What Happens When Jazz Players Cover Pearl Jam With No Plan?

It’s always fun to watch masters at work.

In this video, drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y take a Pearl Jam song and completely reshape it into a jazz arrangement. The best part is that you get to see the entire process unfold in real time. Ideas are tossed out, grooves are tested, sections are reworked, and the band gradually transforms the song into something entirely new.

For bass players, Thomas Milovac’s upright bass work is a highlight throughout. He provides the foundation while helping guide the music as the arrangement takes shape, demonstrating the kind of listening and interaction that great ensemble playing requires.

Whether you’re a Pearl Jam fan, a jazz fan, or simply someone who enjoys watching creative musicians solve problems together, this is a fascinating look at the art of arranging and improvisation.  Or just jump to 6:22 and hear the final take.