My Personal Review of the Jingle Jazz Jam

I attended the "Jingle Jazz Jam" on December 2nd, which proved to be quite different from the other jazz jam I went to at the Firehouse Stage. The venue was much more intimate and energetic, and had a younger crowd, although there were people of all age groups, making up an audience of about 40-50 people.

The musicians kept changing throughout the performance because the jam session was open to anyone, but there were a few players who played multiple songs, including Gene Cothran on piano, Michael Carbone on tenor sax, and a bass player, drummer, and guitarist. Binghamton University students Stephi and Adam played the sax, Eli Jacobson played drums, and Patrick played piano.

All the musicians were skilled on their respective instruments and seemed to communicate nonverbally, with simple nods or gestures having deeper meanings. It was great to see the musicians approving of each other and cheering each other on, creating a light and playful atmosphere.

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During the performance, the song "Alone Together" by Arthur Schwartz was played, featuring the sax for most of the piece, which showcased the musician's talent on the instrument. The sax created a smooth, romantic sound, building up tension and dropping it rapidly to create a dramatic effect. The bass played a walking bass line, while the piano and drums kept up the tempo, with the drums feeding off the piano's rhythms and adding well-timed fills.

The syncopation in this song was heavy, heard on every instrument, especially the sax, which used the off beats for a catchy solo that made people want to snap their fingers and dance along. The tune had an AABA 32 bar blues form, with a slower, mellower, and more romantic feeling than the high-energy songs. The melody took advantage of lower notes, supported by harmonies from the rest of the band. "Alone Together" contributed to the intimate feeling of the venue and slowed down the concert.

During the performance, the band also played one of my beloved Christmas songs, "Baby It's Cold Outside," which was originally written by Frank Loesser. The original melody of this song is between a man and woman, but the band managed to replicate the vocals with two alto sax players engaging in a series of call and response.

The two saxophonists were perfectly in sync, coordinating and feeding off of each other to create a performance that was flawlessly in tune. The powerful tone of their instruments created a constant rise and fall of tension during the call and response, and when the two saxes played together, the pitches and sounds of the instruments combined to create an amplified and powerful sound.

The drummer skillfully managed to slow down and speed up the tempo when the song called for it, and the rest of the band impressively adjusted accordingly. The tune followed the AAB 12 bar blues form, with the melody relying heavily on well-executed rhythms that were crucial for the call and response. The musicians did a fantastic job with this tune, adding a swing feel to one of my all-time favorite Christmas classics.

Towards the end of the concert, the band performed "Blue Christmas" by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson, a country shuffle piece that had a hint of rock and roll vibe. This tune stood out from the rest of the songs, primarily because of its distinct bassline, with the bassist even using the "slap bass" technique.

Despite not being slow, the song had a mellow and soulful feel to it, with the piano solo telling a story through its playing style, evoking a sense of yearning. The song's groove was characterized by the rise and fall of tension held out in long phrases. Though the beat was on two and four, the syncopation felt different because it was more of a county shuffle.

The melody, although slower, still packed a punch due to the long phrases and lower notes combined with the loud dynamics. The saxes harmonized perfectly, producing a rich sound that added to the song's appeal. The song followed a 32-bar AABA form and was an excellent choice to wind down the concert and end the night.

Compared to the Firehouse Stage performance, the jam session was more my style, not just because of the familiar Christmas tunes but also because of the venue's small, intimate space, which allowed the audience to be closer to the music and feel the musicians' vibes.

I appreciated the swing feeling that the band infused into my favorite Christmas tunes, making me appreciate jazz more by mixing it in with familiar Christmas pop songs. I look forward to attending more performances at the Lost Dog and cherish this wonderful experience of listening to and experiencing live jazz music.

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