Nov. 16, 2009 Jam

Hello There,


We're ready to usher in the holiday season with a special bang this Monday, Nov. 30th, 7:30, at Paddy Reilly's Pub (SW corner of 2nd and 29th).


Co-host Bill and I are pleased to announce from this jam onward, our old friend A.J. Bender will become the third leg of the bar stool that we call Bluegrass & Beyond. 


He'll help lessen Bill's jam responsibilities by bringing his talents as song leader to the early part of each evening's festivities, thus, allowing Bill to finally get some rest and a dinner break before picking up the slack later on as he always has.


By bringing their combined talents to bear, Bill and A.J. should keep the jam infused with loads of creative energy for the upcoming future. I'd bring my talents to bear as well, if I could only locate them - I must have left them at the zoo. (Make a note - bear jokes never work, do they?)


I like to think of the age-old adage, the sum becomes greater than the individual parts. Think of Athos, Porthos and Aramis ("All for one, and one for all"), or, Moe, Larry and Curly ("Whoo, whoo, whoo...). All right skip that last image...


We're thinking of revising the jam poster to show a wing-ed A.J. floating down from above - a beer in his hand with an out-strectched finger, a la Michelangelo.


Enough already.


Last jam, we saved the best for last - a quadruple Merle! Yes, four in a row... Andrew's "Big City", Sarah's "Sing Me Back Home" and A.J.'s "Mama Tried" and "Okie From Muskogee".


Not to be outdone, Jon and I were immediately inspired to follow with a Double Lyle... "If I Had A Boat" and "Cowboy Man". Bluegrass & Beyond... Lovett or leave it!


Our perennial favorite, Scotty, came up with "Blue Suede Shoes" and Elton John's "Social Disease" - or, as he prefaced it: "the closest Elton ever came to bluegrass". Right, Scotty, beam me up there with you, wherever you hang out...


Karen returned with some new material from an old source - Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door".


A.J. (perhaps trying to impress us as a future co-host) came up with a Carter Family song that was news to me "March Winds Will Blow My Blues All Away".


Deborah brought out a traditional fiddle tune that I used to hear in the 70's often on hammered dulcimer "Over The Waterfall", and Lynn, before heading off to New Orleans gave us the Animals version of "House Of The Rising Sun". Or, as we say in New York,  the Animals version of the Bob Dylan version of Dave Van Ronk's arrangement of...


Van Ronk's name reminds me of ("Green, Green Rocky Road") Gary, who brought in Jimmy Martin's "Mr. Engineer". 


Co-host Bill got a little wild with The Troggs' "Wild Thing" - he must have thought that he was back in his parent's garage on Long Island, plugging in for the first time.


My wife, Sarah, pulled out an obscure, but absolutely great song from the J J Shultz Band called "Speed Train".


In our own revival of the the John Guare play, I got to perform Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream" with "California" Ray - a mere 2 or 3 degrees of separation, since he's married into Del Shannon's family. Now, if only Ray knew the song (He's like: "I didn't know Del was mentioned in that song!"). Well, at least he didn't start playing "Bill Cheatum" in the middle of it like he did at Grey Fox.


(Ouch, that's low... he's gonna get you, Dave).


See you Monday, and A.J. - 7:30 sharp (I may be in disguise to avoid Ray).


Bill, enjoy your first dinner at home! 

Nov. 2, 2009 Jam

Hello from Roanoke, Virginia!


Through the miracles of modern technology, I'm able to remind you that this Monday, Nov. 16th, we meet once again for the Bluegrass & Beyond Jam - 7:30 at Paddy Reilly's Pub (SW corner of 29th and 2nd).


I survived the ResoSummit in Nashville without scaring too many teachers, maybe even learning a few things along the way - and have now been following the remnants of the tropical storm up the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, N.C.. Someday I'll have to come back and see the spectacular views that I've been missing in the fog and mist!


Speaking of fog, I can only vaguely recall what transpired at our last outing - but I'll give it a try.


We let Warren Peace get away with Werewolves Of London again - it WAS Halloween after all...


We also had an outbreak of the weird instrument flu - I'll have to get a shot before it spreads too much.


Andrew lead the way with some kind of guitar / banjo concoction. It didn't stop him, however, from bringing in the Stanley Brothers' "Stone Walls And Steel Bars" - although I doubt Dr. Ralph would let him in the band with such a device!


New guys Mike ("Son Of A Miner's Child") and Howard ("Have You Ever Seen The Rain") provided some new blood and songs to the jam. Howard brought his rock ukulele along - playing wonderful up the neck (as much as there is on a uke...) breaks on everything (and looking continually for his effects pedal)!


Leslie made the mistake of giving me first crack at Paul Simon's "The Boxer", and set my confidence level back two years as I butchered it - right before the ResoSummit - thanks, Leslie. It sounded like I was the one wearing the gloves!


Rob led a nice, soulful "Wayfaring Stranger"; and Gary sat "On Top Of The World" for a while.


A.J. and Jon were solid with John Cash's "Big River", "Rider" and Bill Monroe's "On And On" - the latter apparently a reference to the Paddy's Songwriter Idol contest - in which both of them are still going strong!


Mike revived a favorite of mine - Pete Wernick's "Hucklin' The Berries" (and will also be playing at the American Musuem of Folk Art this Friday, Nov. 13th, free from 5:30 - 7:30 with gospel singer Diane McCoy; and TriBoro - all three of whom come to this jam as well - some more than others, a-hem, Don...).


Tony, in what seems to be becoming a habit, showed up as well with Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons".


Sarah flew into the Beyond with Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" and tried the Wilbury's "Handle With Care" during the after-jam - certainly worthy of repeat in prime time.


I pulled out Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream" as well afterwards - it seemed to go over well - we played it twice. Or, maybe people were just hoping I'd figure it out sooner or later!


Mark continues to develop his song leading prowess - it won't be long before he's up on the bar directing us all. Maybe at the holiday jam...


On a final note, co-host Bill informed me that Liz had a bike accident, but is apparently okay - except that she hurt her arm and won't be playing music for a while. Get well soon, Liz - I just drove through your home turf down in North Carolina. Grandfather Mountain's not looking so old to me anymore...


Whew, and I thought there was nothing to say - I guess the fog lifted.


See you Monday,