Their turn to shine

Musicians tune their skills

at jam nights.
By: John Patten
   When area musicians take the microphone at jam sessions sponsored by local bars, the atmosphere is more akin to a ’40s night club scene than a 21st century rave.
   Just as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie honed their skills at such late-night sessions half a century ago, the sessions at Manville clubs Rhythms of the Night on South Main Street every Wednesday and the Northside Lounge on Brooks Boulevard every other Sunday give musicians — beginner and near-pro — opportunities to perform and play with other musicians.
   "This is really a great thing for musicians in the area," Wallace Boulevard (Hillsborough) resident Jayne Rich said after her first public performance with her husband, Harvey, at the Northside’s open mike night July 29. Although Mr. Rich performed semi-professionally before launching his accounting practice, Ms. Rich had never played before an audience before.
   "It’s wonderful to do this," she said after her three-song set of rock classics, such as the Beatles’ "Norwegian Wood" and Van Morrison’s "Wild Nights," had the bar’s crowd dancing and singing along.
   Northside’s open mike nights offer more rock-oriented performances, while the Jazz Jam Nights on Wednesdays at Rhythms of the Night put more swing into the beat.
   But the musicians participating are just as enthusiastic and clearly relish the chance to get up on stage with the Somerset Jazz Consortium and "run the changes" to bebop tunes and standards. Colonia guitarist Jonathan Cruz, who stopped by for the jam on July 18, called the sessions "the best place to learn."
   The musicians say half the fun is never knowing who’s going to show up and play on any given night.
   "You get guys with a little more experience and you get some in high school," Dan Epstein, a drummer from Piscataway, said while waiting to fill in for SJC drummer Tom Roche at Rhythms. Mr. Epstein said he’s learned a lot about playing jazz rhythms by participating in such sessions.
   (Hillsborough) Hollow Oak Court resident Jim Leone, a 50-ish guitarist, said that while he’s played for his own enjoyment for decades, until he stepped up at the Northside Lounge in early July, he’d never performed in public before.
   "I like to play and get some experience," he said after joining a four-piece group playing Rolling Stones tunes July 29 that included several more experienced musicians.
   Of course, the variety makes for some challenges for the hosting bars — Rhythms Manager Dwight Newell noted one recent jam session had so many musicians turn out he was "directing traffic" getting everyone on and off the stage.
   "We’ve had nights where people were lined up out the door," Craig Buchman, a professional drummer who coordinates the Northside’s events, said. "You never know who will show up — we’ll get everything from KISS wannabes to people who just want to sing their own songs."
   Mr. Newell said the Rhythms nights began about the beginning of June, and he hopes audiences will continue to grow.
   "Our goal is to provide a nice, entertaining night for people," Mr. Newell said. "The people that are here seem to really enjoy it. We hope this will keep going."
   Northside’s open mike nights have been a regular feature at the lounge, building a regular base of fans and performers, as well as newcomers like Mr. Leone.
   Jazz Jam Nights at Rhythms of the Night begin each week at 7 p.m. — to encourage high school students to participate. Northside’s next open mike night is scheduled for 9 p.m. Sunday.