That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

Chapter 16: So You Wanna Be in a Band: Fitting into a Jazz Ensemble
Also remember that improvisation is a vital element of jazz, and you need to
find the right ways to showcase your group’s improvisational talent. To many
players, the best songs for improvisation are those with simple chord changes
and straightforward, beautiful melodies. The less that’s written down on
paper, the more room for soloist creation.
Following some basic playing etiquette
Jazz musicians generally don’t like rules, but if you’re playing in a band or
going to jam sessions here are some basic guidelines that keeps you in good
with your peers.
� Keep your solos short and sweet so others get their time too. A solo
should add something to the tune and complement the group effort. A
soloist should listen closely to the other musicians, and there should be
give and take — not just take.
� Figure out the rotation for solos and stick to it. Often the bandleader
takes the last solo. Sometimes a natural order exists: Someone is good at
starting the rotation with a bold statement, and someone else is good at
bringing things back toward the song and its melody.
� Drummers and bassists get fewer solos. I don’t know about you, but
if there’s one thing that usually irritates me, it’s an endless drum solo.
There are exceptions, but most jazz bands give most of the solo time
to trumpets, saxophones, and other traditional lead instruments.
� Music is like good conversation, so don’t butt in on another soloist.
Well, there’s another thing that irritates me — it’s when one musician
plays too much while another is improvising. When someone solos, the
job of the other instrumentalists is to support him, not compete —
unless it’s the kind of song where a couple of players, say, a trumpeter
and saxophonist, are trading short solos in a sort of duel.
� Don’t play over a vocalist. When a singer is singing the words to a song,
be like wallpaper, stay in the background. The audience wants to hear
the lyrics and melody.
� Know the power of silence — what you don’t play is as important as
what you do play. My favorite players are those who add just the right
notes. It’s easy, especially for budding musicians, to play too much in
their desire to demonstrate their chops.
� Don’t play if you don’t know the song. Obviously, this tip applies to public
performances and jam sessions, not practices. It’s possible to fake it in
the background on some tunes, but you shouldn’t jump in on a solo if
you don’t know the chords and melody.
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