(FORTUNE Magazine) – What has a drummer, four congas, three saxophones, two bassists, a piano, an organ, 12 guitars, a half-dozen wailing vocalists--and more energy than the midnight express out of Memphis? Answer: the group jam that closed the first ever Battle of the Corporate Bands in Cleveland last month. Sponsored by FORTUNE and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the event brought together ten bands for a daylong contest and party. Could they play? Damn straight. The winners were picked by three distinguished judges--rock critic and entrepreneur Tom Zito, guitarist Lenny Kaye (remember the Patti Smith Group?), and legendary producer Seymour Stein (we're talking Brian Wilson, Lou Reed, Talking Heads, and Madonna). "This really captures the essence of rock & roll," said Lenny. "People playing hard and having fun for the sheer love of the music." Not bad for a bunch of suits.

--Rik Kirkland