The Gypsy Jazz Jam Guide

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The Gypsy Jazz Jam Guide

By Michel Mercier “Ready for 23 minutes of ‘All of Me’? Who takes first solo?” After years of jamming in various situations, with all kinds of players, a recent discussion on Denis Chang’s facebook page had me figuring it could be useful to write about Gypsy Jazz jams and etiquette. We...

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MichaelHorowitz

Nice piece from Michel! We've always followed the 3 guitar max rule at my jams in Seattle. Much more musical....

Jazzaferri

Good article and excellent points @stuart

Mitch

Thanks for your comments! Stuart you're right of course, it's part of the job. I was more thinking about the way some people ask for unusual keys to players that may not be pros or super experienced. It depends on the context. I'm impressed by your learning of songs in four keys though!

wim

oh man ... the hippie woman with a flute made out of a carrot, this part was hilarious

Buco

Tempo going from 180 to 280 in the same song is what kills me the most.
How does this format 3 guitars at time work exactly? Like other guys are in the circle but they don't play or they step off completely?

MichaelHorowitz

Buco wrote: »

How does this format 3 guitars at time work exactly? Like other guys are in the circle but they don't play or they step off completely?

The other guys just sit and drink.....no one complains!

GuitGuy

Should be required reading for ALL jams. Lots of useful information in here!

crookedpinky

Brilliant article - though I agree with Stuart about point 6. I believe that transposition is an essential part of technique - not saying I can do it every time but it's something I try to do. Re point 4. It's amazing how many people just get their heads down and play away neither looking not listening. We once had a guy who played through a song and then told us we were all playing the wrong chords when in fact he had been playing a different song completely. Regarding the maximum number of guitars we tried this but people ignored it so we ended up asking people to stop playing which didn't go down well. I would also add that if people come along expecting to play a tune not normally played within the jam session at least bring some chord sheets or be prepared to teach it but don't expect miracles - and don't try and busk along to "Body and Soul" 'cos unless you're Django, Birelli or Stochelo you are unlikely to "work it out as you go along"

Jazzaferri

Now I remember why I avoid big jams....

rgrice

Have never been able to do many gypsy jams due to lack of GJ guitarists, but in bluegrass if you have lots of people, we've always split off into small groups and then floated around.