In all the discussion of aperture (open/closed, restricted/unrestricted), I'm surprised there was no discussion of speed (fast, slow).

There are instances of communities evolving genre-focused (celtic dance music, bluegrass) "slow" jams. Some thoughts on those.

The opposite of slow, as in slow jam is not fast, just better.

Slow jams not only remove irritants from "better" jams but provide a non-threatening, non-imtimidating forum for learners or those of us who will NEVER get there.

They can be fun and congenial and less intense than a full session.

By definition, slow jams allow any number of players of any combination of players to play at the same time.

There is no known antedote to the tendancy of slow jams to play loud. Softness seems to come with mastery.

For players who are capable of doing both, slow jams are (and should be) different. They are not about stretching musical envelopes and" getting tight". They are about coaching, mentoring, cajoling and passing on - all fun things to do.

One of the things slow jams do is SPAWN smaller more accomolished jams in the form of new groups of the more accomplished members. Some group members may still come to the slow jam, scheduels and commitments permitting. In barershop circles [www.spebsqsa.org], this is the basic process that turns a chapter's chorus of assorted voices into individual quartets. Its called "woodshedding" as in "After the chorus rehearsal, lets us four get together in the woodshed to work on some tunes."

A good way to start a slow jam is to go round the outer circle of a "better" jam whispering "My place, Thursday" in the ear. Give directions or better yet your very own computer-made brochure explaining your concept, to perfect strangers.

I've followed this path for a number of years in a number of places in a number of genres and it seems to work [sometimes].

Slow Jams Rule! KC