A guitarist takes center stage and begins to strum notes that flash to his mind. A bass player joins him shortly after, adding his own flavor to the developing tune. Within the blink of an eye, a full band is on stage, jamming to the beat of the moment.
UB Jam Club meets every Sunday afternoon in the Student Union Theater for a session of musical improvisation. From blues to funk, the Jam Club plays almost every genre of music.
This semester, they are working hard to develop their own unique style.
"We are trying to learn how [other improvisation bands] are so good at communicating with each other through music," said John Morrison, president of Jam Club and a sophomore history major.
With 20 members in the club, it's difficult for everyone to play at the same time.
The group breaks into smaller groups of three to five members to rehearse. While each group plays on stage, the rest of the club members watch and prepare critiques for the performers.
"Even though people are better than I am, they make me feel better," said Philip Dreisin, secretary of Jam Club and a sophomore economics major. "After hearing what they have to say I sound better, so I am always learning."
The musicians hope to take these critiques and use them in the future. Devan Chrisikos, treasurer of Jam Club and a sophomore business major, plans on pursuing his love for music after he graduates.
"[Jam Club] helps with learning variety because everyone plays in a different way," Chrisikos said. "It helps me see music in a different light. It helps me see everyone's personal take on how music should be played. I think it will help me be a better musician by helping me play in a unit, rather [than] by myself in a practice room. A lot of people have a hard time making that transition."
Aside from playing in the theater, the members of the club also perform at the True Blue tailgates and most recently, the SA Winter Gala that occurred last Saturday.
"It's great to watch the audience, see their reactions, and get feedback on how we sound," Chrisikos said. "I usually try to just ignore the audience and play my music."
Although Morrison loves playing for an audience, he feels that sometimes they aren't really listening. But this relieves pressure for him because the music is just in the background, according to Morrison.
The club consists of all types of musicians with many different talents. They have bass, guitar, and keyboard players with varying levels of ability and strength. This variety is what makes the club sound so interesting, according to Morrison.
This year brought all new members and administration to the club because the previous leaders had all been seniors. Morrison was faced with the task of creating original music with his club.
"You could just start off with a small sound and everyone starts building," Morrison said. "Eventually you come up with music you never would have come up with. It's conjured from everyone and is just inspired by the moment."
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
