Wolf's Music Weekly

Open Blues Jams

Blues Jams - Best Kept Secret!

Over the years, our blues jams have developed a large, faithful following.  But a lot of people still don't know what they're missing.  The jams have developed a good crowd of quality musicians who come to jam and the music is top notch!  Our jam venues are great places with good, friendly people.  All have excellent, reasonably priced food and there's never a cover.  We have relatively early starts so you can get out, have a nice dinner, hear some good music, and get home at a reasonable time on a weeknight.  

For those of you who might not know what you're missing, scroll down and check out the videos, pictures, and info below!

Hopefully we'll see you out soon.  It's not a secret anymore! 

Scroll down for more info! 

 

BluesJamspics/WolfsJVsbluesjamtshirtandpainting.jpg


 
 
Wolf's been running open blues jams since 2004 and over those years has developed a system where things move quickly and smoothly, and at the same time keeping the musicians and audience happy and coming back for more.
 
 

Open Blues Jam Format


The jam events are "open blues jams," not open mics.  (No solo acts, duo acts, singer songwriters, poets, comedy, etc.)  Only Blues music performed in a band setting is permitted.  Standard, simple 12 bar, 1-4-5 arrangements.  The person singing gives the key, style (shuffle, rhumba, slow, swing, jump, etc.), and provides necessary cues (i.e., stops and endings).  Each soloing instrument plays a 24 bar solo during each song.   
 
The host band provides the basic equipment needed to hold the jam (bass amp, drums, PA, vocal mics, etc.).  We try our best to have an extra guitar and harp amp for jammers to use, but it's not guaranteed, so players are encouraged to bring their own amps to play it safe.  Once you arrive, you can decide whether you need/want to bring your own inside.  However, harp players need to provide their own harp mics and cord.  Drummers need to bring their drumsticks.
 
The host band plays a warmup show set.
 
Using the signup sheet, Wolf makes up jam sets consisting of a combination of host band members and local talent.  Each jam set is usually 2-3 songs, depending on the number of musicians who have signed up.
 
The jammers start signing up as early as an hour before we start and sign up continues throughout the evening.  Getting there and signing up early means you're more likely to get up sooner and increases your possibility of more play time later in the evening.  Jam slots are limited, however, and there are times when the number of people who sign up is so great that people who sign up later may not have the opportunity to perform.  Wolf doesn't go straight down the list, but instead forms jam sets using the combination of players that will provide both the best possible music for the audience and playing experience for each musician.   
 
 
Special COVID Modifications 
 
All State requirements apply (i.e., social distancing, masks, hand washing).   
Singers must bring their own SM58 mic or SM58 foam mic cover and disinfectant wipes.
Due to social distancing and limited stage size, jam slots per set will be limited. 
These modifications could be changed and others could be added on site at the jam without notice, as needed. 
 
 
General Information
 
Great way to hear local blues talent, and you never know who's going to show up: sometimes out-of-towners and touring musicians. 
 
Even prominent national acts have stopped by to jam including Guitar Shorty, Bill Kirchen, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Jimmy Carpenter, Memphis Gold, Bret Littlehales (aka Big Boy Little), Bruce Ewan, Bobby Radcliff, Pierre Beauregard, Johnny Sansome, Johnny Vidacovich and Grammy Nominees Tab Benoit and Steve Riley!  Wolf likes to paraphrase Forest Gump, "a jam is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get or WHO'S going to show up!" (See photos below!) 
 
Of course it's also a great way to connect with other blues-lovers and musicians.  Great way to meet potential bandmates and potential fans too!
 
Great listening/dance music! (See sample videos below!)
 
Tips for the house band are encouraged and greatly appreciated!  The house band usually provides the equipment for the jammers.  Most of the house band musicians drive a great distance and the tips really help them out.
***Support your local blues jams AND the establishments that host the jams; come hungry & thirsty to ensure the jams keep going.*** 
(See below for links to articles about blues jams.)
 
 
 
 

Wolf's Current Jams
(for more info about venues, see "VENUES" link to the left) 
 
To keep posted about these jams, schedule changes, and info about other local blues jams, sign up for "Wolf's Music Weekly Newsletter" which is emailed several times per month.  (To sign up, click on the the "Join" tab on the side menu bar and then click on the signup link.) 
 
 
 
 Wolf's 
Every Monday Blues Show
& Sit-in Jam
Hank Dietle's Tavern, 11010 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, (240) 512-3077
7-11 PM
 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 Wolf's 
Select Sundays Blues Show
& Sit-in Jam
JVs Restaurant, 6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA, (703) 241-9504
8-11:30 PM
 
 * * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 Wolf's 
Every 1st Thursday Blues Show
& Sit-in Jam
New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Roosevelt Center, historic Old Greenbelt, MD 20770, (301) 474-5642
6:30-10 PM
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 

 
Show Set
Wolf's Blues Shows & Sit-in Jams start the night with the Host band playing an opening show set. The host band features a weekly rotational lineup of some of DC's top blues frontmen:

Linwood Taylor--International touring artist (guitar & vocals), 
Matt Kelley--Albert King Award winner (guitar & vocals),
Mike Westcott--4-time International Blues Challenge Finalist and multi-award winning guitarist (guitar & vocals), and 
Big Boy Little (aka Bret Littlehales)--DC's own "biggest" blues harp legend (harp and vocals) 
Backed up by:  
Andy Hamburger (drums) and Wolf Crescenze (bass). 
 
Occasionally, special guests will join the band! 
 
 
 
Sit-in Jam Sets
The sit-in jam portion of the evening begins at the conclusion of the show set.  Throughout the rest of the night, musicians who have signed up will be invited to come up 1 or 2 at a time to sit in and jam with the band.

As Wolf always says:
"The jam is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're going to get, but it's always good!"
 
 
So you don't want to miss it!! 
 
 
 
 
 
Former Open Blues Jams
  • Mondays  Open blues jam hosted by Wolf featuring "Still Standing" with Andy hamburger and a rotational special guest such as Linwood Taylor, Matt Kelley, and Big Boy Little each week at Lahinch Tavern, Potomac, MD (closed 6/1/22).

  • Mondays  Open blues jam hosted by Wolf featuring "Still Standing" with Andy Hamburger and a rotational special guest such as Linwood Taylor, Big Boy Little, Mike Westcott, Wave Milor, Matt Kelley, Fast Eddie, and Bill "The Wandering Greek" Pappas each week at JVs Restaurant, 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 8:30 pm - 12:30 am, 703-241-9504, www.jvsrestaurant.com

 

  • Wednesdays  Open blues jam hosted by Wolf featuring "Still Standing" with Linwood Taylor, John Henry, Fast Eddie, or Matt Kelley along with Andy Hamburger at Blair's Londontowne Pub, 726 Londontown Rd., Edgewater, MD, 7:30 - 11:30 pm, 410-956-9799, www.facebook.com/blairspubandgrill (now closed).
 
  • 1st Thursdays  Open blues jam hosted by Wolf featuring "Still Standing" with Fast Eddie and John Henry along with Scott Rabino at The New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD, 6:30 - 10 pm, 301-474-5642, www.newdealcafe.com 

 

 
  

Pictures:

EugeneHideawayBridgeswithBBL/Eugene_and_Bret_closeup.JPG
Eugene Hideaway Bridges, one of the headliners for the DC Blues Festival, jamming w/Big Boy Little!

webassets/Tab_and_Wolf_tall.JPG
Grammy Nominee Tab Benoit jamming with Wolf

BluesJamspics/WolfandRobertFrahmatBeachCove.JPG
Wolf & Robert Frahm at Wolf's Wednesday jam. Est. 2004.

BluesJamspics/JVsbluesjamwithMattandTomWolfChipOct2010.JPG
Wolf's Monday blues jam at JVs Restaurant (pre-expansion)! Est. 2010.

Videos:

Articles:

Click here for Washington Post article about Wolf's Hot Rods & Old Gas Blues Jam by Marianne Meyer

"Hosting a blues jam could be compared to herding cats, so why not put a wolf in charge to keep those cool musical cats under control?"

- Washington Post.

 

 

 

Click here for Maryland Life article about Wolf's Southern Maryland Blues Jams by Christine Basham

 

 "Blues Jam is a Sweet Spread" article, Maryland Independent, Feb. 15, 2008
http://www.somdnews.com/stories/02152008/weektop142540_32081.shtml

"The Blues is My Business, and Business is Good, For music lovers, moments worth seeking are happening at Beach Cove" article, Bay Weekly, Aug. 11, 2005
http://bayweekly.com/old-site/year05/issuexiii32/leadxiii32_2.html

 

 

LINKS:

www.facebook.com/wolf.crescenze - lots more pics!

Howlin' & prowlin' for good music!