Comments

04.03.10
Hello to you all
This site will be closing soon, when the present hosting subscription runs out. I’ll not be renewing it. I think it’s run it’s course now. This site was started purely as a way of promoting the regular jam at the Kings Head, Acton, and to highlight the great music being played by real people. In those early days its content was limited to short reviews of jams and also a page for photo’s. It quickly expanded to include the most popular page - comments. When Neil Pearce took over the writing of the reviews, that then became the most viewed page next to the home page. I’d got in touch with google adsense and published some ads, I thought it would give the site a more professional look. Unfortunately I failed completed the required forms so I’ve never collected a cent for them. Well that was never the aim. It was just for fun. It would have been nice to have recouped the cost of running the site but as it was my baby and just another facet of my passion for getting out and jamming every Thursday, I didn’t care about the money. I did it because I wanted to. As the jam moved from one place to another, I think that most people valued the site for its information, and community spirit. The stats certainly backed that up. This time last year we were really flying. More people were contributing reviews and comments to the site, and the site was getting more hits than ever, particularly from all around the globe, not just West London. Then when I was on holiday the site ‘went down’ and although I got it back a couple of weeks later, we never really recovered. The ‘hits’ dried up as contributors and viewers moved on. I believe that most people use Facebook now as a means to ‘network’ and keep everyone informed. It’s not as ‘open’ as a website and people can be excluded by other people from ‘being friends and sharing info’, but it seems to work for most people.
So, globaljam is just about done. The site would never have lasted so long (4 yrs) without Neil Pearce. His contribution was immense. I hope he saved all his work, particularly Dr Crotchet, and his weekly reviews, because there is enough for a couple of good entertaining books there. Many thanks to all who have written for the site, inc. Graham Goldwater whose imaginative reviews often sparked debate.
Thanks to all
It’s been fun.
Andy

Good thought provoking stuff there Andy, agreed with all of it (from experience!) but i think the overall postives from the jam shine through, great people - fabulous musical memories, compliments - and of course for me the invaluable chance to play every week over the last 4 years which has helped me so much

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE :)

Dear Globaljam
Sorry to see the site is closing around Easter, is that permanent or temporary?, I shall miss tuning in for news and views, somehow feel it keeps us community of jammers bonded and in touch! Anyway although it must be a lot of work, I think it's been interesting and worth it, keep going Globaljam!!

So you want to run a jam?
Why?
Well, if you are considering hosting a jam, the chances are that you think you either have something new to offer or that you can improve on whats gone before. You may also view it as a chance to play more yourself. You know, try stuff out.
There are many things to consider. The most important one is that the owners of the venue will expect to make some money. They have staff and bills to pay, and although they may be committed to the cause, ie the noble art of jamming, if they can’t afford to pay said bills then the jam will suffer. You need to be able to get a certain number of people in the place, and they need to be spending some cash. It might look good having a large bunch of drummers around a table but if they are sharing a single glass of tap water then it’s not doing anyone any good from a business point of view, is it. All it’s doing is clogging up the running order.
Are you the type of person who, when going to a jam, times your visit so that you arrive just as the houseband finishes, and then leaves just as the houseband takes to the stage to end the night? Yes? Get used to it when it’s your turn to host the thing. Bottom line is, most players are not that interested in what the houseband does, no matter how good they are. Players are there for one thing and that is.. to play. So, who is the houseband playing for at the end of the night? The audience? But they (however many/few they are) in their drunken state want to hear something by Lady Ga Ga not an endless repetition of cerebral musing’s. They don’t want to be educated, they want a sexy time! They are not interested in how much pain you exude through your ten minute public self examination. They just want to dance and have a good time. The owners want that too. A happy audience spends cash. A miserable one just leaves.
Running a jam is not just about playing in a houseband and grabbing as much time for yourself. It is about providing a service. Managing the event as best you can. Much like building a block of flats in shifting sand. Looking at the constantly growing list of players and trying to put good groups together. It is a real eye opener into the diversity of characters that are ..musicians. Some are shy and have to be coaxed onto the stage. Some have to be asked to leave the stage before something bad happens. Some are naturally difficult customers who will not play with so and so, or don’t want to play when you ask them, but might play later on if you ask nicely. Some are very accommodating, and are just pleased to play, whatever. The most common problem for the jam host is when jammers arrive late. As you approach the last hour of jam time you’ve probably got it worked out as regards the players list, Who hasn’t played yet?, does the barmaid want to sing a couple of songs? If so who with? The houseband? So just what do you do when players walk in late expecting to jam? If you, as jam host, can get to grips with that and make it to the end of the night and keep everyone happy then you’ve done a good job.
Another thing to consider is how much of your own equipment you are prepared make available to the jammers. You may not have a choice. Can you stand to see that nice expensive guitar lead stomped on by an imbecile? The house amps and leads and drums may be on their last legs. Do you know how the pa system works? Does anyone know how to connect it all up after it’s been dismantled by the cleaners at the weekend?
One more thing to consider is, have you thought about how you are going to promote the event. You can bet your bottom dollar that the owners expect you to do it all. Take a look at their own website and see when it was last updated. That’s a good indicator as to how much they are promoting it themselves.
This might be a bit on the bleak side but the scenarios are realistic. It can be fun and on occasion it will be a roaring success. There will be times when you go home thinking that no matter how hard you try, it’ll never be good enough. We can’t perform miracles. The job is hard enough when you have everyone’s backing and support. When you feel that everything’s against you, all you can do is look at the situation in the cold light of day, ask yourself how you could have made it better.
Andy
(to be continued)

Dear Globaljamers
Hope it's not too late to say thank you to all the jammers that have made some amazing contributions this year. Yes I know that the folding of the Drayton caused a few familuar faces to take cover, but there is still life in the Tune Inn and who knows what the next decade will bring?
So until then, thanks for all your help, contributions, vibes and comments and a big thank you to Andy and Neil for their outstanding professionalism.
Plus all past and future House Bandits!
Dr Alex Comfort. dictated by Graham Goldwater

In the yoke of a brilliant victory for musicians everywhere in this years christmas number one race, thought id say thanks for a good years jamming all and hope to be back in style in the new year. Here is my present to you all:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6M_IYPUWd8>

Young Port

I DO NOT PLAY ******* FUSION! How DARE you! Unless by fusion you mean someone who can't play blues, rock, jazz or any other sodding thing without dragging some other wretched style into it like a poor youth tied to the bumper of an Alabama pickup truck and hauled through town until he is unrecognizable - in which case, yes, calling it fusion is probably quite fair, actually.

p.s. I'll go to Charlotte St with you and inflict my particular kind of misery on them. The problem is, you have to be there before 7.30 to have a hope of playing before 10.

Just read the:
Beyond the Bass Clef: The Life and Art of Bass Playing (attributed to Tony Levin)
joke. So many truths said in jest ;-)
Just wish I'd met god when I had time to play better...

Dear Globaljam,
I was passing the tune inn last Thursday night,when I felt an increadable vacuum cleaner drawing me inside, but no it wasn't, it was only one of the bar maids, Mel, complaining that she was working all on her own. Whipping out a large Stratocaster that I happened to have about my person, I made my way to the Stage, after a very good set by Martin and what appeared to be the Raggae Kings! I was accompened by Dan on guitar, Jovan on Bass, Paul on Drums, and can you believe it, little Calvin, get up and do my thing on Vocals! Well of course Dan started to play a wonderful three chord progression, which got Calvin got a bit hot under the collar, but never the less put led in his pencil! I of course being blind as a bat couldn't get anything out of the amplifier at all, so as things started to build I left the stage almost tripping over the sax player, retrieving my sunglasses neatly made my way back on stage, I don't think any one noticed, and discovered that I just hadn't quite plugged in my fuzz box enough to make that vital connection!! Well after that we were all well away, Calvin sang like a dream, going through various things like Superstition and Sax Machine. Then he left the stage and Jovan forced me into a version of Red House in which Dan did a blinding Solo and got a standing ovation, BASTARD!!
After that a lot of players showed up, I forget everything as usual, but George,I put a spell on you, was there performing the above mentioned song with a slightly pissed off young Lady, who actually had a very fine voice. Then there was young Alex who if anything seems to be getting younger! but thankfully playing better than ever. Igor was out, as was Richard, who seemed to be playing drums and drinking cups of tea in a china mug, (comfortable!)Moby threatened to walk out but I think was glad to have stayed, cause it looked like he had a lot of fun, especially with that Calvin!
It was really a pretty full fun night, maybe things are picking back up again, you never know!, until the next time, this has been Guitar enthusiast No 417, reporting incognito for Globaljam!!!

Given that there are Jams all around us that are closing on a regular basis, we must celebrate the fact that Global Jam goes on and on regardless. Sure, numbers are occasionally low, and sometimes it's a struggle but it's still there. I was not in at the beginning but I have heard Andy tell tales from the old days when first Sean , then himself started up at The Kings Head in Acton. Things have come a long way since then (well, 200 yards actually) and we have seen our own attempt at a Jam in West Ealing start slowly and then after a very good and successful run, with some great nights jammin', suddenly fail due to circumstances that really were beyond our control. I know that some of you folks miss The Drayton Jam and, sometimes, I do to, but the memories are good and I feel that we were a victim of the recession as much as any one else.
So, The Tune Inn is our playground. And still there is some good stuff going on and some weird stuff also. We get the excellent guitar virtuosity of Eddie Angel and we get the slightly bored comedy guitar of Eddie Angel. We get a still enthusiastic Jovan, prepared to show all the aspiring Bass players just how it is done, with style, and we get a guy playing bongos whilst wearing builders gloves. I can't figure that last one out to be honest, as un mic'ed bongos are not the loudest instrument and builders gloves are well padded so the result is - nothing. He was bongoing away all night and we never heard a thing. Reminds me of the guy who used to turn up at The Kings Head with a conga drum in a sack and take it out but not play it. Or Liam, bringing his own rack tom to the Jams. Must be something about percussionists or drummers. What goes on in their heads?
I've had reports that even Charlotte St Blues has suffered from a slightly low turnout recently so it's great that we have old friends who still come along to the friendliest jam in london. Igor, Mr Hot, Paul, Alex, Moby, Phil and many others. Plus some new faces that are really showing some quality. One of those is Richard who seemingly plays everything. Except Bongos. We'll have to get him some gloves. For an unassuming man, he has some big talent. His drumming, for instance, is not showy and has few fills. It is, however, solid. Guitar and keyboards, though, is where he really excels. And now Richard is going to be part of the new Jam order that is happening at The Tune. Andy Falconer and 3 Leg Dog will still be involved, but now we also have Big Martin, Richard and Jeff all running Thursday jams on alternate weeks. As Andy said, it makes sense for The Tune Inn to try anything that can keep the jams going. It's their business and we are just glad that we can remain a part of it and give you guys somewhere to play for free, in midweek. It would be good also if any one going to these jams can give us some feedback on the Global Jam website. Via the feedback section, for instance, or even send in a review. We would like to know what's going on and if a fresh way of doing things is having any effect. Tell us, also, what you think of other jams that you may have been to. It's all good conversation, for the comments page.
Anyway, let's see what the winter brings. Surely you guys are going to come out and play when it's cold and your bored and there is nothing on TV ?

See you there? ......Neil.

Hang about, who is this I spy wiv me very own mince pies? Why it's none other than that cockney rhyming East European lead bass guitarist - Joe the Van. And he's doing the Lambeth walk down Acton High St, in double quick time! Perfick replacement.

Dear Globaljam

Yes, these things have to be put in to perspective. Oasis can carry on without Noel, after all what's going to be different? But Chas without Dave? Unthinkable. Rabbit will, of course, have to be taken off the menu but Dave was a very solid and underrated Bass player. No one else will be able to wear the flat cap and hobnail boots with the same kind of conviction either. Chas "and his band" just does not have the same ring to it. I have been playin' 'Going down to Margate' all weekend. I await the box set retrospective with baited breath. And a bowl of jellied eels.

Neil.

Whats the world coming to. Noel leaving Oasis, Keisha quitting the Sugarbabes. Now sadly, I hear that Dave has officially left Chas and Dave. Chas has vowed to carry on. How is he going to do a song like 'Rabbit' then?

Dear Globaljam
Have you considered Dr S's wandering left hand? The right might be flighty but the left is causing many of us concern.

Yours

Bog Nerigus.

Prof G.G.
I didn't know donkey's had paw's
The Good Bear & Dog Dr. (claws'n nails)

Dear Dr Crotchet
Well I for one am extreamly pleased that you have began to unmask 'Dr' Saal for what he really is.
He is a charlatan and a fraudster and I shall be confronting and unmasking him as such next Thursday at the Tune Inn.
I have been watching him very closely for quite some time now and can now confidently announce that he can in fact 'not' play any of the instruments that he so proudly professes to be convergent with.
Watch him play keyboards, he merely flips his fingers up and down said keyboard and happens to hit randomly the right notes. So? Anyone can do that.
Likewise guitar, he only pretends to play chords and lead guitar, actually he has no idea what so ever what he is doing. It is again just fluke that he manages to make them sound so good. He is tricking us all and we, like somnambulists fall for it.
Singing. Again, all he is doing is letting air out of his lungs and passing them over his larynx that he contracts and expands in a way to make it 'sound' like he is singing.
'Dr' Saal is nothing of the sorts. He is a horse Doctor pretending to be a talanted musician. I recently saw him on Camber sands re-shoeing a donkey that had had the misfortune to have got a bit of shell stuck between his paw and shoe.
How much longer are we going to be fooled by this man?
Wake up everybody, he is tricking you all and making you look foolish and gulable!
Yours sincerely
Professor Graham Goldwater
Head of Rocket Studies at Edwards Air Force Base

Dear Globaljam
Being the present employer of Mr S's powerful yet often tremulous organ, I must admit that it is often more than a small beat combo such as ours can accomodate.

Still, this is the modern age, we are flexible, and all shall persevere.

P.s. 'Mr.' is also a Dr, only higher up the pay scale. Dr is practically an insult by comparison.

Dear Dr. Crochet
You refer to a memo from my aquaintance, Mr.S. He graciously had to hand the baton to Mr GH, who could not only pluck, hit and press but also blow on instruments. Mr S informs me that he is even less popular these days now that he is just a gun for hire.
On a positive note, I hear that his former band "Bang & Olufsen" are happier with Mr GH's larger and fuller organ.
Yours
Prof TE Express, University of Acton Town.

P.S. Thank you so much for calling him "Mr" S, as I am fed up to the back teeth with him passing himself off as a "Dr".