From: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)
Subject: Listing of open musical jam sessions
X-Last-Updated: 1992/08/18
Followup-To: poster
Keywords: jam, club, improvisation
Reply-To: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu
Organization: Cardiothoracic Imaging Research Center
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 05:00:35 GMT
Expires: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 05:00:13 GMT

Archive-name: jam-sessions
Version: $Header: jam.sessions,v 1.3 92/08/18 12:50:19 rsk Exp $


Here's the latest revision of the open jam sessions list.  Further
additions, comments, corrections, etc. VIA MAIL PLEASE, are welcome.
I'll maintain the list, revise it, and repost it periodically.
My thanks to all of you who have contributed to the list!

---Rsk

Chicago, IL: Kingston Mines, on Halsted a few blocks north of Fullerton,
	has a blues jam on Monday nights from 9-??.  Amateur jam is
	usually during the first part of the evening, pro jam is later.
	This is *THE* blues jam; folks such as Keith Richards, Vanessa
	Davis, Albert King, Koko Taylor, and so on have been known
	to drop in.  (312) 477-4646.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Chicago, IL: B L U E S Etcetera, 1124 W Belmont, 312/525-8989;
	Weds. 9pm; $3.50 cover This is a well laid out, spacious club
	near Wrigley Field. Open jam sessions follow a set by Glenn 
	Davis and Straight Shooter.

	For more info: Beth Scheid (bscheid@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

Chicago, IL: Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S Wabash, 312/427-0333;
	Mon. 8:30pm; $3.00 cover This is the newest club on the circuit.
	The inside is very blue(!) and it has a great stage/sound
	system set-up.

	For more info: Beth Scheid (bscheid@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

Chicago, IL: Rosa's Lounge, 3420 W Armitage, 312/342-0452;
	Mon. 9:15pm; $3 cover Very friendly club on near northwest side.
	Jams hosted by co-owner and drummer Tony Mangiulio and David Lindsay.
	Sometimes Mama Rosa makes her great lasagna. Rosa's also does the
	periodic 1:30-6am BluesCruises on Lake Michigan during the summer.

	For more info: Beth Scheid (bscheid@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

Chicago, IL: Wise Fool's Pub, 2270 N Lincoln, 312/929-1510;
	Tues. 9:30pm; $3 cover Very favorite small club in same
	neighborhood as Kingston Mines. It's been around for years. Jams
	hosted by Ron Shanaver.

	For more info: Beth Scheid (bscheid@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

Chicago, IL: The Green Mill, 4802 N Broadway, 312/878-5552;
	Fri. 1:30-4:30am  no cover Late night open jazz jam session with
	the Green Mill Quartet-baritone sax, piano, bass, drums.
	Great club, former Al Capone hangout and now home of the famous
	Sunday night Uptown Poetry Slams (open mike 7-8pm).

	For more info: Beth Scheid (bscheid@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

Chicago, IL: The Playhouse, 7407 W. Madison St. in Forest Park,
	(708) 366-6363, has an open jam on Tuesday nights.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Chicago, IL: Saltes, 7541 Irving Park Rd, (312) 589-9460, has an
	open jam on Wednesday nights.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Chicago, IL: Hugh's, 720 S. Barrington Rd. in Streamwood, (708) 894-3830,
	has an open jam on Sundays beginning at 6 pm.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Indianapolis, IN: The Slippery Noodle Inn is downtown on Meridian a couple
	of blocks south of The Circle, i.e. just about at Union Station.
	Blues jam on Wednesday nights; pretty open atmosphere, and usually
	lots of fun.  Musicians vary from complete amateur to medium pro.
	(317) 631-6968.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Indianapolis, IN: The Patio in Broadripple has a blues jam on Tuesday nights.
	Better musicians than the Slippery Noodle (see above) but more
	of them, too, so you might not get quite as much stage time.
	Reasonably easy to get into, especially if you become a regular.
	Watch for "Lefty", who can barely walk, but can outplay anybody;
	he plays a beat-up left-handed Strat.  (317) 253-0799

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Bloomington, IN: The Bluebird Nightclub 216 North Walnut.
	The evening start off at about 10:00 with the house band, The Blues
	All Stars, playing a least one set.  Fairly loose and easy to get to
	sit in.  Players range from fair to excellent, mostly local.  There
	have been some celebrity appearances, such as members of John 
	Mellencamps' band (who are, after all, locals) and others.  But those
	are rare.  It's not unusal to wait until midnight to play, so be pre-
	pared to wait.
 
	For more info: Lloyd T Jones <tj@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>

Boulder, CO: J.J. Mccabe's, downtown Boulder about the 1000 block of Walnut,
	has a blues jam on Monday nights.  Starts about 9, you have to sign
	up at the door ahead of time (blech), and the "house band" plays
	the first and last sets, which leaves little time for real jamming.
	Participation is very "clique-ish", with known players who show up
	late always taking the spots of unknowns who show up early;
	avoid this one.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Ft. Collins, CO: The Old Town Ale House has a Monday night blues "jam", 
	or at least they call it that.  Generally speaking, you watch the
	house band play for 2-3 hours, and then maybe you'll get on
	afterwards.  Not recommended.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Ft. Collins, CO: Linden's (downtown) has a pretty good Monday night blues jam,
	usually hosted by J.D. and the Lovebandits.  They usually bring on
	2-3 jammers at a time to play with the rest of the band; nice folks.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Ft. Collins, CO: AJ's on Linden (downtown) has a rock and roll jam
	on Wednesday nights.  It's pretty loose, with a tendency
	towards 70's/80's classic rock tunes.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Denver, CO:	JazzWorks in Denver has an open jam on Tuesdays.
	For more info: mciver@boulder.colorado.edu  (Bill McIver, Jr.)

Los Angeles, CA: In Melrose, the Nucleus Nuance is a classy place with
	a Monday night jam session.  Mostly real book type tunes, good
	house rhythm section but rhythm players can also sit it.

	For more info: marco.zagha@enquirer.scandal.cs.cmu.edu (Marco)

Pittsburgh, PA: In the Homewood area (not the nicest neighborhood in
	the world), Too Sweet has a jam session led by saxophonist Tony
	Campbell on Saturday afternoons, mostly Real book tunes, good rhythm
	section.  If in Pittsburgh, check the free weekly paper 
	"In Pittsburgh" for jazz listings.

	For more info: marco.zagha@enquirer.scandal.cs.cmu.edu (Marco)

Pittsburgh, PA:	The Backroom, hosted by Jeff Bell Bluz Band.  The newest blues
	jam in the city, hosted by a master guitarist.  House band plays
	Allman Bros, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, & The Police.  3 piece band.
	 All graduated from the local university in jazz studies, so they're
	talented as well as versed in blues AND jazz...
	Bar is located at 12th & Carson, on the South Side.

	For more info: vaughan@psy.cmu.edu (Lisa Laverne Vaughan)

Pittsburgh, PA: Gene's Bar, Rt. 51, almost adjacent to the Liberty Tunnels.
	 Heavy weight blues masters meet Monday's.

	For more info: vaughan@psy.cmu.edu (Lisa Laverne Vaughan)

Pittsburgh, PA: Excuses, 27th (?) & Carson, SouthSide.  Thursday night jam
	session, probably the most popular in PGH.  Mid to heavy weight
	blues night.

	For more info: vaughan@psy.cmu.edu (Lisa Laverne Vaughan)

Philadephia, PA: J.C. Dobbs at 304 South Street in Philadelphia
	[(215) 925-4053] has a blues/funk/r&b/rock jam on Tuesdays.
	Starts pretty early.  You have to sign up.  House band does a
	couple of short sets, but there's time to jam.  The house band
	will even back you up if you are, say, a guitartist and you need
	a bassist and drummer, etc.  Pretty good jam.  Some "clique-ishness"
	but unknowns do get their shots.  Talk to Wally Smith, the house
	keyboard player, and tell him that Dan Barron sent you.  (seriously).

	For more info: barron@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Daniel P. Barron)

Minneapolis, MN: The New Riverside Cafe has open jam sessions one Thursday
	each month, as well as the best veggie food in the Twin Cities.
	329 Cedar Avenue (at Riverside Avenue in the Seven Corners
	theatre district) (612) 333-4814

	For more info: pmk@craycos.com (Peter Klausler)

Hackensack, NJ: The Fox's Lair has open mike night every Thursday.
	 Mainly blues.

	For more info: cscnj!pat@rutgers.edu

New Brunswick, NJ:	J August's at 10 Dennis Street has a jam session
	every Sunday night hosted by Jack Petruzelli.  Jazz, r+b and blues.

	For more info: trott@remus.rutgers.edu (Rich Trott)

Long Branch, NJ: Cheers, on Broadway across from the municipal building
	near the RR tracks, has as jam night on Tuesdays.

	For more info: joshs@tsdiag.ccur.com (Joshua B. Shar)

Bloomfield, NJ:	The Feedbag Saloon on Broad Street has an open jam on
	Sunday nights starting at 9:30 PM.  Organized by Mad Max on drums,
	the regulars step up when the sign-up list thins out.  Lots
	of variety including blues, jazz, and folk.

	For more info: moskowit@paul.rutgers.edu (Len Moskowitz)

Santa Cruz, CA: Callahan's - On Water St. one block east (and slightly
	north) of Ocean St.  Thursday night blues jam, 8:30 - 1. House
	band plays a couple sets.  Sign up on set list (usually 4 sets).
	Players range from not very good to very good. Anyone who gets on
	the list gets to play.  Also have a "talent night" on Sundays.

	For more info: leff@sco.com (Bill Leff)

Austin, TX: Colorado St. Cafe, 705 Colorado St., has a Scottish-Irish jam
	on Mondays at 7:30 PM going till 10PM or so.  Everyone welcome.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)
		or: hmueller@orca.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)

Austin, TX: Blues jam at Pearl's Oyster Bar, 9003 Research Blvd., Monday night.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)

Austin, TX:	Blues jam at the 311 Club, 311 E. 6th, 477-1630,
	on Sunday nights.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)

Austin, TX:	Jazz jam at the Elephant Room, 315 Congress, 473-2279
	on Monday nights.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)

Austin, TX:	Bluegrass jam at  Cap'n Tom's BBQ, 11800 N. Lamar,
	834-1858 on Saturday and Sunday.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)

Austin, TX:	    Blues jam at  Joe's Generic Bar, 315 E. 6th,
	480-0171 on Sunday nights.

	For more info: jason@cs.utexas.edu (Jason Martin Levitt)

Austin, TX: Jazz jam session every Monday night at The Elephant Bar,
	315 Congress Avenue.  Starts around 9:30, lasts until the wee hours
	of the night.  Many of Austin's best jazz players show up, lots of
	good music.  No cover, reasonably priced drinks, great jazz
	atmosphere (dark and smokey).

	For more info: hatter@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (John Eichenseer)

Austin, TX: Cap'n Tom's BBQ on Lamar Blvd. has a bluegrass jam on the
	2nd Saturday of the month, sometime in the afternoon.

	For more info: smiller@vf.jsc.nasa.gov

Austin, TX:	Irish session at O'Brien's (near 34th and Guadalupe)
	8 to midnight.

	For more info: hmueller@orca.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)

Houston, TX: The Bay Area Bluegrass Association (BABA) hosts a bluegrass jam
	at the League City Civic Center on the 3rd Saturday of every month,
	5 PM for beginners, 7 PM others.  Open stage for performance, good
	audience of 300-2000.

	For more info: smiller@vf.jsc.nasa.gov

Houston, TX: McGonigel's Mucky Duck offers an acoustic open mike Monday  
        nights. Signup is at 7pm. Phone (713) 528-5999.
        
        For more info: toster@watson.bcm.tmc.edu

Houston, TX:	Irish session at the Red Lion Restaurant
	(near the Astrodome Marriot) Wednesday nights about 8:30.

	For more info: hmueller@orca.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)

Nashville, TN: Bluegrass Inn has a bluegrass jam on Sunday night.

	For more info: smiller@vf.jsc.nasa.gov

Nashville, TN: Station Inn (two or three blocks off Broadway near 10th
	Street) has a bluegrass jam on Sunday nights at 8 PM.  Best
	BG jam in the area, well-known folks show up.

	For more info: smiller@vf.jsc.nasa.gov

Nashville, TN: Bell Cove Restaurant has a songwriter's showcase (free
	appearances) on Sunday nights.

	For more info: smiller@vf.jsc.nasa.gov

Boston, MA: Blues jam on Mondays at Wally's, Mass. Ave. and Columbus
	9PM - 1:30AM.  SMALL place.  Oldest jazz club in New England.
	Hosted by the F.T.F. Band.   Jazz jams Tuesday-Sunday from
	9 PM - 2 AM.

	For more info: gub@vax.ftp.com (Glen Daniels)

Boston, MA: Blues jam on Mondays at Cantares in Innman Square
	9:30PM - 1AM, on Sundays 2 PM to 7 PM.  Great atmosphere!
	Hosted by Stovall Brown

	For more info: gub@vax.ftp.com (Glen Daniels)

Boston, MA: Blues jam on Wednesdays at Harper's Ferry on Brighton Ave.
	in Allston 10PM - 1:30AM.  Best blues club in Boston.
	Hosted on alternate weeks by Boston Baked Blues and the Rick
	Russell Band.  R&B jam on Sundays, 10:30 PM to 2 AM, hosted
	by Stovall Brown.

	For more info: gub@vax.ftp.com (Glen Daniels)

Boston, MA: Blues jam on Sundays at Johhny D's in Davis Square
	5PM - 9PM, Hosted by the Heart Attacks.

	For more info: gub@vax.ftp.com (Glen Daniels)

Boston, MA: R&B Jam on Sundays  at the Cantab Lounge on Mass. Ave.
	in Central Square, 9:30PM - 1AM.

Boston, MA: The Claddagh (corner of Dartmouth and Columbus) has a blues jam
	on Wednesdays from 10 to 1 (same basis as Wally's).  No cover.

	For more info: jop@wang.com (John S. Payne)

Edmonton, Alberta, CA: The Commercial Hotel. This dive in Edmonton
	between 103 and 104 streets on Whyte (82nd) Avenue has a blues
	jam every Saturday from 2PM til 6PM (or later, depending on the
	host band). The current week's house band opens the show with a
	small set and usually finishes with a tune or two.
	Musicianship is usually good, but participation is clique-ish
	in the sense that most of the people have at least a
	semi-regular gig either in or out of town. If you can convince
	the guy running the Jam that you know which way is up, you'll
	likely get on after an hour's wait. The place is usually
	crawling with drummers, and is usually packed, so if you have a
	band with you, that will improve your chances. They also have a
	jam on Monday evenings, but I don't know whether it's still
	running. Much less crowded on Monday.

	For more info: uunet!cs.ualberta.ca!cdshaw (Chris Shaw)

Edmonton, Alberta, CA: The Yardbird Suite, on 103 St and 85 Ave has a Jazz
	Jam on Tuesday evenings at 9PM til Midnight or so. Very small crowd,
	and a $2 cover pays for the house jazz band to supply support/opening
	tunes. No drunks in evidence every time I've been there. Musical
	calibre is quite good.

	For more info: uunet!cs.ualberta.ca!cdshaw (Chris Shaw)

Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA: The Silver Bullet.  This place is on Hollis one
	block North of Maritime Centre, downtown. Blues Jam on Thursday
	evenings.  I was there last week for only a short while, but was
	able to get on anyway. Musical calibre seemed a tad low, but it
	was blowing a gale that night, so maybe it's better when the
	weather's better.

	For more info: uunet!cs.ualberta.ca!cdshaw (Chris Shaw)

Calgary, CA: The King Eddie Hotel has a blues jam on Saturday afternoons
	(I beleive). There's an LRT stop nearby at this downtown place, but
	that's all I remember.

	For more info: uunet!cs.ualberta.ca!cdshaw (Chris Shaw)

Atlanta, GA: "Sounds of Buckhead" has a bebop (mostly) jam on Monday nights
	around 10.  The house band plays the first set (about an hour);
	talk to the leader (Rick) and he'll get you on stage afterwards.

Portland, OR:  The Hobbit, a restaurant/bar on Southeast 39th Avenue
	at Holgate has an open jam on Sunday afternoons.  When I've been
	there, it's grown out of performances by the house band (at the time
	it was the Mel Brown Trio, since grown into a sextet; I gather
	they've gotten a little national attention) and been very informal
	("hey, any piano players here?")  It generally starts sometime in
	the neighborhood of 4 PM, and may have gotten more structured
	since they've started broadcasting it on a local radio station.

	For more info: tektronix!{pogo,robin}!nathant (Nathan Tenny)

New York (Manhattan), New York: Manny's Car Wash, Third Avenue bet.
	East 87th and 88th.  Sunday night Blues Jam with the Chris Carter
	(house) Band.  Good sound system.  No cover, Bass on draft @$3.

	For more info: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare)
		or moskowit@paul.rutgers.edu (Len Moskowitz)

St. Louis, MO: Melanie's, 701 S. Broadway, 2 blocks south of Busch Stadium,
	has a blues jam Monday nights from 9:30 pm til 2:30 am. The Soulard
	Blues Band hosts it, and they usually play the first set, maybe the
	first set-and-a-half. This is the one that gets crowded after the
	Hilary's jam closes at 1. 314-621-5668

	For more info: derek@wubios.wustl.edu (Derek Morgan)

St. Louis, MO: Hilary's, 1015 Russell.  They have a Monday night blues jam,
	from 9 pm to 1 am with a house band for the first set, and closing
	out the last 1/2 hour. Some really good stuff here.  On Tuesdays, they
	have the Jazz and Blues Workshop, with a slightly different line-up
	of musicians, but this is THE jam session in St. Louis. Same time.
	314-421-3126.

	For more info: derek@wubios.wustl.edu (Derek Morgan)

St. Louis, MO: Off Broadway, 3511 Lemp. They have a jam session 9pm - 1am
	hosted by a guitar shop. No house band, no format, but it's just
	show up, and see who else does.  Equipment is provided, and it's good
	for newer musicians.  That is, if enough people show up to
	field a band. Definitely call first.   314-773-3363

	For more info: derek@wubios.wustl.edu (Derek Morgan)

St. Louis, MO: Cicero's Basement Bar, 6510 Delmar. Wednesday nights, 9:30 pm
	to 1 am. Mojo Syndrome hosts this jam session. Strictly blues, it's
	can be a guitar player logjam session, but horns are welcome any time.
	The host band likes to do first and third sets, but if a singer and
	drummer can be found, have been known to wait until 12:45 to start
	their third set.  If you go, ask for Derek, and tell him you saw it
	on the rec.music.bluenote. You will get at least 20 minutes of air
	time if you can play a little.

	For more info: derek@wubios.wustl.edu (Derek Morgan)

Washington, DC: New Vegas Lounge, 1415 P Street NW, (202) 483-3971 has an
	open mike night on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  They bill themselves
	as "DC's Blues Club".

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Washington, DC: Twins Lounge, 5516 Colorado Avenue NW, (202) 882-2523 has
	a Sunday night jazz jam.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)

Washington, DC: Grog & Tankard, 2408 Wisconsin Ave NW, (202) 333-3114 has
	a blues jam every Thursday night.

	For more info: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)


London, ONT: Ledbelly's Blues Hall 400 Clarence St. at Dundas, (519) 433-5365 
	hosts a (mostly blues, some jazz and rock) jam every Saturday 
	afternoon starting around 4:00pm and going 'till 7:00pm or so. It's 
	hosted by whatever band happens to be doing the weekend gig there. The 
	players are usually competent to very good and there is usually a 
	decent sized crowd. Talk to the band to get up and jam - you can 
	usually do several tunes if the crowd likes you and there aren't a lot 
	of people wanting to jam. Some of the good local players will show
	at this jam.

	Ledbelly's also organizes the annual London blues festival held
	outside in Harris Park for one weekend every August.

	For more info: cnorley@irus.rri.uwo.ca (Chris Norley)

London, ONT: Mash McCanns at 784 Dundas St. E., (519) 432-0774
	This relatively informal jam is held every Tuesday night. It's hosted 
	by the bar owner (Steve McCann - keys, vocals, bass pedals - if no 
	bassist shows) and a few regular jammers.  The place is a bit of a dive
	and the musical calibre ranges from inexperinced to competent. They 
	play a fairly wide variety of styles ranging from rock and blues to 
	pop and traditional folk music.

	For more info: cnorley@irus.rri.uwo.ca (Chris Norley)

London, ONT: The Other Side Of Five, 120 York St. at Talbot, (519) 679-1279, 
	hosts a blues jam every Wednesday night. The Hot Flames (house band) 
	supply the rhythm section for any jammers who are interested, but 
	rhythm players also sit in. The good local players are usually here.
	This bar has a very pleasant atmosphere and the level of performance 
	is competent to very good.

	For more info: cnorley@irus.rri.uwo.ca (Chris Norley)

Binghamton, NY: The Church of the Good Shepherd, 74 Conklin Ave.,
	has a get-together every Tuesday night around 7:30 so that
	folks can play Irish, Scottish and old-time music for a
	couple hours.  Everyone is welcome to join in, we have
	excellent musicians and beginners.  It's not a club, not
	in a bar, no audience (usually), no sign-up list, no waiting,
	no performing sets.  It's a bunch of people playing music.

	For more info: Curt Osgood, (607) 724-3404,
			Jeff Bronfeld, (607) 722-5234,
			Nancy Smith, nsmith@gdlvm7.vnet.ibm.com.

Carrboro, NC:  (near Chapel Hill and Durham) The Art School. Open jazz jam
        second Sunday of every month, 7-10 p.m. Musicians admitted free.
        Experienced and less experienced players are welcome. House rhythm
        section of Ben and Cara Shaw. Just show up and sign in. Art School 
        is on Main St. in Carrboro, N.C.

	For more info: Michael R. Volow <ecsvax!mvolo@uncecs.edu>