Jazz Band Audition

[danjl131]

ok im auditioning for jazz band next wednesday or thursday. we have to learn the song "Straight, No Chaser". this is my first audition so i have some questions.
in addition to learning the song, i am required to play a short "solo" or "groove" of a different style. is blues considered different than jazz? or is it too similar? also, what's considered "short"? and is he expecting an orginial solo or groove, or one from a song already written? also, im new to jazz and reading music so any additional tips would be appreciated. thank you.

[McHaven]

Wait, are you playing Bush's "Straight, No Chaser" in jazz band? That's some odd song choice.

[danjl131]

no, its by thelonius monk, recorded by buddy rich

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

Originally Posted by McHaven

Wait, are you playing Bush's "Straight, No Chaser" in jazz band? That's some odd song choice.

No, Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser"
I would think blowing a few choruses over a blues would be fine for your "solo" part, unless you wanna work on somebody else's solo (in these situations i've often used mingus solos, or PC solos, etc.)

[the_fooj]

Originally Posted by McHaven

Wait, are you playing Bush's "Straight, No Chaser" in jazz band? That's some odd song choice.

Thelonious Monk

As far as a short solo, I'd say be prepared to play up to twice through the chart, although it might be more like once.

[lburton2]

I'd attempt to do an improv solo.. to be honest.. that's what jazz is all about. learning other players solos is just to put more material under your fingers and to develop as a musician.. than you take snippets of that stuff and apply it to your ideas. Play jazz. Play the changes. Are you reading a chart or playing the changes? if you're playing the changes think about if/when you should play a two-feel vs. a regular walk. Walk on solos, two-feel on choruses. that's my advice in a nutshell.

[danjl131]

im reading a chart and the whole thing is a walk with occasional 8th notes thrown in (which i should swing, correct?)... my sight reading isnt the greatest and the chromatic notes throw me off. i knew jazz is hard, but i never played or learned a full tune so its gonna take a lot of work. the teacher said short solo or groove in a different style of my choice so im still wondering what is considered short and should it be original, written by someone else, or improv?

[lburton2]

Welp here it goes. The easiest way to approach jazz, in my experience, has been in half position.. i believe that's the terminology. keeping your index finger on the first fret and your pinky on the 4th. this way you can hit most notes without changing position *unless it gets higher than a B. Anyways. That way you don't have to worry about running up and down the fretboard.

You should, in my opinion, go with an original/improv solo. You can definitely practice a solo of your own, but i wouldn't solo someone else's work. If you're gonna play jazz you should show that you can play your own solo. Just play within the scale and/or the blues scale and you'll do fine. maybe work in a higher octave than you've been walking. That lets the solo stand out a bit more. I don't understand what he's saying when he says you could do a groove in a different style.. that throws me off a bit.

[danjl131]

yeah i dont know what he wants a different style for... also he said short, but i dunno how short it sould be...what would be considered short? also im having a slight struggle with the piece regarding reading but i should be able to get it. also, how many bpm is the song, and could someone plz explain coda, d.s. al coda (w/ repeat), and to coda with the crosshair symbol, im not sure what codas are

[Stumbo]

Some links that may help you out:

Learning stuff
Practice Practice Practice How to practice bass
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p...arget_Approach Creating bass lines
Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Intro to scale and chord theory
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Using modes
Reading Music Learn to read music
I need to learn how to read music for bass, how do i do it? Learn to read music
Need help reading bass clef Read bass clef
I need basic music theory help... Theory
Things every bassist should know? Things every bassist should know
Book list for GI Theory Links Theory Book Links
Music Theory/General Instruction Links GI links list
jazz scales? not played bass in over a year Jazz Scales
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpo...9&postcount=37 Understanding a bass player's mindset

Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference(dictionary).
http://www.good-ear.com/
http://www.studybass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/

Books and instructional materials
http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/default.asp

This is a very helpful program for learning the notes on the bass clef. (as recommended by AlphaMale)
http://www.download.com/NoteCard/300...cdlPid=1509909
http://www.playthebass.com print flashcards for learning bass clef, print staff paper

You may want to post your question on the DB side.

Search is your friend: TB threads on jazz band auditions: http://www.google.com/custom?domains...ORID%3A1&hl=en

[McHaven]

Originally Posted by the_fooj

Thelonious Monk

As far as a short solo, I'd say be prepared to play up to twice through the chart, although it might be more like once.

Shows my jazz knowledge

[lburton2]

wow that's a lot of material.

[Andrew Jones]

What style,Styles do you normally play.

I would recommend doing what you do best. This guy would probably love to see you blow bebop chops VRS Punk Rock Eighths but I think he wants a idea of who you are as a musician. That means your interest and what you can do "musically" as possible.

I would expect him to ALSO want you to take a chorus or 2 of the blues tune your playing. Do worry about scales that you don't know. Just play a blues scale based phrase,Strong and simple, repeat it then ( the tough part) answer it. Think Albert king more than Charlie Parker and you'll do fine.


BE MUSICAL!!!!






Aj

[onlyclave]

If you want to nail your audition, DO NOT play some bass whack off stuff for a solo. Just walk and swing as hard as you can for one or two choruses. There has never been any shame in playing the most awesome, swinging walking bass line for your solo.

If the jazz band director asks you to play some noodly stuff, he must have majored in marching band in college.

You should find the original Thelonius Monk recording of that song and listen to how they played it.