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\u201cBlues<\/a>,\u201d Jimi Hendrix<\/a> is meant to have once said, \u201cis easy to play, but hard to feel.\u201d<\/p>\n It is an idea that has captivated musicians since the earliest emergence of blues in the mid 1800s. The structure of the blues is largely simple \u2014 often three chords, solos in one scale \u2014 but mastering it, making that work, so often proves elusive. It is why there is only one B.B. King<\/a>, and thousands of players who never make it past their bedroom door. <\/p>\n But blues is also about a sense of musical camaraderie, so make it past that door they should. These jam nights are a perfect place for players of all kinds to get up, have a go, hone their chops and leave the stage electrified. Well, unless you\u2019re doing Lemon Jefferson numbers, perhaps. <\/p>\n In the unpretentious surrounds of the Leytonstone Ex-Servicemens Club \u2014 some decent beers, mind \u2014 comes a much-loved jam every Monday, that draws all sorts. The jam is so well regarded its rules (\u201cdon\u2019t be a d***,\u201d in sum) have been widely adopted up and down the country. Standards of musicianship are generally very good, and for some reason this draws an unusually high number of harmonica players, which always perks things up. <\/p>\n You could miss Piano, its doorway set back from the road and squeezed in beside the Barbican Subway. But downstairs is a tiny jazz bar of red velvet and cocktails and chandeliers. Up the front is a stage; where every Thursday a jam night runs from 7-10.30pm. Don\u2019t let the bar\u2019s name put you off: players of every instrument are welcome, as well as singers, and usually some extraordinarily good sorts get up. Piano requests are taken afterwards till late. <\/p>\n Slim Jim\u2019s Liquor Store<\/p>\n No surprise that the blues jam at this rockers\u2019 club is slightly louder and faster than some others. Yellowstone Bourbon sponsor the weekly Wednesday night sessions, which pays for stellar house band Recked Blues, whose guitarist Mete Ege has backed everyone from Steely Dan\u2019s Elliott Randall to George Michael<\/a>. Expect a night of thudding drums, screaming guitars, and a crowd in black leather and denim. <\/p>\n Likely London\u2019s best known blues jam at likely London\u2019s best known blues bar. Ain\u2019t Nothin\u2019 But\u2026 does all the blues in all its different shades, from Robert Johnson to Howlin\u2019 Wolf and Albert Collins. Its popularity means the standard at both the Monday night and Sunday afternoon sessions tends to be very high \u2014 and even draws a few pros, including Ian Siegal and Vasti Jackson. It is somewhere that swings. <\/p>\n