PlayJazzNow.com

[SBassman]

Pretty cool site.
Not a ton of material yet, but it's off to a nice start:

http://www.playjazznow.com/

[jumbosilverette]

Those are really nice. I wish I could buy them all.

[Correlli]

Great site.

bookmarked!!!

[klocwerk]

I find it hard to believe that there's not a similar FREE resource out there somewhere...

[IanStephenson]

They look fun, but I think they're pretty expensive even at "sale" price: $12!! If I read it right thats for 12 versions OF THE SAME SONG recorded in different keys. Even if you count that as 12 tracks its still more expensive than iTunes. If you couldn't it as one $12 track thats crazy money (maybe I did read it wrong...).

Have a search for MIDI files - they sound pretty good if you play them through a decent system, you can choose the key and tempo, drop out any instrument (so you can leave the bass line in first few goes), and with the right software you get notation scrolling across the screen.

Ian

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by klocwerk

I find it hard to believe that there's not a similar FREE resource out there somewhere...

I have done plenty of digging, I have never found a similar Free resource.

Plenty of free cheesie midi's, but no free, good quality jazz backing tracks.

If you find one, please post it.

[Correlli]

In the next few months, I'm going build some quality backing tracks. Will post them up when they're done.

[Raiven]

Band-in-a-box > This.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by Raiven

Band-in-a-box > This.

No = it is not

Jazz midis = large chunks of cheese

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by SBassman4x

No = it is not

Jazz midis = large chunks of cheese

+1...these actually sound like they'd be a lot of fun to play along with. That said, it is a bit pricey, as going through all twelve keys isn't much of a challenge for a bassist as it is for a pianist, guitarist, or vocalist since our instruments are all tuned in fourths .

[Jazzin']

Isn't Aebersold a better version of this?

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by Jazzin'

Isn't Aebersold a better version of this?

Good question.

I guess my two complaints these days with the Aebersold stuff is:

1. Some of it was recorded a long time ago, and the fidelity isn't what it could be if recorded today.

2. They - at least the last time I checked - still didn't allow for downloads.

So, for the Aebersold stuff, you often buy a whole CD to get the tune you are interested in.

I do think the Aebersold is generally high quality and valuable, but I'm glad to see options for downloads of tunes from PlayJazzNow.

Also, the PlayJazzNow material seems to be trying to offer the general categories of types of jazz, as opposed to specific tunes, and I do think there's a place for that.
[I do agree, though, that it is expensive.]