Ask Jessica Jones

[tinwhistler]

Hey Jessica!
I'm new to New York City and I'm a musician-with-a-day-job, and interested in meeting other amateur musicians in New York. Where should I go to get oriented & meet them? How and where do musicians meet each other to play jazz and other (especially Latin American) genres? Any information about finding jam sessions would be great!
I hope I've figured out how to start a thread, I guess we'll see!
Happy New Year & Thank You!!

Thanks.

[jessicajones]

Hi Tinwhistler, welcome to the city, and to this site. How exciting to be in NYC, right? All the music you can hear... Well, I thought about your question, and I, as usual, have many responses. I can tell you what I did when I first came to NYC, and that may or may not be useful to you, cause things are somewhat different now.
When I moved here a long time ago, I just started going to jam sessions that I heard of at clubs, and I had business cards. Started handing them out, meeting people. I also had an apt that people could play in, with a piano and a drum set (!) so I had people over to play that I met. I found the jam sessions a potent mixture of wonderfully supportive older musicians and peers, disrespectful and competitive vibes, incredible music, boring music, drunk people, amazing people, a deep dose of everything good and bad about my own musicianship, and an intensely cool way to make use of my time in NYC. Definitely the best way to learn what is in its essence an oral tradition. There are still a lot of jam sessions in the city, though I notice that in the last 20 years there is a proliferation of young musicians in schools in the city (New School, Manhattan, Juilliard, NYU) which wasnt the case when I was trapsing about. When I've been in the last few years I've felt a little like there is a sheen of conformity more than there used to be. A lot of people studying with the same teachers, I guess.
Anyway, some of the clubs who still have sessions are Lenox Lounge, Smoke, Blue Note, Iridium (I read somewhere), Up Over Cafe (Brooklyn), Local 802 [the musicians' union], University of the Streets maybe still has them too. I'm sure there are several others, and other musicians who might read this could write and let us know where! A lot of these sessions are on Monday nights. I just looked up 'jam sessions new york city' and found a bunch through Google.
I think a lot of musicians meet other musicians at school these days. You are certainly not alone in being a 9-5 day job person who still plays jazz. I heard there is a jazz band of doctors that meets at Harlem Hospital every week. There are also community music schools like Third Street Music School, the Lucy Moses School and the Brooklyn Conservatory that I believe have jazz programs for adults. That might be a good place to start.
What worked well for me, and I think is very important, is to find a running partner or two who are willing to tromp around the city at 3 in the morning with you. For me, as a woman, I was not that interested in taking trains all around by myself at that hour, and it keeps it more fun and keeps your courage and resolve up to have a running partner.
As for the Latin stuff, I'm not in deep enough with any of that to know much. I know Boys Harbor (now called maybe Boys and Girls Harbor, or something more like a school of music..I'll check on that) has big bands and maybe classes - they are in East Harlem and have great musicians, and authentic music from a lot of musicians who know what they are doing. Other than that, the stuff I did wind up doing (African highlife bands, Haitian music, calypso) was usually through other horn players I met at jam sessions, rehearsals, and record stores.
The biggest trick is finding enough time to pursue all these interesting leads and still be able to make enough money to live here!!!! Good luck, let me know how things turn out. Stay safe and have fun. Thanks for asking me, hope that helps. - Jessica

[jessicajones]

Hi, here is the info on the Boys' Harbor, which is called Harbor Conservatory. Hopefully this is a link:
Harbor Conservatory
- Jessica

[talidog]

Jessica - How do you know when you're getting better?

I mean, it's easier to look back over months and years and see improvement from practicing and playing a lot, but there seem to be days, and weeks and even months when I'm working on my playing hard and it seems like things just aren't improving that much. Some days it even seems like I've regressed and gotten worse! How do you keep up the enthusiasm to practice the hard and important stuff on the days when it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference, or when it seems the learning is going ssssoooooo slowly?

Mark in Mendocino

[tinwhistler]

Hey Again, Jess!
Thank you! Well, that was a lot of information! I'm going to a jam session at Dempsey's Pub in order to break out the tinwhistle. You were right, just google-ing "jam session, NYC" brings up lots of information--like this Tuesday Traditional Irish "Seisun" @8pm, Musicians Welcome (http://www.baggotinn.com/dempseys.html). The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts also looks really interesting, I'm definately going to find out if they've got any Brazilian music up there. It's probably on my commute anyway. Thanks again for the advice.

[jessicajones]

Glad to be of service! I've been in NYC all this time, and I've never been to an Irish music jam session. Let me know how it goes! Are there 20 tinwhistlers all hoping for a recording contract from Blue Note?
Have fun! - Jessica

[jessicajones]

Hi Mendocino Mark, thanks for chiming in. Heavy question, thanks for bringing it. I'm sure that each musician on here would have a different (and no doubt wise) answer for you. The words that come to mind when I read your question are: familiar! faith...humble...motivation...
To elaborate, its a very familiar state for me. But, as you sort of allude to, when I look back, the times when I have improved the most, they certainly were the most humbling - they are the times when I felt it was nearly hopeless and I wasnt progressing at all. There's a certain surrender that happens when you give up the hope that you have control over your becoming good, and that surrender (coupled with the hours and hours you have been putting in trying to make yourself good) just shoots things forwards. You know? Working hard is wonderful for your progress, but you have to question WHY you are working hard. Is it so then you can be Good, with a capital G, and suddenly everything will be different? Or is it just cause you love the music and want to live inside it? When you realize that each day that the sun rises is a gift, and you have the privilege of having a horn to put in your hands, how frustrated can you get, really? The older I get the more it gets like that, which is a perk of aging.
Sort of coupled with that, with the asking why you are working hard, is that you just have to have faith. You're never going to acheive your goals, music is that elusive. However, if you keep your eyes open, your adventure is going to be thrilling.
As for the mundane aspect of how to keep doing it, I may not be the most consistent person to ask. However, there are some things I try to do on a regular basis because besides being good for me they are familiar and relatively pain-free. I brush my teeth, play long tones, wash occasionally, pay the bills, etc. I think you can manage the maintenance level all the time, and the progress level of practicing when you can. You progress in your playing is also going to come with your progress learning in your life as a human, they go hand in hand. I think you fill your brain with musical food when you practice, but sometimes it cant come out right until some maturity level happens in your life experience. Maybe it just sits up there in your skull, patiently waiting for you to get your character and spirituality together so it can come out. I think one of my biggest leaps of progress in my playing came with giving birth (but I doubt that would really be an option for you!).
Anyway, Mark, I'm sure that one thing you can remind yourself of, is that you dont really NEED to become "better". Like that guy in Saturday Night LIve, Stuart Smiley (?) who looks in the mirror and says "I'm good enough, and gosh darn it, I like me" or something like that. I'm sure you are sounding amazing. Enjoy your trip, and when it gets all intense and icky, go hang out with a friend or some kids, who know better. Keep me posted. Thanks for writing.





Jessica - How do you know when you're getting better?

I mean, it's easier to look back over months and years and see improvement from practicing and playing a lot, but there seem to be days, and weeks and even months when I'm working on my playing hard and it seems like things just aren't improving that much. Some days it even seems like I've regressed and gotten worse! How do you keep up the enthusiasm to practice the hard and important stuff on the days when it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference, or when it seems the learning is going ssssoooooo slowly?

Mark in Mendocino

[talidog]

Thanks for the wisdom Jessica. I didn't have so much faith but I came out of that plateau eventually and so maybe I'll have a little bit of faith (and experience) the next time I get stuck in a musical traffic jam and it seems like I'm not goin' anywhere.

I hear the 'live in the moment' advice, and believe in it, but it's difficult to not always want to be somewhere else (physically, emotionally, musically). Right now I feel there are just basic things I want to be able to hear in my head and play on my horn, and I'm waiting impatiently for my abilities to catch up to my ambition. Ambition's a good thing I think (more fun than no ambition, anyway), but I'm sure when I'm at this magical stage I'm looking forward too, I probably won't even take the time to appreciate that accomplishment, because I'll be too focused looking toward the next milestone. That's a problem I'm trying to be more conscious about.

Mark in Medocino

[jessicajones]

Thanks for checking in again Mark,keep me posted on your saxophone adventures! Hopefully I will hear you someday too...your journeys are sure to bear some interesting sonic fruit..

Hey Mendocino Mark, and everyone else -
My new CD is now available, it's called Nod, (as a tribute to the lineage of jazz musicians - and Don Cherry's first name backwards...). It's my first studio album and I'm really excited about it. It features my quartet - Tony Jones on tenor, Ken Filiano on bass, and Derrek Phillips on drums - and is ripe with guest artists including Joseph Jarman of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, pianist Connie Crothers, and jazzcorner empresario Mark Taylor on french horn. Also, it has the divine vocals of my stepdaughter Candace Jones. There is an interview to check out about the CD, and our influences at my changing page
I'm still a neophyte (sp?) at the whole linkage issue, so I'm not sure if this link will work- anyway, its on my jazzcorner webpage, under 'changing page'! The CD is available at (my recordings page ) You can get a free listen there too...
If you've already heard the CD, please feel free to slap a shout up here to me about it.
Peace - Jessica

[JazzJunkie]

Hey Jessica,

Congratulations on your new CD! Hope it's a chart-buster! Wondering about your musical roots, did you come from a musical family?

Also, for the person who asked about jams around town, there's supposed to be a good one at The Jazz in Brooklyn, 375 Kosciuszko Street, on Monday nights -- $5 cover, I think.

JJ

[Gordon B]

Are you the same Jessica Jones who played with Mario Eneidi and Glenn Spearman on this cd?



marco eneidi, glenn spearman
creative music orchestra
cd-980

recorded 6 june, 1995 at sharkbite, oakland, ca.

marco enedi alto saxophone
glenn spearman tenor saxophone
tara flandreau violin
john ingall violin
george cremaschi bass
michael silverman bass
spirit drums, african drums, percussion
donald robinson drums
matthew goodheart piano
hal forman trumpet
blaine finell trumpet
brian pearson tenor saxphone
jessica jones tenor saxophone
scott rosenberg tenor saxophone
sean odell alto saxophone
elizabeth grey clarinet
francis holland altto clarinet
tim white bass clarinet
james routhier guitar
larry giustino guitar

american jungle suite:
1. hymn of creation (03:54)
2. trail of tears (03:57)
3. ghost dance (13:34)
4. naked mirror (13:34)
5. interlude (07:19)
6. student studies (26:48)

[Pete C]

Jessica, I mentioned this on Mark's thread, but I'll reiterate that I was amazed by the communication that went on at the Lifetime Visions gig at Barbes. It was the first time I saw the group, and I hope to catch the full version some time.

[jessicajones]

Hi, I'm awake now! Thanks for all the inquiries. Here are my stats:
About coming from a musical family - no, not really. My parents dont play, but my brother's pretty darn musical and has always been a great recording engineer (unprofessionally). However, my mother always provided records, a piano, lessons etc and music was very strong in the schools I went to growing up.
About me on the Marco Eneidi-Glenn Spearman recording - yes, same me. That was fun. Recorded in Oakland after some gigs in Berkeley.
And thanks for the info on the jam session - I havent been to that one yet.
About Lifetime Visions Orchestra - OK, now I know who you are! Yeah, we used to play more compositions, and it has gotten really interesting since we began doing completely improvised sets. Its nice to do that with people you've played with a lot, and who have a lot of experience with improvising. Also, one of the tenets (?) of the band is that there's a lot of sort of Buddhist Let It Be-ness to the music, so people are free to explore areas and support each other. Not to be glib about the Buddhism, I mean that in some ensembles you feel that you might be stepping on someone's toes or that you have to be vigilant about including certain things (styles, etc) but I don't feel that in this group. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I particularly enjoy not having to bring a music stand to gigs anymore!
OK! Thanks for writing. More, please. - Jessica

[JazzJunkie]

Originally Posted by jessicajones

And thanks for the info on the jam session - I havent been to that one yet.

Hi Jessica -- yeah, you should check that one out (The Jazz Spot) -- bassist Kim Clarke hangs there a bit and for the past two years has hosted a week-long "Women In Jazz" event in March. Nice, cozy place, too. {JJ}

[jessicajones]

Yeah, fellow JJ, I do need to get by there. Kim Clarke is cool.

Hey, voyeurs of this thread who live in NYC, my band is playing at Barbes in Park Slope, Brooklyn this Saturday at 7pm (www.barbesbrooklyn.com). It should be really interesting - here's the personnel:
Jessica Jones, Tony Jones - saxophone
Ken Filiano - bass
Ken Yamazaki - drums
Mark Taylor - french horn
Arisa White and Abe Maneri - spoken word

I love working with word people, I'm looking forward to it. Word.