Guitarist Bob Sneider’s dazzling melodies take center stage at the Hyatt Regency Astor on Main Monday night at 11 p.m. The restaurant’s dining room, home to late-night jam sessions at the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival, wasn’t full yet, but more and more young musicians were already beginning to gather, instruments in hand, waiting for their turn Get on stage and improvise.
Snyder, a professor at the Eastman School of Music who has hosted late-night shows since the festival began 21 years ago, said jamming is a spontaneous musical experience that provides audiences and musicians with the opportunity to “get up close and personal” with the music. .
Aspiring musicians, some of whom may still be in high school, also have the opportunity to jam with top musicians.
“There’s something honest about making music with people you’ve never worked with before, without having to rehearse,” Snyder said.
From an observer’s perspective, jam sessions can be an opportunity to experience jazz at a festival in a more relaxed setting, without the time constraints of a regular concert schedule. The show starts at 10:30 p.m., but doesn’t end at an exact time – in most cases, not until every musician who wants to jam has had a chance to jam.
Retired arts journalist Jeff Spevak (formerly of WXXI News and CITY Magazine) has been attending these conferences for 20 years.
He recalled that previous iterations offered an intimate setting that allowed you to rub shoulders with the jazz greats who had performed to large crowds earlier in the evening.
“At a jam session, at least you can finish your beer,” Spevak said.
For budding musicians, these lessons can be a valuable learning experience. Drummer Brock Williams, a recent graduate of the School of the Arts who will attend SUNY Purch in the fall to study jazz, has been attending jam sessions since the summer after eighth grade.
“The experience of playing with new people every minute of every night has a huge impact on my game,” Williams said. “It makes me a better player.”
For Williams, receiving constructive criticism from professional musicians at conferences was “a profound experience.” Late-night music production at festivals is something he looks forward to year-round, and he tries to carry it into the evening whenever possible. On Monday night, he met a 15-year-old guitarist with whom he planned to perform at a music festival.
A highlight of Monday night’s jam session was the performance of young blues musician Jazyear Redd, who combined atmospheric emotion on guitar with Snyder’s guitar support and Williams’ backing on drums.
The element of improvisation in improvisation—and in jazz music in general—cannot be overemphasized.
“That’s what music is—it’s self-expression beyond what words can express,” Williams said. “My playing is more expressive than my dialogue, which is why when I go out there, I really connect with people. Bonds were made and a great time was had.
squeeze jam session continues at 10:30 each night at the Hyatt Regency Rochester until the end of the festival on June 29. Trumpeter Mike Cottone will host Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. rochester jazz website
Daniel J. Kushner is an arts writer for City magazine. He can be contacted via: [email protected].
