Westchester blues and rock musicians owe The Geoff Hartwell Band big time. For the past three years, Geoff Hartwell (guitar, vocals), Rich Kelly (bass, vocals), Chris Burke (Hammond B3), Michael Bram (drums, vocals), and J.J. Clarke (drums) have hosted a blues jam on Tuesday nights at Jean-Jacques in Pleasantville, NY. They have allowed many a middle-aged musician the chance to escape the mundane realities of suburban life and relive their rock star fantasies. Why the blues? Because it provides an easy to use, common vocabulary that allows musicians to instantly communicate. Strictly the blues? No. Blues "nazis" need not apply!
Not to say that only the middle-aged take part. Despite the proliferation of hip-hop on the radio, some young people remain hooked on the "classic rock" format and yearn to strut their stuff on guitar. The jammers range from a pediatrician mother of two, a family business owner and his son, a construction worker, a millionaire computer programmer, and a college professor who specializes in divorce mediation.
The NY/NJ Blues Collective recently hosted an online discussion on what it takes to run a successful jam. In a nutshell:
But it takes a lot more than music skills to run a jam. When Jean-Jacques instituted a five dollar cover charge about a year ago, many musicians got offended. No one wants to "pay to play." But Mr. Hartwell patiently explained to everyone that the club instituted the cover because many jammers were not ordering anything. The door charge helped defray the cost of the four-piece band. After a slight lull, the open mike picked up with more people than ever.
So why did Jean-Jacques close its doors to the jam? After April 15, the bar will be dismantled and the room will be dedicated to catering special events. But not to worry. Geoff and gang will be moving the circus just down the block beginning Tuesday April 19 to Jackson and Wheeler at 25 Wheeler Avenue in Pleasantville, NY.
©2005 Roger Zee