diff --git a/db/manifest b/db/manifest
index b0f8b2ae1..b17be0ac5 100755
--- a/db/manifest
+++ b/db/manifest
@@ -238,3 +238,4 @@ jam_track_updates.sql
 private_key_in_jam_track_rights.sql
 jam_track_tap_in.sql
 jam_track_available.sql
+active_jam_track.sql
diff --git a/db/up/active_jam_track.sql b/db/up/active_jam_track.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16934aa5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/up/active_jam_track.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE active_music_sessions ADD COLUMN jam_track_id BIGINT;
+ALTER TABLE active_music_sessions ADD COLUMN jam_track_initiator_id VARCHAR(64);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/constants/validation_messages.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/constants/validation_messages.rb
index 7dc4d955a..c24ca07ce 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/constants/validation_messages.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/constants/validation_messages.rb
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ module ValidationMessages
   MUST_BE_A_MUSICIAN = "must be a musician"
   CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS = "already started by someone else"
   MUST_BE_KNOWN_TIMEZONE = "not valid"
+  JAM_TRACK_ALREADY_OPEN = 'another jam track already open'
+  RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS = "recording being made"
 
   # notification
   DIFFERENT_SOURCE_TARGET = 'can\'t be same as the sender'
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
index dd244ab68..6dd93acc8 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
@@ -7,11 +7,14 @@ module JamRuby
 
     self.table_name = 'active_music_sessions'
 
-    attr_accessor :legal_terms, :max_score
+    attr_accessor :legal_terms, :max_score, :opening_jam_track, :opening_recording
 
     belongs_to :claimed_recording, :class_name => "JamRuby::ClaimedRecording", :foreign_key => "claimed_recording_id", :inverse_of => :playing_sessions
     belongs_to :claimed_recording_initiator, :class_name => "JamRuby::User", :inverse_of => :playing_claimed_recordings, :foreign_key => "claimed_recording_initiator_id"
 
+    belongs_to :jam_track, :class_name => "JamRuby::JamTrack", :foreign_key => "jam_track_id", :inverse_of => :playing_sessions
+    belongs_to :jam_track_initiator, :class_name => "JamRuby::User", :inverse_of => :playing_jam_tracks, :foreign_key => "jam_track_initiator_id"
+
     has_one :music_session, :class_name => "JamRuby::MusicSession", :foreign_key => 'music_session_id'
     has_one :mount, :class_name => "JamRuby::IcecastMount", :inverse_of => :music_session, :foreign_key => 'music_session_id'
     belongs_to :creator, :class_name => 'JamRuby::User', :foreign_key => :user_id
@@ -22,7 +25,8 @@ module JamRuby
     has_many :chats, :class_name => "JamRuby::ChatMessages", :foreign_key => "session_id"
     validates :creator, :presence => true
     validate :creator_is_musician
-    validate :no_new_playback_while_playing
+    validate :validate_opening_recording, :if => :opening_recording
+    validate :validate_opening_jam_track, :if => :opening_jam_track
 
     after_create :started_session
 
@@ -61,12 +65,30 @@ module JamRuby
       end
     end
 
-    def no_new_playback_while_playing
-      # if we previous had a claimed recording and are trying to set one
-      # and if also the previous initiator is different than the current one... it's a no go
-      if !claimed_recording_id_was.nil? && !claimed_recording_id.nil? &&
-          claimed_recording_initiator_id_was != claimed_recording_initiator_id
-          errors.add(:claimed_recording, ValidationMessages::CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS)
+    def validate_opening_recording
+      unless claimed_recording_id_was.nil?
+        errors.add(:claimed_recording, ValidationMessages::CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS)
+      end
+
+      if is_jam_track_open?
+        errors.add(:claimed_recording, ValidationMessages::JAM_TRACK_ALREADY_OPEN)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def validate_opening_jam_track
+      # validate that there is no jam track already open in this session
+      unless jam_track_id_was.nil?
+        errors.add(:jam_track, ValidationMessages::JAM_TRACK_ALREADY_OPEN)
+      end
+
+      # validate that there is no recording being made
+      if is_recording?
+        errors.add(:jam_track, ValidationMessages::RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS)
+      end
+
+      # validate that there is no recording being played back to the session
+      if is_playing_recording?
+        errors.add(:jam_track, ValidationMessages::CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS)
       end
     end
 
@@ -572,6 +594,10 @@ module JamRuby
       recordings.where(:music_session_id => self.id).order('created_at desc').limit(1).first
     end
 
+    def is_jam_track_open?
+      !self.jam_track.nil?
+    end
+
     # is this music session currently recording?
     def is_recording?
       recordings.where(:duration => nil).count > 0
@@ -594,7 +620,9 @@ module JamRuby
     def claimed_recording_start(owner, claimed_recording)
       self.claimed_recording = claimed_recording
       self.claimed_recording_initiator = owner
+      self.opening_recording = true
       self.save
+      self.opening_recording = false
     end
 
     def claimed_recording_stop
@@ -705,6 +733,19 @@ module JamRuby
       GoogleAnalyticsEvent.track_band_real_session(self) 
     end
 
+    def open_jam_track(user, jam_track)
+      self.jam_track = jam_track
+      self.jam_track_initiator = user
+      self.opening_jam_track = true
+      self.save
+      self.opening_jam_track = false
+    end
+
+    def close_jam_track
+      self.jam_track = nil
+      self.jam_track_initiator = nil
+      self.save
+    end
 
     def self.sync(session_history)
       music_session = MusicSession.find_by_id(session_history.id)
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/jam_track.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/jam_track.rb
index 89117323e..415d3f036 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/jam_track.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/jam_track.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ module JamRuby
     has_many :jam_track_rights, :class_name => "JamRuby::JamTrackRight" #, inverse_of: 'jam_track', :foreign_key => "jam_track_id"
     has_many :owners, :through => :jam_track_rights, :class_name => "JamRuby::User", :source => :user
 
+    has_many    :playing_sessions, :class_name => "JamRuby::ActiveMusicSession"
+
     accepts_nested_attributes_for :jam_track_tracks, allow_destroy: true
     accepts_nested_attributes_for :jam_track_tap_ins, allow_destroy: true
 
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
index c35db3dd2..a5ea8b827 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ module JamRuby
     has_many :recordings, :through => :claimed_recordings, :class_name => "JamRuby::Recording"
     has_many :claimed_recordings, :class_name => "JamRuby::ClaimedRecording", :inverse_of => :user
     has_many :playing_claimed_recordings, :class_name => "JamRuby::ActiveMusicSession", :inverse_of => :claimed_recording_initiator
+    has_many :playing_jam_tracks, :class_name => "JamRuby::ActiveMusicSession", :inverse_of => :jam_track_initiator
 
     # self.id = user_id in likes table
     has_many :likings, :class_name => "JamRuby::Like", :inverse_of => :user, :dependent => :destroy
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session_spec.rb
index ac0288f23..392d70473 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session_spec.rb
@@ -580,6 +580,78 @@ describe ActiveMusicSession do
     music_session.is_recording?.should be_false
   end
 
+
+  describe "open_jam_track" do
+    before(:each) do
+      @user1 = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+      @connection = FactoryGirl.create(:connection, :user => @user1)
+      @instrument = FactoryGirl.create(:instrument, :description => 'a great instrument')
+      @track = FactoryGirl.create(:track, :connection => @connection, :instrument => @instrument)
+      @music_session = FactoryGirl.create(:active_music_session, :creator => @user1, :musician_access => true)
+      # @music_session.connections << @connection
+      @music_session.save!
+      @connection.join_the_session(@music_session, true, nil, @user1, 10)
+      @jam_track = FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track)
+      @jam_track_right = FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track_right, jam_track: @jam_track, user: @user1)
+    end
+
+    it "allow a jam track to be associated" do
+      # simple success case; just open the jam track and observe the state of the session is correct
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.reload
+      @music_session.jam_track.should == @jam_track
+      @music_session.jam_track_initiator.should == @user1
+    end
+
+    it "allow a jam track to be closed" do
+      # simple success case; close an opened jam track and observe the state of the session is correct
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.close_jam_track
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.reload
+      @music_session.jam_track.should be_nil
+      @music_session.jam_track_initiator.should be_nil
+    end
+
+    it "disallow a jam track to be opened when another is already opened" do
+      # if a jam track is open, don't allow another to be opened
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
+      @music_session.errors[:jam_track] == [ValidationMessages::JAM_TRACK_ALREADY_OPEN]
+    end
+
+    it "disallow a jam track to be opened when recording is ongoing" do
+      @recording = Recording.start(@music_session, @user1)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
+      @music_session.errors[:jam_track] == [ValidationMessages::RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS]
+    end
+
+    it "disallow a jam track to be opened when recording is playing back" do
+      # create a recording, and open it for play back
+      @recording = Recording.start(@music_session, @user1)
+      @recording.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @recording.stop
+      @recording.reload
+      @claimed_recording = @recording.claim(@user1, "name", "description", Genre.first, true)
+      @claimed_recording.errors.any?.should be_false
+      @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+
+      # while it's open, try to open a jam track
+      @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
+      @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
+      @music_session.errors[:jam_track] == [ValidationMessages::CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS]
+    end
+
+  end
+
+
   describe "recordings" do
 
     before(:each) do
@@ -613,7 +685,7 @@ describe ActiveMusicSession do
        end
     end
 
-    describe "claim a recording" do
+    describe "open a recording" do
 
       before(:each) do
         @recording = Recording.start(@music_session, @user1)
@@ -651,13 +723,27 @@ describe ActiveMusicSession do
         @music_session.errors[:claimed_recording] == [ValidationMessages::CLAIMED_RECORDING_ALREADY_IN_PROGRESS]
       end
 
-      it "allow a claimed recording to be started when already started by self" do
+      it "disallow a claimed recording to be started when already started by self" do
         @user2 = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
         @claimed_recording2 = @recording.claim(@user1, "name", "description", Genre.first, true)
         @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording)
         @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
         @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording2)
+        @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
+      end
+
+      it "disallow a claimed recording to be started when jam track is open" do
+        # open the jam track
+        @jam_track = FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track)
+        @jam_track_right = FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track_right, jam_track: @jam_track, user: @user1)
+        @music_session.open_jam_track(@user1, @jam_track)
         @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+
+        # and try to open a recording for playback
+        @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording)
+        @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
+        @music_session.errors[:claimed_recording] == [ValidationMessages::JAM_TRACK_ALREADY_OPEN]
+
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/email_batch_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/email_batch_spec.rb
index 6ff87e980..fe120100d 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/email_batch_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/email_batch_spec.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@ describe EmailBatch do
   before(:all) do
     User.delete_all
   end
+<<<<<<< HEAD
 
+=======
+  
+>>>>>>> feature/activejamtrack
   after(:each) do
     Timecop.return
   end
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
index a1d22d324..6273855d9 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ describe MusicSession do
         @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording)
         @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
         @music_session.claimed_recording_start(@user1, @claimed_recording2)
-        @music_session.errors.any?.should be_false
+        @music_session.errors.any?.should be_true
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/web/app/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller.rb b/web/app/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller.rb
index d7e70a6b3..b85f265d0 100644
--- a/web/app/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller.rb
+++ b/web/app/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ class ApiMusicSessionsController < ApiController
 
   # have to be signed in currently to see this screen
   before_filter :api_signed_in_user, :except => [ :add_like, :show, :show_history, :add_session_info_comment ]
-  before_filter :lookup_session,   only: [:show, :update, :delete, :claimed_recording_start, :claimed_recording_stop, :track_sync]
+  before_filter :lookup_session,   only: [:show, :update, :delete, :claimed_recording_start, :claimed_recording_stop, :track_sync, :jam_track_open, :jam_track_close]
   skip_before_filter :api_signed_in_user, only: [:perf_upload]
 
   respond_to :json
@@ -570,6 +570,34 @@ class ApiMusicSessionsController < ApiController
     end
   end
 
+
+  def jam_track_open
+    unless @music_session.users.exists?(current_user)
+      raise PermissionError, ValidationMessages::PERMISSION_VALIDATION_ERROR
+    end
+
+    @jam_track = JamTrack.find(params[:jam_track_id])
+
+    unless @jam_track.right_for_user(current_user)
+      raise PermissionError, ValidationMessages::PERMISSION_VALIDATION_ERROR
+    end
+
+    @music_session.open_jam_track(current_user, @jam_track)
+
+    respond_with_model(@music_session)
+  end
+
+  def jam_track_close
+    unless @music_session.users.exists?(current_user)
+      raise PermissionError, ValidationMessages::PERMISSION_VALIDATION_ERROR
+    end
+
+    @music_session.close_jam_track
+
+    respond_with_model(@music_session)
+  end
+
+
   private
 
   def lookup_session
diff --git a/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/close_jam_track.rabl b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/close_jam_track.rabl
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2128cad8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/close_jam_track.rabl
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+object @music_session
+
+
+attributes :id
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/open_jam_track.rabl b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/open_jam_track.rabl
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f79061b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/open_jam_track.rabl
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+object @music_session
+
+attributes :id
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/show.rabl b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/show.rabl
index f78b7934a..658e43d9e 100644
--- a/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/show.rabl
+++ b/web/app/views/api_music_sessions/show.rabl
@@ -68,8 +68,20 @@ else
     }
   }
 
-  # only show currently playing recording data if the current_user is in the session
+  # only show currently open jam track info if the current user is in the session
+  child({:jam_track => :jam_track}, :if => lambda { |music_session| music_session.users.exists?(current_user) }) {
+    attributes :id, :name, :description, :bpm, :initial_play_silence, :tap_in_count
 
+    child(:jam_track_tracks => :tracks) {
+      attributes :id, :part, :instrument
+    }
+
+    child(:jam_track_tap_ins => :tap_ins) {
+      attributes :offset_time
+    }
+  }
+
+  # only show currently playing recording data if the current_user is in the session
   child({:claimed_recording => :claimed_recording}, :if => lambda { |music_session| music_session.users.exists?(current_user) }) {
       attributes :id, :name, :description, :is_public
 
diff --git a/web/config/routes.rb b/web/config/routes.rb
index 962c18c62..e0642c69d 100644
--- a/web/config/routes.rb
+++ b/web/config/routes.rb
@@ -175,8 +175,9 @@ SampleApp::Application.routes.draw do
     match '/sessions/:id/comments' => 'api_music_sessions#add_comment', :via => :post
     match '/sessions/:id/likes' => 'api_music_sessions#add_like', :via => :post
     match '/sessions/:id/history' => 'api_music_sessions#show_history', :via => :get, :as => 'api_session_history_detail'
-
     match '/sessions/:id/details/comments' => 'api_music_sessions#add_session_info_comment', :via => :post
+    match '/sessions/:id/jam_tracks/:jam_track_id/open' => 'api_music_sessions#jam_track_open', :via => :post
+    match '/sessions/:id/jam_tracks/close' => 'api_music_sessions#jam_track_close', :via => :post
 
     # music session tracks
     match '/sessions/:id/tracks' => 'api_music_sessions#track_create', :via => :post
diff --git a/web/spec/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller_spec.rb b/web/spec/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller_spec.rb
index e981e7e63..eab77192b 100644
--- a/web/spec/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/web/spec/controllers/api_music_sessions_controller_spec.rb
@@ -166,4 +166,61 @@ describe ApiMusicSessionsController do
     end
 
   end
+
+  describe "open_jam_track" do
+
+    let(:ams) { FactoryGirl.create(:active_music_session, creator: user) }
+    let(:jam_track) { FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track)}
+
+    it "does not allow someone to open a track unless they are in the session" do
+      post :jam_track_open, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id, jam_track_id: jam_track.id}
+      response.status.should == 403
+    end
+
+    it "does not allow someone to open a track unless they own the jam track" do
+      conn.join_the_session(ams.music_session, true, tracks, user, 10)
+
+      post :jam_track_open, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id, jam_track_id: jam_track.id}
+      response.status.should == 403
+    end
+
+    it "allows someone who owns the jam track to open it" do
+      # put the connection of the user into the session, so th
+      conn.join_the_session(ams.music_session, true, tracks, user, 10)
+      FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track_right, jam_track: jam_track, user: user)
+
+      post :jam_track_open, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id, jam_track_id: jam_track.id}
+      response.status.should == 200
+    end
+
+    it "does not allow someone to close a track unless they are in the session" do
+      post :jam_track_close, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id}
+      response.status.should == 403
+    end
+
+    it "allows the jam track to be closed" do
+      # put the connection of the user into the session, so th
+      conn.join_the_session(ams.music_session, true, tracks, user, 10)
+      FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track_right, jam_track: jam_track, user: user)
+
+      post :jam_track_open, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id, jam_track_id: jam_track.id}
+      response.status.should == 200
+
+      post :jam_track_close, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id}
+      response.status.should == 200
+    end
+
+    it "show.rabl shows jam track info when open" do
+      conn.join_the_session(ams.music_session, true, tracks, user, 10)
+      FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track_right, jam_track: jam_track, user: user)
+      post :jam_track_open, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id, jam_track_id: jam_track.id}
+
+      # check the show.rabl for jam_track info
+      get :show, {:format => 'json', id: ams.id}
+      json = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
+
+      json[:jam_track].should_not be_nil
+      json[:jam_track][:id].should == jam_track.id
+    end
+  end
 end