Good Jam Songs
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- lindyholic
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Good Jam Songs
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
Also, what songs do people like to play to try and get jams started?
Harrison
www.lindyhopper.ca, Canada's Swing Site.
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Re: Good Jam Songs
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.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
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Hahaha, I remember that, everyone was wondering what it was hehe.
Harrison
Harrison
www.lindyhopper.ca, Canada's Swing Site.
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
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
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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.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
- Mr Awesomer
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Like "Hand Clappin?"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.
The most simplest, mindless tune ever, and everyone is in a circle clapping at the first tone. Drives me nuts.
Reuben Brown
Southern California
Southern California
I couldn't agree more. "Rhythm" has become the "Sing, Sing, Sing" of the "Zeros" (as opposed to "the Nineties").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.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
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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.
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.
"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"
"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"