Tips on playing with a band

[Lambik]

I think this post should be here.

Though I am a "fair" alto saxophonist (5th year), I still consider myself as a beginner when it comes down to playing with others.

Starting after the Belgian high school exams (21th of June), some lads are joining me in a little band (keys, bass, drums/percussion, guitar/voice if needs to, and alto sax) playing stuff like

- Average White Band
- US3
- Good ol' Herbie Hancock
- Dire Straits
- Cheb Khaled
- James Brown
- Madness
- ...

As you can see, not a really style - based group.

What I wanted to ask then:

1. Got any tips on how to start with the, well, rehearsals?
2. Any songs you think are suitable for a group of two rockers (bass, guitar), a jazzist (pianist), and two like-alls (drummer and me)?

Sure you can think of some, thanks in advance.

[steve]

I can only relate what we do in our 6 piece blues band ( sax, trumpet,drums,keys,bass and guitar). We each submit 5 songs, on a CD that we each burn. We all listen to the 6 CD's at home and vote ( usually by e-mail since we all live several miles apart ). The top 5 voted for songs are added to our playlist. We then learn the tunes according to the rank we voted for them...I will transcribe some tunes for my part, but usually its done "by ear". We practice once a week....and rotate the new songs into our set list. Hope this helps.