That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

Chapter 16: So You Wanna Be in a Band: Fitting into a Jazz Ensemble
� Do the players argue and fail to reach mutually agreeable solutions?
� Do the players have musical harmony, or are they unable to find a
groove or agree on who solos when and for how long?
� How often does the band practice and where?
� Who chooses the music?
� What’s expected of you between practices in the way of learning new
material?
� If the players are a working band, do they actually have a system in
place for getting equipment and players to the gig on time and making
sure everything is set up right?
� How much does the band charge per gig, and how is the money distributed
(often, the leader makes more than the rest of the band)?
Building a Band from the Ground Up
Forming and sustaining a band requires a whole new set of skills. Whether
you’re a teenager, a recent college graduate, or an older player getting your
mojo going again, you need to evolve from a solo cat who worries only about
the glitches, schedule, and talents of one to a manager, mentor, arranger, or
shrink who suddenly has two, three, or four other egos to consider.
Real musicians don’t form a band with the idea of fame, fortune, and recording
contracts. They do it for other reasons: love of music, camaraderie, a
structure for improving one’s ability, the satisfaction of trying something
new. Just making the effort to be in a band, practice together, and master
a few songs brings tremendous satisfaction.
In the following sections, I explain how to find members for your band and
tell you about the roles of the leader and the rest of the members. I also give
you tips on playing well together and building a repertoire of great music.
Recruiting the members
Before you start auditioning musicians, figure out how big you want your band
to be and which instruments to feature (see the following list). Many first
timers start out with a duo or trio. Because a pianist can cover bass, chords,
and melodies, he can fit with most any instrument. In any lineup, you need
someone who can cover these parts. Two horn players, for instance, can’t
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