If you've ever been to a jam session, you've probably noticed there are two main kinds out there (both great, just for completely different purposes): 1. The classic hangout jam → beers flowing, people come and go, someone's smoking on the couch, you play whatever feels good right then… super fun, perfect for making friends and unwinding. 2. The work-session jam → still relaxed and friendly, but everyone shows up ready to actually build something: tighten parts, arrange songs, record ideas, and leave sounding noticeably better. More like "band practice with a clear goal" than a party. Neither is better—they just serve different purposes. I'm putting together the second kind: a dedicated, gig-focused rehearsal space where we take the music and everyone's time seriously, but without being stiff. What it looks like: - Clean, consistent room (scouting quiet basements or small warehouse-type spots) - We start on time, work efficiently, chart things out, record ideas so nothing gets forgotten - You can have a beer or two, but the focus stays on the music (not a kickback) - No smoking inside (step outside if you need) - All skill levels totally welcome… as long as you're serious about improving and getting gig-ready together It's not about a bunch of rules—it's about creating a spot where we actually make progress every single time. We're also looking for people who show up consistently and contribute ideas—this works best when everyone's invested. If you've ever left a jam thinking "That was fun… but we didn't get anything tighter," this is for you. Still scouting the perfect space in Fairfield—more details coming soon. Interested? Drop a comment or DM—tell us what you play and what you're working on.

Hello everyone, bass player/guitar guy from Phoenix Arizona saying hello. What's everyone working on? I am working on jazz voicings as well as focusing on more real book standards. Would love to hear what you guys are up to!

When you're putting together a jam session, there's always that tension: you want it open for anybody, but there are certain people you know you don't want to show up. And I have to set that boundary—no judgment, I don't think I'm better than anybody. It's just that there comes a time where you have to deal with setting boundaries with who you jam and rehearse with.I learned this the hard way. We had a band room with an open-door policy. Anyone could come hang out and play. But as we got serious—needing to practice two, sometimes three one-hour sets—we had to lock the doors during rehearsal. One guy in particular didn't take it well. He'd bang on the door as loud as he could, call us names, act like a complete asshole. All we were trying to do was work on our music. After we rehearsed, we'd open the doors again. Isn't that fair? Apparently not to him. Here's the thing: open jam and closed rehearsal are opposite universes. Open jam is pure improvisation—no preconceived ideas, just creative flow. Closed rehearsal is like orchestra class—going over the same section again and again, getting tight, getting professional. They serve different purposes. So I'm very clear about what each one is. I tell people: leave your ego at the door—just like I learned from Quincy Jones. Mike Longo, Dizzy Gillespie's musical director and pianist for several years, would say the same thing about creative music: there's no place for ego. If you're in a bad mood or dealing with something heavy, either leave it outside the band room or communicate it so we can talk it out. Don't let your unresolved stuff inform the group dynamics. The fear I have? That someone's going to show up with an issue—with another person or something that happened to them—and it's going to blow up the session. I get triggered by disrespect and narcissism. When I see someone being disrespectful to people or their surroundings because of their own pathology, something in me snaps. I'm afraid I'll lose my temper and say something I'll regret later. I'm the gatekeeper, and I'm okay with that. But I worry people will think I'm uptight—folks who don't know me, people I'd actually love to meet and play music with. I'm afraid I'll get talked about in a way that doesn't land well with them.

What exactly do you want to do musically but haven’t been doing? What’s one simple action to nudge yourself started? • Sitting down to practice? • Grabbing your guitar and putting it on your lap to strum? • Texting a musician friend you haven’t heard from in a while? • Working on a band website? • Planning your next music gear purchase or researching products? • Researching rental spaces for jam sessions, recording, or rehearsal? So much to choose from—what’s your one thing? Feel free to share in the comments.

Whether it’s lack of space, lack of fellow musicans, or gear that's not up to what you need —we’ve all got barriers stopping us from doing the thing we love most: JAM. What’s the #1 thing holding YOU back? - Lack of time? - No rehearsal spot? - Can’t find musicians who are easy to play with and cool to hang out with? Drop it in the comments—I'd love to hear from you. I'll go first: