Subbing

[Mixmasta J]

Well, I am heading home for Winter break, kind of wondering if I would play any gigs. Right as I was thinking this, I was called by the leader of the local big band asking me if I could sub in on a gig in a few days. Of course I obliged, like I have done before, but it got me thinking about a good thread idea for people new to this "art"

What do you do when you get called into sub? What are some habits or practices? What is your ritual and how do you prepare, especially on short notice with few/no rehearsals?

I know that I usually try to get a list of tunes that we are playing before hand (charts would be the best), and getting the tunes in my head.

I always ask whether I should bring my acoustic or electric bass and on what tunes I will play them on. I always bring both anyway, just in case something goes wrong.

When I am on the bandstand, I listen all of the time. Before I read a chart, I always check the "roadmap", key signature, time signature, and any other important parts of the piece. The rest is all about grooving and keeping the piece flowing even if mistakes are made.

What do you guys think?

[Phil Smith]

On a big band gig with charts I go in with the notion that I'll be able to read everything and make up stuff using my ear when I have to. When you have the ability to do this and believe in the fact that you can, the gig becomes fun even though you're flying by the seat of your pants.

I have a big band that I play with regularly and we rehearse every other week however on many gigs that I've played with them I see stuff that I never played with them and that I have never seen before.

[nickmo007]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

On a big band gig with charts I go in with the notion that I'll be able to read everything and make up stuff using my ear when I have to. When you have the ability to do this and believe in the fact that you can, the gig becomes fun even though you're flying by the seat of your pants.

I have a big band that I play with regularly and we rehearse every other week however on many gigs that I've played with them I see stuff that I never played with them and that I have never seen before.

Whenever I get the rare opportunity to sub in a big band, I enjoy that flying by seat of my pants feeling, Im not a great reader, and often have to rely on my ear to get back on track with the page. I wish I could do more of that sort of thing.....Not only to keep my eye on written out charts, but I enjoy that big sound!!!!

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by nickmo007

Whenever I get the rare opportunity to sub in a big band, I enjoy that flying by seat of my pants feeling

Same here. I love just blowing through a book and hearing the stuff fresh.

One thing I would say is... remember to lead with your right eye. Maybe that sounds weird, but I've always done pretty well by cultivating the ability to read a couple of bars (or more) ahead. I think it's the key to reading a book well. Otherwise, you might find yourself playing catchup. It becomes pretty natural after awhile.

Lucky you, man... I'd love to do some big band work.

[Sam Sherry]

For me the key to subbing a big band is arriving early enough to make sure that the book is organized. You have to be able to find the chart before you can play the chart.

Sloppy leavers suck.

[txstatebass]

And to add to Sam: ALWAYS PUT THE BOOK BACK IN ORDER!!!!! Who knows, you do a good job YOU might be the next guy to read it. At worst, the normal guy will notice and appreciate your polite act and recommend you again!

[Treyzer]

+1 on getting there early.

I always like to get there early enough to make sure all my gear is working, get a sense of the room and how I can optimize my bass sound and of course organize the book and possibly look at tunes I might not know and quickly scan written lines, hits and phrases that might be important. If I can do all this stuff, i can relax and just play!

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

For me the key to subbing a big band is arriving early enough to make sure that the book is organized. You have to be able to find the chart before you can play the chart.

Sloppy leavers suck.

Ohhh, man. No kidding. I played with the Fifth Dimension a couple of times... imagine how long that book's been out there. That book was a mess. It was a really weird mix of their 70's sound, along with some stuff that sounded, so help me god, like it would have fit on Miles "Tutu" album. It was thick like an LA phone book, and totally beat to crap. At one point, there was a giant hole in a page, so I took a wild guess, which was wrong, apparently. The MD stopped the rehearsal and said "bass...whatchoo got at bar 86?", and I said "nothin'".... he said "you gotta have something!".... so I held the book up, and peeked at him through the hole. He just cracked up and said "Damn... looks like someone's been chewing on it".

[Treyzer]

Marcus,

That's a story you should have saved for the Jazz/Musician stories.... Very funny and quick thinking!

[Panurge]

Not only that, but there should be a "bad charts" section in the forum. There must be a million stories about malfunctioning music sheet and sloppy arranging and that sort of thing. At the end of the day, you got to make it work, regardless of what's been given to you, or what the situation is. Bad charts and even worse arrangements abound and if the bass part doesn't sound good, the blame comes to rest on your shoulders. The only way to get called back is to take good decisions -USE YOUR EARS!- and/or ask questions when you're not sure, if not to the MD then the piano player, as if you know which chord is played you can decide on your bass line if in doubt. I particularly like arrangers who get REALLY creative with walking lines. You're reading and thinking ***! this is Mack the Knife? I've found that singers dont mind if you take the liberty of walking your own line, if that line swings and outlines the harmony better that what's on the page.

Slap me if I veered the discussion off-topic...

That's a great story, Marcus, thanks for sharing! I worked a bunch of times with Michel Bell who was in the 5th dimension in the early eighties, before he took on Porgy and then Joe in Showboat. It's the only time I've worked with a singer who can sing a low F. Rumbling fun!

[fdeck]

Subbing is a blast. +1 about showing up early to check out the book. Madison is a relatively small town, so a band will often offer to drop off a book before the gig. I don't mind the extra preparation if it's difficult material. Otherwise, for big-band material, sight reading is fine, and it's a welcome opportunity to practice that skill under real world conditions.

If possible during setup, I try to position myself so I can see the piano book from where I am standing. This gives me a backup if there is an existential problem with one of the bass charts.

For me, the worst pitfalls are when the band itself is utterly unprepared for a gig with a sub. For instance, I have gotten to the gig, just to find out that the band's charts were either outdated or nonexistent. This can happen if a band's regular bassist knows all of the tunes from memory, or is solely an ear player. If a band has worked out its repertoire through extensive rehearsal, without maintaining a written record, it's going to be tough for a sub. In those gigs, the fun comes from seeing how many standards I can remember, and how many tunes I can figure out by ear.

Another pitfall is the band that has booked a casual gig without finding out what the client wants. I always throw my electric in the car if I detect any uncertainty about the genre that the band will be covering.

I have to be honest with bands that I am not a conservatory trained virtuoso. There is material out there, that is over my head.

[Marc Piane]

My big thing is just showing up early. You never know what kind of silliness is going to ensue if you have never done the gig before plus the leader will get a positive first impression.

On top of all of that you can just get setup and have some time to chill. Take a walk. Read a book. Chat with the guys. Whatever.

[Rob Hunter]

I also sub for a big band, though I can't add much that hasn't already been said (arrive early, take care of the book, scan the chart completely before playing it). When subbing, I'm always mindful of my place in the organization, so I don't usually "speak unless spoken to." The group has its own way of doing things and it won't benefit from me criticizing the way they set up, choose songs, change arrangements, etc. I'm just there to play - and that's fine.

Oh, speaking of old books, don't you hate all the additional penciling on the pages? Some charts are so old that I’m always asking the drummer about added repeats, sections hacked out, etc.

Subbing is always an adventure!

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Rob Hunter

Oh, speaking of old books, don't you hate all the additional penciling on the pages?

It amazes me how often you'll see the names of the notes penciled in above or below the notation. I can just see that poor sucker, sweating, and racing to get everything written down, a half hour before downbeat.

[Marc Piane]

One time I saw a big band chart that had the changes (some incorrect) penciled in above the written line.

[David Kaczorowski]

I'll admit to having written in note names, but only way up in thumb position, D and higher. Anymore than three ledger lines and it's hard for me to see. Writing in fingerings can be extremely helpful though.

[Mike Goodbar]

If its a blowing gig, that is, just calling standards and stuff, you might want to bring a fake book of some kind asthat kind of band doesn't tend to use charts. Or find out which tunes are favored by the leader and try to run through them prior.

If there's a keyboard on the gig, I always try to situate myself so that I can see his/her left hand. If I'm really floundering, and the pianist if feeling generous, he'll give me a glimpse of the root with his pinky.

I also try to be conservative with solo choruses for at least the first set. If there is some positive feedback, or at least no NEGATIVE feedback, I might stretch out more. I've had my second chorus stepped on more times than I can count on sub gigs.

[Mark Perna]

I enjoy subbing in big bands or any band with actual arrangements. Most of my gigs are regular jazz gigs where you pretty much make it all up on the spot. I like exercising the part of my brain that has to count.

Nothing to add as far as prep: show up early (if nothing else than to claim your space so you can see what's going on and have enough room to play), check each chart out for little things like coda signs and any handwritten alterations and, above all, solo sections. Nothing like unexpected solo bits...

About 4 or 5 times per year I get to play with a group (four horns + rhythm) that includes John Wilson. For those of you who don't know Doc Wilson, he's a legendary arranger (and pretty good trumpet player). His favorite bassist is Scott Lafaro and he frequently will write little bass fills into the arrangements--all very Lafaro-esque and harder than hell to play well. It is a blast to try to sight read his charts.

mark

[bassandbeyond]

Subbing with new bands is kind of like sitting in at someone else's gig....it's a gamble! In LA, most working bands don't really rehearse much at all, in my experience. The caliber of musicianship tends to be high enough around here that people can often get away without rehearsing, so I spend much of my life operating in "fly by the seat of your pants" mode.

Showing up early is good, but doesn't help much if the rest of the band shows up at the last minute and they don't use any charts anyway! I'm serious, this happens all the time.

Another thing I've learned in these situations is that it's often better NOT to look at the piano player or guitar player's hands. On poorly lit stages, your eyes can deceive you, so if I don't know the song I seem to fare better by just pricking up my ears and listening really hard.

[Crazy_Fingers27]

Originally Posted by txstatebass

And to add to Sam: ALWAYS PUT THE BOOK BACK IN ORDER!!!!! Who knows, you do a good job YOU might be the next guy to read it. At worst, the normal guy will notice and appreciate your polite act and recommend you again!

agreed!!!! i hate subbing out gigs to people, and then i get the music back looking like the dog's breakfast.

anyway, to the threadstarter. sounds like you've got it figured out. there's nothing more you can really do other than try and get as much info on the music and rely on your reading and intuition to keep you on your feet.