YBA MID WINTER JAM

Another successful mid-winter jam was held by the Yellowstone Bluegrass Association on Saturday, March 8, 2014.  Thankfully the weather had moderated nicely and the streets and highways were in good driving condition.  President Sharon Karlson did a headcount during the break for a meal and found about 40 people, however the total count over the day must have been more like 50 to 60 folks in attendance. We owe a very big thank you to Sharon and her work crew for doing a great job. The pickers seemed to have a good time with lots of grinning to go with all of the picking. The Unitarian hall has a large room for their meetings and several smaller rooms as well. All of them were full of musicians jamming away on their favorite tunes. It is always challenging to me on fiddle when pickers choose a tune in a key outside of my comfort zone (Keys A, C, D, and G). Those of us with a fingerboard rather than a fretboard don't have the luxury of just sliding a capo up or down the neck. We have to find the right position and fingering for keys like E with four notes sharped and B natural with five sharps.  I am fairly comfortable in the key of F with one note flatted and B flat with two flats. I'm not complaining as that is just one of the challenges of jamming with old friends and new folks, too. Actually it is good to have to increase our skill level no matter what instrument is involved. The catered BBQ  included very good shredded pork and an excellent beans dish. There was plenty of fresh fruit and veggies. Several people brought potluck dishes, too. Karen Schlosser and others had done some baking and the dessert area was full of grateful folks and their sweet tooths. It is always good to see pickers we have missed for some time and to meet new ones.  All in all it was a very fun filled jam. I left being totally played out and with a full stomach, too. I slept good Saturday night. Here are a few photos from the Mid-Winter Jam.