help me get into jazz

[benrhodes]

I'm in my high school's jazz band. Actually, there are two jazz bands, and I'm in the more advanced of the two. Our director told us that he hoped that we could dictate much of our repertoire, so I'm here to ask for advice, suggestions, etc. He said that he wanted to play some more obscure tunes, B sides, not just standards and the like. I'll tell ya'll what kind of instrumentation we have, hopefully that will help.

2 drummers/percussionists
3 bassists, 1 upright, 2 electric (i know, excessive, but thats just how it worked out)
1 guitar
1 keyboard
2 saxes, tenor and soprano
2 trombones

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[251]

Originally Posted by benrhodes

I'm in my high school's jazz band. Actually, there are two jazz bands, and I'm in the more advanced of the two. Our director told us that he hoped that we could dictate much of our repertoire, so I'm here to ask for advice, suggestions, etc. He said that he wanted to play some more obscure tunes, B sides, not just standards and the like. I'll tell ya'll what kind of instrumentation we have, hopefully that will help.

2 drummers/percussionists
3 bassists, 1 upright, 2 electric (i know, excessive, but thats just how it worked out)
1 guitar
1 keyboard
2 saxes, tenor and soprano
2 trombones

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Find (buy or borrow) a copy of "The Blue Box", a 4 disk collection of the Best of Blue Note recordings & start listening. Find the tunes you like & ask your Director if he/she thinks the tune is good for your group & would he/she please get charts.

[BigOldHarry]

Some songs are just part of everyone's book - best to learn those. Since you are jazz n00bs, start with slower stuff until you get confident. Autumn Leaves, So What, All Blues (heck, anything from Mile's "Kind of Blue" will work).

[PaulNYC]

Lucky Southern and Song for my Father are great.

[Philbiker]

Go to your local public library and check out the jazz CDs there. Borrow some, give them a listen, decide what you like. Most libraries have good selection of jazz titles. Look for Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Mingus, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderly, Art Blakey, Modern Jazz Quartet, Weather Report. Since you have so many bass players you may want to play some multi-bass stuff like some of the songs from Stanley Clarke's "School Days" record.

[Ed Fuqua]

I'm still wondering what a jazz "B" side is. The last thing I remember seeing on a 45 was KOKO....

[dalkowski]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I'm still wondering what a jazz "B" side is. The last thing I remember seeing on a 45 was KOKO....

They're the songs you play b-sides the usual standards.

[Ed Fuqua]

B damned if that isn't D answer....