couple of basic questions about singing, jazz standards

[Tombolino]

Hey gang,

When I have free time off learning bass, I have been learning to sing some slow jazz standards, watching vids on YouTube mostly.

-Regarding AB sections. If I were to go to a jam session and decide to sing a full jazz standard, how do I know if after the instrumental solos, I will pick back on with lead vocals on the A or B section? Some studio versions vary this. I think its cooler when it picks back up in the B section bc its less expected and often has more tension. But usually solos happen thru A and B which means that I would jump back in with A after the last solo. Should I tell band before song thats that I wanna jump back into B? But that would be weird for the last soloist. I would have to "interrupt" at B. Make sense?

-If I want to mimick the tempo of any given version I practice at home (lets just say, the Andy Williams version), do I just turn on Metronome and make note of the tempo?

Thank you

 

[saabfender]

It's cool when that works. No horn player worth anything will mind. Just tell the guys what the plan is before you start the tune. Remember, the vocalist has to make it happen and sell it. Same with half step modulations. There's not necessarily any conventions (unless it's because I don't know the secret handshake).

Not sure why you want to mimic a tempo for jazz. Strikes me as antithetical.

 

[pcake]

talk to the players before you start doing the song so you can decide where solo is and where to come back.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

You asked about a jam session. Yes it helps if the band knows where you are going. Hand signals can be used. I'll use how we go about this in the Praise music we play as an example - and hope this may answer some of your question.

There is the song. It has a message to be told. The verses tell that story. The chorus calls attention to that message - and may be repeated as many times as the spirit moves the vocalist. The song's message (story) needs to flow so the story being sung is clear.

Our job is to keep up with the vocalist. It helps that we play from fake chord sheet music and have the chord progressions and the lyrics - and a general idea of how the verses and chorus will be sung/played. For example some songs I list in the margins the order we will follow.
V1
V2
Bridge
Chorus 2X
Lead instrumental break
V3
Chorus
V1
Chorus and tag last line.

But that is not cast in stone. We usually do it as listed, however, sometime we do not. We joke among ourselves that if the lead vocalist was to fall off the stage we would follow him and catch him before he hits the floor.

Little on the instrumental break. The lead break solo is given (passed) and may, when finished, be passed back to the lead vocalist - or not. With a nod of the head it may go to the lead electric, or any other solo instrument in the band. The last person then passes the lead solo back to the vocalist and we all pick up from there. This is done with head nods.

This kind of stuff is worked out in rehearsal. Jamming is a little more loose, however, more than likely one verse's chord progressions will be pretty close to the other verses. So jamming where the vocalist goes is not that big a deal. Hope that helped.

Understand I'm not a note by note guy and close enough is close enough in jamming. It does help if everyone is playing with each other.

 

[mambo4]

Should I tell band before song thats that I wanna jump back into B? But that would be weird for the last soloist. I would have to "interrupt" at B. Make sense?

Do everything you can to clearly communicate what you want to do.
Tell them ahead of time
hand out charts
make eye contact and us hand signals while performing
step back from the mic and give verbal instructions in a pinch

leave as little to chance as possible

 

[Tombolino]

thanks gang, talking to the band before, using hand signs if needed on the go.

Are there signs/gestures for A, B?

I know to the top is my hand on top of my head right?.

 

[mambo4]

patting the top of the head Is one I've seen and used for "take it to the top"
but there is no official standard for hand cues (as far as I know)

another thing to communicate ahead of time

 

[MalcolmAmos]

You just have to work out your hand signals. One finger for first verse, a C hand pattern for the chorus, for the bridge or section B you are on your own....

Nothing wrong with just saying out loud where you are going.

 

[Tombolino]

awesome, thank you all!