July 20 2006 Jam

Where’s doc’o? Donny’s lost in America…banjoing and bag pipping across the US of A… with a song in his heart… and a long, tall wish… we’re a wishing he’d come on home…before it gets cold outside!

A Bob Dylan sound check and a “beau-ti-ful audience” and away we go. A ‘loony’ “Crazy as a Loon” John Prine duo and we then got all folked out with John A., our perennial “Worried Man.” We were wishing the winds were chilly and John chilled us down with his “Chilly Winds” song… a little green with ‘Greenback Dollar” and a quick trip on the “MTA” and a little “Tupelo Honey” adding just the right touch of sweetness with guest host, Texas Jimmy D and his jammy buddy, Stu Schulman stepping up to the main stage.

Set 2 began with a birthday happy for Victoria this day, 30 years young!

With guest host jammer, Texas Jimmy D. leading the way, Jimmy D on vocals, ‘Special’ Ed on electric, Gary on Drums, Stu on bass, Matt on flute, Moe on keys, and Michelle on tambourine, launched into “Baby What You Want Me to Do” and “Since my Baby Can’t Be Found.” Two tunes that were a dash of blue suede shoeish type music. Time for a quick change with Tom Lambert joining the jammers on the Hammond organ, and Bob Parsons on electric guitar.

Traveling all the way from Portland Oregon to join jammers, was Mr. Clark Boyer on drums. Mr. Boyer was a new jammer to this North Slope jam stage but an old sage North Slope jammer from the last millennium. Clark has the title of being Matt’s first drummer, and Clark, as I recall, often used to say, “Matt beats to a rhythm all his own.” Tough gig being a drummer breaking in a 20+ year soloist… Thank you, Clark, for joining us this evening! Safe travels back home to Portland. Another new jammer John B on saxophone joined the group and Jimmy D, Stu, Cuba, Paul, and young Kyle on sax. Adding Jimmy D’s original fare, “Runaway Love” and “Last Love of my Life” made for some sweet, sweet listening for the audience. Jimmy D is not only a great guitar player, he is a fine, fine songwriter!

Set 3 opened with a Happy Birthday to one of our favorite audience members, Ms. Linda Stewart. A big birthday cake, a happy birthday song, and “Let them eat cake,” she cried. Happy birthday, Linda, many more happy birthdays to you.

Quick change brought Mike on electric, Tori on sax, Gary back on drums, Jimmy D on electric, Kyle on sax, Pat on bass, Paul on harp, Cuba on congas and Jam Master Hammer back to the stage. Group sax this night, with three excellent saxophone players. Jimmy led the group into “Down at the Crossroads” with multiple members of the audience playing those ever present audience air guitars… great job guys!

A little instrumental electric magic from the guitar players had members of the air guitar contingent on their knees bowing to the electric kings; the grey, the blonde and the dred… locks that is… whew, those players be smokin’

Yet another configuration brought Moe on keys, LA from Virginia Beach on electric guitar, Tori, Kyle, Matt, Pat, Cuba on maracas, Gary, Mike and a new conga player, Angie, to the stage. A bit of “Steamroller Blues” had Matt whimpering, “I’m not worthy!” Sweet, sweet notes this night, folks. A little “San Diego Serenade” brought Michelle to the stage on tambourine.

Yet more new jammers to the North Slope stage. Warm welcomes go out to Shelly on lead vocals and Bonnie on bass of Bull’s-Eye fame. The ladies were were joined by Ranger Doug on electric and vocals, Kyle, Tori, Paul, Cuba, and Jimmy D. Shelly can really belt a song out and most beautifully lead jammers into “Wild Horses,” “Chain of Fools” and “Runaway.” These tunes had all of our feets a tapping and many of the audience on their feets a dancing. Welcome, welcome goes out to Shelly and her crew! We hope they come back soon.

Yet more jammers… yes folks, this night we had 29 jammers… coming back to the stage was ‘Special’ Ed, joined by Tammy on bass, Jimmy D., Gary, Tori, Kyle, Cuba, and Pat Rat manned the harmonica corner. Tammy sang, “Everything I Need, Almost, Almost.”

Then I slipped up with a little traveling music taking everyone to “Atlanta, a toe-tapping Alison Krause tune. Matt launched into “House of the Rising Sun” with our daughter Michelle joining jammers on clarinet and once again the Matt Hammer jam came to a close.

Special thank you goes out to Jessica, our bartender, cocktail waitress, food service, dishwasher, and bouncer all rolled into one neat and petite package. She does it all and like the ever-ready bunny, just keeps on ticking…playing to this standing room only crowd. Thank yous to Shelly and the Bull’s-Eye Crew, Special Ed, LA and Mike, Clark, all saxes, and our guest host Texas Jimmy D and the most excellent musician, Stu Schulman. Thank yous go out to everyone for supporting this jam!