Seeking Intermediate Blues players for jam band

Camarillo CA

Description

Intermediate bass player seeking intermediate level blues musicians for a chill blues band. I am 66yrs and retired. Been in a few blues bands that gigged at bars, festivals, and parties. The goal here is to play for fun. We may end up playing a few parties or bar gigs, but the focus will be on playing for our own pleasure. If you want to make money gigging, or want to become a pro musician with a touring band, this is not for you. You must want to play ONLY blues. Respectfully... no musicians that really want to play Pop, Hairband, Punk, Americana, Grunge, Beatles, ALT, originals, singer songwriter, classic rock, or country. Nothing kills a blues band like someone constantly pushing other styles during practice and band members slowly trying to shift it to be another mediocre, rando, classic rock / Pop cover band. Done with that. Blues is the target. I play bass. Guitars, drums and vocals are needed. Male or female musicians are welcome. Horns are also sought (Sax, Trumpet, Trombone) if you want to explore with us. Keys? Let's talk. All must know your instrument, be able to play common blues tunes in multiple keys. Lead instruments must be able to improvise, and play tunes at published tempo. You don't need to know every tune in the world. You as a lead instrument will suggest tunes that you know and want to play (and specify the tempo you want). The rhythm section will play it if we can. Your list should expand with time. Same with other soloists. We will play both harp and guitar tunes. All players should know your responsibility as part of the rhythm section and be able to play their part of the rhythm support or drop out as appropriate. Percussion (drums or cajon) needs to know the 20 most common blues percussion grooves. Examples are shuffle, two beat, rock beat, flat tire, slow blues, swamp beat, rhumba, etc. If these terms are new to you, don't worry, you probably know these beats already. Google them or take a look at the following link. https://www.melbay.com/Products/21063MEB/blues-bass-method--school-of-the-blues.aspx It is a "School of the Blues" bass instruction book that has all these bass grooves and associated example drum patterns in the audio examples. Drummers must know that they need to be able to play simple and hit very soft for blues. There is no volume knob on a drummer. For blues percussion, "Less is more". If you hit hard, then the guitar turns up his amp, and then the bass turns his up, and then the audience starts sitting farther an farther away from the band. Pretty soon the event is empty and everyone is outside. We can't fight an over-loud drummer. So if you can't play both soft and hard on cue, then this is definitely not for you. If you understand what I am saying, you will be a greatly respected and honored cornerstone of our band. Slumming Jazz drummers are welcome. All members will respect the soloist, and shut up / play low volume rhythms during vocals and the first parts of any solos. Later parts of solos, the band ramps up with the soloist. Vocalists will need to demonstrate their ability to sing blues in key, on pitch, with some traditional flavor. Both men and women are encouraged. Bring your songlist. We could even do some R&B ish stuff. We WILL adjust the key of ANY song to fit your vocal range and sweet spot. There is no "guitar capo" for a singers throat, so the band must adjust to their range. Any guitarist, harp player, or drummer that can also do vocals will be worshipped. You must understand dynamics (or we can work on this). The band must start the tunes at an audio volume level that captures the room but does not blow out the first seats, and still allows soloists / singers to increase volume as the song progresses. We need to retain room for them to ramp up during their solos for emotional effect. Once a soloist is done and the lead switches to another the band MUST reset volume back to the initial level so the next guy/girl can do their stuff dynamically. If by now you have read this so far and feel like, "This guy is a real "jack-hole" then this is probably not for you. You probably recognize yourself in some of the restrictions and don't want your creativity "stifled". I don't want to stifle anyone's creativity. So you can stop reading. If you read this and thought, " This is exactly what I have been looking for." then send me an email. We will start with tunes that have an easy common X-bar blues pattern, then move to more complex tunes. Example tunes we will play might be: The Thrill is Gone Born in Chicago Walking Blues Juke We're Ready Chitlin con carne Knock on Wood (R&B) Born Under A Bad Sign I'm Tore Down Hoochie Coochie Man Cross cut saw Red House Five Long Years All your love It hurts me too Scratch my back Gimme one Reason Screamin Condition Blue (Nobby Hill) I can host at my house (Camarillo). If that does not work, we can rent studio space and split the cost. I expect to practice 2-4 times a month. In any reply, please include your 5 favorite blues tunes that you can play/sing well now, with the Key. If we get together, be prepared to lead a group in learning / performing these songs. Cheers, Mike