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I understand the issue. Mexican jazz guitarists I know had a similar experience with a apparently renowned French accordionist who over powered the incredible strings of their guitars. They had to speak to him about it and as his ego was large it was difficult but finally resolved🤪
Hi Jamie. Seems like you're hitting a common problem with jam sessions which are by their nature "open" sessions. It was an issue which raised it's head at the original Hot Club of Glasgow with no solution. I know that the Edinburgh Hot Club - run by my good chum Paul Patterson - limits the number of players and the number of tunes players can play at any one time. Very sensible. As for the loudness of the piano, I feel for you, We had a trumpeter turn up a few times at the Babbitys session and, while he was undoubtedly brilliant, he dominated everything in terms of volume. I suppose the only thing to do is to have a word, politely of course, and suggest they play with a softer touch. Aside from that, I hope you're well and the sessions are going well. Cheers, Alan.
I want to start a jam session that has a list of rules and when you come in you have to read them over and sign that you understand them. I know it sounds kind of crappy but the alternative is people just coming in and doing whatever.
Laminated on a piece of paper.
#1 It's not all about you
#2 If you're not swinging, start
#3 If you can't hear the people you're playing with, you're too fucking loud
Something like that.
There's a really talented kid here who can play 3 or more instruments pretty well, but every fucking tune turns into some avant garde experiment, it's like someone calls Autumn Leaves and at the end we are all slapping our instruments and hanging from chandeliers and I just kinda want to play the tune. Shits annoying.
I would definitely say something to the piano player, that is not cool. Self-awareness is hard to come by these days.
I tried going to an open jam a few times recently and there was a guitar player who insisted on turning a jazz jam into a sing-song hootenanny. How many songs does Django sing? The occasional verse here and there is fine, but singing every song?
Djazz music is instrumental music, in my opinion. Although I do enjoy Charlie Roman's singing as he sounds like an old recording from a bygone era and also plays like a champ. I prefer to stay home and play jazz along with my CVH App these days to learn more material before diving back into jam sessions.
@paulmcevoy75 Keep me posted if you host any acoustic jams in the Portland area.
As someone who occasionally likes to sing a few standards like All of Me, After You've Gone, Solitude, etc., I feel like I'm catching some strays here! lmao
This is a pretty big thread drift, but I think @CraigHensley is talking about me and my sing-song hootenany (I call it an acoustic swing jam).
I think these songs are some of the best ever written, with wonderful, lyrical melodies and I love to sing them and hear them sung. There is never a shortage of guitar time at a jam; and it's nice to hear a melody sung or played on a real melodic instrument with some dynamic range (trumpet, sax, clarinet...)
In my experience most audiences also feel this way. That said, I'm a pretty limited guitarist - I think I prefer to hear George Benson play than to sing; but I like it when Matt Munisteri sings.
I am happy you came and checked it out @CraigHensley ; even though it isn't a Django jam and isn't your thing. And I appreciate the feedback now; though it reads a little mean spirited to me. It's a constant process trying to find the right balance of welcoming people and growing the community and also not letting things train wreck (with they myriad of ways mentioned in this thread that can happen). It's easy to be critical of a jam; it's harder to start one with a niche music and keep it running (double in a small city.)
I like Gypsy Jazz because it can be a shared social music - I think sitting down in person with friends and strangers, and sharing in making music is very much in the spirit of Django and gypsy jazz, singing or not.
@paulmcevoy75 It would be very cool if you start a jam; and if you do I'd be happy to hear about how it goes for you and how you guide people into playing how you like without driving them away.
For the record my comment was not at all directed towards you, I appreciate what you do and the spirit you do it with.
I think I'm probably the worst person to start a jam tbh. More of a bellyacher about other people's things, which is awful. I don't know, perhaps if I felt better about my own playing and felt like I could give constructive assistance to people, I could do it.
I may not be talking about you. Who exactly are you @limalima ? These threads are tough when people don't use their real names. If this is Lucas, I'm definitely not talking about you. Lucas has a seasoned vocal style much like Charlie Roman who I praised in my previous post. Not abrasive at all.
Don't jump to conclusions and take my comments out of context when you don't know who I'm speaking about, specifically. Much appreciated, thanks.
@limalima I think these songs are some of the best ever written, with wonderful, lyrical melodies
I couldn't agree more. As one who plays mostly rhythm, I almost always have the lyric in my head and am singing along inside during multiple choruses of whatever song might be playing. Some of the lyrics are so beautiful or wistful, you almost have to sing them out loud. Periodically, we've had a few shows with a vocalist. As a band, I definitely feel it adds a whole other dimension to the music in a positive way. I think people who aren't initiated to the style or just the jazz language in general may have a hard time "finding their footing" in where the solo instrumentalist is in the song, but can sing right along if they know the lyrics. So it can be a good gateway to bring people in to the style. (Plus, a vocal chorus as the out melody is an easy arrangement to follow for a group.)
That being said, I think the general point of this thread has been ANY instrument (be that vocal, string, brass, percussion,etc) that is not conscious of their part in the production of the greater whole can be obtrusive and is not really playing in the spirit of playing TOGETHER. Perhaps those "unwritten rules" should be made known to that person discretely so they can dial it back a bit while still getting their enjoyment.