The Big Band audition.

[MBIYF]

First I'm obliged to give you the full story. This band already has a bass player, a drummer and a guy on piano... all 3 are hired guns. The hardcore members want REAL band members instead. Who doesn't :P. The hired guns know this and want to quit after the few upcomming gigs. Because of this they not only asked me to audition, but they asked my buddy for piano too!!

Oh boy, we did suck. The 2 meager song we did prepare happened to be scratched of their setlist :smack:. Oh man, we sucked the floor with them. I sucked a bit more than my friend... I got the roots and (most of) the changes and that's it. Oh boy, we did suck.

After the band called it a rehearsal the director said we sucked. Duh! He was nice to add that for now we sucked at playing this genre. He was right nonetheless. This is when the brass section stood up and started defending us. We had just 1 day to prepare, we never heard/saw the songs and there was no drummer to play to. I guess they really liked us (as persons, not as sucky jazzers). :D

So we made up the following plan. The band is going to do the next gigs with the hired guns. After that we're going to arrange a real and fair audition. This gives us the opportunity to get into the music, learn their song and get used to sight reading (again, in case of my buddy).

This is going to be great! The next few months I'll be listening, learning, eating, drinking and breathing Jazz. Even if it amounts to nothing I'll probably learn a lot. I'm actually quite stocked that I'm getting to work on this with my buddy. I owe a lot to this guy. We both agreed... we're going to do this together. It's both or none.

Thanks for listening. :wave:

[cdb]

So, tell us the real story. Did you suck?

[MBIYF]

So, tell us the real story. Did you suck?

Long story short: I sucked, they've asked me back.

[Jazz Ad]

That's fine. Nothing wrong with trying.
I too would suck at this game.

[cdb]

Long story short: I sucked, they've asked me back.

Just trying to play these songs will increase your repertoire and general dexterity. It will not be a bad thing, even if nothing comes of it. And the fact you were asked back is very encouraging. Now, start woodshedding!

[Drippin' Robin]

Long story short: I sucked, they've asked me back.

The real question: did they pay you? :P

But it must be a great experience. I would suck ever so much harder.

[Jugghaid]

It's always good to try new genres of music. even if you don't really like them, you'll learn something from it.....

good for you.

[Les Izzmor]

I sucked, they've asked me back.

That's always how it worked with girls I dated. :D

You should make an attempt to go see them play the gigs with the hired guns. See what the other bass player is doing. And. If possible maybe go to rehearsal and pick his brain a bit.

Best of luck. If you need any help with that jazz stuff, just ask............somebody who knows more than me.

[Zamfir]

First I'm obliged to give you the full story. This band already has a bass player, a drummer and a guy on piano... all 3 are hired guns. The hardcore members want REAL band members instead. Who doesn't :P. The hired guns know this and want to quit after the few upcomming gigs. Because of this they not only asked me to audition, but they asked my buddy for piano too!!

Oh boy, we did suck. The 2 meager song we did prepare happened to be scratched of their setlist :smack:. Oh man, we sucked the floor with them. I sucked a bit more than my friend... I got the roots and (most of) the changes and that's it. Oh boy, we did suck.

After the band called it a rehearsal the director said we sucked. Duh! He was nice to add that for now we sucked at playing this genre. He was right nonetheless. This is when the brass section stood up and started defending us. We had just 1 day to prepare, we never heard/saw the songs and there was no drummer to play to. I guess they really liked us (as persons, not as sucky jazzers). :D


Holy shit. That is so cool!! (Not the sucking, the brass section's response!)

Btw - is the director respectful of his musicians, or something of a dickhead? (Is there a good atmosphere in the band over all?)

That would be an important decision point for me. ;)

So we made up the following plan. The band is going to do the next gigs with the hired guns. After that we're going to arrange a real and fair audition. This gives us the opportunity to get into the music, learn their song and get used to sight reading (again, in case of my buddy).

This is going to be great! The next few months I'll be listening, learning, eating, drinking and breathing Jazz. Even if it amounts to nothing I'll probably learn a lot. I'm actually quite stocked that I'm getting to work on this with my buddy. I owe a lot to this guy. We both agreed... we're going to do this together. It's both or none.

Thanks for listening. :wave:

That too, is very cool. :cool:

Start buying and listening to Ray Brown's work with the Oscar Peterson Trio, and also Walk On, now. :thumbsup:

Buy the Rufus Reid Evolving Bassist book and the first of Ed Friedland's two walking bass books. Work that stuff out with your metronome. Get up and dance while you do it!

Then try transcribing the simpler stuff you hear Ray play. A *good* teacher might also be a very good investment ASAP.

And good luck next time around!! :wave:

[MBIYF]

Thanks for the tips Zammy!

Their response was cool indeed :). The atmosphere within the band seems to be nice and relaxed. The director is also a hired gun and a bit more uptight. He seemed to be a dickhead, but during the beer afterwards he was a nice guy. I guess he's just more pro than the rest... He seems to have a kind of a communication problem though. That's what the other told me anyways. :)

I'll get those books and Ray Brown music. Is Walk On a CD by Ray Brown? Thanks again for the info. I refuse to take lessons though. :D

[Zamfir]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DZN9TPSVL._AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-Ray-Brown/dp/B0000A4G41/ref=sr_1_1/203-0725565-2080704?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178191720&sr=1-1)

(click the pic ;) )

And - I can't stress enough...listen to his work with the Oscar Peterson Trio in the 1950s! Night Train, On the Town, others I'm forgetting.

Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ben-Webster-Meets-Oscar-Peterson/dp/B0000047D8/ref=sr_1_3/203-0725565-2080704?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178192209&sr=1-3) is also killer.

I'm also partial to We Get Requests, which might have been released in the early 1960s, IIRC. I need to go get a copy of At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, myself. :)


OK, you hate teachers, but when you're learning to walk, a few lessons could probably help. :shrug:


Zammy

:bat:

[Perfessor]

Aren't the parts written out? Usually big bands have all the sheet music. No one in a big band ad libs the whole thing through. A solo yes but that's all. It all should be written out and for bass it's mostly 1/4 notes.

[spezzy]

The more you try the more you learn.

Do you still have those scale studies I sent you a while back?

One of their "purposes" was to help you get a hang of playing within different keys. (I had that book when I was in school for jazz bass)

[ModmanQ6]

So does this mean you got the gig?

[MBIYF]

The more you try the more you learn.

Do you still have those scale studies I sent you a while back?

One of their "purposes" was to help you get a hang of playing within different keys. (I had that book when I was in school for jazz bass)

Yes yes yes! I'm sure I have them on my PC. I have the prints somewhere too!

Aren't the parts written out? Usually big bands have all the sheet music. No one in a big band ad libs the whole thing through. A solo yes but that's all. It all should be written out and for bass it's mostly 1/4 notes.

Yes, I could just play the sheet... and eventually I probably will. However this is great opportunity to work on my nonexisting theory. I would like to know why. :)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DZN9TPSVL._AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-Ray-Brown/dp/B0000A4G41/ref=sr_1_1/203-0725565-2080704?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178191720&sr=1-1)

(click the pic ;) )

And - I can't stress enough...listen to his work with the Oscar Peterson Trio in the 1950s! Night Train, On the Town, others I'm forgetting.

Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ben-Webster-Meets-Oscar-Peterson/dp/B0000047D8/ref=sr_1_3/203-0725565-2080704?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178192209&sr=1-3) is also killer.

I'm also partial to We Get Requests, which might have been released in the early 1960s, IIRC. I need to go get a copy of At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, myself. :)

OK, you hate teachers, but when you're learning to walk, a few lessons could probably help. :shrug:

:bat:

Excuse me, mister Zamfir the Great.

I don't hate teachers, I just love to learn at my own pace and in my own time. With 2 other bands, a job and a study I usually end up practicing at night.

So does this mean you got the gig?

Not yet! But if I get my act together I'll probably get the gig. I don't see them getting another bassist soon, they have been searching for quite a while already.

[Zamfir]

Excuse me, mister Zamfir the Great.



No, no, you have me confused with lug. I could never write huntforpopcorn. :(


I don't hate teachers, I just love to learn at my own pace and in my own time. With 2 other bands, a job and a study I usually end up practicing at night.

Oh. In that case, I understand completely. Actually...no, I don't. How do you do it? :confused: :D

[spezzy]

Yes yes yes! I'm sure I have them on my PC. I have the prints somewhere too!




What songs do you need to play? I've played a ton of big band stuff. I probably have more useful things that I can send to you.

[MBIYF]

What songs do you need to play? I've played a ton of big band stuff. I probably have more useful things that I can send to you.

I have such a feeling you WILL recieve an e-mail in the near future...

[basshunter]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DZN9TPSVL._AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-Ray-Brown/dp/B0000A4G41/ref=sr_1_1/203-0725565-2080704?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178191720&sr=1-1)

(click the pic ;) )


:bowdown:

This album is killer. One of the best things is since it was recorded recently, they really mixed it so you can hear the bass in perfect detail. :thumbsup:

[Zamfir]

:bowdown:

This album is killer. One of the best things is since it was recorded recently, they really mixed it so you can hear the bass in perfect detail. :thumbsup:

I finally bought it around Christmas thanks to your hyping it, so I should bow down to you. ;)