Double Bass Aebersold Jazz camp?

[skipper]

Would a 61 year old, non-competitive, weak (but dedicated) upright bass player enjoy the camp? The list of teachers is impressive but intimidating, as well. I worry about being embarrassed by my incompetence.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

It would be a nice way not to have to worry about it this same time next year, nicht war?

 

[John Goldsby]

Would a 61 year old, non-competitive, weak (but dedicated) upright bass player enjoy the camp? The list of teachers is impressive but intimidating, as well. I worry about being embarrassed by my incompetence.

Hi Skipper, We've had all ages at the Aebersold camp . . . the philosophy of the camp is that everyone starts right at the place where they are, and they progress from there. There are some players who literally bought their instrument a few months before the camp, and they might not know where the notes are on the bass (they learn very fast). There are other players who have a lot of experience and can play on a professional level. It is an intense week because there is constantly music happening -- you are either playing music, listening to it, or talking about it—all day, every day for a week.

You would be put in a music theory class at your level (rudimentary, beginning, intermediate, advanced), a combo at your level -- with other players on other instruments who play about as good as you do, and in a bass master class every day that is also divided somewhat by levels and areas of interest.

If you are into the bass and like jazz, then it is a great way to spend a week of your summer. You will get over any feelings of incompetence—the bass faculty and students there have a "we're all in this together" attitude, and everyone just wants to groove on the music and learn from each other. I also learn a great deal from the students, and of course from my fellow instructors (like Chris Fitzgerald).

Plus, I think the fried chicken dinner on the first Sunday night is well worth the cost of the week.

 

[John Goldsby]

Addition to my own post:

I am not saying that any of the other jazz camps around are not worth going to -- but I've had the most experience at the Aebersold camps, both as a student and as a teacher.

As I mentioned in a previous post, there are other camps--see the link in my previous post for info about other options.

But then again—the fried chicken dinner is really, really good.

All you can eat . . .

 

[jfv]

This does seem like it would be fun, but the very thought of
having to fly my bass and amp from Portland to Louisville is
daunting. Not sure which is scarier, the thought of damage
or just the cost

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

There's no reason to bring an amp to the camp unless you're driving - amps are provided to those who come from distances. Most bassists who play DB choose to drive so they can bring their own axe. Among the faculty who fly, Rufus Reid has a travel bass with a detachable neck, and Lynn Seaton has a Czech Ease. The venerable and esteemed Mr. Goldsby follows the time honored tradition of flying in empty handed and then mooching a bass when he gets here.

There are a few rental DB's provided to DB players who choose to fly in but can't bring their basses. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you're prepared to play what you might expect from a rental bass.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Jamey's camps have a large contingent of minors, and a special set of staff to help monitor their whereabouts and safety. There is a special dorm and meal plan for minors, and they have to check in with the staff each morning and evening to ensure that everyone is happy, healthy, and accounted for. One of the things I always like about teaching there is the chance to reach people who are playing jazz at much earlier ages than I did. In some cases, the young folks are playing at an age when, at the same stage in my life, I didn't even know what jazz was!

I can relate to that - so having been a student on Jazz Summerschool over here for more than 10 years in a row - there is nothing so humbling as being told "where we are", by a 17-year-old trumpet wizzkid!!

The one I go to, was in danger of becoming a middle-aged "club" - but last year it moved to London and got a lot more youngsters in!

I really enjoyed the energy they brought and the desire to play Jazz and jam all night, at an age when I was into Heavy Metal!!

 

[John Goldsby]

This does seem like it would be fun, but the very thought of
having to fly my bass and amp from Portland to Louisville is
daunting. Not sure which is scarier, the thought of damage
or just the cost

Another option: if you play electric, is to bring the E-Bass and then borrow an acoustic at the Aebersold Workshop (they have upright basses for students who travle long distances by plane). You can get an amp there as well. You would have your electric to take to theory class and to fall back on in combo if the upright is not up to par.

Be sure to bring your own pickup and a cord if you can--that can save a lot of hassle.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

You guys really got me thinking about flying out there. The menu for bassists is kinda slim out here when it comes jazz camps, save for the Golden Gate Bass Camp but it's just way too short (I will prob go anyway). I'm already going to pay ~$1k locally for JazzCampWest or Stanford Jazz Residency... tuition + room and board + airfare is not going to be that big of a leap in cost.

 

[jfv]

There's no reason to bring an amp to the camp unless you're driving - amps are provided to those who come from distances. Most bassists who play DB choose to drive so they can bring their own axe. Among the faculty who fly, Rufus Reid has a travel bass with a detachable neck, and Lynn Seaton has a Czech Ease. The venerable and esteemed Mr. Goldsby follows the time honored tradition of flying in empty handed and then mooching a bass when he gets here.

There are a few rental DB's provided to DB players who choose to fly in but can't bring their basses. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you're prepared to play what you might expect from a rental bass.

I play in a big band, exclusively upright, with a Markbass 2x10,
I could live without my amp but would miss my Hungarian

I've never looked into how big a deal it is to fly the bass, I
only have a soft case, it must be a pain or people wouldnt
be using the travel basses Of course travel from Oregon
to Kentucky would be no small thing either... sigh.

Yes, I own a few electric basses but they arent what I
like to play, would kinda defeat the purpose.

 

[shadygrove]

This does seem like it would be fun, but the very thought of
having to fly my bass and amp from Portland to Louisville is
daunting. Not sure which is scarier, the thought of damage
or just the cost

jfv,
Have you checked out the camp John Clayton directs at Port Townsend, WA ? Invalid Link Removed Less than a day's drive from Portland, so could be an option if you really want to have your double bass at the workshop.

 

[weary gill]

I went last summer and I have to say it was probably the best thing that has happened to my playing since I picked up the bass.

 

[Gideon]

Aebersold or the Clayton one up in Port Townsend? Being on the West coast it would be nice to get something out here that I could drive to. Anyone gone to the Clayton camp or the Stanford residency camp?

 

[weary gill]

Sorry for being unclear...I meant the Aebersold one.

 

[ding_man]

Man.. I really wish I had the money to go to one of these while I'm here at college. I live in Ohio so I could just drive down...

 

[bassnug47]

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...)

When i went last year, Jamey and one of the bass instructors (rich Armandi?) did a Banjo and Tuba duet of Giant Steps. It was amazing!

You should go to the Jamey camp.

 

[Lia_G]

Hmm ... old-ish thread, but at least it's the same year.

I'm thinking about driving up to the Aebersold camp this summer. I'm playing a good amount of upright these days, but it's all rock and country. I played in a couple of combos in college, mostly electric bass. I would like to revisit jazz, on double bass this time, both for enjoyment and also because I wouldn't mind doing some jazz gigs around town. This would seem like a majorly beneficial head start.

Logistics question for Chris or anyone else ... my sister lives in Elizabethtown, and I would consider doing the drive in every day to save the dorm money. But someone else said that there was stuff going on until 11:00 every night? I wouldn't want to do that commute and get no sleep because of it ... any opinions?

Cheers,
Liam

 

[rdwhit]

Liam, faculty concerts are at night, student classes & lots of playing happen during the day. You'll be busy working your butt off all day, it's great. You won't be obligated to do stuff till 11PM. You could leave the faculty concerts a little early & have plenty of time to get to etown & get enough sleep. Believe me, Your day will still be very full & it will be worth every penny. You'll get enough stuff to work on for a year. It sounds like a good plan. Enroll ASAP, the camp fills up fast these days.

 

[John Goldsby]

Listen to Rob . . .

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

What THE HURRICANE (rdwhit) said. It's doable. Just be sure not to leave the faculty concerts when Rufus is playing. Or John. Or Lynn Seaton. Or Dave Friesen. Or Bill Moring. Or Frank Smith......