August 17 2006 Jam

Where’s Doc’o? Stalled in Chico…listening to Laurie Lewis’ “Earth and Sky” packin’ music and Brad Paisley’s newest country-fare … why that’s “Time Well Wasted”…

Big thank you’s go out straight away to the core band: Gary Price on drums, Paul Schlomer on harp, Dan on sound, Pat, the Rat, on bass, and to my better half, Jam Master (and husband) extraordinaire, Matt Hammer.

This night was the night of the guitar… we had five acoustic guitar players and eight electric guitar players. Wow, I think this is a record number of guitar players in the room at any one time! This week’s jam started with the usual primetime Prine fare trio of tunes.

John A then joined the core band on vocals and acoustic guitar singing three classic folk tunes. Cuba joined in on congas. John becomes a more seasoned performer at every jam. I’m hoping to see his name as one of the performers at next year’s folk festival. I believe he might be ready to spread his wings and fly.

…and speaking of flying… a little Oklahoma birdie told us that it was John’s birthday today. Happy Birthday, John!

Valley Matt stepped to the stage on acoustic guitar and vocals, backed up by his faithful drummer, Tre. Wow, did you see Tre’s dreds. Tre announced that the grand opening of his small business in Peter’s Creek is this weekend, the name, however, escapes me… but he urged everyone to stop in, say hi and buy! This dynamic duo (with a little help from the core band and Cuba) pleased the crowd, playing, “What I Got,” “Big, Bad Leroy Brown,” Valley Matt’s originals, “Bubble Toes,” and “I Always Have to Steal My Kisses From You.” This last tune is a delightful, toe-tappin’ number… and makes me think that this one was written straight from the heart. Great songs and the audience loved the energy of this duo. Great job, guys, you just get better and better every time we see you!

Eric Braendel stepped center stage, accompanied by Paul Schlomer on harp. This was a real treat for us, Eric is a superb songwriter and sang two of his latest original songs, “Hold On” and “Hear Me Now.” Wow! Can’t really describe them, they are moving melodic songs of passion, loss…and hope… you really need to hear them, they are superb.

Pat, the Rat, and friend Linda stepped to the stage. Pat shed his bass for a melodic acoustic guitar and Linda sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and one other tune. (I’m having a senior moment, can’t seem to recall the name of that tune.) Linda performed in the 70’s but, after a long time gone, decided to return to singing again.

Set two brought our guest host jammer to the stage, Tony James. Tony James is a performer extraordinaire.

Tony was joined on stage by Gary Price, Pat, the Rat, Cuba, and Mike Johnson on electric guitar. Straight away Tony led the group into a B flat blues tune.

Tom Lambert joined the group on the Hammond B organ and young Kyle joined in on saxophone and Tony sang his soulful renditions of, “Let the Good Times Roll,” “Since I Fell For You,” “Don’t Chain My Heart,” “Tell me What I Say” and “All of Me.”

Wow, superb music was enjoyed by the audience, toes were a tapping and ladies and gentlemen a’dancing. Walmart women a hoping and a hollering all to the beat of the music. What a nice set by our guest host jammer. He ended the set with a two-song medley of “Folsom Prison Blues” and “A Boy Named Sue.” Well, how do you do, a bluesman and Johnny Cash, too!

So many guitar players, so little time… would have liked to have heard Mike Johnson sing a tune or two, but the night moved so fast. Hope to see this most excellent performer again! And… everyone should say happy birthday to Tony, whose birthday was August 18…

Jam Master Hammer stepped to the stage accompanied by Bob Parsons and Texas Jimmy D on electric guitar, Tom, Gary, Pat, Kyle, Paul, Cuba, and Lona. Jam Master Hammer (with Hammer) sang, “Tupelo Honey.”

We then stepped off the stage and Bob Parsons led the group into “E-gas” and another latiny, mambo-samba type breezy instrumental.

Mike, the electric guitar fiddler on the roof, joined the group with his superb licks and Jimmy D stepped center stage and sang his Freddy King, schuffly music… the crowd enjoyed the music and we had dancers all night long.

Rachel Rae on vocals, and Michie on clarinet, joined the jammers. Rachel led the group into a “Moondance” and all too soon ended the night with a Four Non-Blonde Tune, “What’s Up.” Special Ed and Jimmy R, electric guitar players joined us in the room, but skipped the stage this night.

Terry, our perennial audience guitar player joined us in the room, sans guitar. Brenda, as always, anchored the core audience with Steve and Linda, Linda and Bea, and the Walmart Women. We thank these guys and the rest of the audience for your support. It feels like one big musical family to us!

Shout-Outs

1) Jam Master Hammer announced that he had been invited to host an invitational jam in the Fall for the “Best of Hammer’s Jammers” and anticipated possibly making a CD of all or a portion of the weekend’s festivities. No date yet, I’ll keep y’all posted when we have more details. We envision a weekend of fun and heartfelt music, North Slope style! Sponsors, anyone, we’re looking for sponsors!

2)We possibly will be moving the start time of the jam to 8:00 p.m. to accommodate the early risers, dinner diners, and the old folks such as myself who turn into pumpkins at midnight (read mush). Again, we will keep you posted if the start time changes.

3)Big thank yous go out to Pat Osborne and Mike for making the Matt Hammer Jam at the North Slope possible.

4)Big thank you to Dan, our superb soundman and to Jessica our lone cocktail waitress, bartendress, chief glass washer and bouncer extraordinaire. She keeps us in line and our thirst’s quenched!

5) To our original songwriters, thank you for sharing your original tunes with us, but you might want to get those songs to the Library of Congress for copywriting. Come see me if you need some direction and/or assistance. You can copywrite all songs that were written in any one year as a collection for a single fee $30 or copywrite any one song for the same $30 fee. You’ll need a copyright form, a recording of the song, a lyric sheet, a mailer and a stamp. It’s well worth the time and small expense. If you plan on marketing “your children,” this is a necessary first step.

Live long, love much, laugh often… and play music!