Need help with Jazz

[jeepsk8]

So, I got myself into a little ensemble that has bass, drums, trumpet and a vocalist. We have a few Jazz tunes and I am really struggling with it. Let's take Autumn Leaves for example. I have tried playing a walking bass line on this and having a tough time even though I have written it out using videos and such to get something playable. But I am starting to think I am taking the wrong approach to this song. Only the bass and drums are used in our arrangement. Should I maybe be thinking more along the lines of playing the melody rather than a strict walking bass line? I think it would probably sound better played melodically rather than the old standard. Open to any and all advice!

 

[JRA]

sorry, it's not clear to me:
bass, drums, trumpet, and voice in a band. autumn leaves is the call, but only the drums and bass actually play on that tune? what does the trumpet player do? what does the vocalist do?

thanks.

 

[Mushroo]

Have you considered adding a piano or guitar to your ensemble? Having a chordal instrument to play the harmony will make your job much easier as a bassist. If that's not possible for whatever reason, then a good exercise is to spend some practice time at the piano yourself, dissecting the tune's harmony. Study how the chord tones interact with the melody, and then apply these concepts to your bass playing. Also you should spend lots of time on YouTube studying how other musicians have approached this tune. At the end of the day however, I have to be realistic with you that playing a jazz standard as a solo bass performance (or with just drums in your case) is a difficult intermediate/advanced skill. I've been playing 30 years and I can't do it. You might have an easier time learning jazz if you join an ensemble where the bass plays a more traditional role. I learned a lot by joining a big band where the walking bass lines were written out in some sections and improvised in others.

But the short answer to your question: if the trumpet and vocalist leave the stage, and it's just you and the drummer playing "Autumn Leaves," you are responsible for the melody, and the bass line, and the harmony, and the improvised solos. You can't just play a walking bass line for 5 minutes and call it "Autumn Leaves."

 

[Viggo51]

If you had a looper pedal you could walk the song form then go back to the melody. I do it a lot when practicing a melody for a jazz tune I'm working on.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

 

[jeepsk8]

sorry, it's not clear to me:
bass, drums, trumpet, and voice in a band. autumn leaves is the call, but only the drums and bass actually play on that tune? what does the trumpet player do? what does the vocalist do?

thanks.

TBH, I have not actually played that in rehearsal, so going off the set list notes no trumpet is included and not sure about vocalist. I can certainly ask for the trumpet, that should make things way more gooder (yep, it's a word, I use it all the time ).

 

[JRA]

TBH, I have not actually played that in rehearsal, so going off the set list notes no trumpet is included and not sure about vocalist. I can certainly ask for the trumpet, that should make things way more gooder (yep, it's a word, I use it all the time ).

my advice: throw down such a wide walk that the others scramble to be a part of it. trumpet and/or voice can provide the melody. jazz drums +jazz bass + melody = enough to kill it!

IMO: if you show up with the walk: they'll figure out what to do. good luck, and have fun! be gooder today than you were yesterday!

 

[Rhythmman535]

The vocalist and/or trumpet already has the melody covered. Because nobody is playing the chords your primary function is to keep time and outline the chords, which will state the harmony, in your bass line. And, since this is new territory, you should make a point to play the root on the first beat of each measure with chord tones on the other beats especially the third and the seventh. Arpeggios are your friend: Root-3d-5th-7th on each chord of each measure. As you start to get comfortable with that mix it up: Root-5th-3d-7th, Root-3d-7th-5th etc. This is really basic (no pun intended) but it will successfully get you through any jazz chart.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Lake Street Dive much?

 

[bass12]

How the group decides to play the song will largely determine what your approach should be. "Autumn Leaves" is a song that works really well played slow with just the roots played on the downbeat of each bar (with the occasional walk up or down). The melody makes lots of use of thirds (especially in the A section) so there's less pressure on you to outline the chords.

 

[jeepsk8]

My band leader is pretty hip on making things our own, so I do have some leeway.