(Band)
“Band” has a kind of organised sound, and one might hope it did, in fact, have an organised sound.
“Jam” on the other hand, while generally used as a verb (in a musical context) has a more random conotation. Even where it is used as a noun about music(“lets meet for a jam…”) it carries an air of, random extemporisation. I suspect members of a symphony orchestra do not meet for a “jam”. (I brought my Timpany, where shall I set up?..).
I’d like to suggest that there should be an addditional use for the term:
“A jam” should also be applicable to musicians themselves. This could indicate a group of musicians, who might have more disparate interests and differing musical leanings than you would commonly (hope) to find in an actual band.
( “That’s a Jazz hair cut that is…” accusingly).
Or maybe just more widely difffering locations than you might commonly anticipate :Drums – Millport, Lead Guitar – Paisley, Bass- Greece, Keyboard -Wales, Rythm Guitar – Nightshift (and yes, nightshift is also a place). This does tend to crimp rehersal somewhat, but not everyone believes in rehersal anyway…
I suspect we’re not alone in being in such “a Jam”, and I believe that they may all share a common binding force – habit.
These are the people we play music with, whatever other position they may also hold in our lives. They have beeen there so long as to be a (comfortable) fixture. What would life be without someone who unashamedly sings bits of Spike Miligan, or likes to rattled off the Love story theme, or descend into lyrics of “South Pacific” (…there is absaloutely nothin; like a,,,,,Dame).
The resulting concoction is perhaps a little surprising, but generally palatable. What flavour?
Well the Jam I’m in is “Bluesberry”.
Next week on IaDL (dear god, we actually have to play ….!)
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 