JAM CAMP

Jam Camp biography
Making music together since the mid-eighties, JAM CAMP formally declared its presence with a self-titled debut release in 1990 on For Art Sake Records (a short-lived but ambitious little prog-rock label in Seattle, WA). All of the musicians hail from Olympia, WA USA. Originally a 4-piece featuring David Broyles and Michael Smith on guitars, Jess White on bass and Joel Veatch on drums. The band is now a quintet since the addition of Steve Munger on Sax in 1992. JAM CAMP is a true celebration of musical collaboration creating musician's music: fusionesque rock improv in the vein of The Allman Brothers, King Crimson, Happy The Man, Soft Machine, Zappa and Brand X. Jam Camp's sound appeals to fans of Prog, Rock, Jazz and Jam-band genres. The real thing: Super-Session magic like you used to hear when pogressive rock experimentation was mainstream fare.

David Broyles is the Camp's musical director and a guitar virtuoso. He and the equally talented Michael "Smitty" Smith trade fiery guitar solos and balance each other as melodic and rhythmic partners in the sound collage. The rhythm section of Jess Whites and Joel Veatch represents a single-minded, rock-solid base from which the musical journey can depart. Add the incredible Steve Munger on sax, and you've the beast for an exhilarating ride! All of the players integrate their diverse musical influences - which range from art-rock and blues to acid-jazz, fusion and funk - to create new ideas for their forays into uncharted musical territory. All JAM CAMP music is derived from jam-sessions. The band spends as much time "unthinking" song structure as it does working themes. The goal: let the music chart its own course. It's music on the brink, controlled chaos that's one note away from musical disaster. But it's that sense of risk that requires each individual musician in the band to listen, feel and honestly interact with each other; it's that total-immersion and musical surrender that is the genesis of musical "soul," and what JAM CAMP is all about.

The band is active again with the highly acclamed "Black Hills Jam - Preserves Vol. 2" (2004), and plans for two more releases in late 2005.

: : : Joel Veatch, USA : : :