“ When you go see a live bluegrass show, it’s like you’re putting your feet
in the dirt a little bit. You may start realizing where you are coming from.
Jon es Smith “
hold, spectators and musicians experience a feeling of camaraderie
as the band plays through the summer evening.
“T he purpose of our jam is fellowship for the people who come
almost every week to play or to listen,” H inson says. “It is also for
folks who don’t have anyone to play with and gives them a chance
to be a part of something. It helps the ones that are learning to
hone in on their instrument and skills.
W e never play down to someone else’s
level. Beginners have to play beyond their
level to learn.”
H inson is a man of many instruments
and performs as a one-man band in his
bluegrass gospel ministry. O n stage, he
runs from instrument to instrument,
playing old hymns and adding his own
flavor to each song.
“T here are a lot of old hymns that I
Alex “Big Al” Hall at the
Satellite Lounge Sunday
night jam session.
like to put my stamp on,” he says. “I make it a ‘D erwin song’ without
it losing its familiarity.”
Back at the bluegrass jam at the Satellite L ounge, people cram
into the barn-like structure. C hildren and adults dance to the
rhythmus plucking and twanging while loose dogs run between
their legs. Some stand with their backs pressed against the splintered
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WBM october 2011
wooden wall clapping their hands and
singing along.
Surrounded by old oil paintings and
charcoal portraits, it’s like stepping back in
time and absorbing the culture. E ngaging
bluegrass captures the soul and brings it
home.
“W hen you go see a live bluegrass show,
it’s like you’re putting your feet in the dirt a
little bit,” Jones Smith says. “Y ou may start
realizing where you are coming from.”