BLUES LAB
JAM SESSIONS

What it's all about: 

Bolingbrook Arts Council and Tailgaters Bar & Grill in Bolingbrook are proud to be hosting a 4th season of the Student Blues Lab Jam Series where local blues musicians play with, guide, and lead a jam session for students in the suburbs!

 

Historically, music jams have been held in 21+ bars/venues. Many musicians have stories of sneaking into bars, underage, so they can play music! Why? Because jams are where musicians learn how to "speak music" with other players, play by ear, improvise, get musically creative, and gain experience playing in front of others. 

 

For the last 3 years, we have been hosting a STUDENT jam where young musicians can get the chance to do all those things, in a family-friendly venue, and with other young musicians, but guided by pro musicians that are teaching them the way; it's the real-world lab class for all their formal music classes. And every Jam is Free and Open to the Public.

 

Why a Blues Jam?  The Blues is one of the foundational influencers of American popular music: jazz, rock, R&B, funk, country, hip-hop, gospel. If your students like playing these other genres, they will benefit from learning the blues as their base. The 12-bar blues structure is simple yet adaptable, making it accessible for beginners and yet adaptable for advanced musicians. The format encourages “playing by ear” (accessible to those that don't read music), improvisation and musical creativity

 

Format: 

• 2nd Wednesday of every month at Tailgater's in Bolingbrook.

• Students sign up to jam, onsite; come whenever, leave when you need to. Come to jam, to check it out or to hang with other music-minded students.

• A pro house band is there to play with, and guide the student musicians. The house band will lead the jam and will rotate students in and out of the jam, based on song needs.

• There is a monthly "lab song" list that students can learn for each jam. Other songs could be called or suggested, but those lab songs listed WILL be played.

• Students wanting to jam should bring their own instrument/sticks. (Backline provided-- drums/cymbals, keys, mics, amps). Usual instruments: guitar, keys, bass, drums, horns (sax, trombone, trumpet), and vocals.

Sessions are FREE, family-friendly, & open to the public: Tailgaters has great food.

 

How to Prepare for a Blues Jam:

• Listen to the lab songs on Youtube/Spotify/AppleMusic

• Learn the 12-bar blues format

• Learn your Keys, especially Keys of C, G, D, F, E, Bb, Eb

• Follow @bolingbrookarts on Instagram to get up to date info and to see past jams

Thank you! and see you at the jams!

 

JAMS will be Led by Brother John Kattke or Aval Stanley  and the House Band Members (may vary by date).

 

Check out Photos & Videos on SMUGMUG and YouTube:

SMUGMUG: https://bolingbrookartscouncil.smugmug.com/Performing-Arts

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpBrHY7vw1xv5jBZL0H5FQ