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Good Jam Songs
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 3:24 pm
by lindyholic
Ok, so I would like to know what everyone out there think is a good jam song, what song makes everyone want to gather in a circle and bust out.
Also, what songs do people like to play to try and get jams started?
Harrison
Re: Good Jam Songs
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 3:53 pm
by KevinSchaper
lindyholic wrote:Ok, so I would like to know what everyone out there think is a good jam song, what song makes everyone want to gather in a circle and bust out.
Also, what songs do people like to play to try and get jams started?
Harrison
I'm much better at killing jams than starting them.. the Harry James recording of the batman theme is a wonderfully effective way to end a jam.
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 4:20 pm
by lindyholic
Hahaha, I remember that, everyone was wondering what it was hehe.
Harrison
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 10:40 pm
by Kyle
lots of great horns, and no bass solos
I think that is one of the reasons why Hand Clappin is a great tune for a jam. Hard honkin' horn, and it doesnt stop. The tempo doesnt have to be fast, just solid.
It also has to be a good song for people to naturally jam up to. The easiest one in LA is Rip it up by Bill Haley. Everyone naturally starts clappin and looks for a circle to form. It doesn't always happen, but 8/10 times I have seen it happen. For San Francisco it was Jeep Jockey Jump. Once you have the jam going, then you might be able to experiment a little bit, or really play something that you want to make sure people are in a jam to dance to. Jumpin at the Woodside would probably also work.
I like to use
Harlem Jump by Jack Teageaden
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2002 8:23 am
by main_stem
IMHO Jams should be spontanious. If they happen great if they don't great. What I've noticed is when people try to create jams they feel artificial and forced. Often times they end up falling flat on their face with everyone standing around and nobody dancing.
-Kevin
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2002 8:31 am
by Swifty
I prefer to announce that a jam will be forming, and then search for the "callers."
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2002 2:25 am
by yedancer
In San Diego, "Rhythm" by Casey MacGill often seems to ignite a spontaneous jam.
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 9:36 pm
by jacques_g
I tried: "Everybody get together" by the Treniers last week. It seemed to do all right.
JG
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2002 4:14 pm
by KevinSchaper
yedancer wrote:In San Diego, "Rhythm" by Casey MacGill often seems to ignite a spontaneous jam.
Hehe, while when he plays live, he always announces his spontaneous jams to Swing Brother Swing.. :)
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2003 12:25 am
by Travis
main_stem wrote:IMHO Jams should be spontanious. If they happen great if they don't great. What I've noticed is when people try to create jams they feel artificial and forced. Often times they end up falling flat on their face with everyone standing around and nobody dancing.
-Kevin
Yup - and this always happens when someone plays a token jam song (nothing really wrong with that) and before anyone can even start dancing, everyone in the room starts clapping and clearing the floor. Drives me nuts.
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2003 10:53 am
by Mr Awesomer
Travis wrote:Yup - and this always happens when someone plays a token jam song (nothing really wrong with that) and before anyone can even start dancing, everyone in the room starts clapping and clearing the floor. Drives me nuts.
Like "Hand Clappin?"
The most simplest, mindless tune ever, and everyone is in a circle clapping at the first tone. Drives me nuts.
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2003 12:16 pm
by Travis
GuruReuben wrote:
Like "Hand Clappin?"
Bingo.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:35 pm
by Lawrence
Travis wrote:main_stem wrote:IMHO Jams should be spontanious. If they happen great if they don't great. What I've noticed is when people try to create jams they feel artificial and forced. Often times they end up falling flat on their face with everyone standing around and nobody dancing.
-Kevin
Yup - and this always happens when someone plays a token jam song (nothing really wrong with that) and before anyone can even start dancing, everyone in the room starts clapping and clearing the floor. Drives me nuts.
I couldn't agree more. "Rhythm" has become the "Sing, Sing, Sing" of the "Zeros" (as opposed to "the Nineties").
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:20 pm
by Toon Town Dave
It's also relatively short for a jam song. Perhaps due to the decreased interest in jams shorter songs are the popular thing now.
IMO, jams are still best when done to a live band. We just had our first spontaneous jam in nearly 3 years to Sing Sing Sing at our fundraiser steak night on Monday. It was a blast. It helps that the regular drummer was there, plays like Krupa.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:12 am
by Drew
"Jive Jam," Duke, Ella & Duke at Cote d’Azur
"Oh Lady Be Good," Artie Shaw, the version that can be heard at the beginning of Ken Burns' Jazz Vol. 6.
"Lester Leaps In," Count Basie at Newport, but a little choppy and not particularly great to start a jam with.
Old standbys that always do it for me:
"Cottontail"
"Main Stem"
"Jumpin' at the Woodside"