10 years of “Jammin 'in De Kroon”
24/04/2020
our jazz department in the picture, how it all started, and how it continues ...
Perhaps some of you, especially those with a few years left, still remember the time when “light music” (the word alone…) was out of the question at the academy. At that time we were very lucky to have a director who thought otherwise. He found a guitar with a "flosj" (the so-called electric guitar) as worthwhile as the classical guitar. He put us, guitar teachers, to experiment with that in the guitar class. And in the ensemble we had better have a swinging pop band next to a classical orchestra ... In this way, against all guidelines, we started with pop and jazz here in SAB. As we expanded our jazz and light music department (with piano, drums, bass, sax, vocals, and a lot of ensembles) the need to “jam” became clear. Playing together, without first rehearsing together, without recording everything in advance, soloing, responding spontaneously to what is happening around you, was necessary to make good musicians of our students, with an open mind, and above all a lot of music ... Therefore first we went with our students to the jams in 't Smiske (Asse). It was mainly experienced jammers who came on stage, such that many of our students lost the courage to jump onto the stage next to these twinks. For example, Guy Puyneers and I (the JALM coordination team) decided to start our own jam in SAB. We called it a beginner jam, so it was very clear that everyone on stage was expected, even if you only had one song in your fingers, and only 5 notes to solo with. In class, the pieces were prepared, and the teachers also assisted their students on stage. Every year we chose a list of 10 songs, which we selected from the large international jam repertoire: not too difficult, nice standards, in swing, waltz and bossa. And as opener of the evening one of our bands, to bring in the atmosphere. The very first jam (in the theater in De Kroon, 2009) ended with a phenomenal free jam, no imposed chord progression, no existing melodies, but freewheeling for half an hour about improvised riffs, rhythms and dynamics, with just about the entire audience in the end on stage. Talk about a flying start. And that is how we still do it, only now in the café of De Kroon, where the volunteers of the bar provide us with food and drink between the music. And we no longer start from the 10 selected songs, but we have our own jam reader, a book with the 130 best songs from the past years. From this we choose what we play. When someone comes up with a certain number, there are always a few others to play with. This jam reader is freely available to everyone through the teachers. (in C, Bb and Eb). The current coordinators of this whole event are currently Toon Van Dionant and Pieter Baert. We still absorb cold water fear by preparing the songs well in class, the melody, the chord progression, the improvisation. Furthermore, it is always a fun party. Playing, chatting with a pint, enjoying the exploits of the other musicians, meeting new people. And above all, learn something about improvisation and accompaniment, about performance, about our shared passion: music. This year, due to the well-known circumstances, we jammed only 2x. But next year we are going for the full 3 again! And the dates are: November 13, January 22 and March 26. Everyone welcome. © C Chris Carlier