The next one will be the anniversary of the Green Note all-acoustic jam. Let's try to pack the place out for this. If you're coming to play, bring at least two people with you.
Remember, one of the exceptional aspects of this is that, unlike at other jams, you aren't likely to get put on stage at no minute's notice with a bunch of unknown quantities that could lead to humiliation in front of people you know. Not only are all the musicians excellent, but as far as possible, you get to choose the combination you fancy. Who knows, if you bring people along, they may even get to see you in a whole new light!
It was in February 2007 that Rick Webb announced on his Blues in London website that a new jam was to start under the 'Blues in London presents ...' banner, at the Green Note. Rick ran it with his excellent band The Velours until Autumn 2008, and there were many great nights during that period. Guy Bennett then took over with his fine Vulnerable Things band until last summer. At that point, David Atkinson and I stepped up, and we decided to make it all-acoustic. We kicked off in some style, the idea of an all-acoustic jam being vindicated from the start with some great evenings of music.
Prior to that, it had been a mostly electric jam, with an acoustic slot somewhere in the middle. Often that slot was just me, though David and Graham were regulars too. On a personal note, it was Rick starting this event with the specific aim of including an acoustic slot that got me started after a very long period of doing nothing musically. Indeed, on the very first night, a nervous lead guitar player told me as he waited to go on that he was apprehensive because he hadn't played for five years. 'I'll see your five years,' I said, 'and raise you twenty'.
From the very first one, it was clear that the event attracted some excellent musicians and fine human beings. I was struck from the off by how good people were, and I suspect a part of this was down to Rick's clear stipulation that the jam was not to be like other electric jams, in that people who played 'sports guitar' were not encouraged.
For quite some time, the monthly Green Note was the only playing I did, and it was a pretty special event each month for me. I started to go out and about a bit more after a year or so, but the Green Note has always been the one to really look forward to. When I started co-running it, I recruited people to be in the house band that I thought would make for the best kind of acoustic night, and I think everyone would agree that you couldn't beat them. It would be good to build on it, and make sure the place is packed for every one.
Well, I went in a couple of years from doing my acoustic bit on my own in a state of great nervous tension to making an album. Andy and Rick did the totally brilliant cover. Charles produced it, engineered it, mixed it, mastered it and played on it. Other people I met at the Green Note, such as Will and David, play on it. Most of the songs first saw the light of day at the Green Note.
So there you go. We've got something very good going at this thing, and Risa and Immy at the Green Note are very supportive of it too. Let's make sure we can keep it going and the best way of doing that is to make sure there's a good turnout every time. So tell everyone you know and get them to come along. One very noticeable thing about this is how many people who don't have great interest in all this before they come end up saying what a great time they had and how much they enjoyed the music. Spread the word.
And now, a report on the last one .....
Mark
