Jazz play-along instruction book recommendations please.

For improvisation, you can't really go wrong with the Aebersold playalongs.

 

I'd recommend Ed Friedland's "Jazz Bass" - I used this when I started trying to play Jazz and have since leant my copy to other beginners, who have found it helpful!

It gives you all the basics you need as a Jazz bass player and has a CD to play along with, covering the most common styles you are likely to encounter - well a beginner's introduction anyway...

 

John Goldsby's The Jazz Bass Book is a good book that traces the history of jazz in it's lessons

 

John,
I would like to recommend Reading Bass Parts Vol. 1 and Vol. 3. These books are EXACTLY what you asked for.
http://www.jimstinnett.com/books.html#anchorbassparts1

"Each volume is a combination reading book / play-along CD. On the CD you will hear each song twice. The first time you can read along. The second time the bass is muted so you can play the written part or improvise your own line."

 

+1 And there is a HUGE selection of resources there beside the playalongs. Good stuff!

 

yeah, Aebersodl tend to pretty costly and can be fairly tough to get hold of, but the two I'd recommend to start with blues in all keys and maiden voyage

 

You can get them all mail order from JazzWise magazine :

http://www.jazzwise.co.uk/

Go to online store - they have loads of other tempting stuff as well!!

Here are the Aebersolds - at about £15 - £20 each :
http://www.jazzwise.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=16&osCsid=c95fede50ee4b9bf1e84e57697f65714