Lucky's  NewsLetter

aka Da 'Blog

Since the revamping of Ru-Flam.com back in 2007 we've been exploring new ways to bring more info and more music

to all of our fans and Web visitors. At this time we would like to introduce our new feature, "Da 'Blog".  This will be a bi-weekly feature which

will include a variety of things including any new events, news about different people, info on what's happening around town in the local Jazz Scene and

more or less just some points of view From Lucky about Life, Art, & Music and whatever.

Most of all tho, we hope this NewsLetter will provide some entertainment and/or enlightenment for those who read it.

WELCOME ! TO ANOTHER CHAPTER OF DA-BLOG: THE SUBJECT IS...UNSPOKEN RULES OF THE JAM SESSION !                    These are some of the things that some musicians should keep in mind when at a jam session. You should always be prepared to play what the house band calls. If you do not know the song, say i do not know that one. Then maybe they will let you call a song. Now if this happens make sure that you don't take too many choruses. Set a standard of about 3 or 4. Some of the vets. know this, so they will be watching to see if you are on it. Because they won't tell you. If the soloist before you takes 3 , then you take 3. If you are backing up a vocalist, try to know a song in 2,3 keys, this will come in handy and you won't be embarrassed. Horn players please do not blast into the mike, you will be heard especially trumpet, trombone some saxophones (altos). Drummers when playing be aware of your volume. The band is only as loud as you are. Please bring some sticks because if you came out to play be prepared. Horns tune-up first. Guitars tune-up, you can not take you instrument out and just start playing. Get a Fake-Book , this will help you get acquainted with some of the standards. Don't be afraid to take a chance on something this is a learning process it is better to try something and blow it, then to not have try at all. Becoming a good musician is full of growing pains it never ends. To some of the younger musicians you have to learn how to play in before you can play out. Learn how to play a 12-bar blues before you think you can play like Trane. Vocalist sing the song first you are not Ella, Louie or any other scatter. Some of these singers want to pick some of the most difficult songs to sing, and don't even know their keys yet. Learn the basic things first and then move on. Because you are not fooling the musicians, they will know if you can't sing. Most of the them will be willing to help you if you would let them. Humility is very important in the music world, it will take you a long way. You have to put the time in before you can call a time-out. Don't be one of these people that thinks all they have to do is play what limited stuff they know, and expect to get paid like the person who puts the time in. You ask your-self how is it that some players work all the time ,and some barely work at all?. I'll tell you why, because if you learn how to entertain the listener you will always get a call back. But if you play just for your-self you will be playing by your-self. One more thing you can't play on every song, play one and then sit your ass down.   PEACE !

                                                   THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: 

                                                 RU-FLAM .COM & LUCKY (THE BIG BANG) THOMPSON

  And that's it for this weeks segment of Da'Blog

Lucky Thompson                                          Jack Reilly

                                                         Lucky Thompson

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