As I read stories of other fellow bass players having problems with thier bands. I think of how lucky I am to be in a jazz band with a great group of guys. Sappy i know, but true. This all started out as a simple jazz project. I loved jazz, always wanted to play it, just to scared to get a group together because of, well my lack of knowlege of jazz theory etc. So I put an ad in craigs list anyway. Sure enough i got a hold of a jazz guitarist, and drummer/singer. These were trully seasoned musicians. Both around the age of 50. I'm only 28. Just a baby compared to them age wise and musicly. Fast forward to now. Ive got this great quartet. Added a sax player along the way. Hes about my age. I have learned so much about music. So not only has it been a band, ive been basicly calling it school. The guitarist has been a tremendos help with teaching me chord structures, helping me improve my walk, just everything. Sax player also knows his stuff and has been a big help. We started out just playing standards, now in a about three sets we cover everything from bebop,modal, fusion, jazz blues, ballads, bossas, blues, and some rock i guess (oh darlin' and europa, not jazz but still good) Oh and i cant forget this. They want me to solo alot!!! Not like one song, but many in our catalog. I have to turn alot of then down. My soloing isnt really there yet. Ive been focusing on playing through rythem changes etc. Soloing will come. But its good to know they want me to do more of it. Very encouraging. Like i said i feel lucky. We have a myspace site, that gets kinda put to the side. Never really promote it when we gig.
www.myspace.com/outofthebluesjazzquartet This is from when we first got together. So no sax. But hey red baron has a bass solo!!! I listen now to it, and i hear my mistakes and cringe. Were looking to get back in the studio soon. I just wanted to share this all with my fellow bass players
