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

The rock jam band Max Creek, formed in Connecticut in 1972, has been one of the region’s most reliable live acts for over half a century. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

Five-piece bluegrass and jam band combines banjo, mandolin and dobro with improvisation and rock ‘n’ roll attitude. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Several generations of jam bands cite Little Feat as foundational, although almost none has come close to matching the group’s seamless stylistic range and command of percolating grooves and noodling-free improvisations. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

These are not jam band casualties raiding Home Depot for chemicals. — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jam band

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand