Vortex Collective for Jazz

Note: please message Xie if you'd be interested in joining this session, including standards you'd like to put forward, with 3 contrasting recordings for each.

Each "Contrasting Standards" session will focus on playing 2-3 standards, of any era.

The goal will be to play several renditions of each song that differ from each other, whether in terms of arrangement, feel or improvisational vocabulary. Explore what's not on the lead sheet, and bringing your own sound to it.

3 reference recordings will be shared for each song, which the attendees should become familiar with. The group won't take these as arrangements to imitate wholesale, but may borrow ideas of how they are each distinct.

Note: please message Xie if you're interested in joining this session, ideally staying through to 7.30pm finish (with several breaks)

It may also be possible for you to join for only 1-5pm or 5-7.30pm.

Please also include any future standards suggestions that fit the below, including sheet music.

1-2.50pm: rehearsal of "future standards", Vortex upstairs
3pm-5pm: house band set including some of the rehearsed songs, Vortex downstairs
5pm - 7.30pm: house band for open jam, Vortex downstairs

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"Future standards":

This session will focus on compositions from the last 30-40 years, that you'd like to play. These can include your own compositions. Vocals or instrumental.

Please send along any songs you'd like to do. I will compile these and combine with existing repertoire for a 4-6 song setlist.

Some approximate guidance on what would fit as a "standard"
1. discernible melody
2. repeating form that is ideally

• not too short (fewer than 8 measures)
• or too long (more than 4 distinct sections

3. no reliance on extended techniques

These are some examples from previous sessions that we've established work quite well in this context:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72DeFa18IBvWJD8P8pyX8T

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNRskkcU9FlE5KGgViuMrHsvghNgnQgw

Here are "wishlists" of songs that could work, but pending lead sheets. Please feel free to write up for any of these songs and suggest for a future session.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3k1IDPigRx07e6QQ52hcpT
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNRskkcU9FkbuhArorIo5V-2VCT2s_oc

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Some more information:

This group is for instrumentalists and singers who are experienced in playing over standard jazz repertoire, and would like to dedicate time and effort to go deeper in a group setting.

At the Vortex there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones.

Upcoming sessions may include:

• Arrange and play new compositions from the last ~40 years
• Dissect and emulate specific recordings of standards
• Bring your own arrangements to play with the group
• Bring your original compositions to play with the group
• Group exercises focused on collective sound and interaction
• Listening sessions
• Informal recordings
• Providing ideas and commentary for each other's playing
• Invited professionals providing feedback and ideas

If you'd like join:

Please send Xie (group organiser) a brief message with some details about your interests and experiences in jazz, and how you'd like to get involved in the group. Looking forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to build up experience playing jazz repertoire first:

Join the Practice Jazz Jams group, also based largely at the Vortex

https://4142298.xyz/practice-jazz-jam-sessions/events/

Note: please message Xie if you'd be interested in joining this session, including songs you'd like to put forward.

This session will focus on "standardising" some songs - simplifying or otherwise changing their forms so that they're easier to call at a jam.

"Future standards":

This session will focus on compositions from the last 30-40 years, that you'd like to play. These can include your own compositions. Vocals or instrumental.

Some approximate guidance on what would fit as a "standard"
1. discernible melody
2. repeating form that is ideally

• not too short (fewer than 8 measures)
• or too long (more than 4 distinct sections

3. no reliance on extended techniques

These are some examples from previous sessions that we've established work quite well in this context:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72DeFa18IBvWJD8P8pyX8T
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNRskkcU9FlE5KGgViuMrHsvghNgnQgw

Here is a "wishlist" of songs that could work, but pending lead sheets. Please feel free to write up for any of these songs and suggest for a future session.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3k1IDPigRx07e6QQ52hcpT
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNRskkcU9FkbuhArorIo5V-2VCT2s_oc

Note: please message Xie if you're interested in joining this session, ideally staying through to 7.30pm finish (with several breaks)

It may also be possible for you to join for only 1-5pm or 5-7.30pm.

Please also send along "contrasting standards" recordings.

We'll be exploring new flavours for the future standards we've been playing over the past months. Come with any and all ideas, but we'll also take a couple of recordings of standards, as per the "Constrasting Standards" session, and apply ideas from them to the future standards repertoire.

1-2.50pm: rehearsal of "future standards" with ideas from recordings of classic standards, Vortex upstairs
3pm-5pm: house band set including some of the rehearsed songs, Vortex downstairs
5pm - 7.30pm: house band for open jam, Vortex downstairs

----
"Contrasting standards":
The goal will be to take ideas from particular renditions of a song, whether in terms of arrangement, feel or improvisational vocabulary. Explore what's not on the lead sheet, and bringing the group's own sound to it.

A fair amount of prep is likely needed. Please familiarise with the recordings, and come with specific concepts from these recordings for a broad range of sounds playing on the same song.

Past examples included e.g. pedalling on the 5 in specific parts of form, non-lead instrument playing head, change in rhythm or time signature, quartal harmony, one of the rhythm instruments dropping out. There is often some element of interaction between instruments.

This can be for both your instrument as well as others. Concepts will be adapted to the instrumentation of the group. Ideas not from these recordings are welcome too, but do familiarise with these so there's a common base for the group.

Example of recordings from a previous session (not this session)
Autumn Leaves
Wynton Marsalis, Standard Time Vol 1 https://open.spotify.com/track/7sCl2yfvZHChasvpuZ4muh
Chet Baker and Paul Desmond, Together, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgn7VfXH2GY, https://open.spotify.com/track/6mYbAbN1zWcWKM8KS5Fc4r
Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Z8KuwI7Gc

Caravan
Wynton Marsalis, Standard Time Vol 1 https://open.spotify.com/track/6elElLzJiftPv5rfDM3rRG
Russell Gunn, Ethnomusicology Vol 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtXcFmXd-sA
Avishai Cohen, Live at Blue Note, in 9/8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsum9ortSFc http://www.nicofinke.de/Caravan%20-%20Avishai%20Cohen.pdf