam Sessions

The jams feature a blend of accomplished musicians and those beginning their jamming careers. A great opportunity to drop in, meet other musicians, blow your heart out on your favourite tune or kick back and listen in. The music may be good, bad or bebop, swing, blues, latin or lousy anything can happen and often does! All are welcome. Bring charts, instruments, voices.

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melbournejazzjammers@gmail.com

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