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i too am the bassist for my high school jazz band. i'm a junior and i tried out last year and made it, succeding a senior bass player who many think is god (i didn't think he could hold a good groove, just move his fingers real fast)...but that's not important
i remember the first few weeks of jazz rehearsals, we got about 5 new charts every practice (monday and wednes day night) for site reading. and as much as everyone hates it, i feel it has really made a big improvement in my playing. and of every chart, there is at least one section when i get the chord changes and need to improvise. so in those situations go with a good ol' simple walk until you get time to work on something better. by simple walk i mean 1-2-3-5 so, for example a simple C major chord, it would be C-D-E-G played as quater notes. sometimes this is even the best sounding for supporting the melody.
but my biggest piece of advice to you is to listen to all the jazz you can. check as many bass players from jaco to mingus and even check out nonbass guys like count baise and duke ellington. you can hear quaility lines and get a real feel for swing. every clinic i have been to this year with the band, evberyone says the same thing, and it makes sense
so good luck and have fun with it
jimbo
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-jimish
Reverend Club #23
Fender MIM Club #24
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