November 9 2006 Jam

We’ve gone a little country this night. Anniversary night one began with a high energy rendition of the “Glory of True Love” by the core band … to celebrate one year of jamming with love and honesty. Our sincere thank you’s go out to all of our jammers and audience for all the support, musically, morally, mentally, and physically, and Jessica and Dan, Mike and the rest of the North Slope crew, who have worked hard to make this jam a success, moment to moment, night to night, hour by hour, and week after week. Big thank you’s to all! We couldn’t have done it without EVERYONE! And that includes YOU!

Jam Master Hammer launched into “Long Monday” for which Matt translated into lo..ooo..ng Thursday!

In a tribute to women with his-story and cowboys everywhere, I sang “Angel from Montgomery.”

Folk Master John Alexandroff, working in secret with other Jam fans, created a large picture tribute to this one year anniversary of the Jam, for Matt and Lona. This was on the pool table for the next three nights for fans to sign.

The night was highlighted by a special guest appearance by Alaska state balladeer, Hobo Jim. Big welcomes go out to Hobo! Hobo sang, “Mother Queen of my Heart” an old country tune; Hank Williams’ first number one song, “I’ve Got the Lonesome, Love Sick Blues,” and his own country tune, “I’m Your Rock” which has been covered by many a country artist, among those Randy Travis and the Amazing Rhythm Aces. Hobo commutes regularly between Alaska and Nashville and is a fine songwriter as well as superb performer. Thank you, Hobo, for participating in our first anniversary celebration. What a treat!

Next up was the Christensen Family Band, featuring Stan and Maureen Christensen, on electric and organ, flanked by their son’s, Marty on drums and Special Ed on electric. They adopted our own Pat Rat on bass, Paul on harp, Cuba on congas to round out their sound. Fifty plus years of making music, Stan and Maureen have left a treasure trove of sons who continue to make music in Alaska for Alaskans. Stan launched into old country classics, “Cotton Fields Back Home,” “Jambalaya,” “Release Me” and “Hey Good Looking.” He ended the night with “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” with Maureen smiling all the while accompanying him on the organ. Sweet music; and these two filled our hearts with a bit of magic that only fifty years together making music can give.

A bit of quick-change artistry, brought Special Ed to the mic. Accompanied by Robert Howard on electric, Jam Master Hammer on mandolin, young Kyle on saxophone, Gary, Pat, Paul and Cuba, Special Ed launched into “Flip, Flap and Fly” “All of Me” and for a change of pace for a little country and western music, a’la Santana latin style, he launched into “Black Magic Woman” featuring Dean Reaves on wood block, Michelle on tambourine and Jam Master Hammer on flute. Ed tells us he’s off to dive in Belize tomorrow… wow, a world traveler this one…take good pictures!

Another change brought Alaska’s own “pickup man” to the stage, Mr. Mike Olsen, with a band of the same name. And I think they could also be known as “The Black Hat Band.” With Allison King on bass, Steve Cork on electric, Terry Kelly on bass, Mike launched into “HeeHaw” and “Pickup Man,” and were off and running with that country swing. Mike followed up with “Could Have Been a Cowboy” and “Bad Man on the Boulevard” and launched into his own original tune “Lucky Man.”

Sweet, sweet! By the time this tune was over the dance floor was filled with dancers…just in time for Mike to catch fire with “Call Me the Fireman.” At the end of this one he was calling for someone to hose him down. Mike’s set romped to a close with “Leave It Alone” and “What was I Thinking.”

Set three began with Bob and Ed on electrics, Gary on drums, Matt, Pat, Paul and Cuba. Jam Master Hammer announced that Ranger Doug was our first guest host jammer last November and it was proper that he round out this first anniversary night of jamming. Ranger Doug stepped up to the stage and brought new meaning to “being wrapped up in the flag!” Doug had just come from performing at another venue, in honor of Veteran’s Day, where he performed for Conde Rice and other national dignitaries. Thank you, Doug, for joining us this night! The Ranger launched into Merle Haggard’s “Working Man Blues,” “Good Hearted Woman” and figured since he came from a patriotic show, looking mightily dapper in his patriotic garb, that he’d do a patriotic song and patrioticly sang, with feeling, “Oakie from Muskogie.” No country night of music could be complete without a little music of the man in black so he sang, “Ring of Fire” and then “Sometimes Bad is Bad.” Whew, he was smokin’ as he tore into “She Don’t Love Me She Loves My Automobile” and “Make the World Go Away.” Many dancers came to the floor this night! The good Ranger rounded out the night with Ray Charles’ “What I Say,” Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and rocked the house to a close at midnight with his own rendition of “Midnight Special.”

Live Long, Love Much, Laugh Often and…play music!