I'm already looking ahead to our next eJam, hopefully this July. I think our #1 has been pretty successful, so let's keep it going. Again, I'd like to offer two or three songs to appeal to as many as possible. We could keep it to one song if everyone agreed, but... So, these are my preliminary thoughts:

And I Love Her - Beatles. It lends itself to many vocal and instrumental interpretations and many styles. It's great for many instruments, including guitar.

This Masquerade - Leon Russell. This song is great for instrumental riffs and Latin or jazz stylings. A real opportunity for vocals or instrumentals.

A two-chord jam This is an idea orginally given to me by Bill in Dayton. What can you do with two chords - show us. Do you want us to name them, like maybe I and IIm7? Personally, I'd be willing to let you stretch it out and expand the chords. I'd even suggest that you could add chords to a bridge or something similar.

So that's it, my ideas for eJam2. If someone wants to take the lead, be my guest. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Good suggestions, Cass...

As these are preliminary suggestions, I think the two songs are very close in structure and likely interpretations. Was that your intent? I forecast mostly ballad and slow latin renditions from each.

Regarding the 2 chord thing. Cass and I were chatting about songs and I told him of the fun I was having with Jambalaya, by Hank Williams. Just two chords, by the melody and lyric lines allow the player great freedom to play with.

Not sure how's I'd approach a 2 chord jam without actually following an actual song. I'd try it, but now we're almost into a kind of song writing of sorts, that might sway some participants away...

Cheers-

------------------
Bill in Dayton

Still hoping that someone wants to investigate 21st century music... it's NOT all rap and hiphop

Tunes by Erika Badhu or Corrine Bailey Rae or Jamie Cullum might tempt the jazzers. Gavin DeGraw or John Mayer might inspire the pop lovers. Who knows? Maybe there's a John Legend or Alicia Keys fan out there....?

And, maybe if we pick one of these, there MIGHT be some more fans out there for stuff that is contemporary, rather than the blanket condemnation we so often hear here. It is telling to see that NO-ONE did anything other than the hoary standard on the current eJam (sorry if I missed a new entry). Surely we can stretch ourselves a bit more than this?

Diki, we're open for suggestions. Name a particular song we can all get hold of that you think would lend itself to many interpretations. I'm willing to try something new, for sure.

Bill, I agre with the problem with a no-name 2-chord jam. I couldn't think of one offhand, so there's another spot for someone to suggest a song.

As for the other two songs, I didn't see them as particularly similar, but I guess they are. And I Love Her almost always ends up with Latin overtones, but itself is not a Latin tune. I think there is room for lots of interpretation there. Masquerade can be Latin or jazzy most of the time, but it too can really be turned inside out. So maybe only one of those songs should be a choice...

Well, I still have a hankering to hear what the forum could do with Michael Buble's 'Everything'...

Just off the top of my head. I'll try to narrow down a couple more for you later.

Cass

This masquerade = great idea !!

Chico

I agree...great tune...can be done several ways.

Ian

I think we have our eJam2 songs:

Everything - Michael Buble, Alan Chang & Amy Foster Gilles

This Masquerade - Leon Russell

Unless someone else comes up with an outstanding suggestion, we'll go with these two tunes for the month of July.

Does anyone want to propose any rules changes for #2? My feeling is, the more open we keep it the more people will contribute and enjoy it. Again, I have no objection to the use of midi files if that is what the posting member wishes to do. I feel every one of our #1 entries was unique and well presented.

This is getting exciting...

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 06-22-2009).]

How about You Don't Know Me (Ray Charles) ? Is a good tune to show diversity in arrangement and interpretation. We had three on the first, perhaps three for the second jam??

Dennis

Or another..Moondance (Van Morrison)?