Firkin Live Jazz with First (second) Take…
My dad called me a few days ago and asked if I’d want to play Thursday during the set breaks for another band that he knew. I said, “Sure” – I was excited about the opportunity to not only play at the same venue as a working band, but on the same night as well.
Well, my dad had to confirm with his friend (who was in the band) and communication fell through, such that not until Thursday night at 10pm do I get a call, “Hey, do you want to come down and play?”
So I flew on down to the Firkin and Wolf at the Summit Sierra Mall. I arrive to find my dad’s friend Jimmy playing as part of a really good jazz band, and they were hosting an open jazz jam.
I’m Chuck McCumber. I live and work in Reno, NV, where I’m finishing my MBA at UNR and where I play at open mics (and an occasional paid ::gasp:: gig) around town. Cecil’s Refrain is my long time music project and this site is a place where I talk about my experiences playing and the fellow musicians, artists, and fans that I meet along the way. I’d love your feedback. And if you’re ever looking to jam, hit me up.
“Put your name on the list and we’ll call you up,” somebody yelled. My dad was there and in his excitement, he did just that, for me.
“But, Dad, I’m gonna play my stuff during break, right?”
“Oh, don’t worry – yeah, that’s what…”
He was cut off by the band leader, Rick Metz (of RickMetz.com, as he jokingly reminded us several times) who had immediately picked up the list and said, “Hey Chuck, get on up here.”
I wasn’t going to tell them no, but I definitely wasn’t going to tell the band to play my songs either. Thank god I have a few jazz standards under my belt, two of which I remembered off the top of my head (more accessible than the belt).
So we started with Polkadots and Moonbeams in F (you have to specify because these guys will play any standard in any key). I played my Ovation and sang while they backed me up and took the solos. God it sounded amazing to have wonderfully gifted musicians behind me – I forgot how much I missed that feeling.
“Give us another,” they said, after we’d finished Polkadots. So I suggested Nature Boy, which I’d learned just recently. That’s when my ability to play with good musicians went downhill. Basically I hit a major chord that should have been minor and held a C7 for twice as long as is normal in the Miles version that they were playing (as opposed to the Nat King Cole, vocal version).
The band’s name is First Take, but we had to start that one over.
The second time through we got it figured out, but I realized this morning that I was still playing the wrong chord in there – my apologies to those listening. But it was still a blast and, as with all these performances, I learn, learn, learn.
Sometimes the lessons are more obvious than others (like review your jazz tunes before you go to an open jazz session). Sometimes they’re subtle (I’m sure the subtle lesson from last night will hit me soon). But they’re always there.
Thanks to Rick Metz and his jazz group, First Take.
Any other jazz jams out there you’d like to recommend? How about jazz standards to learn (I need to know some more). Let me know; comment below!
Follow me!