Playing Jazz well is hard....

[BassBus]

And that's a good example. Played around simple chord structures. Sometimes the hardest to make sound good and not boring and repetitive.

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1367679386' post='2068328']
Still only took a couple of days, and most of it was first take.
[/quote]

So granted its possible, but are we really comparing like with like i.e. a relatively free form jams vs a more traditional song with chords all predetermined ?

[ubassman]

A good while back, I did a long weekend Jazz course where in turn we had to do an improvised solo or 'walk' over an 8 chord progression . One of the guys in the group who was the most technically proficient orchestral player and who could knock spots of any of us just said ' ...but how do you know what notes to play???'

The 'walkers' explained how they linked chords with patterns and harmonic connections whereas the soloist pretty much all said ' ...just hear the changes!'

For me that was a defining moment - when you are playing someone else's dots its a very different kind of musicianship needed than the sense of exposure when playing jazz - bit like climbing a rock face . Pushing the comfort zone, confidence in ones own ability, focus of whats going on around you, spur of the moment inventiveness and commitment , taking a risk or two knowing that if it failed it could go seriously pear shaped .

Loved the summary Bilbo ...we are all 'moths' and jazz is the 'candle' !!

[RandomBass]

[quote name='Earbrass' timestamp='1367582819' post='2067194']

That's a bit like saying "That Einstein bloke was a bit clever, an all, but could he install a gas cooker? Could he f***."
[/quote]
I don't think he was Corgi registered anyway...

[lowdown]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1367738360' post='2068781']
I don't think he was Corgi registered anyway...
[/quote]

You missed the downbeat and came in late mate....
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206762-playing-jazz-well-is-hard/page__view__findpost__p__2067639


Garry

[bassace]

Just to hijack this thread (a little) I've received my May copy of Sandy Brown Jazz. Sandy was one of the very best acoustic engineers and also a great clarinet player, leading a very good mainsteam band when all about him were cashing in on the 'Trad boom' in the sixties. This is a useful online magazine that gives a good flavour of the British jazz scene today and could be particularly helpful to any aspiring jazzers who may like to know what's going on. Hope you enjoy.

[url="http://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/whatsnew.html"]http://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/whatsnew.html[/url]

[steve-bbb]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1367678604' post='2068314']
According to wikipedia

... " the persistent legend that the entire album was recorded in one pass is untrue"
[/quote]

there are some great masterpieces done in one pass as direct to disc masters where the recording has to be done in one continuous pass with no pauses and no correcting mistakes afterwards - [b][url="http://jazztimes.com/articles/15246-the-piano-herbie-hancock"]Herbie Hancock's 'Piano'[/url][/b] is (apparently not) a fine example of this


edit - interesting article [url="http://www.auldworks.com/AESDD/dd1.htm"]http://www.auldworks.com/AESDD/dd1.htm[/url]

editedit - and here's one for [b]JTUK[/b] ..... [url="http://rockonvinyl.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/crossfire-direct-to-disc-1978.html"]http://rockonvinyl.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/crossfire-direct-to-disc-1978.html[/url]

Edited May 7, 2013 by steve-bbb

[Bilbo]

Most Jazz recordings take place over a few hours, rarely more than a day. There is seldom a budget that allows for anything greater. Look at the discographies in any jazz biography. 95% of the material is one date. Kind of Blue was done in two sessions, each lasting around three to four hours. More remarkable is the fact that a truckload of Blue Note classics were recorded in the living room of Rudy Van Gelder's parents and not in a professional studio!

[lojo]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1367923175' post='2070983']
Most Jazz recordings take place over a few hours, rarely more than a day. There is seldom a budget that allows for anything greater.
[/quote]

In my limited but enjoyed knowledge of jazz , Id like to think that higher budgets and over production would ruin it somewhat, but then in any style of music I always prefer it live




BTW Is this Jazz ?

https://soundcloud.com/barry-lamb

Edited May 8, 2013 by lojo

[niceguyhomer]

I don't know the first thing about jazz but I do know I absolutely love listening to it and really wish I could play it. A drummer friend of mine feels the same way and sometimes between songs we'll just start jamming something and whilst it sounds fantastic to our ears, I'mm sure the jazzers would fall about laughing if they heard it. I'd love to understand Jazz and learn to play it to a reasonable level but daunted by the mountain I'd have to to climb, I'll have to learn to be content with the occasional improvised fumbling with my tub thumping buddy.

Respect to anyone who can play jazz.