August 2025 Challenge Response- JoLa

[JoLa]

Hi everyone,

Playing with only two major chords was a bit challenging for me. Not so much due to the lack of ideas but because my ear didn’t want just to hear the MAJOR chords and it was begging for something minor…
Anyways, so I worked with a Travis picking idea for a week then scrapped it. Then experimented with a two-chord blues for another week and then scrapped it, too. Then one day, while noodling something in the living room, I found myself playing to the beat of the loud espresso maker so decided to hire it for the August presentation 😉☕️ I’m playing G and D7 throughout and ending with a G9.

🎸JoLa

[AndréM]

Very creative idea.
Sounds like you are playing in a small coffee shop.
Great slide playing.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Michael L]

Hi Jola, we take our inspiration from anywhere we can… and coffee is ALWAYS inspiring! Great fun!
The rhythm playing and espresso machine make the groove, but the slide playing is amazing on this track. Clean, and so much feeling to it. Love your creativity; true artistry in music and bringing together a variety of ideas into a whole.

[Richard G]

You created an atmospheric groove out of nothing JoLa, with the coffee machine providing the rhythm. Loved it.

Richard
PS: Something you might relate to: I often find myself dreaming up a groove or vamp when I’m listening to the chanting of an MRi Scanner.

[JoeD1]

Very unique use of an espresso machine but it worked. I really enjoyed the slide too!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Jennifer D]

Oh Yessss that was fantastic! Great rhythm and the slide was superb!

[Bill]

Well that percolates and stimulates! Hope I don’t get the jitters later. Really nice composition JoLa! ☕️😬

[James W]

How creative! Like watching a performance in a coffee house. Nice song and performance!

[Tremelow]

You must have nerves of steel, JoLa. I’m impressed how steadily and unperturbed you play while the coffee machine is huffing and puffing. I like your playing too and think the coffee song was a great idea.

[Catherine Arsenault]

What a great submission JoLa that was extremely clever!!! Such Fun 🤩 truly enjoyed every note!!!! Bravo my friend 😊🇨🇦

[James B]

Super creative artistry, JoLa. I was hooked from the first boom chuck and the slide was icing on the cake. Really cool piece of music.

James

[Paul S.]

My espresso machine is in E-flat and makes pressure in 6/8 time, so I couldn’t use it; but I applaud your genius in hearing music wherever you turn and then translating it into fabulous entertainment!

The steel treatment was beautiful. There was at least a little taste of Breaking Bad. The timing with the machine was superb and it looks like the coffee came out pretty good too.

[Alan L]

Wow, so much I like about this. Beautiful intro, groovy chunky muted rhythm parts, the arpeggio with melodic suspension, and that slide bit too. Very well crafted and executed! 🤩

[Werner]

Thank you for this one. what a great idea and what a genius—hearing music where there isn’t actually any. Guitar and slide fit perfectly—great!!!

Thank you, Werner

[Scott M]

What a wonderfully creative composition! Impeccable playing as always and you mixed all the elements to perfection. Time for an early morning latte ☕️

Scott

[charjo]

So creative, Jola. I could only wonder ” why didn’t Pink Floyd think of this?” You must get to enjoy that groove every morning. Beautiful mix of guitar styles.
I haven’t really mastered that percussive thing. Is the percussive click coming mostly from the thumb hitting the strings or an equal mix of thumb and fingernails?
John

[sunjamr]

Pink Floyd DID think of it: Check out “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast”.

Sunjamr Steve

[Manfred M]

Welcome to the machine with a much more positive vibe than the famous Pink Floyd song.
And the whole thing sounds very cheerful too. Good vibes and so beautifully played, Jola.
It warms the heart of every coffee drinker (and I think everyone else too).

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup is expected to take place in November 2025

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Juxi]

I think I watched your video now for the tenth time, JoLa. The moment when the coffee starts to flow – man, I still am enthusiastic about how brilliant that is. Very nice slide playing, too! Hammergeil! 👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Dieter]

Wow, that sounds wonderful. Great ideas, brilliant execution, and sound. It really gets you in the mood and makes you look forward to the imaginary aroma of coffee.

Dieter

[sunjamr]

Strangely enough, I just fired up my espresso machine and made myself a flat white, sat down to listen to your post, and heard those espresso sounds all over again. So it was the perfect song to wake up to in Down Underland. Nice job on the slide, waaaay better than my efforts, which sound raspy and out of control. Overall = beautiful!

Sunjamr Steve

[Reuben B]

What a creative take Jola. I love your jamming out of the espresso maker rhythm. The slide guitar lead is also perfect, just all building it up to create a great, vibe-y composition. Very nicely done and so enjoyable. Great submission!

[Author]

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