Re: Klezmer Jam,

[david lowther <dlowther...>]

I am involved in both klezmer and bluegrass jams on a regular basis.  I find
that the bluegrass format works well with klezmer as well.

The first half we play standards, the easy ones that everybody knows or can
follow.  We call it the slow pitch jam.  One of us leads and the others
follow, and all the instruments break together:  for example all the
fiddles, all the guitars, all the mandolins, etc.  I find this inclusivity
encourages musicians of all skill levels to participate and improve.

Then we nosh, of course.  After all, we are musicians!

After the break we do a circle jam, where each person picks a tune, and we
all take breaks individually, should we choose to.  That way it is not
merely lowest common denominator stuff.

I also go to klezmer jams where we have less structure, but at those we seem
to play only what the more assertive person or group want to play, and
people get left out.  I prefer inclusivity.  It may give me less of a chance
to brandish my fine chops, but I feel better afterwards.

The bluegrass jam has a leader who sings and/or plays, and another who
signals the chords for the beginners using the Nashville numbering system.
This involves holding up fingers for the dominant chords:  for example, in G
one finger is G, four is C and five is D.  For klezmer it translates well:
in Am one would be Am, four would be Dm and five would be E.  As I said it
is lowest common denominator stuff, but it brings the newbies along so we
have more and better klezmorim to play with.

If you try this, let me know how it works for you.  I am still pushing it in
Victoria, and could use a positive example for the skeptics who just want to
cut loose.

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