Audition help! (Somewhat urgent)

zeppelinfreak · #1 02-20-2009, 02:59 PM

So I go to St Charles North H.S. and weve got jazz auditions coming up. Thursday for rhythm.

The audition to get back into the band Im currently in (the top one) is as follows

Bee Bop scales (all 12 keys, under 60 seconds)
Great Love with recording (snidero etude)
Walk solo walk an F blues
Walk then solo Satin Doll
Sight Reading

So Ive got it all pretty well down, but I really wanna nail this audition. So does anyone have some really solid recordings or videos or even transcriptions of walking lines or bass solos for Satin Doll that I can steal from?

Any advice in general is always appreciated

fdeck · #2 02-20-2009, 09:47 PM

I can't offer any advice, but... wow.

My high school jazz band audition in 1978 went something like this:

You play cello?
Yes.
Okay, now you play bass. Go get one.

Chrix · #3 02-20-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

I can't offer any advice, but... wow.

My high school jazz band audition in 1978 went something like this:

You play cello?
Yes.
Okay, now you play bass. Go get one.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

kennypm · #4 02-20-2009, 11:02 PM

I'm almost positive Oscar Peterson recorded Satin Doll with Ray Brown. Might even be on YouTube.

hairscrambled · #5 02-21-2009, 08:46 AM

Here's Aaron Bell with Duke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDDCzb3dv_Y.

MDEbass · #6 02-21-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

I can't offer any advice, but... wow.

My high school jazz band audition in 1978 went something like this:

You play cello?
Yes.
Okay, now you play bass. Go get one.

Ha! Yeah mine was not like a big audition or anything.

Looks like this must be a pretty developed jazz program at your school if your having auditions like this

zeppelinfreak · #7 02-21-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDEbass

Ha! Yeah mine was not like a big audition or anything.

Looks like this must be a pretty developed jazz program at your school if your having auditions like this

Id like to think so. We sell out the convention center every year by our town for our concert to raise money for the program. Were playing with the new york voices in March. And were doing a tour of Europe the week after the voices

jgbass · #8 02-22-2009, 12:38 AM

I would definitely spend some time listening to one of the Ellington big band recordings, as Ellington and Strayhorn are considered the composers, I believe.

If anything, this would really clue you into the feel of this earlier style and give ideas for walking lines. The recording Ihave is about 10 minutes long, so there is a lot of soloing, though I do not think by the bassist.

frichter · #9 02-22-2009, 09:14 PM

that's wojo's band right? Hell of a player, I can imagine that his bands sound pretty damn good.

zeppelinfreak · #10 02-22-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frichter

that's wojo's band right? Hell of a player, I can imagine that his bands sound pretty damn good.

Yes it is actually. Well, hes going by Mr. Wojo now. He says hes to old for people (his students at least) to keep saying his name with no title.

Where do you know him from? And if you like, I can give you some links of us on youtube.

As far as the man himself, I dont think I could have asked for a better jazz teacher.

frichter · #11 02-23-2009, 09:21 AM

I don't know him. I have seen him play out a few times and I knew that he taught some school in St. Charles . . . took a guess that it was yours. You are in a great situation to be able to learn from such a high calibur musician, good luck on the auditions.

btw, scott lafaro plays some nice lines on satin doll on Victor Feldman's "The Arrival of Victor Feldman"

ClassicRock55 · #12 02-23-2009, 01:53 PM

Ha! I go to New Trier....small world.

Anyway, do you have a real book on you? If not, I can post the changes when I get home.

zeppelinfreak · #13 02-23-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicRock55

Ha! I go to New Trier....small world.

Anyway, do you have a real book on you? If not, I can post the changes when I get home.

Oh, I have the changes, thats not the problem. Ive just had trouble coming up with solid, melodic lines. The main problem is the A to Am. Picardy thirds blow dick. So for that part, Ive been doing 1 5 7 type stuff. But Id really like to get the thirds in there without it sounding like *******

Mike Arnopol · #14 02-23-2009, 03:01 PM

I lived in St. Charles for a year, my daughter went to your school. We live in Wilmette now. My son is in school at New Trier. John (WOJO) and I have played together many times. (often as duo)

zeppelinfreak · #15 02-23-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I lived in St. Charles for a year, my daughter went to your school. We live in Wilmette now. My son is in school at New Trier. John (WOJO) and I have played together many times. (often as duo)

Im just a sophmore still, so I probably didnt know your daughter. But if she played music, she was lucky to be in that program even if only for a year.

Mr Woj speaks for himself
Mr Molloy was a new york voice
Mr Wis was in a couple prominent big bands if I understand correctly
And Mr Stombres was in the veggie tales soundtrack, haha (thats hard to imagine if you know him)

ClassicRock55 · #16 02-23-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeppelinfreak

Oh, I have the changes, thats not the problem. Ive just had trouble coming up with solid, melodic lines. The main problem is the A to Am. Picardy thirds blow dick. So for that part, Ive been doing 1 5 7 type stuff. But Id really like to get the thirds in there without it sounding like *******

Honestly the best thing to do is to listen to as many versions as you can, especially those with Duke because it has a very standout bassline. You won't go wrong with that. Because of the tempo, it allows you to use triplets to walk down or up to your next note. If you don't know what I mean, you'll see when you listen.

As far as thirds are concerned, you don't have to hit the third each time it goes from A to A-. For example, you can play this: (all quarter notes) A E A C, that way you don't completely imply A major by hitting a C# but you imply the A-. Mix it up. Also, the song is at a fairly slow tempo so make sure not to rush of course. Good luck!

ClassicRock55 · #17 02-23-2009, 03:49 PM

And to Mike Arnopol-

I'm a senior, and I recognize the name. I don't know any of your children personally but I know there is a guy at my school who is a junior or sophomore with the last name Arnopol.

zeppelinfreak · #18 02-23-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicRock55

Honestly the best thing to do is to listen to as many versions as you can, especially those with Duke because it has a very standout bassline. You won't go wrong with that. Because of the tempo, it allows you to use triplets to walk down or up to your next note. If you don't know what I mean, you'll see when you listen.

As far as thirds are concerned, you don't have to hit the third each time it goes from A to A-. For example, you can play this: (all quarter notes) A E A C, that way you don't completely imply A major by hitting a C# but you imply the A-. Mix it up. Also, the song is at a fairly slow tempo so make sure not to rush of course. Good luck!

I dont know about that last part, I dont think I wanna play a C over an A chord >_>

ding_man · #19 02-24-2009, 03:27 PM

Dude you'll probably be fine.

You can talk up your school all you want.. but you better back it up with your playing :P

zeppelinfreak · #20 02-25-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ding_man

Dude you'll probably be fine.

You can talk up your school all you want.. but you better back it up with your playing :P

Im not talking up my school at all. I never even explicitly said we were good. Actually, compared to a legit big band (count basie, mel lewis) I think we suck >_>. I can safely say that we can compete with any school in the state, probably the country, but that doesnt mean we by any means good.