- bede147
- Feb 7, 2021
- 3 min read
Jam sessions in Melbourne come and go – we have lost count of how many have blossomed, flourished, faded and carked it. There should be a hotly contested prize for the serious session with the shortest life span… not that the Post would be hoisting the trophy, for at least two reasons.
This week’s jam at St Kilda’s Post and Part Time Furniture Store (have you seen upstairs?) was, it could be said, on a downward trajectory – smaller than previous weeks, and musically a bit loose.
So…what, as the Curate (***) said, were there parts of it that were excellent?
The sound:
just about as good as it gets. Captain Chaos has taken to adjusting thetwiddly bits on the mixer, with, admittedly, disappointing results.
The fully engaged audience of punters, kids, hopefuls and lunatics. Most of whom, sensibly, huddle on the far side of the bar, although, to be fair, the Captain reckons that is the “sweet spot” sound wise.
The singers
(fewer this week) who tend to get in the way of an extended saxophone/flute/clarinet solo from time to time. Accidentally of course, but much to the relief of the considerable number of friends they bring with them. The soloists generally arrive early and on their own. You may draw your own conclusions.
The big wind up at the end.
Although not, perhaps, as good as the previous two weeks: Mustang Sally robustly and comprehensively explored. Are we going to keep the all-in smorgasbord finale of recent weeks going? We should, at least until we either cock it up, forget to do it, or accidentally play Little Sunflower (****) instead.
* “Serious Jazz? Tits to that” … a quote from one of the 322 ads we have put in Melband. We are not allowed to say that any more. Apparently “serious jazz” offends some people.
** Obscure but on point reference to Boris.
*** The Curate’s Egg, as featured in Punch Magazine, November 9, 1895 . “Parts of it were excellent”. But of course, you knew that…
**** “ accidentally play Little Sunflower” : fondly remembered as the longest and dullest tune in the repertoire, this once went for an appalling 11 minutes at the Leinster. Several audience members had woken up by the time it finished.
Awards Night. Don’t be silly, there isn’t one, but if there was…
Best Violin; Huich – great solos.
Best Guitar:
Octo – a bit of shredding going on, but in a tasteful way.
Neil, Vlad and the Queenslander all needed more volume at times..
Best Saxophonist:
Go on, sulk, the rest of you – Will was easily the best this week.
Alan, Jeff, Col all placed well, and Calamatta had a hot solo in there somewhere.
Best Pianist:
Malcolm managed to keep the vol at a sensible level, chose his organ
sounds sparingly and appropriately, subtly drove the others to
greater heights on Mustang Sally.
And packed up afterwards – what’s not to like?
Best Bass: Pete and Slawie were their usual excellent selves, but it was great to see Piers back – clean bass lines, absolutely rock solid tempo.
Best Singer: This one was easy: there is no such thing as a best singer, they are all good, and if you don’t want your eyes scratched out, you will keep it that way.
So…24 musos rocked up, mucked around a bit, and walked back out into the rain well chuffed. Not the greatest Jam Session ever, but a solid afternoon’s work all round. Train wreck next week, please, we have to maintain our usual standard (often referred to as “abysmal”).
See you Sunday?
Will and the Captain
The Andrews Sisters, possibly
Next Jam Session will be on Sunday 18th August, starting at 4.00pm
The Post Hotel, corner of St Kilda Road and Inkerman Street, St Kilda
You can park on St Kilda Road (Sunday, no restrictions). Public parking is available on Bath Street, just past the Hotel on Inkerman Street. Or catch a tram if they are running, or take a helicopter, land elsewhere and get an Uber. Or walk. Or take the bus, but fer gawdsake bring it back. Or come the next week instead.
