Welcome to the Show!

Hello Jamheads!

This is the initial test run of what will hopefully become a regular series of articles on what is sometimes called "jam" music, the bands "jambands". Why? Well, regular listeners of this genre of music will tell you its because the bands take the time to jam...simple as that.

Unlike commercial radio joints that package and re-package the same songs and formats ad infinitum (and may I add -- ad nauseum), the jam format cannot and will not be confined to such a package. Unpredictability is usually the only constant of the music.

It is not, however, a NEW format that has somehow just shown up on the scene. While it has remained steady throughout the years it has established some traction more recently with the flourishing of the worldwide festival scene. Unleashed by the Monterrey Pop festival in '67 and followed up famously by Woodstock in '69, this spirit of organized chaos with a musical soundtrack has become quite popular in the last decade highlighted by the success of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival held in the Manchester, Tennessee every June.

The gold standard for this music has long been the underground success of the Grateful Dead. While Jerry Garcia has been long gone, The Dead has re-incarnated itself on occasion throughout the years with remaining members and additional guests ever since. Trust me: The Music Never Stopped! The success of this scene however has been due to the other bands that have taken up inspiration from The Dead and established their own travelling caravans throughout North America and the world. Bands like Widespread Panic and Phish have established their own legions of dead-icated fans everywhere.

The beauty of this music is of course the jams themselves. Rooted in the traditions of jazz improvisation, musicians of this ilk have taken great pride in ensuring that their fans receive a fresh take on the music every night, thus inspiring many fans to take in as many shows as possible -- and to collect in bootleg format as many of them for home listening as well. For musicians that must largely establish their reputations without the aid of commercial radio, it is essential that they distinguish themselves and maintain a relevance beyond the mainstream media. While the musicians are ultimately about the music itself and the sheer joy they receive in delivering it to their fans, their eclectic, improvisational style has enabled them to achieve the dual objective of notoriety in a crowded musical world.

We're just scratching around at the surface here for the time being but additional posts will follow as we explore the infinite possibilities of this music.

One Love,
Ras I-an-I