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
Dean JohnsonThis 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
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 nounAnn PowersGov't Mule brought a refreshing oomph to … the jam-band scene.—Matt Wake
Matt WakeExamples of jam band in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
The jam band delivers multiple compilations, special collections, and especially live albums each year, and most, if not all, of them sell well enough to reach the weekly rankings.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
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
The jam band delivers multiple compilations, special collections, and especially live albums each year, and most, if not all, of them sell well enough to reach the weekly rankings.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to jam band
Dictionary Entries Near jam band
Cite this Entry
“Jam band.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jam%20band. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share