That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

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Part IV: I Like the Way You Play: The Jazz Musician
� Focus on fitting with the band, not standing out as a great genius.
Unless you’re the star, it’s much more important to be a partner with
your bandmates than to show off. No one likes a show-off — especially
one whose ego is bigger than his ability.
� Work out complementary melody parts so you aren’t all playing the
exact same line as other horns in the band. The coolest thing about
a band’s version of a jazz standard is the original take on it, including
ways that one instrument or section can carry a melody while another
plays another line in harmony.
� Don’t diss a fellow player on stage, even if his solo stinks. Don’t curse
or say something mean, and keep a pleasant expression on your face;
the audience can tell what you’re feeling, and it’s not pleasant to watch
a band in public conflict.
� Play in tune. Buy the right tune-up equipment and know how to use it.
Most bands tune to one instrument, such as the piano. Before you ever
join a band, you should be confident in your ability to tune up quickly
and accurately. The first time I went to a jam session, it took me ten
agonizing minutes to tune my guitar because I was so nervous.
� Serve the music, not yourself. In addition to being considerate of your
bandmates, be respectful of the tune. You choose songs because they’re
thoughtfully composed. Comprehend the tune thoroughly, and when you
play it, imagine the composer and his times and earlier recordings as
you try to deliver a version worthy of the song and its history.
Stocking up on standard
songs and wild cards
How many songs does your band need to have in its repertoire before it can
play a gig? I asked a musician I know and he gave me the obvious answer:
enough tunes to fill the length of the gig. If you’re going to an hour-long set,
you probably need eight to ten tunes, depending on the length of improvisations.
The type of venue and audience tells you how much to solo and how
much to stick with a song’s written chords and melody.
Bands often play two sets in an evening, and if the audience remains largely
the same, you don’t want to repeat anything. So 15 to 20 tunes is an ideal
target. Working jazzmen — those who are in ongoing bands, substitute in
other bands, and participate in jam sessions — know dozens of tunes.