A Potluck Jam

Every Monday, when the weather allows, people begin to emerge along the banks of the Hudson River in Kingston, NY. 

All kinds of people. Some  old friends greeting each other, some strangers making new friends. The only thing they appear to have in common is that some of carry musical instruments.

They come to play music—not as a performance for an audience, but simply to play together. That’s the jam.

Along with various instruments, we see a variety of ages and, we suspect, backgrounds. They bring pieces of music to contribute to the group. Instead of a dish to share, it’s a song. That’s the potluck.

Diane has brought a new song, “Sweet Song from Yesterday,” to offer the group by teaching it. At first, people listen carefully. Then a few chords begin, and in short order, the song is played by everyone. Harmony—both musical and social—has been created.

Each session lasts for 2 hours, more than folks would want to spend on this website and as it’s available on YouTube.  I cut a medley of this evening’s gatherin showing the variety of the people and their songs.  

Defining Democracy

 There is no conductor, director, no professional manager. No one introduces himself as an executive director, no rules, pleas for donations.  This is what, in organizational psychology is called a member-managed group. With no permanent manager, it is managed by the player who contributes it.  In industry, we call this participatory management.  A fancier term for this is “selection by distinctive competence”. 

It relies on shared values rather than rules. It is an organization of the mind. Part of the foundation for democracy. 

At first is is new and o