Blues Lab Jam continues to draw aspiring student musicians

The final Blues Lab Jam is Wednesday, May 21, 6-8 p.m. at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, 431 W. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook. The Bolingbrook Arts Council and Tailgaters are pleased to continue this monthly evening when local blues musicians play with, guide, and lead a jam session for suburban students.

The Jam is held during the school year and will resume in the fall.

Students who wish to perform need to be prepared. Know the 12-bar blues format (chords I, IV, V); good keys to know: F, E, A, Bb, Eb; research the lab songs for the month and listen and learn them by ear; and know a few other blues tunes by memory, jams are done by ear so being able to read music is not necessary.

The songs for May are Cissy Strut (in C), My Babe (lil Walter, in F) and Let the Good Times Roll (in G). Extra credit song: Strasbourg/St. Denis (in Ab).

Historically, jam sessions are the place for musicians to connect, learn and experiment on their instruments and with other musicians. Students now rarely have the opportunity to play in this interactive and improvised style that is the core of blues and jazz music.

For the 2024-25 school jam sessions were the third Wednesday of the month, from October through May, from 6-8 p.m. at Tailgaters. The sessions are free and open to the public. Tailgaters is an all ages bar & grill serving food and drinks during the jam.

Please like/follow the Bolingbrook Arts Council’s Facebook to see the songs for the month’s jam as well as event updates.

What to know:

• A house band of local blues musicians will lead the jam and help guide students
• Students should bring their own instruments (drums, keyboard, and amps are provided)
• Appropriate instruments: guitar, bass, drums, horns (sax, trombone, trumpet), clarinet, vocals
• Students sign up onsite to participate, writing down their instrument and a few blues tunes they know
• House band will begin the jam and will rotate students in and out of the jam session based on band needs
• LAB SESSION: Three songs will be focused on during the learning session
• Student musicians, parents, family, friends, music educators, and music supporters are invited.

STUDENTS - How to Prepare for a Student Blues Lab Jam:

• Know the 12-bar blues format (chords I, IV, V)
• Good Keys to Know: F, E, A, Bb, Eb
• Google the lab songs for that month and listen and learn them by ear
• Know a few other blues tunes by memory- jams are done by ear so being able to read music is not necessary