Aebersold Jazz camp?

E-mail Chris Fitzgerald at this site, he is intimately involved with teaching at those...

 

I went to an Aebersold camp when I was 15 or 16. I was really ignorant at the time and I didn't get a whole lot out of the theory classes or combo rehearsals, but it was great because I got turned on to tons of great records, and I learned a lot about lots of the great bass players.

 

my friend went and said it was great. Rufus Reid teaches at those. Also, if its not to far away for you, I would consider the New Hampshire Bass Fest in the summer. I was taught by Rufus there and it was great. Very jazz focused.

 

Hi MDE,

I had to jump in on this. I often teach at the Aebersold workshops, as does your friendly moderator Chris Fiztgerald. It is one of the best bass experiences you can have—one of the best jazz learning experiences you can have. You play, study, listen and eat jazz from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m (they even have live jazz during lunch). There are a lot of fantastic players and teachers, plus students of ALL levels from all over the world. The price for tuition is extremely fair, and you get lots of playing and practical/theoretical material to take home with you. There are usually about 35 to 40 bass students of all levels. The faculty is usually:
• Rich Armandi
• J.B.Dyas
• Chris Fitzgerald
• David Friesen
• John Goldsby
• Bill Moring
• Rufus Reid
• Lynn Seaton
• Bob Sinicrope
• Frank Smith
• Tyrone Wheeler

When I first went to the workshops back in the late '70s as a student, there were only about 10 students and Rufus Reid was the only instructor. Rufus is still there, and the Aebersold staff has the method and organization down (they have been doing it for decades now), and I highly recommend the week. I would recommend you also go to the bass/drum workshop, which takes place on the Saturday and Sunday before the week-long camp starts.

More info at www.summerjazzwokshops.com

I still do not know if I will be there this summer, but I would like to be. Maybe I'll see you.

 

The Port Townsend camp with John Clayton would of course be great as well. You can get a complete look at what is available here. The Stanford Jazz Camp is also worth considering.

 

Stick'em onna phone with Chris if the have parental type concerns...

 

Although I've never attended personally, everyone I've ever talked to about the Aebersold Jazz Camps has had nothing but good things to say. It strikes me as incredible opportunity to get to work with Rufus Reid, Lynn Seaton, John Goldsby, Chris Fitzgerald and everyone else. Just too good to pass up. I've had the good fortune to meet Jamey Aebersold a few times, and he is a wonderful person and a lot fun to be around. Louisville is also a very nice place, and I can't imagine anyone not enjoying a visit there.

 

I went the summers after my sophomore and junior years of high school and benefited greatly. As long as you can survive Jamey sittin down with a banjo and telling you that smoking is bad, then the rest is a real treat. Do they still have everyone eat at Mastersons (is that what its called even?)? That maybe another downside . . . there's always the taco bell/pizza hut combination building just off of campus (with talking garbage cans). Aebersold's banjo playing and masterson's food aside, I would say that if you have the opportunity to go to the camp, jump on it. Beyond the great educators, there are some pretty darn good students that you can communicate with and learn from . . . its a great community.

 

Hey, banjo players might be able to make a living after all!

 

HA!

 

You could take the opportunity to start telling banjo jokes... (like the one about the bass player who locked his keys in the car... it took him 3 hours to get the banjo player out...)