CD Reviews

"All Jams On Deck - DVD"

Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise LLC / Mug Shot Productions

All Jams On Deck is labeled as a limited edition cruiser collectable, but it is far more than just a souvenir DVD that offers some terrific highlights from the after-hours jams that take place on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruises. It is actually also a nice primer for performers to learn from the professionals on how to run jams. Filmed on the October 2010 West Coast cruise by music documentarian Robert Mugge, who was responsible for such works as Deep Blues, Gospel According To Al Green, Hellhounds On My Trail and the previous cruise film Deep Sea Blues, he again captures the essence and fun of these late hour jams.

Sure, there are great selections of the actual jams taking place on-board, with artists like Tommy Castro, Johnny Winter, Coco Montoya, Marcia Ball, John Nemeth, Elvin Bishop, The Lowrider Band, Randy Oxford, Commander Cody, Jimmy Thackery and many others. But it is the sit-down interviews of the musicians giving tips for proper jam etiquette and leading that make this film even more appealing for musicians who want to learn. Tips are given by top artists like Kim Wilson, Lee Oskar, Marcia Ball, Elvin Bishop, Vasti Jackson and Tommy Castro, and they all make sense whether you’ve performed or watched a jam. It’s part telepathy between the artists and part rolling with the flow. And if you’re not sure what to do, follow Elvin Bishop’s Three Commandments for Jamming: “C Sharp, B Natural . . . And when in doubt, lay out!” If you’re not a player, though, and not interested in the workings of a jam, just fast forward to the live performances, because they’re quite a lot of fun on their own.