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
Bonnaroo started with jam band headliners like Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, The String Cheese Incident and Trey Anastasio.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
For 35 years, genre-breaking jam band 311 have forged their own path.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
But on one March evening, these hulking installations were just a backdrop: Goose, and 1,000 of its most ardent fans, descended on the space for a special event promoting the ascendant Connecticut jam band’s new album, Everything Must Go (released April 25).
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 6 June 2025
Over the years the musicians were together, the beloved jam band played countless live shows, and most of them were recorded for posterity’s sake.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The jam band scene – long reigned over by groups like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band – exploded in the Nineties as newer artists like Phish and Widespread Panic began filling arenas and fomenting their own rabid vagabonding fanbases.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
By the late 1970s, Gayden had embraced transcendental Indian and Native American spirituality and formed the funk and jazz jam band Skyboat.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Fun Phish facts The all-world jam band is headed to the Bay Area next week.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
Seals loves his ex-band leader’s playing and proudly embraces the jam band label.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
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Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
For 35 years, genre-breaking jam band 311 have forged their own path.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
But on one March evening, these hulking installations were just a backdrop: Goose, and 1,000 of its most ardent fans, descended on the space for a special event promoting the ascendant Connecticut jam band’s new album, Everything Must Go (released April 25).
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 6 June 2025
Over the years the musicians were together, the beloved jam band played countless live shows, and most of them were recorded for posterity’s sake.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The jam band scene – long reigned over by groups like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band – exploded in the Nineties as newer artists like Phish and Widespread Panic began filling arenas and fomenting their own rabid vagabonding fanbases.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
By the late 1970s, Gayden had embraced transcendental Indian and Native American spirituality and formed the funk and jazz jam band Skyboat.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Fun Phish facts The all-world jam band is headed to the Bay Area next week.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
Seals loves his ex-band leader’s playing and proudly embraces the jam band label.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jam band.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jam%20band. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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