Recordings of Jazz Band Rehearsal

[jive1]

I started a Jazz Quartet a month ago, and we recorded the last practice. Jazz isn't my primary style, so if anybody wants to take a listen and offer any tips and critique, I'd appreciate it. Please ignore the crappy solos .

Here's the Link

[superbassman2000]

i think there might be a problem with the link...
i keep getting "freelinuxhost.com"

click on the title of a song and see what i am talking about
i can't wait to hear them!


Charlie

[jive1]

Aw crap, I forgot that Linux/Unix is case sensitive in the URLs. I fixed it, checked it and it should now work.

[sargebaker]

i thoroughly enjoyed listening to them sorry I didnt pay much attention to them in detail but they sound pretty great and you got some good chops. bada ba ba ba, I'm loving it.

[Whafrodamus]

Kill the sax player.. He's out of tune >_<

[Matt Ides]

The rhythm section is strong and solid. The sax player, and this is MHO, has a poor tone and way too much vibrato on the heads. I like the melody to be played clean...also not much doubling going on with the piano and sax for the heads. any reason for that???

Anyway sounds pretty good. I also like to throw in some more funky stuff so you're not doing the walking bassline thing for every tune.

Sounds good.

Matt

[jive1]

Thanks for the comments folks.

The Sax player is actually pretty accomplished musician. He's a horn player for the LAPD band. He was the pianists father-in-law that was in town visiting. He was subbing for us, playing his grand-daughter's student alto with sticky keys. Also he was reading from a C Real Book, so he was transposing on the fly. Given all that, yeah he was out of tune at time, but not that bad given the circumstances.

I'd like to get funkier on the songs, but I'm nervous about keeping time and losing the form of the song. As I get more familiar with the songs and the genre, I hope to stretch out. For now, I just don't want to get lost in the song.

Once again, thanks for the comments.

[Matt Ides]

[quote=jive1]

I'd like to get funkier on the songs, but I'm nervous about keeping time and losing the form of the song. As I get more familiar with the songs and the genre, I hope to stretch out. For now, I just don't want to get lost in the song.

QUOTE]


Check out Avishia Cohen, Charles Mingus, and Richard Davis. They are all monster jazz bass players but do tons of vamp and bass pedal stuff.

Plus work out some nice repeated lines that work well in the tune over the changes and then those can work into some nice funky lines. It can be hard to come up with new funkier hip lines when you are in walking mode, so don't marry yourself to 4/4 walking.

Plus, if you do come up with a pretty nice groove use that for the solo sections and let the soloist play over that than the chart, just bookmark it with the head. That seems to work well sometimes...you give the pay off with the melody but get down and dirty in the middle.

Have you checked out Scott Lafaro w/ Bill evans. Great inspiration and a different approach to standards. Kinda a group improv.

As for not getting lost, I am sure you know this already, but learn the melody to every tune.

As the bass in jazz you dictate the time and tempo. So if you want to double time do it. You want to play a little loose, or 2 beat it, or just get down and funky...try it out and see what happens. If everybody is doing their part they will pick it up and adjust in a few beats.

But you are off to a great start with the jazz group.

Matt

[superbassman2000]

thats some good stuff!

[jive1]

Plus work out some nice repeated lines that work well in the tune over the changes and then those can work into some nice funky lines. It can be hard to come up with new funkier hip lines when you are in walking mode, so don't marry yourself to 4/4 walking.

Plus, if you do come up with a pretty nice groove use that for the solo sections and let the soloist play over that than the chart, just bookmark it with the head. That seems to work well sometimes...you give the pay off with the melody but get down and dirty in the middle.

You're right here. I do tend to get caught up in walking mode. The sax player is pretty much a traditionalist who likes to keep to the form of the song. As I get more familiar with the material and the players, I hope to be able to stretch out more, and have everyone stay in sync.

Have you checked out Scott Lafaro w/ Bill evans. Great inspiration and a different approach to standards. Kinda a group improv.

I've been listening to alot of Bill Evans lately. Amzing stuff, and great compositions.

As for not getting lost, I am sure you know this already, but learn the melody to every tune.

Sometimes I sing the melody to myself like it's a prayer.

As the bass in jazz you dictate the time and tempo. So if you want to double time do it. You want to play a little loose, or 2 beat it, or just get down and funky...try it out and see what happens. If everybody is doing their part they will pick it up and adjust in a few beats.

But you are off to a great start with the jazz group.

Matt

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll be assertive in my playing at the next practice and see how it goes. Even though Jazz is a fantastic medium for improvisation, I just need to hit a comfort zone. I think it will be just around the corner.

[Cacklingjackyl]

I am no jazz player yet, but I love listening to it. I have only listened to the 1st song, but it sounded good. Your solo was not take crappy at all and it seemed to fit well. Keep up the good work.