GEELONG JAZZ CLUB and THE GEELONG JAZZ JAMMERS
We want to keep live jazz music alive in our community, and have embarked on a program to encourage and promote younger musicians to play in an environment that is supportive, inclusive and non-threatening. The program uses a coaching and mentoring methodology through a series of jam sessions. We are conducting four Jam sessions throughout 2024. The first was held on the 17th March and was a resounding success. The Club is focusing on local schools, concert and brass bands and community centres for potential jam session players.
The 24th of November is our final Geelong Jazz Jammers gig for 2024, at the same venue - the Geelong West Neighbourhood House, 89 Autumn Street, Geelong West (Cnr. Pakington and Autumn Streets.)
Time: 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Cost: free for all musicians
For readers new to this site - The Jam Sessions provide an environment where people who want to play jazz, and can already play an instrument, can meet, play and learn from established local musicians. The Jam Session will last three hours and consist of two music sets from 2 - 4 pm followed by an hour or so of discussion and Q&A.
Sit-in musicians are to bring their own instruments, no restriction on age or gender. Musicians are expected to be competent players of their instrument, and understand tune structure (melody and chords). Young musicians are asked to learn two or three of the songs published on the Geelong Jazz Club website, to enable them to sit in on a Jam session. For variety of tunes are changed each session.
At our previous jam sessions it was announced that the Geelong Jazz Club would be awarding two $500 Encouragement Awards to facilitate the jazz playing ambitions of participants. The Awards are for funding further tuition from a mentor or teacher. These Awards will be presented on Sunday the 24th November.
The conditions for winning an award are
● Each candidate must have attended at least one of the Geelong Jazz Club Jazz Jammers sessions.
● Each candidate will play a number with the band that they have selected from the previous jam sessions as listed below.
● The judge will assess performance on basis of:
● Ability to play the melody
● Understanding of playing with/fitting in with, the other band members
● Creative improvisation skill
To assist the judge, candidates will also be asked to describe (a) why they like to play jazz and (b) what their playing ambitions are. They are also asked to nominate their preferred mentor/teacher.
If you have any questions about the afternoon please contact:
Felix Blatt ph: 0419522633 email: fblatt@bigpond.net.au
Geelong Jazz Jammers Tunes
Tunes for 15th September jam are:
Little Suede Shoes (Eb)
Don't get around much anymore (Bb)
When you're smiling (Bb)
Lonesome Road (Eb)
Honeysuckle Rose (F)
Lady Be Good (F)
Tunes for 16th June 2024 are:
Perdido (Bb)
Blue Monk Bb)
A Train (C)
Do You Know What it Means (C)
Topsy (Dm)
Things Ain’t what They Used To Be (F)
Doxy (Bb)
Quiet Nights (Corcovado) (Am)
It Had To Be You (Bb)
Moonglow (C)
Fly me to the moon (F)
Tunes for March 17th are:
Muskrat Ramble Bb
St Louis Blues F
Summertime F (Dm)
My Blue Heaven Bb
I’m Confessin’ That I Love You F
Sweet Georgia Brown F
When The Saints F
Bill Bailey F
Honeysuckle Rose F
It don’t mean a thing
All Of Me F
Ain’t Misbehavin’ G
The keys can be changed or we can replay the same tunes in different keys. Players will select three tunes they wish to play and and their key preference.
The Jazz Club hopes that these Jam Sessions will entice younger/new players to play jazz, in order to continue the strong music culture in Geelong and bring the new musicians and families into the Club.
Contact Felix Blatt on: 0419 522 633 or fblatt@bigppond.net.au
OR Contact The Geelong Jazz Club thegeelongjazzclub@gmail.com for more information.