First Jazz gig this Sunday

[kesslari]

The keyboard player in my funk band has also a straightahead jazz band - they've got a tune on a local jazz sampler, and there's a gig this Sunday for the CD release. Their bass player can't make it, so he asked me to fill in. It's only 2 tunes, one Ellington and one other standard.

It's my first jazz gig - I'm excited!
It's a mellow way to get into it - only 2 tunes.

I've played *around* with jazz for a while, and get the concepts - I know how to walk, know chords and extensions, and how to play over them - but for me it's a lot more *knowledge* than *experience*.
So I'm stepping way out of my comfort zone here, but I'm stoked at the same time.
I went down to play with them today and found out I'll be soloing on both tunes. I had to wing it today and the band was very supportive - said I did fine, though hopefully with a couple of days to actually think about (and play with) soloing over the changes I'll be a bit more melodic and less "scrambling to play stuff that fits".

Jeez, this is a long, rambling post. I *must* be excited.

[Billnc]

Have fun! I'm doing the same with jazz guitar, way out of the comfort zone myself, though that is the first instrument and style I learned to play, never gigged it on guitar.

[Downunderwonder]

Great opportunity. You'll be buying an upright in no time.

btw, what's that cabinet in your avatar?

[kesslari]

Funny enough, my wife really WANTS me to buy an upright, even knowing the cost...
I have a great wife
But I just don't have enough time to practice as is, let alone splitting between upright and electric.

The cabinet is a Bill Fitzmaurice Omni10. It's the predecssor to the Jack 10, and is a great sounding cabinet.
And the extra woofer in the picture is a Boerboel.

[kesslari]

Gig went well. I had a good time, didn't screw any of the changes, and solo'd comprehensibly and mostly with good intonation, if not brilliantly. But hey, I never claimed to be brilliant.

Hopefully I'll skip some of the adrenaline rush next time

[kesslari]

Invited back to play a full evening this week.
I'm excited. And waaay out of my comfort zone.

[Stingray89]

Good for you man. I've been wanting to get into jazz for the longest time. I've studied up on it and like you I have some basic knowledge. Do you have any advice on what else I can do? I've gigged with countless rock tunes but want to try something different and jazz seems to be the answer right now.

[shadow_FIX]

Awesome! You must have done well. Just sit in the pocket, play functional but not flashy lines, and lay down the time and feel for the band. If you do all of these things, you'll get called again.

If you do these things on upright, you'll get called for jazz even more.

If you do all these things on both electric/upright, and work on both and develop good soloistic concepts, better time/lines, and playing experience, you'll keep getting called more often.

Have fun!!

[Bredian]

Been playing jazz standards for a church group for the past 6 years. Sometimes we'll get charts sans bass music, so I use the piano part. Often surprised when I listen to recordings of the same that don't match or come close to the written bass part. Most old parts are written notes, not chords and yes, there are typos.

My guess is early parts mimicked tuba parts (used to play that also), 2 quarter notes every bar, then evolved into modern walking bass parts we're more familiar with. I play with a fretted Precision Lyte, so I'm far from a purist, in fact when this gig is over next month, I'm looking for a cover band.

Thankfully we aren't playing any Dixieland, don't have to listen to any clarinets, etc. The mid 70's trumpet soloist sits out the polka, refusing to play it! Even the long time local Sacramento Jazz Festival recognized it couldn't survive on Dixieland and I now see guys I knew in high school jazz bands playing all varieties.