“When I play jazz gigs…”

Mr Farkle

Mr Farkle

Well-known Member
I had a drum instructor who once told me that he loved jazz gigs because they were so easy. I’m a reasonably accomplished drummer who is currently 4 or 5 years into learning jazz. All of my practice, playing and listening efforts are focused on jazz and if I’m honest, I have barely scratched the surface. With few exceptions, the other “jazz” musicians I run across who are willing to play with me make some jazzy sounds using jazzy chords or scales, but they don’t play jazz, at least not what I’m aiming for. So, when I see someone on this or another forum casually post “When I play jazz gigs…” as if it’s some side thing they do now and then, what are they playing?

Do you casually play jazz gigs without being dedicated to the genre? Please tell me about the gigs. Where do you play? Who are you playing with? Would you post a video snippet of a gig?
 
A lot of “jazz gigs” are standards played at low volume and moderate tempo, with no expectation of difficulty as long as you know the material and have the vocabulary. Even if you’re backing up original tunes, the leader will tell you what basic breaks and solos to expect, and they’ll hand cue things like “back to the top” or “repeat that section”.

It’s not easy for anyone who hasn’t drilled those basics to the point of muscle memory.
 
Mr Farkle said:
I had a drum instructor who once told me that he loved jazz gigs because they were so easy. I’m a reasonably accomplished drummer who is currently 4 or 5 years into learning jazz. All of my practice, playing and listening efforts are focused on jazz and if I’m honest, I have barely scratched the surface. With few exceptions, the other “jazz” musicians I run across who are willing to play with me make some jazzy sounds using jazzy chords or scales, but they don’t play jazz, at least not what I’m aiming for. So, when I see someone on this or another forum casually post “When I play jazz gigs…” as if it’s some side thing they do now and then, what are they playing?

Do you casually play jazz gigs without being dedicated to the genre? Please tell me about the gigs. Where do you play? Who are you playing with? Would you post a video snippet of a gig?
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A lot of jazz gigs involve playing standard songs in a standard format. The band plays the “head,” aka the melody of the song, each player takes a solo over one or more choruses, then the band trades 4’s or 8’s with the drummer, or the drummer may take a chorus length solo, then back to the head and out. Once you have enough experience with this, it becomes automatic.

There’s a learning curve for a drummer to attain all of the skills needed to do this well. You have to put in the work, and work on the necessary skills. 4-5 years is more than enough if you have been even moderately devoted to it. But, the most important skill is to be able to play a hard swinging beat and make the music feel good! JMO!
 
They are easy in the sense of, “Hey, I just get to play in real time with these other players.” We all know the tunes, there’s no prep, and solos/form are called out by the leader. If you’re used to this format, and are comfortable swinging, taking cues, and having a conversation, musically, with other cats, then they ARE easy gigs!
 
I also feel like there are some skewed definitions of what jazz is, related to this topic. I feel like most of us who do jazz gigs do the types mentioned in the posts above

and those who don't, feel like all of us are playing top level, chops and brain busting, super fast, "high pressure" jazz

I think there might be 2 or 3 guys who live in that world here, but most of us are just trading 4's and being background noise to some event. I know when I first stepped into this world, I also thought that it was goign to be super difficult, and that I wouldn't hang. Now, if I was playing the more intese stuff, that would be different, but I know I am not ready to be in that world yet, and at this point in my career, I really don't want to be in that situation
 
I play ONLY Jazz gigs, gigs are in Jazz Clubs, Concert Halls, TV, Private Parties, Jazz Festival, etc.
Mr Farkle said:
Who are you playing with? Would you post a video snippet of a gig?
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Some people I played with Clark Terry, Kenny Wheeler, Gong, Joe Lovano, Danilo Pérez, Rick Margitza, Conrad Herwig, Leo Wright, Renato Chicco, Fareed Haque, Walt Weiskopf, Ralph Lalama, Walter Norris, Marc Copland, Gail Wynters, Markus Becker, Herb Geller, Barbara Dennerlein, Mauro Grossi, Santi Debriano, Wilson de Oliveira, Jim Snidero, Bireli Lagrene, Attila Zoller, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Wolfgang Puschnig, Jim Rotondi, Chris Byars, Ari Roland, Pat O'Leary, Rob Amster, Michael Sagmeister, Ralf Cetto, Franco Nesti, Diego Urcola, Danny Hayes, Peter Reiter, Walter Lang, Phil Markowitz, Andy McNaughton, Dino Saluzzi, Jay Ashby, Joan Faulkner, Johannes Weidenmüller, Claudia Acuña, Hermann Breuer, Christian Elsässer, Peter O'Mara, Claus Raible, Matin Scales, Patrick Scales, Claus Koch, David Gazarov, Daniel Lencina, Dragan Tabakobic, Beatrice Richter, Karl Heinz Stephens, Josef Ametsbichler, Rick DellaRatta, Victor Alcántara, John Oslavski, Lee Harper, Monty Waters, Made in Brazil, Jason Seizer, Carolyn Breuer, Thomas Faist, Manolo Diaz, Sergio Orlandi, Ares Tavolazzi, Franz Floßmann, Jürgen Junggeburth, Thomas Boutervek, Barbara Mayr, Dom Um Romao, Marcos Aldana, Chris Lachota, Dusko Goycovich, Marco Lobo, Marcio Tubino, Ciro Trindade, Volker Giesek, Paulo Camargo, Alberto Barreira, Salsa Mortal, Gerhard Kraus, Bertrand Kientz, Pep Alcantara, Alessandro Cesarini, Victor Jimenez, Santi Navalon, Borja Bauxauli, Valencia Jazz Workshop, Oscar Cuchillo, Matt Baker, Javier Feierstein, Albert Palau, Latino Blanco, Paul Evans, Julio Fuster, Albert Sanz, Max Ridley, Lucho Aguilar, Joan Benavent, Xaume Guerra, Pedro Alarcón, Jorge Sevilla, Toni Belenguer, Will Barry, Miguel Casany, Ricardo Valverde, Cesar Cortés, Javier Vercher, Ricardo Belda, Luis Llario, Ester Andújar, Josh Harris, Casey Driessen, Borja Flores, Voro García, Josvi Muñoz, Denis Murasov, Leonardas Pilkauskas, Kestutis Vaiginis, etc.

A snipet of a gig (Jazz Club Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany):
 
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My original idea with jazz was hey I'm getting older, let's play some easy, pleasant music in Italian restaurants for food and wine and a little scratch. Easy peasy. And then reality hit, there is a lot to learn. Lucky for me I love practicing, taking lessons, and listening. First legit "jazz only" gig should be right around the corner. I'm practicing with a quartet of good players, and a trio of folks like me.
 
Alex Sanguinetti said:
I play ONLY Jazz gigs, gigs are in Jazz Clubs, Concert Halls, TV, Private Parties, Jazz Festival, etc.

Some people I played with Clark Terry, Kenny Wheeler, Gong, Joe Lovano, Danilo Pérez, Rick Margitza, Conrad Herwig, Leo Wright, Renato Chicco, Fareed Haque, Walt Weiskopf, Ralph Lalama, Walter Norris, Marc Copland, Gail Wynters, Markus Becker, Herb Geller, Barbara Dennerlein, Mauro Grossi, Santi Debriano, Wilson de Oliveira, Jim Snidero, Bireli Lagrene, Attila Zoller, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Wolfgang Puschnig, Jim Rotondi, Chris Byars, Ari Roland, Pat O'Leary, Rob Amster, Michael Sagmeister, Ralf Cetto, Franco Nesti, Diego Urcola, Danny Hayes, Peter Reiter, Walter Lang, Phil Markowitz, Andy McNaughton, Dino Saluzzi, Jay Ashby, Joan Faulkner, Johannes Weidenmüller, Claudia Acuña, Hermann Breuer, Christian Elsässer, Peter O'Mara, Claus Raible, Matin Scales, Patrick Scales, Claus Koch, David Gazarov, Daniel Lencina, Dragan Tabakobic, Beatrice Richter, Karl Heinz Stephens, Josef Ametsbichler, Rick DellaRatta, Victor Alcántara, John Oslavski, Lee Harper, Monty Waters, Made in Brazil, Jason Seizer, Carolyn Breuer, Thomas Faist, Manolo Diaz, Sergio Orlandi, Ares Tavolazzi, Franz Floßmann, Jürgen Junggeburth, Thomas Boutervek, Barbara Mayr, Dom Um Romao, Marcos Aldana, Chris Lachota, Dusko Goycovich, Marco Lobo, Marcio Tubino, Ciro Trindade, Volker Giesek, Paulo Camargo, Alberto Barreira, Salsa Mortal, Gerhard Kraus, Bertrand Kientz, Pep Alcantara, Alessandro Cesarini, Victor Jimenez, Santi Navalon, Borja Bauxauli, Valencia Jazz Workshop, Oscar Cuchillo, Matt Baker, Javier Feierstein, Albert Palau, Latino Blanco, Paul Evans, Julio Fuster, Albert Sanz, Max Ridley, Lucho Aguilar, Joan Benavent, Xaume Guerra, Pedro Alarcón, Jorge Sevilla, Toni Belenguer, Will Barry, Miguel Casany, Ricardo Valverde, Cesar Cortés, Javier Vercher, Ricardo Belda, Luis Llario, Ester Andújar, Josh Harris, Casey Driessen, Borja Flores, Voro García, Josvi Muñoz, Denis Murasov, Leonardas Pilkauskas, Kestutis Vaiginis, etc.

A snipet of a gig (Jazz Club Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany):
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I’m sure you could list everybody you’ve played with 😂😂😂
 
Spreggy said:
My original idea with jazz was hey I'm getting older, let's play some easy, pleasant music in Italian restaurants for food and wine and a little scratch. Easy peasy. And then reality hit, there is a lot to learn. Lucky for me I love practicing, taking lessons, and listening. First legit "jazz only" gig should be right around the corner. I'm practicing with a quartet of good players, and a trio of folks like me.
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same....and I was also ready for the practice and development. I feel like I have one big toe in the door of "legit jazz player" now. And if that is all that gets in, I am happy with that
 
Yeah, I did take some jazz lessons in college, and fool around with some jazz books on occasion, but I got my first "jazz" gig this past summer for a friend's wedding, and we were going to play a ton of standards. The band leader asked me if I had any experience playing out of the Real Book, and I said no....which is true. So I felt woefully underprepared for the gig.

....but it was literally just playing off of charts and everything was pretty simple. I had no problem playing the tunes. So my feelings of inadequacy were for naught.

That being said, jazz isn't easy, you have to listen to it, play it, learn from it, but even with some basic rudimentary knowledge, the gigs themselves become pretty straightforward.
 
In terms of low drama and easy shlepping, the jazz combo is my idea of easy stress gigging. But I'm not there yet. I haven't practiced the standards lately and my skillset is still "in the works" - playing university jazz ensemble with end of semester concert the only real commitment. I've accomplished the bossa nova, samba, swing samba, and jazz swing up 240bpm. My to do list includes brushes and fast swing above 240.

There's also the problem of skilled players around the local area here. My plan is to use the university ensemble to impress someone who hopefully reaches out. My drum mentor/colleague may help w/ connections too.

(a bit a good news today - I got some contract work to pay the bills, and right in time for end of semester in a couple of weeks. The question is can I handle another semester of jazz ensemble at the university AND hold down this work from home engineering job? I can tell you I've spent a ton of hours working on my parts for most of the dozen tunes we have (mostly because the other drummer is a full time student and doesn't seem to have the time but for a couple of tunes). I imagine my improved skills should make things easier for next semester.)
 
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Alex Sanguinetti said:
I play ONLY Jazz gigs, gigs are in Jazz Clubs, Concert Halls, TV, Private Parties, Jazz Festival, etc.

Some people I played with Clark Terry, Kenny Wheeler, Gong, Joe Lovano, Danilo Pérez, Rick Margitza, Conrad Herwig, Leo Wright, Renato Chicco, Fareed Haque, Walt Weiskopf, Ralph Lalama, Walter Norris, Marc Copland, Gail Wynters, Markus Becker, Herb Geller, Barbara Dennerlein, Mauro Grossi, Santi Debriano, Wilson de Oliveira, Jim Snidero, Bireli Lagrene, Attila Zoller, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Wolfgang Puschnig, Jim Rotondi, Chris Byars, Ari Roland, Pat O'Leary, Rob Amster, Michael Sagmeister, Ralf Cetto, Franco Nesti, Diego Urcola, Danny Hayes, Peter Reiter, Walter Lang, Phil Markowitz, Andy McNaughton, Dino Saluzzi, Jay Ashby, Joan Faulkner, Johannes Weidenmüller, Claudia Acuña, Hermann Breuer, Christian Elsässer, Peter O'Mara, Claus Raible, Matin Scales, Patrick Scales, Claus Koch, David Gazarov, Daniel Lencina, Dragan Tabakobic, Beatrice Richter, Karl Heinz Stephens, Josef Ametsbichler, Rick DellaRatta, Victor Alcántara, John Oslavski, Lee Harper, Monty Waters, Made in Brazil, Jason Seizer, Carolyn Breuer, Thomas Faist, Manolo Diaz, Sergio Orlandi, Ares Tavolazzi, Franz Floßmann, Jürgen Junggeburth, Thomas Boutervek, Barbara Mayr, Dom Um Romao, Marcos Aldana, Chris Lachota, Dusko Goycovich, Marco Lobo, Marcio Tubino, Ciro Trindade, Volker Giesek, Paulo Camargo, Alberto Barreira, Salsa Mortal, Gerhard Kraus, Bertrand Kientz, Pep Alcantara, Alessandro Cesarini, Victor Jimenez, Santi Navalon, Borja Bauxauli, Valencia Jazz Workshop, Oscar Cuchillo, Matt Baker, Javier Feierstein, Albert Palau, Latino Blanco, Paul Evans, Julio Fuster, Albert Sanz, Max Ridley, Lucho Aguilar, Joan Benavent, Xaume Guerra, Pedro Alarcón, Jorge Sevilla, Toni Belenguer, Will Barry, Miguel Casany, Ricardo Valverde, Cesar Cortés, Javier Vercher, Ricardo Belda, Luis Llario, Ester Andújar, Josh Harris, Casey Driessen, Borja Flores, Voro García, Josvi Muñoz, Denis Murasov, Leonardas Pilkauskas, Kestutis Vaiginis, etc.

A snipet of a gig (Jazz Club Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany):
Click to expand...
I don't see Michel Camilo!! :p
 
Thanks all. The answers are pretty much what I've experienced. I see the @Alex Sanguinetti and @jda types playing some higher level jazz and most everyone else playing moderate tempo, background music. Some of it more borderline singer songwriter or easy listening. I'm in the quiet background music crowd at the moment. Honestly I doubt that I will move beyond that, but I'm finding it a little frustrating in terms of what I would like to play and what I'm practicing. It would be nice to push it a bit further.
 
Spreggy said:
My original idea with jazz was hey I'm getting older, let's play some easy, pleasant music in Italian restaurants for food and wine and a little scratch. Easy peasy. And then reality hit, there is a lot to learn. Lucky for me I love practicing, taking lessons, and listening. First legit "jazz only" gig should be right around the corner. I'm practicing with a quartet of good players, and a trio of folks like me.
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Good for you finding your peeps!!
 
rhumbagirl said:
I don't see Michel Camilo!! :p
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I havent seen him since the mid 80s ("Suntan" days*) but I dont play in that circle really, which is more the afrocuban jazz (or caribean), but the straight ahead and brazilian. Although I have done some gigs here and there and even played regulary in a Salsa Band but in the 80"s.

Greetings!
 
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