Audition do's and Don'ts

[bassman2020]

Auditioning for a smooth jazz band (my first audition) and I don't really know what to expect. Is it a good thing to ask for a cd of what they play so I can prepare myself? That makes sense to me but don't know if that's accepted practice.

 

[Stumbo]

Accepted practice, IME, is whatever the band uses. No harm in asking what they have available. IME, they should have charts and possibly a fake book. CD would be great, too.

IMO, asking about how they go about auditioning should have been the first thing out of your mouth when they asked you to audition. Also the following questions should be considered:
Do they expect you to sight read?
How many songs do they want you to play at the audition.
How big is the rehearsal space?
Do they want you to bring your entire rig?
How soon would a decision be made?
When is the next gig?
How many songs to learn for a full set and how soon to learn them?
Is the band a democracy or dictatorship?
Will you be a full member if you are selected?

Here are some TB threads on auditioning. May or may not apply to you but interesting reads, none the less.

1 For new band
2
Getting back in the game
Red flag stories
Hilarious/Bizarre audition stories
"Never got to audition"
Audition didn't go as planned
1 Auditioning a new member

Also check out: If I only knew then...

 

[bluewine]

I don't know much about protocol for jazz auditions.

I would ask them to send me 3-4 files of songs you can audition. Preferably live performance files.

Get some sort of idea of their auditioning process, how many guys are they auditioning, why is there an opening and when they are going to make a decision.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

 

[bassman2020]

I don't know much about protocol for jazz auditions.

I would ask them to send me 3-4 files of songs you can audition. Preferably live performance files.

Get some sort of idea of their auditioning process, how many guys are they auditioning, why is there an opening and when they are going to make a decision.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

for the opportunity to play in a band which plays the music I like.

 

[bluewine]

for the opportunity to play in a band which plays the music I like.

Then:

I would ask them to send me 3-4 files of songs you can audition. Preferably live performance files.

Get some sort of idea of their auditioning process, how many guys are they auditioning, why is there an opening and when they are going to make a decision.

 

[Renaissance]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask for some material so you can be prepared for the audition. As a jazz band they may just read charts. If that's the case, ask for a few songs they do and get the charts.

OTOH they may be trying to see how well you can read charts on the fly. If that's the case, you're on your own!

Do you have much experience reading charts?

 

[bassman2020]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask for some material so you can be prepared for the audition. As a jazz band they may just read charts. If that's the case, ask for a few songs they do and get the charts.

OTOH they may be trying to see how well you can read charts on the fly. If that's the case, you're on your own!

Do you have much experience reading charts?

I did ask and will be sent three songs, one standard and two original pieces and will be given charts at audition. Not much experience with the charts.

 

[Stumbo]

I did ask and will be sent three songs, one standard and two original pieces and will be given charts at audition. Not much experience with the charts.

Will the charts be chord charts where you can walk the bass lines or standard notation where you'll have to sight read?

If you don't have experience with charts (either kind), how will you get through the audition?

 

[darius8]

Talk less, brag lesser, amaze them with your playing. Your abilities is what they are interested in.

 

[JimmyM]

Will the charts be chord charts where you can walk the bass lines or standard notation where you'll have to sight read?

If you don't have experience with charts (either kind), how will you get through the audition?

Ask them to tab it?



Reading skills are expected in jazz. You have to be extremely exceptional to hang in jazz world and not be able to read. I'd get to practicing my reading before the audition as much as possible.

 

[ACalbass]

Most charts you'll get will be chord charts,where is up to your ability to create grooves and bass lines off them for the others to improvise or lay down the melodies.
If there are melodies written,you should ask for those before hand for you to work on them.
But you will be sent some samples ,so you can always learn the songs by ear or making your own charts from them.
Is all up to the skill level of the players in the band,but in this genre there is implied some theory knowledge that might require (or not) to read.

 

[Renaissance]

Can you read chord charts enough to keep up with the changes?

I'm not a flashy bass player - to me, my job is to stay in lock with the drummer and outline the chord changes so the "high pitchers" can noodle around. At an audition make sure you do this. No one pays much attention to the bass until the song goes off the tracks.

IME playing bass in a jazz band is like women's makeup. When applied in moderation and tastefully it enhances the natural beauty within. When overdone, you get Tammy Faye Baker. Don't be a Tammy Faye Baker!

Don't forget to enjoy playing.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[placedesjardins]

I did ask and will be sent three songs, one standard and two original pieces and will be given charts at audition. Not much experience with the charts.

I love smooth jazz. What kind of pieces are they playing? Do they have bass guitar-centric pieces, like you are going to have to pull out all the stops like Tetsuo Sakurai or Wayman Tisdale?

 

[JohnMCA72]

Will the charts be chord charts where you can walk the bass lines or standard notation where you'll have to sight read?

If you don't have experience with charts (either kind), how will you get through the audition?

It's perfectly reasonable for a band to audition somebody using both prepared material & sight reading. How they handle both situations should be something they'd want to know about somebody before the invite them into the band.

 

[Richland123]

In addition to what has been mentioned so far. Show up on time and be prepared. Do not showboat or have a cocky attitude.

 

[livinitup0]

I'm assuming you're playing slab right? not upright?

If so REALLY dial in your tone beforehand. Most jazz gigs ive done the BL wants the bass to be as close to an upright as possible. play up by the neck, dial in your neck pup, dont overdo it with treble....might even want to consider a fretless with a mute and flats on it if you're going to be dong regular jazz gigs.

 

[SteveC]

Most jazz gigs ive done the BL wants the bass to be as close to an upright as possible.

Not necessarily...the OP said smooth jazz. To me that means a 5 string bass with a modern sound, not at all upright.

 

[livinitup0]

Not necessarily...the OP said smooth jazz. To me that means a 5 string bass with a modern sound, not at all upright.

good point....but yeah OP definitely keep your tone in mind. It's a big deal.

 

[JimmyM]

Not necessarily...the OP said smooth jazz. To me that means a 5 string bass with a modern sound, not at all upright.

Doesn't necessarily mean 5-string. A lot of smooth jazz players use 4's.

 

[SteveC]

Doesn't necessarily mean 5-string. A lot of smooth jazz players use 4's.

True. I guess I was getting more at the modern, non-upright tone thing. And yes, there are "smooth" jazz guys that use upright - Steve Rodby with Pat Metheny, etc.

Generalizations.....