John Jam Session: "Expect The Unexpected" | SHAKETALES

 SHAKETALES is a regular series where we talk to the artists bringing the music to you live from our stage. 

It's 12:43am and the party just got shut down.

Cars can't move because hundreds of musicians, dancers, and new friends from all over the world are drinking in the street. Some are wandering into the park. They're all here for John Jam Session, the location is Xingfu Lu, and the year is 2006.  

Flash forward to [almost] 2020 and John Jam Session is still going down every single week, now on Maoming Lu at SHAKE. To learn more about the city's longest-running jam, we talked to the man who started it all, John Shanghai.

SHAKE: You've been in Shanghai since 2005. How did you first end up here? What made you stay? 

John Shanghai: After the release of my first CD in 2000-2001 in Paris, I won a legal dispute with my label and my producers of the time, decided to distance myself from the middle of show-business, and performed a cover of a famous French song called "I Came To Tell You That I'm Leaving" by Serge Gainsbourg.

Some years later I recorded a mini album at Platinum Sound, Wyclef Jean’s studio in Manhattan. Different trips lead me to Hong Kong, where I fell in love with Asia, then Shanghai where I finally decided to put my bags, as the energy, the excitement, the economy, the social effervescence was extremely intense and so inspiring.

SHAKE: How did John Jam Session start? When and where? What were the early jams like?

John: The very first John Jam Sessions (JJS) started in 2006 at LoGO Bar [Xingfu Lu] every Sunday evening, then they moved to Anar Bar [Xingfu Lu]. At that time I was still an MC / host regularly at Bar Rouge on The Bund. After three months, JJS became one of the craziest and most popular nights in the city, and it was difficult to define as the crowd was so eclectic.  

LoGO Bar back in the day. Photo from SmartShanghai.com

Those evenings, amateur and professional artists played together from 10pm until 4am for a crowd of up to 150 people in a tiny club like LoGO and 250+ at Anar. People drank on the sidewalks and the traffic was regularly affected, and the police often came in to stop the evening! But people kept pouring in all the ways...

SHAKE: What are a few of the craziest and most memorable stories from the jams over the years?

John: One evening, during a break between performances, I was sitting with a group of people by the park in front of Anar Bar chatting and laughing. All of the sudden, we saw a small group of people running totally naked like worms all along the street. They were laughing and shouting, and then they disappeared, leaving us all speechless and looking at each other as if to confirm if what we had seen was real or not. 

I confess that today when I think back, I still have trouble believing that happened…  

Another time, JJS decided to partner with Reggie (R3) and his crew to organize one of the official after-parties of the music festival that I co-organized at the time with the Consulate General of France in Shanghai.  We ended up with over 300 people on Fahuazhen Lu. One hour later, five police cars were deployed!!! Best after-party eveeeerrrr! And one of the shortest ones too.  

Some of my best memories are from when artists visited the city because of their world tours and would just show up at JJS. They landed and spent the evening with us! For example, Killa Kela (beatboxer), DJ Vadim and his team accompanied by an incredibly talented Jamaican singer / rapper, some Chinese superstars, and dozens of bands from around the world at the 2010 World Expo.  

One of the most incredible nights was the evening when I sang "No Woman No Cry" in duet with Jimmy Buffet, followed by an interview improvised by my companion of the time Diana, on the terrace of the restaurant / lounge La Maison Pourcel on Shaanxi Nan Lu!

SHAKE: Can you tell us about the new direction of the jam? Each week will have a guest this month – how does that work? 

John: The principle is quite simple. We decided with James, SHAKE's music director, and SHAKE's support, to invite a new artist to open the evening of John Jam Session every week this month.   

This artist will start the evening and perform some original songs or covers of their choice, and we'll also re-invite artists who participated in the Plugged-In series, and give the chance to many people were not able to attend the first performance, or just want to discover the music of stars in the making.

Moses Yan is this week's guest at John Jam Session

SHAKE: How is John Jam Session different from other jams?

John: It's always hard to judge yourself. But I will say that the real strength and particularity of John Jam Session is the show! And at the same time, absolute and authentic improvisation! An interaction with the crowd, sometimes "without filter"! A series of more than 35 songs in one evening! 

SHAKE: Do you go to other jam sessions? What are some of your favorites? 

John: Sometimes I go to the jams at Chair Club, the House Blues and Jazz, sometimes at Wooden Box, and the electronic jams of my friend Li.

SHAKE: What's your favorite thing to eat and drink at SHAKE?

John: I am honestly still not a big drinker but Rhum & Coca Cola (Cuba Libre) and Long Island special (ask Colin eheh, ) I don’t eat meat like before but they have this Beef liver and Pork knuckle that's so yummy.

SHAKE: You're a really positive dude – what's the key to staying happy in Shanghai? 

John: Thank you man, the key to happiness? Hun? Ah! the feeling of safety and our habits, all the things that we have and that we take for granted reassure us, but unfortunately, we often let ourselves be defined by material possessions and act or react for fear or pure emotions. 

I decided for myself a few years ago to take two and a half years to travel the world and question my certainties. World travel is not accessible to all, but to question and continue learning from the world and from others is a "habit" that we do here and now! Right?  

That can be a crucial element in the search for happiness and the appreciation of what we already have, rather than constantly complaining or chasing what you want.  

For now, I stay in Shanghai but I always travel. Here is one of my keys to happiness... Keep myself in check!

SHAKE: What is the John Shanghai life philosophy? 

John: "You get what you give, so be careful what you think."

SHAKE: Can you tell us about your company, INBLACKANDHAPPY? 

John: INBLACKANDHAPPY is a multi-product brand that encompasses fashion, clothing, and lifestyle products. Our site inblackandhappy.com opens in December! 

We mix natural organic materials and modern technologies. Our first co-branded product, the Bluetooth speaker “W Maru x INBLACKANDHAPPY" uses organic materials like organic bamboo, Tencel, and cotton and is colored by a natural dying process with flowers and leaves. We use hand-made, naturally-made, biodegradable organic fabrics from small rural villages in Guizhou or other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. 

Basically we're contributing to the preservation of our environment without giving up the comfort that technology brings us.

SHAKE: So there's this friend who's a musician and they're new in town. They want to come to the jam but they don't know much about it. What do they need to know?

John: If they are your friend, you should ask them to read this interview first. If they do, they're a true friend! ;)  

There is not much they need to know JJS, except that it's a place dedicated to musicians and music lovers. A place first and foremost, to communicate with people and have the chance to share a good time on stage or a good drink at the bar with strangers who could possibly, thanks to the magic of Live music, at the end of the night become new friends.

SHAKE: Finally, why should people come out to the jam with Moses this week? What should we expect? 

John: To discover or rediscover Moses, and to hear original songs and exclusives. And for the rest of the evening, you know the recipe: John Jam Session – just expect the unexpected...

Nov 13: 

John Jam Session Presents: 

Moses Yan 

John Jam Session happens every Wednesday night at SHAKE from 9:30pm-2am. This November, John invites some of the city's most talented musicians for a series of mini-concerts before the jam. This week's guest, singer-songwriter Moses Yan, worked her way up from performing at local venues and jams and now tours nationally. Don't miss this chance to see her back in an intimate venue this Wednesday night. Dinner from 6pm; music starts at 9:30pm with Moses on at 10:30pm sharp and the jam going late as usual. All are welcome to bring instruments or just vibe out. Free entry.

作为上海目前最持久的即兴演出之夜——John Jam Session汇聚了城内与来自世界各地的音乐人。本周，我们请到了Moses Yan，这位成长于即兴演奏氛围中的极具天赋的歌手、吉他手和创作人如今已是拥有丰富的演出经验、经常巡回于全世界演出的新星！千万别错过她本周三在SHAKE的演出哦！晚餐6点开始，Moses Yan的演出将在9:30准时开始，10:30会回归到老牌John Jam Session的演出。带上你的乐器或天生好嗓，来吧！

Ticket:  Free entry ｜ 免门票