An AGM and a Jam

The Essence of a Good Jam Session, Sunday 18th August

A longish sort of a day, started with the Annual General Meeting for the Melbourne Jazz Jammers Inc outfit that runs the Newport Australia Jazz Festival and the jam sessions practically every other week of the year, for reasons that are entirely unclear. We are going again with the Festival next May... (see the Home Page   https://www.melbournejazzjammers.com.au  )

The Committee consists of the Good Captain (treasurer), meself (chair), Debra Woodroffe (secretary), Martin Clifton (website), Neville Broatch (equipment), Jane Little (marketing), Annie Smith (venues), and Mike Powell (volunteer wrangler).

The Jam, once we got to it, was a good one - took a while for 23 jammers to turn up, but in the end we ran to nearly 8.00pm, just to make sure everyone got a spot. Props to Ash, Neville, Roger, Martin and Anthony for helping to pack up at the end of the stint. We have tried telling the equipment to put itself away, but that hasn't worked, yet...

So... quite a lot of jazz getting played at the moment - started with an early session with John Curtis (keys), Jane (vocals), and Roger the Clark (saxophone). Later on, a terrific four saxophone instrumental session(Col, Martin Case, Jeff and Paul), with Philip Ress (piano) and Mike Hirsch (drums); and after that, Paul (sax) accompanying Ruth (vocals). She easily wins the most improved since last week award. Not that there is one.... but she sang L.O.V.E with panache.

The session ended with a bit of fun: Siena and Amy (bet I have spelt both wrong) getting up to sing Valerie in front of their friends, their eyes glued to the iPhone they were using for the words:

"Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie" - and they read every one of those... it was a fun end to the day, and props to the jammers for the accompaniment...