Big Dan Small Jam

Just needed to share this,

I was sad to hear recently of the passing of my friend and
local blues harp player Dan Small. Yesterday I attended a
Celebration of Life Memorial for him at the club where we met
and jammed. I had packed a guitar and amp just in case and when
I arrived Dave (an exbandmate of Dan's) had drums set up.

Not much you can do with guitar and drums but soon after
our friend Tom arrived with his sax. We now had a trio.

Sammy showed up soon after with pa, keys, and acoustic guitar.

So we help Sammy set up and everybody who wants to takes some
time to say some words of remembrance for Dan and Sammy does
Shower the People by James Taylor on acoustic. He then takes the
keys and asks for any other musicians if they wish to join in.

After a blues shuffle in E we are joined by Steve(a harp player) as
we switch to A.

We didn't do much just some I-IV-V rock and blues but that was
the music that Dan loved. I mainly played rhythm but threw in a
bit of lead hear and there. We already had three instruments
soloing so the rhythm needed more than the lead.

We sounded pretty good for a bunch of guys who didn't rehearse
and didn't even know if anybody else was showing up.

The highlight was when Dan's teenage daughter Ariel joined us and
did a Rocking version of Johnny B Goode. Her father was so
proud of her and her musical talent.

All in all I think we gave our friend a fitting farewell and was very
pleased that Steve showed up with his harps as that was Dan's
instrument.

It was nice that although there was sadness about losing our
good friend people ate,drank, laughed, jammed and danced.

That is the way Dan would have wanted it I'm sure.

Goodbye Mr. Small

John