Sorry PP, it already has. Check out your local “Pub Band”.
Here is our local entry: http://www.locklinroad.com/
As far as ‘jamming’ and ‘sessioning’ goes:
I was at an after party once with Paddy Keenan and Cathal McConnell. Before the session started they were jamming, trading variations and arrangements. They found that they had different B parts to a tune and dicided to play them as a B and C part. When the proper session started and it came to that tune, they caused a room full of ‘deer in the headlights’ looks when they pulled out the C part. You could see the glee in their eyes as they blythly played along.
Our session moves every couple of years when the set lists, tune books, and rule sheets come out. And when the session nazis get too troublesome. There is nothing more boring than a ‘well ordered’ session.
Only if the rules have to be reenforced all the time. Having a good, well thoughtout base of guidelines makes for a sturdy foundation that can hold a group together through the inevitable troubles that come up whenever you amass a large number of people in one place to do one thing. Rules are necessary, but shouldn’t have to be lorded over anyone. Having to deal with people who object to any kind of rule that may interfere with their own idea of what they think is fun, can make it pretty miserable for the rest of the folks who care more about making it a good group experience.
This reminds me of how I feel about dancing. I like contra dances and ceilis because I know exactly where to go and when. And I really have a hard time with the open dance floor. Then I stand out there, wonder if I look like a geek, and try to find some way to socially interact whilst flailing about.
The structure of an Irish session is very freeing. I know what to play - the melody. There’s something reassuring about the consistency of the rules. At a jam, I’m not always sure what’s needed or wanted. I’m not such a hot backup player yet, and I don’t know when I’m hogging the spotlight and it’s supposed to be someone else’s turn.
I’ll be getting used to more jams; we’re starting a weekly local jam and I’ve been asked to help lead it sometimes (!) so I will probably find my way. I think they expect me to come play Irish music somehow, along with the folk and rock fare. Even though these are all people I know, I still feel a little unsure.
“BTW, I have played around southern Ireland and in York, and my experience is that the English and Irish take themselves far less seriously than session players in California. Make of that what you will.”
Hey Cubitt, I play in the session that would be your local. I honestly think you’re taking it more seriously than the rest of us do. We have people of all levels there. People that come in do follow Jayhawks fine guidelines, (see below) but then we all try and be sorta polite to each other. Like baglady posted, the improv comes after years of experience in the Irish tradition.
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Always ask if you can sit in and don’t just plop down and play.
Only play tunes you know.
Be polite.
Hold off starting a tune until asked.
Be humble.
Pop on down to the Dulbiner in Long Beach, you’ll find Peri down there playing his arse off these days. After 6 months of hard work, learning sets, and he’s obviously having a grand time!
