Novice | 9am Dec 14, Vortex upstairs

Update: full for drums, keys, guitar, bass

full list of scheduled sessions: https://4142298.xyz/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/

What is it

The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group.

See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending.

Already full for your instrument? Please check back on Wednesday mornings, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie).

Location: Vortex upstairs

Who's it for

Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians.

There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g.

http://bit.ly/dubjazz

You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing.

While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements.

Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas.

Playing the melody, or "head" - the responbility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time.

What it's like

A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on.

Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments.

Tunes this week (Sat Dec 14)

• Blue bossa in Cm (warm up)
• Softly as in a morning sunrise in Cm
• September in the Rain in Eb (see e.g. Roy Hargrove)
• Someday my prince will come in Bb

Tune preview - next novice session (Sat Dec 21 11am only)

TBC

Preparing for the session

The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books.

Resource for sheet music:

https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html

http://therealbook.info/

Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc.

Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off

Equipment

there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch

Vocalists

singers very welcome though usually I suggest you come to the intermediate sessions where you can pick your own song and key (as chances are many of the above are not in the right key for your range)

Cancellation policy

Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible.

Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session.

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any questions do get in touch!