Jam Samples
A few sample recordings from live jam sessions in my studio, the Maple Room.
Sample audio recordings from live jam sessions in my studio, the Maple Room.
Recorded May 31, 2013
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Jeff Shoop - drums
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Frank Leister - electric guitar, bg vocal
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William Merritt - acoustic guitar
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Gregg Witmer - bass
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Robin Shenck - electric guitar, lead vocal
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In the 1990s, Robin, Gregg, Jeff, and I would get together about twice a month and have a jam session in the basement of my Mechanicsburg home. These were known as the Robert Street Jams.
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Jeff and I played together in a variety band called Freelance in the mid 1980s.
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On May 31, 2013 we played together for the first time in 14 years!
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We were joined by William Merritt on lead vocal & acoustic guitar. He & I played together in church in the mid 2000s.
Recorded May 31, 2013
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Jeff Shoop - drums
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Frank Leister - electric guitar, piano, bg vocal
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William Merritt - acoustic guitar & lead vocal
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Gregg Witmer - bass
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Robin Shenck - ambient electric guitar, bg vocal
This song, originally by America, is a jam favorite; however, we've always played it with a walking bass line… not necessarily a jazz thing; but the bass line is much more interesting than the original, and lends movement to the song. Jeff plays a great swinging beat on the drums. I started the song on the electric guitar and then moved to the keyboard for the second half.
Recorded November 23 2012
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David Schramp - drums
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Frank Leister - electric guitar
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William Merritt - acoustic guitar & lead vocal
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Tony DeMattia - bass
This ole Neil Young tune is a jam staple, which we electrified in this Maple Room jam session. Like many magical moments in the Maple Room, the four of us had never played this song together before. The arrangement was made up, in real time, as we played it.
I worked with Dave, the drummer, in a rock/variety band. But Dave had never set foot in the Maple Room. He had never met William or Tony.
Tony, the bass player had worked with William in a prison ministry. Tony had never met me or Dave. William and I worked together in 2006 in a church ministry.
Recorded November 25, 2011
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Jacob Compton - vocal and bass
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Frank Leister - electric guitar
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Paula Maynard - backup vocal
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Jen Stonge - backup vocal
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William Merritt - acoustic guitar
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Caleb Compton - drums
This was recorded during the "Black Friday II" jam in the Maple Room. This is first and only time we played/sang this song.
Recorded September 9 2008
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Jeff Smith - vocal and drums
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Frank Leister - lead guitar
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Dave Stamm - rhythm guitar
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Stick Stamm - bass
This jam session brought two of my worlds together: Jeff, from the band at church; Dave and his son from Lucky Afternoon, the rock/variety band I was playing with at the time. Jeff's vocal is huge!
Recorded May 7 2002
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Mike McEnany - vocal and bass
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Frank Leister - guitar
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Joe Brye - drums
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Nathan Stonge - keys
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Robin Shenck - background vocal, guitar
This particular lineup only jammed twice. This is the second get-together. I love Mike's bass lines and Nathan's crazy keyboard effects when we break it down, at about the 5 minute mark.
Recorded November 24, 2006
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Bob Northcott - vocal & guitar
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Frank Leister - guitar
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Paula Maynard - backup vocal
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Jen Stonge - backup vocal
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William Merritt - acoustic guitar
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Caleb Compton - drums
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Jake Compton - bass
This was recorded during the first "Black Friday" jam in the Maple Room. Bob was a member of the band at church, until moving to Georgia in 2005. He visited us during Thanksgiving 2006 and we put together an impromptu jam session. Although we used to play this song as a "prelude" in church, this was the first time Bob sang it. I love his lead vocal.
Recorded June 12, 2000
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John Mosser - drums
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Robin Shenck - bass & vocal
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Frank Leister - guitar & backup vocal
I named this the "3/5 Jam" because John, Robin, and I were 3/5 of our high-school rock band. John, a resident of Los Angeles, was in town, visiting his family when the three of us got together for one of the first jams in the new Maple Room studio. We hadn't played together in 25 years. Eventually, all 5 members of the band reunited in December 2000. (See the Johnny B. Goode video below.)
