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The following is a list of notable jam bands, or bands on the jam-band circuit. Jam band performances often feature extended musical improvisation ("jams") over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns, and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries.
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- Grateful Dead. 1,417 votes. As pioneers of the Jam Band genre, Grateful Dead's improvisational approach to live performances has solidified their reputation as one of the most influential bands in history.
- The Allman Brothers Band. 1,200 votes. Formed in 1969, The Allman Brothers Band are widely recognized for their innovative blend of Southern rock, jazz, and blues.
- Phish. 1,344 votes. Hailing from Vermont, Phish has been carrying the torch for improvisational rock since 1983. Often compared to Grateful Dead due to their dedicated fanbase and lengthy live shows, Phish has crafted a unique sound that incorporates elements from rock, jazz, funk, progressive rock, and bluegrass.
- Widespread Panic. 913 votes. Widespread Panic emerged from Athens, Georgia in 1986 as a force to be reckoned with in the Jam Band scene. Their innovative fusion of Southern rock, blues, and jazz has earned them a dedicated fanbase that relishes the band's ability to create transcendent live performances.
A jam band is a musical group whose concerts and live albums substantially feature improvisational "jamming." Typically, jam bands will play variations of pre-existing songs, extending them to improvise over chord patterns or rhythmic grooves.
- Grateful Dead. The Grateful Dead is hands down the most popular jam band of all time. This American rock band brought improvisational psychedelic music to broad audiences.
- Blues Traveler. Next up, we have Blues Traveler, a group from New Jersey who are well-known to use segue during their live performances. Formed in 1987, the members now consist of John Popper, Chan Kinchla, Brendan Hill, Tad Kinchla, and Ben Wilson.
- Leftover Salmon. With a name like Leftover Salmon, you can bet that this group has an equally unique fusion of sounds—bluegrass, rock, and Cajun. Performing in music festivals in California, Colorado, and West Virginia gained the jam band a loyal following.
- Dave Matthews Band. Our next group, the Dave Matthews Band, held their debut show at a Middle East Children’s Alliance Benefit in March 1991. Later that year, they were featured at a private party rooftop gathering and soon became known for their unique live shows and their jamming style.
- Moe. The sudden end of the Grateful Dead left a lot of jam band fans without a group to follow around the country. This pushed Phish toward becoming a juggernaut of the road, but it also helped out smaller acts like Moe.
- Pink Floyd. We were initially unsure about counting Pink Floyd as a jam band. Their concerts from 1973 onward were fairly rehearsed, even if songs like "Dogs" and "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" ran for nearly 30 minutes.
- Umphrey’s McGee. Jam bands and prog groups have some of the most passionate fans in music. This six-piece from Indiana offers a perfect combination of the two genres, meaning they have a die-hard cult of supporters that allows them to play huge venues like Red Rocks even though most people have never heard of them.
- Gov’t Mule. If they ever get around to making a Jam Band Hall of Fame, Warren Haynes really deserves his own wing. The guitarist not only stepped into Duane Allman's Allman Brothers role in 1989, but in 2004 he essentially took on the Jerry role in the Dead.
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Learn about the history and diversity of jam bands, a genre influenced by classic rock, bluegrass, soul jazz, and worldbeat. Explore the list of famous jam bands and their albums, such as Phish, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, and more.
