Need help with jazz badly

[SaxPlaya]

At my school we have no jazz band, and i think jazz is awesome i just cant play jazz really well i would really like to hear from everyone with jazz experience my alto needs some jazz in him but i cant give him any unless i know it.

thanks

[Anonymous]

The Aebersold books are a great way to learn improvisation and basic jazz.

[SaxPlaya]

Thanks Blaine
I'll look into those books.

[gary]

SaxPlaya - take a look particularly at Volume 1. of the Aebersold Play-Along series, "How to Play Jazz". The Booklet that comes along with it will give you a good head start and you have a good play-along to practice with.

After you are comfortable with Vol. 1, you can follow that volume up with Vol. 2 "Nothin' But Blues" and either Vol. 5 "Time to Play" or Vol. 54 "Maiden Voyage". These should get you going quite well.

If you have a little extra money you might want to also get (also available from Aebersold: (www.jazzbooks.com ) "Improvising Jazz" by Jerry Coker, which is a primer on improvisation and IMO a really good, concise overview of improvisation.

You can also get the "Jazz Handbook" (formerly "Jazz Aids") from Aebersold for free. It is not an organized, progressive booklet of studies but, rather, a collection of ideas, techniques, and informatino tht all jazz players should have. The good news is that they will mail it to you for free, or you can download it from their web site. Good luck. Play some blues. It's the basis of the jazz feeling!