Dates
Nov 9 & Nov 23Two Mondays
02 / Sessions
What we’ll do
01
Jam Session Basics + Guided Jam
We’ll start by walking through the practical things singers need to know before getting up at a jam:
Choosing a tune that works well in a jam setting
Knowing and communicating your key
Counting off a tune and setting the feel
Talking through intros and endings
Communicating with the rhythm section
General jam session etiquette
What to do when something doesn’t go according to plan
Then we’ll put it into practice right away with a guided jam session.
Vocal Jam Session
The second session will be more open and focused on getting everyone up to sing.
We’ll have a rhythm section ready to go, and singers will take turns calling tunes and practicing the communication and musical skills from the first session.
We’ll send out a list of suggested jam-friendly tunes and common vocal keys ahead of time so you have time to prepare.
02
03
Tommy Boynton
Tommy Boynton is a jazz singer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist living in St. Paul. He leads the Jazz Singer’s Playground and the North Star Vocal Ensemble.
Tommy is a current member of The Four Freshmen, the jazz vocal group that began in 1948 and has never stopped touring in the years since. He joined in 2015, singing the lead part while playing bass.
Locally, Tommy also teaches at Sarah Jane’s Music School and MacPhail. He earned his BM in jazz voice from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Dominique Eade, Ran Blake, and Fred Hersch.