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Introduction
Featured
Jam Sessions:
Anutt
(D&D Little Branson)
Fremont
Gainesville
(Hoerman Park)
Kissee
Mills
(Johnson Community Building)
Long
Beach
(Mtn. Grove School)
Long
Lane
Manes
(Manes
Music Makers)
Mansfield
McClurg
McDowell
Mountain
View (Weaver's)
Souder
Springfield
(North Town Mall)
Strafford
Wasola
(Stone's)
Related
Events:
Opry's:
Webster Co. Opry
Picnics:
Vanzant Picnic
Fiddle
Competitions and Festivals:
Branson Fiddle Contest, Compton Ridge, and Ozarks
Celebration Festival
Dances:
Ava and Ebenezer
Homecomings:
Horsecreek Church
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First
Baptist Church of Strafford (recently moved from the Lodge
and the VFW hall)
Strafford, MO
Every Monday Evening (except 4th)
[This jam sessions was later moved to the Senior Center in Strafford and managed by Otis and Katherine Scott.]
Bill
Cowan started the jam session at his gas station in 1996. For
the past couple of years it had been held at the Strafford
Lodge building, but in August 2000 due to illness it moved
to the VFW hall and then to its current location at the First
Baptist Church. Bonnie Archer sings a country song
in this photograph taken at the Lodge.
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| The jam session features
musicians playing and singing country, fiddle music, gospel music,
bluegrass music, and even a few old folksongs and ballads. Attendance
was large when it was held at the Lodge, with more musicians
in the circle than in any other jam session I visited for this
project. Musicians, most of whom sang and played an instrument,
included over ten guitarists, two mandolin players, two banjo
players, two fiddlers, two dobro players, and a bass player. The
listeners far outnumbered the musicians.
Attendance has dropped off somewhat
since the move to the First Baptist Church. In addition
to moving the location, the organizers of the jam session needed
to hold the event on Monday nights instead of Tuesday nights. Also,
because the church needs the room on the last Monday night
of the month, the jam session is not held on those Mondays. It
might take a little while for all of the musicians and listeners
to become accustomed to the changes.
The story of the Strafford jam
session demonstrates that these events can be fragile, even
when they are highly successful and attract excellent musicians. The
success of jam sessions depends on volunteers, and when a volunteer
in no longer able to work, an event's continuation can be in
jeopardy. Fortunately, the Strafford jam session appears
to be stabilizing, and many musicians are returning. The
First Baptist Church hopes to use money donated by the listeners
at the jam session to build a new Senior Citizens Center.
Directions from Springfield: drive east in I-44 for 10 miles [See map]. Photographs are from
July 11 and November 20, 2000. |
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The microphone travels around the room, and each
person is allowed to sing one song before passing the microphone
to the next person in the circle. Some musicians, such as
Leonard Robertson on dobro, feature their instrumental skills. |
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Occasionally a singer will prefer to stand and sing
to the audience. Gospel singer Mancle Reynolds sings here
at the jam session room at the First Baptist Church. |
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Bill Cowan was the principal organizer of the jam
session, and he is an excellent lead guitar picker. Earl
Freeman enjoys standing and singing bluegrass songs and playing
the banjo. |
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Sherry Bass sings into the microphone as Carol Eveland
in the white sweater awaits her turn. Fiddler Otis Scott
is also a member of the Senior Citizens organization that is currently
sponsoring the jam session. |
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The jam session has needed to change location twice
during the summer and fall of 2000. It moved from the Lodge,
pictured on the left on top, to the VFW hall, and finally settled
into a building owned by the Strafford First Baptist Church. |
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