[Dixielandjazz] More on JazzSea Jammers Model

Mon Jul 9 09:27:31 PDT 2007

While not exactly mentoring, there is going to be a cruise-based adult (only 
because younger people probably can't afford it) jazz camp in March 22-29 of 
2008. It's on the Holland America ms Oosterdam and will go to the "Mexican 
Riviera." You can check it out at www.jazznuts.com\jasscamp.html.  Teachers 
will be:

Bob Schulz - cornet/trumpet
Jim Rothermel - reeds
Tom Bartlett - trombone and musical director
Ray Skjelbred - piano
Bill Maginnis - drums
Tom Jacobus - tuba
Scott Anthony (me) - banjo/guitar

It should really be fun. I'm really looking forward to it for sure.

Scott Anthony

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Gluetje1 at aol.com>
To: <santh at pacbell.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 3:02 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] More on JazzSea Jammers Model

> One day in the past week or so, Scott Anthony mentioned the mentoring that
> goes on via Dick Williams' JazzSea Jammers.  Thought I would expound a bit
> more on how that works both because I am mighty grateful to Dick for his 
> efforts
> and because the model might work elsewhere particularly at festivals that 
> are
> several days long.  Background is as known to me (so opinions and  factual
> errors are my fault).  JazzSea Cruises, a specific brand name, so  this 
> post is
> NOT about any other jazz cruises have gone on for 25  years.  Among folks
> going as audience for the 4 - 6 pro bands along on  each cruise there were 
> always
> people who either did play OKUM in  their own locations or were wannabe
> players.  So about six years ago  Dick offered to be the organizer and 
> director for
> all these folks  to be able to jam.  When individuals sign-up for the 
> cruise
> they are asked  if they would like to be a JazzSea Jammer and on what
> instrument.  Dick  sends a playlist of about 100 tunes with keys to all 
> who sign up.
> You  can also refer to lead sheets (Littlefield Fake Book #1 has most of 
> the
> tunes,  you may have to adjust a few keys).  And if using the book, you 
> will
> have  to organize yourself to accomplish finding pages with a minimum of 
> fuss,
> not be  hidebound to it, improvise reasonably on your solos and 
> accompaniment,
> etc.
>
> Scott was correct in that the Jammers are playing as many, probably more
> sets than the pro bands even though individual Jammers will  not 
> ordinarily be
> playing that much.  Dick organizes all those  who signed-up into groups 
> per set.
> He also does a playlist per set--but  these may not get followed for lots 
> of
> good reasons that have to do with  director instincts and judgement.  Dick
> knows the capability of some of the  Jammers better than others as there 
> are
> always new Jammers signing up.   This is part of the great fun of being a 
> Jammer.
> Each set is brand new in  terms of who the group is, who are your 
> strongest
> players that set, what are you  going to do to off-set any problems, etc.
>
> Another piece of the fun is that the Jammers, especially on the cruises 
> have
> their own fan base.  Other Jammers and partners, of course.  But  also 
> jazz
> listeners who like to go find out if this set is going to consist of 
> train
> wrecks or surprisingly good jazz.
>
> The mentoring???  Dick will let you know clearly what he is  looking for. 
> He
> will give you a chance in front of an audience no matter  how much a 
> beginner
> you are.  He will tell you how you can improve.   If you are one of the
> "stars", he will feature you as much as he can within the  parameters that 
> all
> Jammers are also paying customers on the cruise, same as  you.  For the 
> past
> couple of years Dick has brought some Lu Watters charts  along, held 
> rehearsals for
> those who want to try those charts, and a concert  using the charts near 
> the
> end of the cruise.
>
> Also beginning about five years ago way more banjo players were doing the
> cruises than can be accommodated in a jazz grouping.  So Carol  Neumann, 
> the
> agent for these cruises now brings Tim Allan along on most of  these 
> cruises as
> the organizer and director of a banjo band.  This  group too has a fan 
> base,
> does a number of performances each cruise.  Most  banjo players prefer 
> Tim's
> group, some continue to prefer being part of the  Jammers.  There are lots 
> of
> schedule conflicts if you try to do both.   The news I got about a month 
> ago was
> that there were only fifty spaces left on  the January 2008 cruise so it 
> may
> be sold out for now.  But I do notice  there is a cruise now announced on 
> the
> Web site for summer 2008 to Alaska.
>
> Williams is doing JazzSea Jammers at several California festivals.  I 
> only
> have been able to attend one of those in San Diego in 2005.  But I do 
> know
> that any youth showing up were invited to sit in.  I have not seen any 
> young
> instrumentalists on the cruises.  If this kind of jamming opportunity 
> were
> available at more festivals it would be a drawing card for me --not that I 
> can
> afford much more travel than I am already doing, but still-----
> Ginny
> The web site for JazzSea cruises is: >_http://www.jazzsea.com/_
> (http://www.jazzsea.com/) <
>
>
>
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