Old Bowie Town Grille/Bowie, MD

If you are in the Baltimore-DC area on a Wednesday night, do yourself a big blues favor and check out the jam here at the Old Bowie Town Grille. This was my second time playing this jam in the past couple of months and it has to be one of the best, if not the best blues jam in this area. A super mix of musicians are showing up to play, and that includes horn, harp and keyboard players up every set. I was able to be up playing two sets this evening. The first I played behind a very, very good 15 year old guitar player, Andy. Looking a lot like a young Mike Bloomfield and playing with the same taste and intensity, the pleasure was all mine to back this kid up. Chip, the jam master and house drummer does a great job of getting people up and matching up experienced players and those that are still working up their musical chops. The sign up list comes out at 7:30 and the jam starts on time at 8:00.

Stan & Joe's/Annapolis, MD

Nice place to grab a bite to eat and hear some great blues on a Sunday night. I was up the first set after the house band and had a great time playing with some super players. After the set I was invited to stay up on drums for the next set by the house drummer. Thanks, I got in over an hour of playing time that night-an enjoyable night.

Bangkok Blues/Falls Church, VA

An early Sunday night jam at this venue. Outside it was about 100 degrees and inside it wasn't much cooler. I arrived during the last song of the house band and was up next since I had been the first drummer to sign up. Played the three song set, paid for my soda and decided to check out another jam because of the heat.

Tumbleweed Connection/Dayton, Ohio

My first blues jam since moving to Dayton. A good jam with plenty of players showing up. I was up with the third set of players and had a good time playing five songs with some really tasteful players.

Alligator Alley/Oakland Park, FL

A slow night at this blues jam with just a few jammers showing up. I was able to play drums behind Bob "Bluesbobby" Weinberg, a harp player and President of the South Florida Blues Society.

Chan's/Woonsocket, RI

A terrific blues jam last night at Chan's. Jam master Rich has really got this jam night back on track with a lot of great players showing up, including some full bands. It was my first time hearing "Professor Harp" who was really got down to the business of blues with his band. I can't believe I haven't heard him before. I was up twice, the second time backing up my buddy Bob Cohen on harp. You never know what he is going to do once he gets up on stage-he's just a wild card. Last night was no exception, jumping down off the stage with the mike into the audience to get some help singing "I've got my Mojo working".

Acton Jazz Cafe/Acton, MA

A bittersweet jam last night for me at the Acton Jazz Cafe. With a possible move to Ohio, this maybe the last time I get to play here for a while. I still maintain that this is one of the best jams to play in New England. BJ, Tom and Mike have always made me feel welcome and I've always had a terrific time playing this jam.

Old Bowie Town Grille/Bowie, MD

This blues jam seems to have it all going for it. It's a old grille/restaurant that has been re-done over...good food, an owner that is a big fan of the blues and a well run jam. Chip the drummer is the blues master here and does a fantastic job. The house band warms up with three songs and then the sign up list is used, calling up players in order. Once the list gets to the end, Chip starts back at the beginning giving everyone plenty of playing time. The only minus last Wednesday night was that there were no harp players to be found playing here.

Remingtons/Laurel, MD

I don't know how long this jam has been running, but with the very low turn out of jammers and listeners that I saw here last Tuesday, it won't be going on too much longer. Some good players, though this was a country jam as much as it was a blues jam. When was the last time you heard Harper Valley PTA played at a jam? Played anywhere live? This will hopefully be the only time that I ever have to suffer through it.

Sapphire Indian Restaurant/Laurel, MD

OK a blues jam at an Indian restaurant? Why not......If you are in the DC area this is one to check out. I had already eaten so I didn't order any food. However the blues jam was very tasty, with some great players showing up for this jam. Blues about 85% of the night with Rock making up the other 15% of the playing time. Art was the house drummer and was willing to let me take over the drum chair for a couple of sets here last Monday night.

The Blue Voodoo Band/Auburn, MA

Spent this last Wednesday evening test driving the drum chair in The Blue Voodoo Band. Locally based here in the greater Worcester area, they are in need of a blues drummer. But, with my work travel schedule the way it is, this will not be a permanent seat for me. Had a great time however jammin' with Steve, Darren, Dave, Bob and Elayne. Also, got to play on my Club Date set, which was a perfect size for their practice area. Good people-good time.

Waterstreet Cafe/Fall River, MA

While working in Newport, RI last Thursday, I decided to check out a new blues jam for me up in Fall River. I've seen this evening billed as a blues jam, R & B jam and an open mike depending on where I looked on the Web. I arrived around 8:45 and things were already underway with folk singers. This continued until about 10 pm when some blues musicians finally plugged in and things kicked into a higher gear. Some good players here, but things only lasted until 11. Also be aware that there is no sign up list. Talk to Jeannie who is the jam master and she'll get you up. I was the last drummer up for three tunes.

Fireflys/Framingham, MA

Back at Fireflys last Wednesday night for the blues jam/open mike. It's always a good time here at this venue. I hauled out the cocktail kit and supported a number of different artists during the night. The highlight for me was to hand over the sticks to another drummer, Alan Goodrich. Alan did a great job backing Bruce Marshall for a song or two. I almost never get to hear my stand up set played from the audience and it's always a treat.

Chan's/Woonsocket, RI

After my last time here for the monthly blues jam I had decided not to attend any longer.(see my last post on Chan's from back in the fall) However I did hear that things had changed for the better and decided to head down this past Wednesday evening. Note: This jam runs from about 7-10 pm the last Wednesday of every month. WOW! Things have changed for the better. Richie a harp player is now the jam master and has made some real changes here. First the house band plays just a few songs to warm up. He then uses the sign up list, in order by the way, and each musician gets to play two or three songs. Then players are changed up quickly with no real long breaks in the music. Once he got to the end of the list he started over again calling up those that had stuck around for a second time up on the stage. These changes have attracted a lot of new players and this jam is once again a great one to come out to hear and be a part of. I was one of only two drummers other than Steve from the house band that showed up to play so I was able to get some extended time playing a couple of sets. It was a terrific evening playing with and listening to some of RI's best blues musicians.

Acton Jazz Cafe/Acton, MA

My first time back in '08 and since tax problems closed this club for a short time in January. Everything was looking good last night with a packed house(Jam now starts at 8) and quite a few new players in for the blues jam. I was up at the drums for the first set after the house band with Larry and Herb on guitars and a new singer Suzanne. New keyboard players too. A good set with a couple of shuffles with a slow tune with a chance to play some brushes. I'm glad to see that things seem to be back to normal for this venue.

Slippery Noodle/Indianapolis, IN

Back at the "Noodle" last week for their Wednesday night blues jam. As I've found in my past visits even if you sign up on the jam list early, you don't get on until late. I signed up at about 8:15, the first drummer to do so and didn't get to play until 3 hours later. Still this is a worthwhile jam to check out if you are in town. A big crowd and a lot of players show up. 3 songs is the usual set and the host keeps things moving pretty well.

Fireflys BBQ/Framingham, MA

2/20/08 House drummer for the Wednesday night blues jam

Maddy's BBQ/Atlanta, GA

I checked out the Thursday evening blues jam at Maddy's BBQ in Atlanta, GA this week. Hosted by a guitar player "Chicago Joe" and his band, this jam was like no other I've ever been to. Joe, as I was to learn, is a guitar teacher and has his students show up for the first hour of the jam to play. I was expecting a boring hour listening to these high school age kids, but that was not the case. These kids were very good players, polite and ready to play with their peers or any of the older folks like myself. Make no mistake here, I enjoyed every song that I drummed behind some of these young musicians. It was a real treat. Here is a great example of someone that is really keeping the blues alive, passing it on and developing these kids to be the next generation of players..........WOW! My hat is off to you Chicago Joe.

Fireflys BBQ/Framingham, MA

Last Wednesday I was back at the blues jam/open mike in Framingham. Since space for the musicians here is very tight, I brought along my cocktail set. I had a wonderful time being the "house drummer" playing with a bunch of different folks...some blues, pop, folk and country music. Since this is a lower volume gig I don't even think I played with a regular pair of drum sticks all night. Brushes and "Hot Rods" were in order tonight and blended well with what was going on musically. Always a good musical vibe here and Bruce Marshall the host kept everything moving right along with no breaks in the music. Bruce by the way has a new solo CD out "Restless Soul". I heard a couple of tunes from it tonight-great stuff-worth checking out.

Deckbar & Grille/New Orleans, LA

This was my first visit to New Orleans post Katrina. After spending a few nights listening to the blues in the french quarter-Brian Lee at the Jazz Emporium and Big Al and the Blues Masters at the Funky Pirate, it was time for me to find a jam. No jams seemed to be happening on or around Bourbon St, however a $15 cab ride got me over to the Deckbar & Grille for a kickin' blues jam Wednesday night. Big Daddy's Juke Joint Blues Jam with Oscar & The Blues Cats starts around 8:30. This is a super jam with some terrific players showing up. Oscar did a good job getting everyone up and kept things cooking for the next four hours. Roger is the house drummer here and had a set of 60's Premeir drums that were fun to play and sounded great! This neighborhood blues jam is well worth checking out any time you're in the Crescent City.

Warmdaddy's/Philadelphia, PA

It's official! The Tuesday night blues jam with Randy Lippincott is back at Warmdaddy's. I was pleasantly surprised this week to play this great jam again. I'm not sure what happened here, but they're back. A very smart move by the management since it was a full house for Tuesday. A lot of the regular jammers are back also. If you are going to be in Philly make sure you check this jam out. Bob is the house drummer and a great guy who is always ready to share the drummers chair after the first set.

Rain Desert Resturant/Danielson, CT

Tuesday night is the blues jam night here at the Rain Desert. An out of the way club in the quiet corner of NE CT. Not a big showing here tonight for jammers or listeners. Good sound system with a large stage was a pleasant surprise....though up on stage my monitor was not working. A friendly jam master that got everyone up and gave me plenty of time behind the kit. Thank you, I enjoyed my time. The house kit was very tired however and needed an adjustable seat really bad. One thing that I haven't seen any other venue do that is done here is to video the jam and later post it on the clubs web site for all to enjoy. I believe the sound man had two stationary cameras setup so that he could fade between them recording all the action.

Acton Jazz Cafe/Acton, MA

Well December turned into a busy travel month for me and I didn't even have the time to comment here on the blues jam activity that I was a part of in Orlando, FL and Phoenix, AZ. However, I did get to play one more time in '07 at the Acton Jazz Cafe this past Thursday night. As always it was a great time playing to a packed house. I was up with the second set of jammers, playing on the house set of drums, which I dislike since you have to have a rock on top of the bass drum to hold the right mounted tom in place so you can play it. I did bring along my own snare-the 6 1/2X14" Ludwig Pioneer which sounds great and makes me feel more at home. People always seem to ask me as a drummer how do I like playing on a drum set that isn't my own at a jam. My answer back starts with asking the question if they have ever borrowed a bathing suit to go swimming. It feels like that. You can go swimming but it never really feels comfortable. The big news here tonight is a time change for the start of the jam, which will now be at 8pm and not the 9 or 9:30 that I've been seeing in the past. This is a wise decision on the part of the management-since most folks coming in on a Thursday are here only for the jam and really don't want to stick around late or wait while another band finishes up before the blues jam begins.