DB Next level tunes...

[Tom Lane]

Recently, @John Goldsby commented on another thread I started about the differences between novice, intermediate, and advanced jazz bassists and as part of that, he mentioned a few tunes he, off the top of his head, considered to be in the next level beyond beginners. He mentioned a few tunes, but among them were Stablemates, Woody'n You, Giant Steps, and Countdown.
I was already working on some of these tunes before John's comments, but I found myself wondering about other tunes I've played that I thought were "beyond the beginner". Soloing on Silver's Peace comes to mind and Jobim's Girl from Ipanema completely in the changes, is another. Cherokee, and Rhythm Changes, at tempo, 250+ bpm, too. And so I thought that it might be worthwhile to create a list of these "next level tunes" - tunes that are more challenging for the bassist than All of Me, or Fly Me to the Moon, or Autumn Leaves.
Add your suggestions... and an infinite number of beginning jazz bassists will praise your name when they nail their audition - because the web is forever - and, you can rest easy, knowing you've pushed jazz bass forward. You helped make the next Esperanza Spalding!
Kidding, kidding, but, it will be out there forever of one point in time, and, it will contribute to the future of jazz, so... love jazz? Hope that those after you will do more?

 

[Sean Riddle]

Reincarnation of a Lovebird, Brilliant Corners, Pannonica, W.R.U by Ornette Coleman, Silence by Charlie Haden, Gateway by Henry Threadgill, and honestly most of Mingus’, Eric Dolphy’s, Carla Bley’s, and Paul Motian’s repertoire.
One that isn’t a standard but should be is Candle by Larry Koonse. The harmonic form of that piece is definitely next level in the jazz world.

 

[twinjet]

Recently, @John Goldsby commented on another thread I started about the differences between novice, intermediate, and advanced jazz bassists and as part of that, he mentioned a few tunes he, off the top of his head, considered to be in the next level beyond beginners. He mentioned a few tunes, but among them were Stablemates, Woody'n You, Giant Steps, and Countdown.
I was already working on some of these tunes before John's comments, but I found myself wondering about other tunes I've played that I thought were "beyond the beginner". Soloing on Silver's Peace comes to mind and Jobim's Girl from Ipanema completely in the changes, is another. Cherokee, and Rhythm Changes, at tempo, 250+ bpm, too. And so I thought that it might be worthwhile to create a list of these "next level tunes" - tunes that are more challenging for the bassist than All of Me, or Fly Me to the Moon, or Autumn Leaves.
Add your suggestions... and an infinite number of beginning jazz bassists will praise your name when they nail their audition - because the web is forever - and, you can rest easy, knowing you've pushed jazz bass forward. You helped make the next Esperanza Spalding!
Kidding, kidding, but, it will be out there forever of one point in time, and, it will contribute to the future of jazz, so... love jazz? Hope that those after you will do more?

I'm not sure where Nardis lies in the spectrum, but that's one I love to call. I never hear anyone play it, experienced or not, unless I request it at a jam or wave tip money around.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Also here’s a recording of that Larry Koonse tune I mentioned

 

[PauFerro]

Stella by Starlight?

 

[Don Kasper]

Also here’s a recording of that Larry Koonse tune I mentioned

Thanks for posting this... LK and DO, are 2 truly unique talents.
(That's a beautiful "tune"...).

 

[Sean Riddle]

Thanks for posting this... LK and DO, are 2 truly unique talents.
(That's a beautiful "tune"...).

They indeed are. While it wasn’t a rite of passage per se, Candle was a pretty popular tune amongst people who studied with Larry while I was at CalArts. I gotta see if I still have the chart for it in one of my many folders.

 

[Don Kasper]

They indeed are. While it wasn’t a rite of passage per se, Candle was a pretty popular tune amongst people who studied with Larry while I was at CalArts. I gotta see if I still have the chart for it in one of my many folders.

I would love to see THAT chart!
Thanks.

 

[Don Kasper]

Sail Away (Tom Harrell). I like this version...

 

[Maple]

I think the more advanced you get you find bigger challenges in even the simple tunes

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

 

[The Biz]

Not to be contrarian (maybe a bit) but i always thought how bad ass they played a Blues was a measure of a bass player's "level" ...making the simple stuff sound fresh and spontaneous is an art.


Back to our regularly scheduled program....

 

[damonsmith]

Sticking within the traditional jazz rep. - this one is not easy:

 

[damonsmith]

After the army of post SRV/Clapton Ron Jeremy look-a-likes that is a VERY tall order in the 21st century! A joke I like to make: the only thing worse than playing a blues is not being able to play one!

Not to be contrarian (maybe a bit) but i always thought how bad ass they played a Blues was a measure of a bass player's "level" ...making the simple stuff sound fresh and spontaneous is an art.


Back to our regularly scheduled program....

 

[sean_on_bass]

Not to be contrarian (maybe a bit) but i always thought how bad ass they played a Blues was a measure of a bass player's "level" ...making the simple stuff sound fresh and spontaneous is an art.


Back to our regularly scheduled program....

I'm with you. I feel alot more freedom when the changes leave alot of room to be played with, rather than trying to innovate on a mine field like All the Things You Are. With that said there is a place for both of those things in jazz and preferably a well constructed set would have some of both. I really enjoy the Ray Brown Trio recordings because he had no problem taking a simple tune like I'm Walking and making it feel like a million bucks, while adding some of his own arrangement choices to make it original to him.

Some next level tunes for me:

All The Things You Are
Round Midnight
Alfie
Fascinating Rhythm
Body and Soul
Nardis
Django

I'd also consider a couple of jazz compositions by Pat Metheny like Bright Size Life and James. I think folks struggle with the tonality of tunes like that when it comes to solo time.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Sticking within the traditional jazz rep. - this one is not easy:

Yes...i think there are ALOT of Mingus picks that would fit this type of list. I've yet to have the balls to really try any of his compositions. Super deep stuff.

There is a project in my town called the Mingus Awareness Project and they have their upcoming show soon that i need to make it to.

Mingus Awareness Project

 

[The Biz]

After the army of post SRV/Clapton Ron Jeremy look-a-likes that is a VERY tall order in the 21st century! A joke I like to make: the only thing worse than playing a blues is not being able to play one!

At least in jazz you're spared their singing.

 

[oren]

I find both Blue In Green and Gloria’s Step to be challenging - something about ten bar forms.

 

[twinjet]

Not to be contrarian (maybe a bit) but i always thought how bad ass they played a Blues was a measure of a bass player's "level" ...making the simple stuff sound fresh and spontaneous is an art.


Back to our regularly scheduled program....

I agree. Check this killer rendition of Barbados featuring the CTI All-Stars. These guys were masters.

Phil Woods, alto sax
Charlie Haden, double bass

I find both Blue In Green and Gloria’s Step to be challenging - something about ten bar forms.

Isn't Steve Swallow's Falling Grace kinda like that, too? Neat tune.

 

[Sam Sherry]

I could have picked any Bill Evans Trio tune but the switch between 3/4 and 4/4 makes "How My Heart Sings" special:


I could have picked any of dozens of Chick Corea tunes, but "500 Miles High" lit me up like a Christmas tree when I was a kid. And of course, there is 21-year-old Stanley Clarke making sure that the bar stays in sight but forever out of reach!