The members of Ames octet Twistin’ Trees are comfortable with the “jam band” label, although it is ambiguous.

“We’re definitely a jam band — no question about it,” says keyboardist Chad Jacobsen.

However, the group acknowledges it’s hard to say exactly what a jam band is, since jam bands range in style from bluegrass to progressive rock. Twistin’ Trees is also relatively unique among jam bands, with eight members and a full three-piece horn section. However, Ben Maynard, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the ensemble, offers an explanation of why the band “jams.”

“We extend different sections of our songs,” Maynard says. “We know where we’re starting from and where we’re going to — it’s just a matter of getting there.”

Since the group formed almost three and a half years ago, it has endured several lineup changes, although Jacobsen, Maynard, lead guitarist Dave Schwardtfeger and bassist Seth Minnihan have been around since the beginning. The rest of the band includes Mark Olofson on trombone, Willa Eaton on trumpet, Justin McManus on saxophone and drummer Nate Griffith, sophomore in architecture.

In one configuration or another, Twistin’ Trees has done its fair share of jamming in and around Ames, with regular stints at local venues such as People’s Bar and Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way, shows at Des Moines’ House of Bricks and even the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. Most of the band members admit that although Ames has been good to them over the years, it isn’t the best place to start a music career, especially for a band like theirs.

“There’s not a lot of jam bands in Ames,” Schwardtfeger says, “so there’s not a lot of competition, but there’s not a lot of bands to help us out either.”

Jacobsen says this has presented a healthy challenge for the band, but he says the music scene here could stand to be a lot healthier.

“With any band, you need to make your own scene and get people coming out, but this scene is definitely not vibrant and supportive,” Jacobsen says.

Band members say their success has been hampered not only by an inadequate music scene and several personnel changes, but also by the lack of a studio album to solidify the band’s presence. That will all change in April, when Twistin’ Trees will release its debut album, “The Sound the Band Makes.”

“I think [this album] is sort of what we’ve been waiting for,” Jacobsen says.

“It’s something to get behind and something to leave people with.”

The album was recorded at Dawg House Recordings in Nevada and was produced, mixed and engineered entirely by the band. The members of Twistin’ Trees say they are proud of their final product but contend that it isn’t the same as seeing them live.

The band hopes the album will help attract new fans and spread its music to a larger audience, starting with a CD release party at People’s on April 20.