First Jazz Gig

[Pcocobass]

I agree with your general point hdiddy, but I was referring to a particular type of situation, which is probably most common: You get called for a gig a at restaurant to play some standards with a trio you've never played with. You go to the gig and the leader calls "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." You can't dig into your bass cover for a written out line you made for that tune and play it that way. You'll never get called back, and you don't have the time between tunes usually to be looking for music. Even if you bring lead sheets or a real book, people will most likely look down on you (whether or not it's right).

Also, I don't think any standards are played out. In fact, I saw Steve Kuhn with Ron Carter and Victor Lewis (if I remember correctly) a few months ago play "Blue Bossa" at Birdland and it was cooking! My point is that even a played out standard like that can be done in a fresh and interesting way.

Now the whole what is or isn't jazz thing is a separate issue. If we get into that we'll be here all day! But I can say that in my playing experience it's very rare to be given a completely orchestrated part for a jazz band, although it can happen. Even for most big band charts you will find written sections and chord changes.

I don't think you can separate jazz from improvisation. If you want to be a jazz musician, you must know how to improvise. There's no question about it.

[Steve Killingsworth]

Guys, I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement!

Keep it coming.

[Johnny L]

Originally Posted by Pcocobass

...I'm all for writing out basslines and learning melodies and playing arpeggios, etc. as an aid to playing, especially walking. It really helps to internalize a song and get your head straight. Just don't take your written lines to your gig and play them verbatim. That is not and never will be jazz.

Hi Pcocobass, and thanks for the lesson!

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Writing basslines is a great learning tool, like training wheels on a bike. In the driveway, you do what you gotta do to keep from breaking your skull while you learn to balance, and training wheels are fine for this. Once you get out of your driveway, you need to be able to keep your balance without them.

Yeah this is where I'm at...and wearing a helmet to boot.

And I still keep falling on my ass darn it!

don't worry I'm getting up again no that's not a threat

[gomez hacienda]

I'm sorry hdiddy, but for my money, orchestrated jazz solos are like 'military intelligence'.

gomez

[Damon Rondeau]

In my quartet we've got a fully-arranged thing for "Manhattan". To make the guitar player happy (because he brought the tune in) I actually play a written-out bass part -- no improv at all. We all dig the arrangement because it's by a local teacher and musician who departed this world long ago. I'm sure he wrote this arrangement back in the 50's or something. I dig playing it because it's like putting on an extremely cool retro jacket or something.

Ted Komar, Local Prince of the Accordion and Teacher of 10,000 children at your Fine Music Schools, five locations in Winnipeg: your lovely arrangement of "Manhattan" lives on.

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by Pcocobass

I agree with your general point hdiddy, but I was referring to a particular type of situation, which is probably most common: You get called for a gig a at restaurant to play some standards with a trio you've never played with.

Right Pete, we're saying the same thing. I was just picking (just for fun) on the rare instance that something might be written out, or like what DAMON just mentioned.

Thinking about it now, it's probably more accurate to describe it as playing a tune with a REAALLLLLLY long head. The invidual parts are still improvised but the melody structure is long and complex. So in this definition, it still ascribes to the fact that improvisation is involved.

But like I said, Raymond Scott's stuff is all written out and it doesn't sound stiff or dead. I suppose you can get into an argument to determine whether that's jazz or not but maybe that should be left for another thread.

[Pcocobass]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

I suppose you can get into an argument to determine whether that's jazz or not but maybe that should be left for another thread.

Yeah, this is a dangerous topic to get into....

[Steve Killingsworth]

Well, for various and sundry reasons, the gig has been canceled. Major disappointment but life goes one. There are, however, other opportunities in the future.

The silver lining of all this is that the intensity and scope of my practice made a quantum leap forward over the last month. This has really made me think about what I am doing and how best to approach a tune, changes, etc.

It has also really underscored the importance of listening. I don't think I realized how I had slipped into the habit of going on autopilot on so many tunes. It is amazing how many possibilities are there if you can avoid getting stuck in a rut of repetitive licks.