October 12 2006 Jam

In, Out and About

Alaska Musicians…Alaska’s own, in, out and about musicians traveling the Lower 48.

Back to Alaska, for a moment, Bo Porter is the guest host jammer on October 19 at the North Slope. We are all in for a treat!

Best wishes to Gwen and Reggie, Reggie is the drummer for 1Enemy3, going on tour in the Lower 48. They hit the road on Sunday. To track their adventures, check out their blog at www.1enemy3.com.

Best wishes to Shannon, our favorite Wasilla bartender, formerly bartending at the Great Bear Mat-Su Resort. Wow, what a set of pipes on this long, tall blonde. She treated us to her own phenomenal rendition of “Summertime” at our gig on Saturday evening at the Mat-Su and brought down the house. Who knew…she was amazing! And we didn’t even know she sang. Shannon heads out to Sacramento to join her band in the studio for a demo and then they plan to make their way on down to the city of Angels. Shannon doesn’t have a link for us, but she promises to stay “connected” so we’ll keep y’all apprised of where she is… in case you get to LA and can stop on by and say hi.

Mike K., the guitar fiddler on the roof, is still in Vegas town, continuing to play music. No location yet.

Our own Rachel Renae heads for LA this week to perform in a contest geared for talented new musicians, songwriters and singers. Check out www.bestnewtalentawards.com Rachel tells us she plans to enter several categories there, including songwriting…we’re anxious to hear some of those originals when she returns to Alaska. Good luck Rachel, you make us proud!

Back to Alaska on Sunday, our own Doc Schultz…make sure you make it to the boatdock, Doc. We all look forward to your return to Alaska…you and your mando player, take care, have fun, and be safe. We look forward to you knockin’ on our door once again.

Michie, our “our house” clarinet player, has settled in at the University of Oregon, connected with a group of college jammers and is happily playing music in Oregon.

And let’s not forget, young Kyle, our own alto saxophone prodigy, (we’ve all adopted him I think). Kyle heads for the windy city soon to learn more from some of the great blues masters.

Stars may be out, Brian Bowers may join us at the “Best of Matt Hammer Jam” on autoharp. Brian lives in Seattle and tours the Pacific Northwest and is, perhaps, one of the best autoharpists in the nation, perhaps in the world.

Birthday Party for Jessica, our favorite Anchorage bartender, on Thursday (her birthday is actually 10/18). Cake, gift, et.al. covered… talk to Bea, Linda or Bill if you want to help cover costs or just come on down to make it a birthday party to remember for Jess.

Congratulations are in order…for our own Gary Price, who got married a Friday or so ago! Rumor has it he’s bringing “the wife” to the gig on Thursday as they are moving into their new digs! Best of luck to Gary and his lovely wife!

Kudos to Dan, our superb soundman for his continued vigilance in setting the sound and making us sound good on every Thursday night!

Kudos to Pat O., our bar manager…thank you Pat for your hard work and support!

Set one began with Matt on vocals and acoustic guitar, Gary on drums, Paul on harp, Special Ed on electric and Pat Rat on bass.

A bit’o Prine, a bite o’Buffett and John A. joined the group, singing his classic folk songs… he tells us that “some things are priceless”… like singing with the band every Thursday.

Young Kyle is back on sax, welcome back, Kyle, we missed you! D’mitri joined in on electric, and a new drummer named Ron. WELCOME RON! The group was joined by Matt, lona, Ed, Pat, and Paul for a little “T-Bone Shuffle.”

And yet another new jammer joined the stage this night, new to our stage but the man who makes all our jamming possible, a HUGE WELCOME TO MIKE, North Slope owner, and a berry, big saxophone player extraordinaire. Whew… these guys were smokin’… A tribute to Albert King, a born in Chicago kind of song, “Change your Evil Ways,” with Michelle joining in on tambourine and Gary back on drums. “Midnight Radio”.

Guest host jammer D’mitri main stage. He was joined by Ed, Kyle, Pat, Ron and another new jammer, with another new instrument.

A big North Slope WELCOME to “horn doctor” horn master Justin on trumpet. Wow, this boy can trumpet that trumpet!

And then we added a dash of Bo Porter to the mix…google Bo, he’s a star…he is all over the web. Bo led jammers into a Taj Mahal tune. Ah, takes me back to Arkansas. Some “Hey Joe,” Jimmy Hendrix style, with Paul literally hurling himself onto the stage to play on this number! Dancers and more dancers this night made for busy North Slope staff. Wow, we even caught Don Hicks dancing with a TV star, our own Linda Stewart is now doing a Mall Commercial…yeah, she be walking/talking the mall…catch her on prime time TV…

Set three began with Dean Reaves on drums, Mike Olsen on electric and vocals, Pat Rat, Ed, and Bo. Matt ordered Schlomer to “bring his lips to the stage,” which was quite a surprise, usually he’s ordering Jose around. Mike led jammers in “Moving on Over” and “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Bo led jammers in “That’s All Right.” And then jammers launched into a song initially wrote on a white piece of toilet paper, entitled “Leave It Alone.” Wow, inspiration can strike in the oddest of places! This is a great song, no bathroom humor intended.

Some “Simple Man” and Rachel Renae stepped center stage. Dane moved in on bass, Moe moved in on keyboards, with Ed, D’mitri, Dean, and Paul. Rachel launched into “Give Me One More Reason” and “What’s Up.”

Then we noticed that Tom Lambert, Hammond B3 player extraordinaire was hiding in the audience and we did the “musician shuffle” and got Tom to tickle the keys of the ole Hammond.

After more shuffling with Gary now back on drums, Matt on flute, Pat Rat back on bass, and Justin trumpeting, Rachel launched into “Moondance” and guest host jammer D’mitri launched into the encore song, Dire Straits’ “I am the Sultan” and all too soon another edition of the Matt Hammer Jam came to a rousing close.

HUGE THANK YOUS go out to our audiences and our jammers, thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support!