Gypsy Jazz scene Colorado

Hugh Huffaker

Aaron, thanks for the response. I'm sorry to hear that fizzled out. If you ever want to test the waters out again on a jam let me know. I know a few people who would be really psyched, myself included.

andoatagn

kungfumonk007 wrote: »

Seeing that we have become a stopping point for so many major acts you would think that the local community would be tighter locally but it just isn't.

This is an interesting thing, isn't it? And very common I'm guessing. Events and jam communities are two different things and one can easily exist without the other. Because Django in June happens here in Northampton, people might assume that there's a real happening djam scene here. They'd be mostly wrong.

A few years back, Jack Brown would make it happen here on occasion. There's another guy (another Gus!) who has been hosting in recent years, but when he doesn't...nada. Or, rien. Me...I let my time and energy shift from practicing to organizing (DiJ) et voila...I suck. (Let this be a cautionary tale for you players who think maybe you'll host a Django festival.)

I'm sure a scene could develop here, but it would take real (ie., long-term) commitment from a core group of pretty solid players in a good space to make it happen, and they'd have to welcome all comers generously, while they figure out what this music is all about...quite the combo of conditions that don't always come together!

~Andrew

kungfumonk007

Andrew - people don't appreciate the amount of work and the personal risk you take in organizing the festivals - even the artists sometimes take it for granted, so thank you so much (even though I haven't made it yet).

Hugh - you, Michael Isabell, and David Lawrence should put it together. I'd certainly come. I think you guys have a better personality for organizing something like that. From the jams I've been to I think you have to have slightly tighter control than normal because in an instant a bunch of cocky bebop players who play 1/4 as well as they think they play will over run your jam and run everyone else out, calling jazz tunes that GJ players don't know. Unfortunately with all the jazz studies programs around here the jazz ego runs rampit in Denver and it ruins a good time for everyone else. I'd come, but if it turned into a jazz jam I wouldn't stay for sure.

Also finding a space that appeals to the old crank players like me, as well as the young hippies is hard. The current jam kind of smells like BO, patchuli, and marijuana. I don't mind so much, but my wife won't come with me and I think that keeps some of the older players away as well. Anyway if you do it I would certainly invite any players I know, though we probably know all the same people.

Hugh Huffaker

Aaron - I'll put a few calls around to some different locations to see if there would be a good fit for location. One of my friends owns RINO yacht club in the source, maybe that would be a good fit. I'll talk to him. I don't know Michael or David personally, i'll have to look them up. Do you know if they are interested in helping organize a jam? Cheers.

Hugh

kungfumonk007

I know Michael is. I think it is a good assumption David is. I'll pm you their emails. There are also guys like Jackson Carson who are super supportive just usually very busy.

scot

Also finding a space that appeals to the old crank players like me, as well as the young hippies is hard. The current jam kind of smells like BO, patchuli, and marijuana. I don't mind so much, but my wife won't come with me and I think that keeps some of the older players away as well.

Around here, that would make it more likely to attract older players...

DesertSands

There was a pretty good GJ jam at Strange Grounds Coffee but they closed. It was once a month.
Hugh lets try to make a GJ Jam. I agree witht the comments here. I like your idea of at least one weekend night per month and one week night.
I agree that keeping it GJ is a good idea. Also how do you feel about keeping is acoustic?
If there is enough interest it will not be a problem to find a venue!

tmaccaferrian

Whoops! Sorry to have missed the rebirth of this thread, but I haven't checked the forum in a bit. Stevei and Hugh Haffaker - I cannot speak for Denver very much but if you want to come down to Colorado Springs I can hook you up with a jam. While there are not many public jams, there are enough players here that it is very easy to organize a jam on almost any given night just by calling around. Sometimes it can be hard to get into the scene as a newbie to gypsy jazz, but I promise that once you meet some of the people, you will feel welcome and find a large community to jam with. Feel free to PM me for more information. Perhaps I will be able to make it up to a Denver jam one of these days. Most important - keep playing with other people it is the essence of gypsy jazz.