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.