There are no big record contracts, sold out stadiums or “groupies” following the Park Avenue Pickers — but according to Auburn resident George Mathews, the group’s organizer, “we are just making a lot of honey.”
On the second Tuesday of every month, there is a “jam session” at the United Methodist Church on Park Street in Auburn that is open to any musician who wants to join.
“It’s so much fun and there is a lot of camaraderie and friendship,” Matthews said. “It’s a great way to meet people and make music.”
Bluegrass, gospel and blues tunes are mostly played, but if somebody brings their music and it’s known to whomever shows up, they will usually give it a try.
Last month, Lorraine Jarden of Auburn attended for the first time and brought her violin. While she knew most of the songs, she sheepishly admitted she didn’t know the John Denver tune “Leaving on a Jet Plane” when it was suggested. But that didn’t stop her from joining in; she pulled out her spoons and picked up the beat.
Jarden, who was born in Auburn, recently moved back home after 40 years in Montana.
“I just love gospel music and came to see what this is all about,” she said.
She was playing her coveted violin that local luthier Frank Brown carved for her from a stump back when she was 17. He made her promise that if he made the instrument, she would take lessons for two years.
“I did, and he tried to get me to play for the Portland Symphony Orchestra,” she said. “But I liked bluegrass, so I started playing in bands.”
Russell Jeffords, who plays an upright bass, doesn’t know how he got on Matthews’ email list, but started getting invites to attend. He owns Stonehedge, an 85-acre wilderness preserve in Gray that is host to many weddings, dances and gatherings of all kinds, where he often plays music with friends or joins in with the guests.
It was his first time with the Park Avenue Pickers, but said he would be back.
“It sure is better than sitting home alone, just watching TV,” he said. “That doesn’t do your mind any good, and when we get out there and play, we better ourselves as musicians.”
The idea for the jam sessions came when George Mathews was playing guitar at a service at the church a few months ago and he was approached by a few of the parishioners.
“There were a bunch of them who wanted to get together and play informally,” said Matthews, the leader of the ever-changing group of musicians. “So we put together a sort of jam session once a month on the second Tuesday, where anybody could just show up and play whatever instrument they knew.
“In the past few sessions, we have had some common instruments like guitars, violins and tambourines, but we have also had people come with washboards, a snare drum and, tonight, Lorraine is playing the spoons. Joan Chandler of Auburn brought her mountain dulcimer. Of course, we all bring our heavenly voices.” Matthews added with a chuckle.
At the end of one song, George laughed and said, “Not bad for the first time — imagine if we practiced what it would sound like!”
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