Following the success of the Geelong Jazz Club’s first Jam Session last year the Club is holding four more Sunday afternoon sessions from 2 pm to 5 pm this year. 

The dates are the 17th of March, the 16th of June, the 15th of September and the 24th of November. The venue for the first three sessions is again at the Geelong West Neighbourhood House, 89 Autumn Street, Geelong West (Cnr. Pakington and Autumn Streets.) 

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. The afternoon will be stage managed by Bob Pullin also a committee member of the Geelong Jazz Club and well known for his announcing abilities on radio and at events.

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 following songs to enable them to sit in a Jam session. For variety the tune list has been changed.  

Geelong Jazz Jammers Tunes 

The tunes selected for 15th September jam are:

·       I Found A New Baby (Dm)

·       After You’ve Gone (Bb)

·       Exactly Like You (Bb)

·       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.