I Got a Jazz Audition: Audition Ideas?

[mjolnir]

So I'm going in for an audition in a couple weeks, and the director tells me he doesn't care what I play, as long as it explores a wide range of playing styles. I chose The Awakening (covered by Claypool, originally done by the Reddings, I think, or something like that).

What do y'all here at TB think about that piece? Good idea, or should I go for something else, and if so, what do y'all suggest? Keep in mind it has to be a completely solo piece. Thanks for the help, guys!

[Jazzin']

Teen Town, and then show some improvisation.

[Marksb_2000]

What kind of jazz gig is it? Is it straight ahead, fusion, smooth jazz, or backing up a singer? The type of jazz the group plays shoud determine what youneed to know. Also, find out if you need to have your reading up to speed.

[mjolnir]

I actually don't know what kind it is. It's one of those college gigs, so it'll probably mix and match a little of everything, and I know I won't be backing a singer. The director did say I needed to be up to speed on my reading and that I'd have to sight read something at the audition, but I'm not too worried about that part. My old director always told me my reading was my strongest point as a bassist (straight reading, that is). Changes give me a little more trouble, but I'm working on that one too, and can hold down a groove well enough, as long as I keep it relatively simple.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Jazzin'

Teen Town, and then show some improvisation.

Forgive my ignorance, but who does Teen Town, and do you know where I can get the music for it? I can read bass clef, so that's not a problem if it's in notation.

[WillBuckingham]

Don't worry about plying Teen Town. That's an extremely difficult piece by Jaco Pastorius.

Do you already play jazz? If so, pick a standard you know well, and play a few choruses. Play the head, a walking line, and a solo, then the head again. If you don't already play jazz, pick a piece you have down really well and play it.

[Marksb_2000]

Whatever solo piece you pick will be fine. Know how to improvise a walking bass line over blues changes. Also know some basic rythms for latin tunes. The most common is bossa nova.

I wouldnt worry about it. If you read standard notaion , you are one up on a lot of players out there

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by WillBuckingham

Don't worry about plying Teen Town. That's an extremely difficult piece by Jaco Pastorius.

Do you already play jazz? If so, pick a standard you know well, and play a few choruses. Play the head, a walking line, and a solo, then the head again. If you don't already play jazz, pick a piece you have down really well and play it.

Jaco, huh? Yeah, I'm not gonna even think about touching it. I'm no Jaco.

And yes, I do already play jazz, and I think I'll take your advice on that. I got a standard I think will work nicely.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Marksb_2000

Whatever solo piece you pick will be fine. Know how to improvise a walking bass line over blues changes. Also know some basic rythms for latin tunes. The most common is bossa nova.

I wouldnt worry about it. If you read standard notaion , you are one up on a lot of players out there

I appreciate the advice. Thank god for high school jazz band, otherwise I'd be oblivious to most of that stuff...

[Jazzin']

Originally Posted by mjolnir2730

Forgive my ignorance, but who does Teen Town, and do you know where I can get the music for it? I can read bass clef, so that's not a problem if it's in notation.

http://www.lucaspickford.com/transteen.htm
It's not too hard of a piece. Learn it slow; start at half speed and work up to full speed at your own pace. It's a fun tune to be able to play.

I would actually recommend something like Tenor Madness instead for that audition. Start with the head, then go into some walking, then solo, then finish up with the head.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Jazzin'

http://www.lucaspickford.com/transteen.htm
It's not too hard of a piece. Learn it slow; start at half speed and work up to full speed at your own pace. It's a fun tune to be able to play.

I would actually recommend something like Tenor Madness instead for that audition. Start with the head, then go into some walking, then solo, then finish up with the head.

Yeowch...

Thanks for the link, I think I'm gonna learn this one, but um... Not in two weeks for an audition.

[Plato]

Play your own walking bass line to a jazz standard. If you want, you could play the head and walk a few choruses. Have a latin samba or bossa ready. And maybe a rock line or a cool slap part if it is in your bag of tricks. If you can't play the walking line with excellent time the rest of the audition will be just a formality.

And, of course, asking for more specific instructions is good. Sometimes jazz guys think you can get it by ESP...

MHO,

Rob

[Aaron Saunders]

...

You have a jazz audition, and thought The Awakening would be appropriate?

...k.

Anyway, just keep it fairly simple and play the head, solo, and walking lines on a standard you know well. Here are some audition tunes suggested by the University of Toronto, and dicussion on more here, here, here, here and here.

EDIT: Also, here's a list suggested by McGill University:

1. Blues: Billie's Bounce; Au Privave; Straight No Chaser; Tenor Madness; Sonny Moon for Two; Blues Walk.
2. Ballads: Body and Soul; What's New; 'Round Midnight; I Can't Get Started.
3. Jazz Standards: Blue Bossa; Solar; All the Things You Are; So What; Green Dolphin Street; Stella by Starlight; Four; Night and Day.

EDIT: Also, the advice on having something latin is good too. You can worry about clave once you get past the audition, so just do an easier bossa tune like Insensatez or Girl from Ipanema.

Also, I appreciate this thread -- it reminded me about my start of term placement audition that I need to prepare for in earnest now, and doing that threadhunting on AAJ helped me out too .

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

...

You have a jazz audition, and thought The Awakening would be appropriate?

...k.

Anyway, just keep it fairly simple and play the head, solo, and walking lines on a standard you know well. Here are some audition tunes suggested by the University of Toronto, and dicussion on more here, here, here, here and here.

EDIT: Also, here's a list suggested by McGill University:

1. Blues: Billie's Bounce; Au Privave; Straight No Chaser; Tenor Madness; Sonny Moon for Two; Blues Walk.
2. Ballads: Body and Soul; What's New; 'Round Midnight; I Can't Get Started.
3. Jazz Standards: Blue Bossa; Solar; All the Things You Are; So What; Green Dolphin Street; Stella by Starlight; Four; Night and Day.

EDIT: Also, the advice on having something latin is good too. You can worry about clave once you get past the audition, so just do an easier bossa tune like Insensatez or Girl from Ipanema.

Also, I appreciate this thread -- it reminded me about my start of term placement audition that I need to prepare for in earnest now, and doing that threadhunting on AAJ helped me out too .

Hey, gimme a break, man, that's why I came to you guys for advice. The problem I got with this guy, this director I'm auditioning for is that when I asked him about the audition, what needs to be played, what I need prepared, what I'm playing for, etc. etc. he did something I don't think I've ever heard a director do:

"It doesn't matter."
"So do you want me to pull an old tune, maybe Groove Daze, or a little something classic, I Get a Kick Out of You, maybe?"
"Whatever you want."
"Well, what kind of music will we be playing?"
"A little of this, a little of that."
"What sort of bassist do you want, then?"
"Somebody who can do a little of everything, I guess."
"Define 'a little of everything'."
"Well rounded."
"Hmmm... so you wouldn't care if I even did some Les Claypool?"
"No, that's fine. Do what you want."
"...uh, ok..."

I've done Girl from Ipanema, I think I might still have the music around here somewhere...

[Aaron Saunders]

Oh...he's one of those. You're fine, then . High school band, or what?

[bassman314]

A song I've been digging lately is Miles Davis - All Blues... it's a 6/8 piece that is deceptively easy...

It's one of those that you can solo on all night long... but when you are playing the bass line behind anyone else, it sounds amazing...

[forte]

Imperial March!

or why don't you write your own song?

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by forte

Imperial March!

or why don't you write your own song?

Ha! I love it!

I have one in the works, but it's not ready yet. In truth, I don't actually have all the musical knowledge I need to finish it the way I want to, that's why I'm going to college, to figure it all out.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Oh...he's one of those. You're fine, then . High school band, or what?

Not high school, college. It's the SHSU Lab Band I'm going for.

[mjolnir]

So I did the audition, had three pieces ready, and I never even got a chance to play 'em...

The entire audition was one big Jam Session. Kinda cool, but it pissed me off he never even asked me to play a prepared piece...