Acoustic Jam

NEXT JAM: WEDNESDAY 9 JUNE

Wednesday May 12th 2010

The ‘house band’ at Blues at Green Note is quite a luxury item. Where else can you turn up and expect to be able to add your talents to an array that may include all or some of the following: mandolin, double bass, keyboards, harmonica, and a three-piece drums and percussion section? What’s more, where else can you get up and say that you’re going to do something that isn’t a 12-bar, without house band members pulling faces as if someone has just waved a freshly minted turd under their noses?

We have, I think most people would agree, a pretty good and in my experience unique thing going musically at the Green Note. And the above are the reasons why. In fact, such is the core of excellent and varied musicians on hand for people to play with that we were on this occasion able to manage with three men down and still produce a fine evening of varied music. For various reasons, Dave, Charles and Martin couldn’t make it, but there was still a wide variety of instrumental combinations on display.

Quite what will happen if all the above mentioned musicians show up on the same night is anybody’s guess. So far, we’ve not had quite the full complement on stage at the same time (with such numbers, someone is more or less bound not to be there). The full band would number something like eight people, and include some rather large instruments (oh, Matron!). This raises the spectre of musicians having to be off stage and blocking the way to and from the loo. Any advice on handling the repercussions of that will be welcome.

Anyway, we had a decent turnout and just about the ideal number of sets to make for a pretty relaxed evening. I kicked off with a slightly longer than usual opening set as Will couldn’t stay long and so I did all my stuff straight away. I played the National and the 12-string, and in addition to Will, was joined by Ryan on mando and Mick and Dave on percussion.

There were 8 more sets. Justin popped in to do one number on his own first up and Phil followed him, playing both solo and with percussion for some excellent pre-war acoustic numbers. He was followed by Simon with a typically rumbustious set. He had brought harmonica player Leroy with him, who he introduced as ‘the worst harmonica player in London’. Needless to say, Leroy was very good.

Ryan got up next for his own set, taking time out from the house band. For this he was joined by David, who gave a debut to his new dobro, played lap-slide way. We get quite a few ‘firsts’ at this event (how long till the eagerly awaited first appearance of a washboard, for example?) and this was perhaps the best so far. Those there would agree that David’s dobro playing in combination with Ryan was a highlight.

Mick and Dave did their guitar-and-harmonica set next – they always choose really good material and deliver it with polish. Julian followed them, playing in a folkier style on some sort of electronic guitar (exactly what it was did get explained to me but I have been unable to retain the precise information). Anyway, it sounded good and, in combination with various house band musicians, contributed something quite different to the evening.

Next up came Paul and Chris, doing their own material, their set also involving very effective use of one of those drum/box things you sit on and play by hand (another bit of gear ignorance there on my part, sorry). Their stuff comes across really well. The evening was then rounded off by regular James Daniel on vocals and harp, joined by the house band. James is always good.
So there you have it for another month. Another good one, enjoyed by all those present. No photos this time – anyone is welcome to take them and send them to me for any of the events by the way.

We’re getting decent turnouts but would always welcome more audience members. Now, if everyone brought two friends to see them play, we could pack the place out and make for an even better atmosphere when you’re playing ......

Finally, I might have my CD ready by the next one. At the moment it’s still delayed at the printers, who appear to be marginally slower than Caxton. But anyway, it includes songs and musicians familiar to regulars at Blues at Green Note and it’s called Watching The Parade.

Next one Wednesday June 9th.

Mark Harrison