jam band

noun

plural jam bands

: a band (especially a rock band) whose performances are distinguished by frequent and often lengthy jazzlike improvisation

Blues Traveler is part of the new wave of jam bands … that play long, long shows and inspire fan devotion reminiscent of the Grateful Dead.

—Dean Johnson

This Friday, the jam band Phish—which … remains uniquely regarded for its improvisational prowess and zealous, wayfaring fans—will arrive in New York City for thirteen shows …

—Amanda Petrusich

… Moon Taxi embodies the best of the jam band aesthetic: positive, bright, challenging and fun.

—Ann Powers

—sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun

Gov't Mule brought a refreshing oomph to … the jam-band scene.

—Matt Wake

Examples of jam band in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lesh, the legendary jam band’s bassist, died on October 25th at 84. —Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024

Your annoying friend who won’t shut up about Phish has a point: The 40-year-old jam band with its intensely dedicated following is in an incredible groove right now. —Jordan Hoffman, Vulture, 12 July 2024

Phil Lesh, the bassist and founding member of the ultimate San Francisco jam band The Grateful Dead, died today. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024

Together, the group released 13 studio albums and dozens of live albums, making their name as one of the greatest jam bands to ever play. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024

Lesh is best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, one of the most beloved and enduring jam bands in the world. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Oct. 2024

The Grateful Dead will be honored as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year, the Recording Academy announced Wednesday, 60 years after the groundbreaking jam band formed in 1965 and quickly became an avatar of the burgeoning counterculture based in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

The Grateful Dead have been named the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year, with the legendary jam band to be feted at a Grammy week gala in January. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024

Hitmaker and jam band guitar virtuoso John Mayer also performed a short set. —Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above