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Artist: Jam Camp
Title: Black Hills Jam-Preserves Volume 2
Genre: Rock-Instrumental-Jazz-Blues-Fusion-Jamband
Label: Flying Spot Records
Website: http://www.jamcamp.com

Good Lord what a great album this is! Jam Camp could not have selected a better name for 
their band. Its like saying-welcome to camp, pick your instrument and get ready to play for long 
periods with a mindset of improvisation from start to finish, then if you make it through one 
session you are officially initiated and can come back again to do it all over again. Sounds like fun 
if you are a musician and if you dig music like this. I am sure you will want to invite yourself to 
several sessions of this CD before fully ingesting everything they have to offer. This is a home 
cooked musical meal, just as the old-fashioned preserves CD cover implies-since 1989 from the 
great Northwest with quality assured. 

They live up to their advertisement as Black Hills Jam-Preserves Volume 2 is some of the 
best rock fusion I have had the pleasure to enjoy since I was first turned onto fusion with the Al Di 
Meola classic Electric Rendezvous in 1982. The bluesy country like workout "Swamp Gas 
& Moonshine" reminded me one of one my favorite instrumental bands The Hellecasters. Believe 
me, these are compliments of the highest order, and those of you that know your music will surely 
agree without hesitation. Attention all Allman Brothers fans, this one is for you, "Black Hills 
Jam/Mountain Jam," listen well and soak up the southern rock vibes.  

Equal parts rock, jam, jazz, fusion and blues, Jam Camp takes you on a non-stop drive through 
seven striking and dissimilar tracks ranging from four to fifteen minutes in length. The best part 
about listening to this kind of music is that it seems to all flow together. It is like listening to one 
long song that constantly changes. I love music that features every genre or style you could 
possibly imagine played at varying speeds and decibel levels...which creates a myriad of 
atmospheres and moods for those that demand complex and challenging music. 

David Broyles and Michael Smith take their six-strings through the paces and then some while 
Jess White (bass) and Joel Veatch (drums) are able to provide the odd time signatures and 
somehow get everyone else in sync, then Steve Munger adds his smooth sax vibe to complete 
their sound, and what a complete sound it is. This is a magnificent combination of styles and 
textures all wrapped into one savory lip smackin' treat, just like grandma's homemade jelly, yes 
sir, it doesn't get any more original and purer than this. Kind of sounds like a commercial Andy 
Griffith would do for Ritz Crackers or something doesn't it? Well, trust me I am not talking about 
food here, I am talking about some of the best music you will ever give your ears the opportunity 
to hear. No words are necessary to complete the musical circle for this band, when you have a 
bunch of outstanding musicians in the same room anything can happen, and this CD is proof. 
An interesting note for you techies out there, this music was recorded live directly to DAT. I would 
think live in the studio music is one of the more difficult recordings to capture and Jam Camp 
does it as if it's a walk in the park. This is an amazing band and one that I want to hear more of 
soon.

(c) Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

May 16, 2004

1. Black Hills Jam -15:27
2. Wormhole - 4:23
3. Westside Highway - 7:03
4. Trees - 10:42
5. Groove Monkey - 8:39
6. Swamp Gas & Moonshine - 15:15
7. Dangerous in Deed - 7:50

Rating-9.5/10

Jam Camp Is:

David Broyles-guitar (stereo left)
Michael "Smitty" Smith-guitar (stereo right)
Steven Munger-saxophone
Jess White-bass
Joel Veatch-drums



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