10 REASONS why Gypsy Jazz jam sessions can be the best, or totally suck!🎸

Dario Napoli · September 17

Jam sessions in gypsy jazz, as well as in jazz, or any other form of music, are a fundamental part of every musician's experience and growth.

You want to make sure you're best prepared for every jam session you encounter, so make note of these 10 guidelines to make the best out of each and every experience, and also offer everyone around you the same!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-t5fGjwQs

JasonS · September 17

A personal rule I try to follow is that as the number of players increases OR the cumulative experience of the group decreases I call simpler and more familiar tunes. It's a lot easier to call something like Place de Brouckère when you have 4 or 5 experienced players versus 9 people with varying levels of experience.

At our local jam it's somewhat common for only one guitarist to be playing if folks take breaks or can't make it. In those cases I'll often not take a solo at all as I think the rhythm guitar takes precedence and helps hold the group together.

littlemark · September 17

The problem is that, THAT GUY, is not going to watch this video. Or has any idea they need to watch this video.

Dario Napoli · September 23

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/118318#Comment_118318

Totally agree!

Dario Napoli · September 23

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/118319#Comment_118319

Hahahah, yes they usually aren't very worried:):)

murrayatuptowngaller · September 25

Did I miss the other 9 reasons?

Dario Napoli · September 29

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/118372#Comment_118372

They are all in this video Murray:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-t5fGjwQs

djangology · September 29

Just completely loved the video. Thanks Dario!

#3 : Be disciplined in your rhythm

That one, in particular, is a problem in many jams. It can suck the life out of a song.

Always be are of the "rhythm sync" and question yourself , if you are playing correctly, and don't fall "asleep" while playing rhythm.

pdg · September 29

Rhythm guitarists have to play dry, sort of staccato-ish -- especially when there will be multiple people playing rhythm at the same time. You can easily drown out the soloing guitarist!

Also, different rhythm styles played at the same time can muddy the sound. Maybe simpler is better in the mass-rhythm-guitarists setting of a jam session (e.g., down-down-down-down, as opposed to up-down, down, up-down, down)?

Dario Napoli · September 30

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/118396#Comment_118396

Yes, I agree, in the end it comes down to the sensibility and ability of all the musicians involved to take notice of those elements you mention and react to possible changes in real time:)