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jam session
noun
: an often impromptu performance by a group especially of jazz musicians that is characterized by improvisation
Examples of jam session in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jazz jam session follows at Caffe Vivace (975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills).
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 19 May 2024
According to the Charlie Parker website, Parker cut his musical teeth hanging out in the alleyways behind the nightclubs that lined 12th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, where other jazz legends such as Count Basie, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams and others engaged in marathon jam sessions.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2024
Throughout the show, Neil Young and the band played a 17-song set, full with jam sessions and occasional harmonies.
—Audrey Gibbs, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
In fact, the family room was a makeshift stage where members of Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and other musicians would have jam sessions late into the evening.
—Pueng Vongs, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
After a jam session in 1969 between Betts, Oakley and Duane Allman, and his younger brother, the Allman Brothers Band was formed.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
San Diego’s Rachel Sanders was surely not the first 10-year-old singer to sit in at an open-mic jam session last year and perform with a band of experienced adult musicians.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024
That led to an initial jam session to check the proverbial vibes.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 16 Feb. 2024
According to family members, Mrs. Smith played a mean harmonica at family jam sessions.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jam session.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near jam session
Cite this Entry
“Jam session.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jam%20session. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
jam session
noun
: an informal performance by a group of musicians (as jazz musicians) who often invite visitors to join in
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