All great suggestions.The possibility of getting everyone together is intriguing,but one thing bothers me - the lead guitar in my "main" group has been the rehearsal host,and the un-elected leader throughout the life of the group,and several years before I arrived on scene. One opportunity with the new group seems to be more input from all members,and especially from me.I shouldn't be shy about it,I suppose.I think I have a talent for music dynamics and structure,and I am thinking I'd be more free to apply it with the new bunch.But,like Bart so aptly put it,everyone at this stage of a new group is apt to be on their best behavior.I've never been in a group where there wasn't either a definite leader,or a power struggle going on.I'm sure this would be no different.

Anyway,I don't know how Jack would respond to being "just one of the boys" in a new format,or even whether he and I could work together in a group where he didn't have final say.

Yep,a band isn't a marriage. But it ain't terribly far from it.