January 11 2007 Jam

Wow, it’s a new year and we’re back! Miss Patti Greene joined the band on bass and vocals. Big welcome to Miss Patti—she brings a wealth of talent and depth to the band. Big hugs to Pat Rat who has become quite the soloist with his tasty acoustic guitar stylings. For the dinner set, catch him all around town and… of course, from time to time with the band… and, it goes without saying, at any and all jam sessions.

Our first guest host of the new year was Stu Schulman. Wow, what a treat! The core band with Matt, Patti, Paul, Dean, joined by Paul and Cuba started out singing “Devil’s & Dust.” A little “Glory of True Love” and John, our favorite “Worried Man,” jumped center stage and sang a trio of folk tunes. Matt ended the set with his original, “Some Things are Never Gonna Change.”

Set two brought Stu back to the stage on electric. We ask him to sing but he confided, “not tonight, I have a headache.” Hum… Keith Junot, on upside down and backwards acoustic guitar, joined Stu, Dean, Patti, Paul and Cuba. Keith, in his best Willie Nelson stylings, sang “I Had a Beautiful Time” and “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground.” This tune had the audience mesmerized with Stu’s sweet licks, Keith’s velvet vocals, Patti’s strong rhythmic bass lines, and Dean and Cuba’s tasty drumming. Very nice!

A new jammer to the stage, Tammy sang an old, old tune, “Delta Dawn.” Tammy confided that we probably wouldn’t know many of the tunes she likes to sing as they were all old, old tunes. Jammers then jumped back into “Can’t Find My Way Back Home.”

Set three began with Ricky on acoustic, Mark on bass, Dave on harp, Matt on acoustic, Cuba and Dean, on congas and drums. Dave’s a new jammer and a little shy of the mic, but Paul told us he’s mentor him…speak into the microphone. Freedom Writer dubbed this group the “Electric Hodgepodge.” The first song up was, “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” but I’ve got to tell you, these guys seemed more suited for the cover of Field and Stream! A trip to “Cripple Creek,” a “Changes in Latitudes,” and Ricky closed with a rather interesting version of “Hotel California” with Patti joining on keyboards.

Set three, part two, brought Ranger Doug up on electric, Stu on organ, Patti on bass, Paul on harp, with Patti characterizing the first song as, “not jammin’, that’s trash.” Sweet, sweet trash if that’s the case! Patti then sang her unique rendition of “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right.” This one comes straight from the heart and hits the rest of us right in the gut. Wow, what a great tune! Bobby would be proud!

Shelly of Bull’s-Eye then jumped to the stage on energetic lead vocals and jammers launched into “Runaway,” “Wild Horses,” and “Chain of Fools.” “Chain of Fools” had the whole audience on their feet dancing!

Set four brought a change of pace with Mr. Dane center stage on his acoustic twelve-string playing his originals for us one last time. Dane was dressed in his Hawaiian shirt, in preparation for his late night flight back to Hawaii. Dane, we will miss you! And all too soon another night of jamming at the North Slope came to a close!

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