Last night was my first time in Chicago co-hosting a jam session. It's a weekly funk jam at 9pm at the Wicker Park club called @North Bar. We call it "Space Jams" (here's a link). And no, it's not inspired by the Michael Jordan/Looney Tunes movie of the same name, but by the intergalactic mix of psychedelic cosmic improvisations with celestial soul and far-out funk (How do you like that!). The band Annalee & the Midnight Sons had been hosting a jam there on previous Tuesdays, but like much of the Chicago music scene, things are constantly coming and going.
So how did it go, you might be asking?
Let's just say the fire department came to break up the session because we had way too many people in the club.
Ok. Well. Not exactly... (So maybe I stole this pic from online. I'm guessing it's a St. Patrick's Day event, hence all of the green)
In actuality, this picture probably sums it up a bit better:
So it was basically the band (sax, keys, bass, and drums), the owner, the bartender, and two others. But hey, the eight of us had a rockin' time! And really, we only learned that we were doing this jam a few days ago, so we barely had time to promote it. Plus, I still have yet to learn how to officially "invite" people to events on Facebook (Don't worry, though. I'm working on it!).
That being said, I'm really excited about playing with Hayden, Nate, and Al. They all sound great, and I love the on-the-spot interaction we're able to get on each tune. I know that once the word gets out, Tuesdays here @North will be hoppin', socially and especially musically. Like many jam sessions around the city, we start with a set of our own stuff and then open it up for anyone who wants to play or sing (or rap or belly dance or whatever).
So if you're in the neighborhood on a future Tuesday night, head over to @North (near North + Ashland) for some fun and adventurous jamming! I'll see you there!
So how did it go, you might be asking?
Let's just say the fire department came to break up the session because we had way too many people in the club.
Ok. Well. Not exactly... (So maybe I stole this pic from online. I'm guessing it's a St. Patrick's Day event, hence all of the green)
In actuality, this picture probably sums it up a bit better:
So it was basically the band (sax, keys, bass, and drums), the owner, the bartender, and two others. But hey, the eight of us had a rockin' time! And really, we only learned that we were doing this jam a few days ago, so we barely had time to promote it. Plus, I still have yet to learn how to officially "invite" people to events on Facebook (Don't worry, though. I'm working on it!).
That being said, I'm really excited about playing with Hayden, Nate, and Al. They all sound great, and I love the on-the-spot interaction we're able to get on each tune. I know that once the word gets out, Tuesdays here @North will be hoppin', socially and especially musically. Like many jam sessions around the city, we start with a set of our own stuff and then open it up for anyone who wants to play or sing (or rap or belly dance or whatever).
So if you're in the neighborhood on a future Tuesday night, head over to @North (near North + Ashland) for some fun and adventurous jamming! I'll see you there!