I've been playing bass for almost 40 years, but very little jazz. I thought I'd try testing the waters with some smooth jazz to get my feet wet - any recommended cuts with some interesting bass parts that aren't super-hard from a technical standpoint? The smooth jazz music channel on cable occasionally has some candidates, but I'd be interested in some suggestions for good starter material from those more familiar with the genre than me.
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Smooth Jazz for Beginners
- Thread starter LowNotes1
- Start date
Boney James. Though the bass parts are synth on a lot of it, they are not particularly hard to play..and they have a great groove!
So what would you call it then? And while you're at it, let the cable channels and radio stations know what they should call it, because they've been calling it that for years so I guess you know something they don't.
Check out Mr. Magic and Winelight by Grover Washington Jr. ...Killer rhythm section (Marcus Miller / Steve Gadd on Winelight ... not sure for Mr Magic)
FYI ... generally speaking 'Smooth Jazz' is very much a different thing than 'Jazz' and many will be aghast/appalled and possibly very grumpy that you dare speak of them as one in the same.
FYI ... generally speaking 'Smooth Jazz' is very much a different thing than 'Jazz' and many will be aghast/appalled and possibly very grumpy that you dare speak of them as one in the same.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
I really like this compilation.
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Wanting to to play jazz, and starting out with smooth jazz, is a lot like wanting to play hard rock, and picking a few tunes by Elvis, and the Beach Boys, as a place to begin.
Smooth jazz is it's own thing. To me, its as close to "real" jazz(s) as is fusion. There isn't anything wrong about wanting to play smooth jazz; just be aware there might be better places to start if you want to explore jazz.
Smooth jazz is it's own thing. To me, its as close to "real" jazz(s) as is fusion. There isn't anything wrong about wanting to play smooth jazz; just be aware there might be better places to start if you want to explore jazz.
Kenny G
(kidding). I love me some Wayman Tisdale, though.
On a side note...that funky bass line my local weather channel plays when they cycle the radar map is too kewl.
(kidding). I love me some Wayman Tisdale, though.On a side note...that funky bass line my local weather channel plays when they cycle the radar map is too kewl.
I'd suggest by-passing the "smooth jazz" and go to some jazz standards, like Autumn Leaves, All of Me etc. These are comparatively basic and easy and will get you further along the road to jazz than Kenny G or Grover Washington, (nothing wrong with either of these, but there are better paths to jazz.)
Miles Davis' Kind of Blue will be a great starter for you too.
Miles Davis' Kind of Blue will be a great starter for you too.
Smooth Jazz is a marketing term...another example is Acid Jazz (IMO, a '90s version of '70s-style R&B/Soul).
IMHO, Jazz is supposed to be anything but "smooth". YMMV.
Many will say Jazz Fusion spawned Smooth Jazz...following the '60s timetable:
Free Jazz led into Fusion which led into Smooth Jazz...many Smooth Jazzers are/were Jazzers; this could be part of the reason "Jazz" is used to describe Kenny G, Boney James, Chris Botti, et al.
BTW, Kenny G was an early member of The Jeff Lorber Fusion. That was a '70s Jazz Fusion outifit with a funky rhythm section.
I had Winelight when it first came out...also, Breezin' by George Benson. Both are often cited as the 1st albums of the Smooth Jazz genre. Tom Scott's New York Connection was another favourite.
Although my listening taste at that time was that of a Jazz Nazi (acoustic Miles, Mingus, Monk, Coltrane, et al)...my playing was geared more towards Grover, Tom Scott, Maynard Ferguson, early Spryro Gyra, early Yellowjackets, Steely Dan, etc.
This stuff spoke more to me because of its R&B/Funk vibe....that's part of the knock on Smooth Jazz/Contemporay Jazz...the rhythm section is based on a steady (non-improvised) Funk rhythm section.
Mister Magic personnel: Grover Washington, Jr. (saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Eric Gale (guitar); Harry Glickman, Joseph Malin, Harold Kohon, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondi, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Lookofsky (violin); The Manny Vardi Strings, Al Brown (viola); Charles McCracken , Alan Shulman (cello); Phil Bodner (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis, Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Wayne Andre (trombone); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Bob James (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Harvey Mason, Sr. (drums); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Gary King (bass).
Metallica is a great smooth jazz band. Check out this killer relaxing number: Metallica-Enter Sandman (Smooth Jazz Version) - YouTube
Cable channels and radio stations call it whatever the music industry calls it because a confused listener doesn't patronize sponsers. The music industry calls it smooth jazz because it inevitably has a saxophone in it and that's a jazz instrument, right?
To base your position on cable channels and radio stations is just pandering to the label-attachers (the music executives); those that have no interest in music other than the financial gain that it might bring if it is spoon-fed to the proper demographic.
So, if you are, as you state, interested in getting into jazz, then listen to jazz. Suggestions such as Miles' Kind of Blue and other basic standards, such as Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are, There Will Never Be Another You, etc. are good places to start.
There have been plenty of good recommendations in this thread that represent several styles.
Back in my dad's day, it was called Muzak...'70s/'80s Fusion that was not so "smooth" was called Fuzak (Fusion + Muzak). These were the seedlings that became Smooth Jazz.
YMMV.
