Jammin' in the Valley

WAITSBURG – They drifted in slowly, in singles and pairs, but by the end of the night it was ten guys and a gal performing at Friday night's Mythical Movable Bluegrass Jam held at Suze Wood's Open Studio in Waitsburg. Another half-dozen folks, from a toddler to retirees, provided the audience, nodding and singing along with the tunes.

"Jams are the epitome of live music. If you're not there at that moment, you'll never hear the same thing again. It's always different people playing different songs. It's not going to be created next week or the week after," said organizer Kate Hockersmith. "It's not always good, but sometimes it's amazing!" she added.

This particular jam began about 10 years ago. Hockersmith said the jams served as a way to keep The Troublemakers together when the Waitsburg youth bluegrass band returned home after performing in Sasayama, Japan.

"Japan had been the goal for a really long time. When we got back, the kids were tired and the band kind of broke apart, but the kids still liked to get together and play," Hockersmith said.

"This area has a long history of bluegrass. The old dance hall on Jasper Mountain apparently had fiddlers and a banjo player. This kind of music has been around here forever. Some of the early settlers were from Kentucky and so we have that fiddling/banjo tradition here. Margaret Ganguet, who lived out on the Coppei, was always in a string band of some sort," she said.

Hockersmith said that people were skeptical when talks first began talking about organizing the parent-led youth bluegrass band, The Troublemakers, in 2003.

"I'd hear, 'That's not gonna fly!' But I was super surprised. The whole valley, and especially Waitsburg, was really supportive of what the kids were trying to do," she said.

Jimmye Turner, who began playing with the Ryegrass String Band in Walla Walla in the 70's, heard the kids in concert and has been supportive of youth bluegrass in Waitsburg ever since. So has retired Walla Walla doctor Ron Van Yserloo, who plays banjo and mandolin.

The first Waitsburg bluegrass jams were held monthly in Carmen's Deli on Waitsburg's Main Street. Hockersmith said the group wanted to support the deli by providing live music, and all musicians in the area were invited.

"We had people coming from Walla Walla, so I moved one there. Then we had people coming from Dayton, so we talked to Mike McQuary, who owned Skye Book & Brew at the time, and he invited us there. It was nice because no one had to travel to the other end of the county when they wanted to play," she said.

The jams earned the moniker the Mythical Movable Bluegrass Jam when a Walla Walla Community College student said he had heard about the jams, but had never been able to track one down, and questioned their existence.

These days, there are four jams a month; one every Friday at 6:30 p.m. The first Friday of the month is at Open Studio in Waitsburg, the second Friday will be at Homestead Farms in Waitsburg in July and August, but will return to Whitman College in September. The third jam of the month is at Dickie's BBQ in Walla Walla, and the fourth Friday is in Dayton, currently held at Rey's Roast.

"The Dayton jam is an open acoustic jam where you can play anything you want. A lot of our old rock 'n' rollers show up there," Hockersmith said. "Sometimes I look around the room and am amazed that these guys let me play with them. There is a lot of talent in these room sometimes."

Musicians sit in a circle and each person takes a turn choosing the next song, never knowing what they're going to hear or play next. Musicians take turns playing solos as well. At Friday's Open Studio, the space between each song was filled with jokes, anecdotes, and good-natured banter and encouragement.

"Just pick one, it's an easy crowd," said Mike McQuary to a musician having trouble choosing a tune.

"The jams are great for someone just starting out who wants to play with others. There is nothing like playing with people that are better than you. You can sit back and join in as you feel comfortable. They're all very nice people," Hockersmith said.

McQuary, who played the guitar and harmonica at Open Studio, has a long history in music, though he makes no secret that bluegrass isn't his genre of choice. McQuary hosted acoustic jams for 10 years in Dayton when he owned Skye Book & Brew.

"I'm more of a folk guy and an old rocker," he said.

He started playing the ukulele at age eight (he's 66 now), played keyboards most of his adult life, and even plays bagpipes. He recalls playing in a high school rock 'n' roll band in Dayton called the Baroque's, with three buddies while he was in high school.

"We were dreadful, but it was fun!" he said, and shared stories of making their own strobe light from a box fan and renting the upstairs of the Eagles for dances.

He said the jams are a good way to stay connected with other musicians and can be pretty amazing.

"The beauty of the jams is that everyone can participate, you just pick a simple song. We've been going around in circles for years. There are some really, really good players in this area and it's different every time. Jimmye (Turner) is a good example. He has a million songs all in his head," McQuary said. "We always keep moving, and keep encouraging."

Everyone is welcome to participate in or observe any of the Friday night jams. Email tvamp1@charter.net to receive Hockersmith's newsletter which not only lists jam nights and venues, but also lists upcoming area concerts, lessons, and instruments for sale.