Help me become a jazz hack

pklima · #1 08-01-2006, 01:26 AM

I've played folk, classical, pop, metal etc. but not really jazz. Now a band wants to hire me to play jazz in restaraunts, banquets etc. Any tips on how to survive that? How to play lines of the "real jazz musicians will be bored to death but the guy eating a pork chop will like it better than the sort of stuff real jazz musicians play" variety?

Paul Warburton · #2 08-01-2006, 04:20 AM

I've never heard of a jazz hack.....you don't last very long in this genre if you're a hack....give it your best shot though!

musicman5string · #3 08-01-2006, 06:50 AM

Get a teacher....quickly.

Sam Sherry · #4 08-01-2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

How to play lines of the "real jazz musicians will be bored to death but the guy eating a pork chop will like it better than the sort of stuff real jazz musicians play" variety?

Peter, that's so sad!

What's the point of making noise when you could be playing music? Surely there is some more efficient way to put food on the table.

Good health, but bad luck, to you in this endeavor.

Paul Warburton · #5 08-01-2006, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

Peter, that's so sad!

What's the point of making noise when you could be playing music? Surely there is some more efficient way to put food on the table.

Good health, but bad luck, to you in this endeavor.

Agreed 100%!
Jazz, as with any genre, is a very intense endevour. It's a life you have to live and, as Sam says, it should be about the music, not about the bread....if you've chosen music for the $$$$ aspect, we need to have a long talk.

Jeff Guevin · #6 08-01-2006, 07:12 AM

A teacher will be essential, but I'd also say "listening to jazz" would be a good start! Immerse yourself in the greatest albums (and read as much as you can) and you may find this great art form really speaks to you.

I hope you like it, but I can say it is possible to come to love jazz through/while playing it. I joined my high school jazz band because of a cute girl, and a year later i was hooked forever. And if this gig works out for you, but you find you just don't like the stuff, do everyone a favor and stop playing it!

**Damon Rondeau** · #7 08-01-2006, 07:15 AM

OK, I'm a guy who's been known to put on a suit and play standards for the guy eating the pork chop. I've done quite a lot of it in the last couple of years.

I hear some post-modern cynical irony in your question, Peter. As in "I know I won't be considered the next Christian McBride, and I know standards have been done past death and are banned from the planet Cool, but silly me I'm gonna give it a shot anyway. Anyone have some advice for me in this pointless, low-brow commercial endeavor?"

Here's the advice: adjust your attitude! Pork Chop Boy may not be the audience you had in mind but forget about him, if you can. He may not show it but he's very easy to please and he'll help pay for your jazz education. What you need to do is try and connect with "Body and Soul", or "Stardust" or "My Funny Valentine" or whatever hoary done-to-death standard you're playing. There's a reason it's a standard: it's a thing of beauty! Savour them. The Cool Police aren't looking.

For jazz, concentrate on getting a strong rhythm pulse as soon as you can. The walking and the soloing can be developed over time -- start simple ande keep listening, keep imagining and keep trying to hit the mark. There's a hardly a better, safer way to log performance time than in the restaurant while Pork Chop Boy is clattering his cutlery all over the place.

pklima · #8 08-01-2006, 07:31 AM

Don't get me wrong; I like jazz, especially the older tunes, I just don't have much real experience yet. The trumpet player is also a trained bassist so so far I've just been doing what he tells me and following my instincts/ears. Seems to be working OK but I sometimes wonder about things like just how simple a part can I get away with on tunes I don't know well? Can I just play whole notes on ballads? Pedal tones?

Shouldn't I be listening to jazz played by wedding bands instead of jazz played by the greats? After all it's much more relevant to what I'm doing... which, I guess, would be survive this gig without being fired long enough to learn something. Unfortunately most of my jazz experience is playing a few standards ("Autumn leaves", "The thrill is gone", "Witchcraft", "It's all right with me" and "Moonlight on the Ganges") with my various metal bands. Not the best place to learn how jazz really works, eh?

I do have a horribly cynical attitude, that's another subject altogether...

Scott McC · #9 08-01-2006, 07:49 AM

If you just need to get through the gig.....R235 R235 etc, or R765 if you run out of room. However, if that doesnt mean anything to you, you could be in trouble. What the guys have said above is true.

pklima · #10 08-01-2006, 08:03 AM

Don't worry, I can definitely do that. And it's actually quite a useful tip for emergencies, thanks!