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Jazz!

D

ding_man

Dec 24, 2006
312
3
Celina, OH
#1
I'm plan on going to college majoring in jazzstudies with Electric bass. One because I believe you should start towards the bottom with genres (in time period I mean) and work your way up. Hell I've even studied some classical for theory and technique with the bass.

But I'm still a beginner with jazz. I understand it quite a bit, I can play it with good style, and I am in the beginnings of improvisation. The teacher I have now with bass that I just switched too.. we're working more on mechanics and technique (fixing bad technique I have picked up over the years :bassist: ) I want to know what kind of books you guys would reccommend. I'm also picking up a lot of jazz to listen to and if you guys have any things you definately think I should get thatd be great too.

Thanks for advice and suggestions.
 
#2
Carol Kaye has a terrific DVD that teaches you to play old-school type jazz improv. Some consider it a bit controversial because of her emphasis on chords over scales, but I happen to think she's right. You can find it on www.carolkaye.com. I would also recommend getting a Real Book and playing over the changes in the songs.

As for what tunes to learn, wow, where do you begin? Just read all over Talkbass and get some ideas. Also, don't listen to just the bass players. Listen to the other instruments and singers as well and try to incorporate what they do in your bass playing.
 
#3
I didn't see a DVD but I found some some books that seemed to ahve a lot of information in them that I think I will by.

And honestly besides Jaco Pastorious, I dont think I've been buying any CD's just for the bass player, but I think thats good advice. You arent gonna learn everything about jazz if all you listen to is Jaco Pastorious, Victor Wooten, and Stanley Clarke.

Any more reccomendations?
 
#4
What sort of jazz playing are you interested in? There are so many types of ensembles and styles within jazz.

Do you dig:
Trio (piano, drums, bass)
Quartet (piano, trumpet or sax, drums, bass and other combinations)
B-3 Organ
Big Band
Vocal
Fusion

The list goes on and on.

Check out amazon.com or bn.com and browse some of the jazz styles. I used to do this for hours just to see who I might like.

Joe
 
#5
Check out the things that the school you plan on attending is looking for. For instance, Cal State Northridge has a pretty decent jazz studies program, you can go here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and see what kind of things you will be doing. I'd also check out SUNY, North Texas, Rutgers and any other schools you can think of. That should give you some good ideas.
 
#6
Thanks guys.

I like lots of types of jazz.. I really like big band stuff since thats what I play at school and I like combo stuff a lot too. I've mostly been exploring the 'classics' I have this website with top 100 lists for every genre of music and I'm using that. My next album I am buying is Take Five. I've heard the title track and I like it so far.

As for colleges I'm staying in Ohio (my state) for money reasons. The few colleges I have options for mainly just want to hear you play a few standards. I also need to get my keyboard skill up since I need to be at least comfortable at it.. I dont have to be able to sound awesome but scales and chords and the basics will be needed.

Getting advice on this is telling me I may be more prepared then I think I am.

Does anyone have any suggestions of some jazz standards that will help me with walking bass lines a lot?
 
#8
If you know basic harmony and theory well then something like The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine would be good. One of the main things I like about it is it reference classic Jazz records so you can hear the topic in use.

If your theory isn't that good start brushing up on your chord construction and get a book like Ed Friedland Building Walking Bass Lines. Walking bass isn't that different from beginning improv. Plus if your good at walking bass you'll be making friends in ensembles fast. Also get a Real Book, get some classic Jazz albums like Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Early Coltrane. Some Bill Evans with Scott LaFaro on bass. Then some albums with Ray Brown and Ron Carter on bass.

Listening a lot and getting the sound in your head is the main thing. If you can't hear it, your can't play it.
 
#10
steveb98 said:
If you know basic harmony and theory well then something like The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine would be good. One of the main things I like about it is it reference classic Jazz records so you can hear the topic in use.

If your theory isn't that good start brushing up on your chord construction and get a book like Ed Friedland Building Walking Bass Lines. Walking bass isn't that different from beginning improv. Plus if your good at walking bass you'll be making friends in ensembles fast. Also get a Real Book, get some classic Jazz albums like Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Early Coltrane. Some Bill Evans with Scott LaFaro on bass. Then some albums with Ray Brown and Ron Carter on bass.

Listening a lot and getting the sound in your head is the main thing. If you can't hear it, your can't play it.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll have to check out that book. Thanks for the suggestions for artists/albums too I have some of that all ready.

Thanks guys. Keep it coming maybe we can get a discussion going on somethin jazzy.
 

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