What to Expect at Jam Session
- We will work from a set list of tunes. Music for these will be there on the bandstand on the night, ready to play with a minimum of kerfuffle.
- You choose one tune from the set list (below).
- Your other tune will be chosen for you by someone else.
- You will get to play with another musician (and the house rhythm section of course).
This gets decided by lottery. - There will be a table near the back when you arrive. Pick your tune and make sure your name goes in the hat.
Get your instrument ready to play when it's your turn. - There will be a "closer" at the end of each half which anyone is welcome to join in..
- It will also mean that you can prepare in advance if you want to. If you look below you will see that there are 40 tunes to choose from.
- If you familiarize yourself with (say) 10-15 tunes, there is a good chance that one of those will still be available when it is your turn to play.
- Some tunes are listed separately as "CLOSERS" These will be used at the end of each set, and anyone who wants can join in on those.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
Why this system?
A
The number of musicians attending is increasing, which is a good thing. But it is getting to the point where we sometimes struggle to fit everyone in. This plan is designed to increase the number of people we can include. If it is a quiet night there will be more opportunity to play in larger groups.
Q
Why do we have to choose from the set list? Why can't I bring my own dots?
A
The main reason is to use the time more efficiently (see above).
Another reason is to try to stick to sensible tunes, which do not need long explanations on the bandstand, or place unreasonable demands on the house rhythm section.
Having a set list means people can prepare in advance if they want. New tunes are added to the set list as time goes on. Suggestions are very welcome – either for particular tunes, or for more of a particular type.
Q
What if the second tune (the one chosen by someone else) is one I haven't played before?
A
Muddling through on something you don't know is a useful aspect of musicianship.
If you stop your solo after 32 bars (or whatever it is) you can get away with not knowing the tune. Chances are the audience won't notice.
If you aren't sure you can play the dots at sight, then don't play the tune at the beginning – leave it to the person who chose it. Once you've heard it you may feel confident to play the last chorus.
Jam Session Set List of Tunes
1 Ain't Misbehavin – Eb
45 Baubles Bangles & Beads - Ab
44 Beatrice – F
57 Beautiful Love - Dm
2 Black Nile - Dm
49 Blue Moon – Eb
64 Blue Room – F
43 Boy Next Door, The – C
3 Bye Bye Blackbird – F
56 Close Your Eyes – Cm
4 Corcovado - C
5 Crazy Rhythm - F
6 Days of Wine and Roses, The - F
66 Dearly Beloved – C
68 Dindi – Eb
7 Embraceable You – G
8 Gentle Rain - Am
9 Girl From Ipanema, The - F
51 Have You Met Miss Jones? - F
65 Hello – Ab
10 Here's That Rainy Day – G
53 Honeysuckle Rose – F
46 How Deep is the Ocean - Cm
63 How High the Moon – G
11 I Fall In Love Too Easily – Eb
47 I Hear A Rhapsody - Cm
61 In A Mellow Tone – Ab
12 In A Sentimental Mood - F
13 In Your Own Sweet Way - Bb
14 It's Only a Paper Moon - G
15 Jeepers Creepers - Bb
16 Just Friends – G 38 Weaver of Dreams, A - C
17 Let's Fall In Love - C
18 Let's Get Lost - C
19 Like Someone In Love – Eb
20 Lullaby of the Leaves - Cm
21 Minor Yours – Cm
59 Minority - Fm
22 Moon Alley - F
24 Moon River – C
23 Moonglow - G
67 My Heart Stood Still – F
55 My Romance – Bb
42 Nature Boy – Dm
25 Nearness Of You, The - F
26 No Moon At All - Dm
27 Old Country, The - Dm
48 On the Sunny Side of the Street - C
62 Out of Nowhere - G
28 Poinciana - G
29 Rifftide – F
58 Road Song - Gm
30 S Wonderful – Eb
31 September In The Rain – Eb
32 Smada - Eb
69 Softly as in a Morning Sunrise – Cm
33 Someday My Prince Will Come - Bb
34 Soon - Eb
60 Stella by Starlight – Bb
52 Tangerine – F
35 Tenderly – Eb
54 There's A Small Hotel – Eb
70 There Will Never Be Another You – Eb
36 These Foolish Things – Eb
37 Three Flowers – Eb
50 Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer) – G
41 What Is This Thing Called Love? - C
39 When Sunny Gets Blue – F
40 Yardbird Suite – C
CLOSERS
101 Corner Pocket – Bb
102 Lullaby of Birdland – Fm
105 Stomping at the Savoy - F
103 Perdido - Bb
106 Jumping w Symphony Sid - C
107 Oh Lady Be Good – G
