Origin of the term "jam session"

[Rich W]

Saw this on PBS last week. The term "jam session" was originally used to refer to the music being played at the black musicians' union hall in Kansas City in the early 1900s.

 

Segregation was at its height at this time and, because blacks weren't welcome in many of the city's hotels, musicians would stay at the union hall. After finishing their gigs at various clubs throughout the city, they'd head back to the union hall, and many of them would get out their instruments and start playing together.

 

These after-hours sessions at the union hall also became popular with white musicians. So popular, in fact, that they became known as "jammed" sessions. I'll bet Bob Marley didn't know that when he was singing about Jammin'

[jaxson50]

Saw this on PBS last week. The term "jam session" was originally used to refer to the music being played at the black musicians' union hall in Kansas City in the early 1900s.

 

Segregation was at its height at this time and, because blacks weren't welcome in many of the city's hotels, musicians would stay at the union hall. After finishing their gigs at various clubs throughout the city, they'd head back to the union hall, and many of them would get out their instruments and start playing together.

 

These after-hours sessions at the union hall also became popular with white musicians. So popular, in fact, that they became known as "jammed" sessions. I'll bet Bob Marley didn't know that when he was singing about Jammin'

 

 

You mean Jelly Roll Morton had nothing to do with it? Just kidding,,,

[FirstMeasure]

Hmm, where's the skeptical smiley?

[pfox14]

That is a very cool piece of musical history. Thanks for posting it.