#JazzTimes

[projazznet]

JazzTimes' critics chose their favorite new releases of the year, and the result is our Top 40 Jazz Albums of 2022 list.

[nonesuchrecords]

Brad Mehldau has shared excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, Formation, due March 1 on Equinox Publishing, with JazzTimes. In them, he shares stories from his early years in New York City in the late 1980s, finding his way in the club scene, and in 1990, as he becomes more comfortable in the city. You can read them here.

[grangeatoborne]

Having just watched the coronation, come and take afternoon tea in the Garden at The Grange. The bunting will be up, we have got the food, Mike Denham will be looking after the music. We just need the sun! We are hoping to host this between 3 and 5 pm. Timings will be confirmed once we get confirmation from the palace - that makes it sound like the palace will be personally letting me know 😂 #afternoontea #jazz #coronation #celebrate #garden #jazztime #royal #hotel #restaurant #boutiquehotel #oborne #sherborne #dorset #somerset #thegrangeatoborne (at The Grange at Oborne) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqh0xuNIqN_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dein-jena]

Jazztime im Pici mit dem Pici Old Time Jazz Quartett

Musik aus dem guten alten New Orleans vom Feinsten am Donnerstag-Abend ab 20.00 Uhr im Pici Jena

Gunnar Besen (tp) Gunnar Besen wird die schönen alten Themen des Old-Time-Jazz interessant und abwechslungs- reich vorstellen und darüber improvisieren.  Dirk Wasmund (ss) Das Sopransaxophon, im alten Jazz-Stil in erster Linie durch Sidney Bechet bekannt, wird in dieser Zusammenstellung von Dirk Wasmund gespielt, sein verbindliches und gleichzeitig leicht moderneres Spiel verleiht der Band eine besondere musikalische Note. ➤ Weitere Nachrichten aus Jena >> Martin Marczinke (tu) Martin Marczinkes voller Tubasound, die Bassfunktion mit Improvisation verknüpfend, bildet das Fundament für eine solide musikalische Leistung des Quartetts.

Jazztime im Pici mit dem Pici Old Time Jazz Quartett Daniel Siegmund (bj) Das Banjo als Harmonie- und Rhythmusinstrument wird von Daniel Siegmund gespielt, in beiden Funktionen entscheidend für den Gesamtsound der Band und immer wieder überraschend in seiner musikalischen Vielfalt. Freier Eintritt / Hutgabe Veranstaltungshinweis und Grafik: Pici Café & Vinothek Read the full article

[eraseer]

Kirk Knuffke Trio w Michael Bisio, Matthew Shipp

"Gravity Without Airs"

TAO Forms, 2022

free jazz

Artwork by Robin D. Williams

bandcamp blurb: This is Knuffke’s debut as a leader for TAO Forms, following on his being elemental part of James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet’s Jesup Wagon, one of the most acclaimed jazz releases of 2021. That album was eventually voted #1 Album of the Year in the JazzTimes Critics Poll & the international Jazz Critics Poll established by Francis Davis. Accolades for the cornetist’s own recent work as leader include NPR’s Jazz Album of the Year laurel for 2017’s Cherryco, his homage to Don Cherry – a prime influence. DownBeat praised the way that album showcased Knuffke’s “nonchalant versatility and ebullient melodic gifts,” while esteemed critic Francis Davis called it “nothing short of spectacular.” On his guiding artistic impulse, Kirk Knuffke says: “I’m concerned with making beautiful music. Beauty is always first, though not in a precious way. It can be in a rough way, too.” A prolific, lauded record-maker, Gravity Without Airs fulfills his poetic aims as well as any recording he has made. This work finds Knuffke in the rare, even unique, trio format of cornet, piano and double-bass. His partners are two ever-estimable pillars of creative music, and the work they’ve created together here brims with melody and mystery. Regarding the album title, Knuffke explains: “I was reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius while preparing for this recording. He used the phrase ‘gravity without airs’, and it stuck with me. That’s what it’s all about! Being heavy but not putting on airs – that’s what my favorite musicians do. In these days of social media and constant hype and self-promotion, this is what we should really aspire to: do the work and study, get into your thing and avoid showing it off half-cooked. Matthew and Michael have that sort of grace. I was really touched because once we started playing, they both got excited and wanted to play more and more – that’s how we ended up with a double album,” Knuffke recalls. "I hope people can listen to it as a whole, so they can hear all the subtleties as well as the shape and flow of the album. I have to say: I’m especially proud of this one.” 

More information:

https://taoforms.bandcamp.com/album/gravity-without-airs

[mercurygray]

For the Ship Ask Game, how about for all three - Marion, Cord, Fred:

15. What songs remind you of their relationship?

Oh, gosh, this is a really good one. I'm not sure if these are all 'reminders' as it were, but they are all songs I associate with them!

Cord: Egan is, as we all know, a very musical guy, and Blue Skies is his song, but I have this idea that he finds another song to be their song, the one he sings off-key when they're dancing in the kitchen, and that song is "Blue Moon", from 1934.

Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own

Fred: Fred is the most musically grounded of all of my characters - as a musician herself, she just...has more music. "Don't Fence Me In" and "If I Knew You Were Coming (I'd Have Baked a Cake)" are two she performs for the base, usually for comic effect. As previously mentioned, "Let's Misbehave" is a song Brady learns (and performs) for her. "Music, Maestro, Please" is one that makes me think both of John before he tells Fred his feelings, and while he's in Stalag Luft III.

Tonight I must forget How much I need her So, Mister Leader Play your lilting melodies Ragtime, jazztime, swing Any old thing To help me ease the pain That solitude can bring

Marion: This is the person I have thought about the least when it comes to music, but Ivor Novello's "Waltz of My Heart" got stuck in my head the other day, and I think it works for them - it's an older song from an older generation and it's very wistful.

Who cares what sorrow may bring What storms may tear us apart No sadness can kill the wonder and thrill Of that waltz in my heart

"I Can Give You The Starlight" is another Novello song (and another I know from the Gosford Park Soundtrack...) that also makes me think of them.

Call and I shall be All you ask of me Music in spring Flowers for a king All these I bring to you.

[Thirsty Thursday: Ship Game Asks - The Basics]

[cdbrainrecords]

Walter Bishop Jr. Trio* = ウォルター・ビショップ・ジュニア・トリオ* - Speak Low = スピーク・ロウ (LP, Album, Mono, RE)

Vinyl(VG++) Sleeve(VG++) Insert(VG++) Obi(VG++) // with Obi 帯つき / No scratches on Vinyl, VG+ or better. in great shape / / nice sleeve, more than VG+ conditions / コンディション　盤 : Very Good Plus (VG+) コンディション　ジャケット : Very Good Plus (VG+) コンディションの表記について　  [ M > M- > VG+ > VG > G+ > G > F > P ] レーベル : Jazztime,Trio Records – PA-3077(M) フォーマット : Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono 生産国 : Japan 発売年…

[bdpst24]

Őszköszöntő jazzkoncertek a Müpában

Őszköszöntő jazzkoncertek a Müpában

Hagyományaihoz híven idén is pazar jazzprogramokkal kezdi új évadát a Müpa: a JazzTime fesztiválon Jazz Side Story Symphonic címmel Szőke Nikoletta, Gájer Bálint és a Danubia Zenekar ad nagyszabású közös koncertet, Kozma Orsi estjén magyar popdívák dalait élvezheti a közönség, a spanyol multiinstrumentalista, Andrea Motis pedig a Csapó Krisztián Quintettel készül közös produkcióra. De felbukkan a…

[lboogie1906]

Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was a jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career, he was a popular arranger, having written charts for Fletcher Henderson’s big band that shaped the swing style. He had an unusually long career. He was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, which included receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. He received the Golden Score Award from the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers. The National Endowment for the Arts gave him the NEA Jazz Masters Award.

He was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He won a Grammy Award for his solo on “Prelude to a Kiss” and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lincoln Center celebrated his 82nd birthday with a set of songs sung by Ernestine Anderson and Sylvia Syms. He was named Jazz Artist of the Year in the Down Beat and JazzTimes polls. He was a Kennedy Center Honoree and received honorary doctorates from Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, and the New England Conservatory of Music. National Museum of American History made him the subject of its Jazz Appreciation Month poster.

He was given the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[alysseaallyn]

Rough Sleep - a play by Alysse Aallyn

Lovers are The Ultimate Creators

JAZZTime to forgive yourself. CHASEOh, that’ll be easy. Walk in the park. JAZZI’m still here. CHASEYou’re scared to leave because Bex is out there. JAZZThat’s not it. I’m here because I want to be. I can handle Bex. His pride is hurt but he’s basically lazy. I don’t matter that much to him. He spent all our time together trying to convince me I was worthless and making him look…

[newmusicweekly]

Jazz Vocalist Allegra Levy's New Album, "Out of the Question," is Out of this World

“How deep is the ocean?” “What is this thing called love?” Jazz singer-songwriter Allegra Levy may not have all the answers, but she sure has plenty of questions. One thing about which there can be no question, though, is that her career is on the rise. Named one of the Top Ten Rising Stars among jazz vocalists in Downbeat’s 2021 Critics’ Poll, she has been dubbed a “double-barreled talent” by JazzTimes, and called everything from “sophisticated, worldly, and swinging” to “the new pin-up girl for cool.” Her latest album, to be released May 20, truly seals the deal. Out of the Question, Levy’s fifth release from SteepleChase Records, is composed entirely of songs in search of answers, from “Where Are You Going?” to Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” It features an all-star, all-women band, including Carmen Staaf on piano, Allison Miller on drums, and Mimi Jones on bass, with special guests Roxy Coss on sax, Aubrey Johnson on vocals, and Andrew Baird on guitar.   A Connecticut native now based in New York, Levy has appeared at most of the top jazz venues in NYC, including the Jazz Standard, the Blue Note, Birdland Theatre, Zinc Bar, and the Bitter End. “Fresh … exotic… and far beyond the ordinary,” declared The New York Times of her debut album, 2014’s Lonely City. Ever since, she has continued to pen a collection of harmonically adventurous-yet-familiar originals steeped in the Great American Songbook. Read the full article

[projazznet]

JazzTimes 10: Essential Andrew Hill Recordings

[e-kultura]

Nikolov-Ivanović Undektet: Koncertna promocija albuma “Distopija”

Jedan od najkreativnijih velikih džez ansambala u Evropi, Nikolov-Ivanović Undektet, u organizaciji Doma omladine Beograda održaće koncertnu promociju novog albuma „Distopija“, u ponedeljak 11. decembra od 20h u sali Amerikana DOB. Ulaznice, po ceni od 1.200 RSD u prodaji su preko eFinity sistema i onlajn.

Nikolov-Ivanović Undektet je hibridni ansambl koji udružuje talente Vladimira Nikolova i Srđana Ivanovića sa devetoro vrhunskih muzičara iz nekoliko evropskih zemalja. Sastav obuhvata 7 duvačkih instrumenata (truba, horna, trombon, tuba, alt, tenor, bariton saksofon sa zamenama na flauti, klarinetu, bas klarinetu i sopran saksofonu), harmoniku, klavir, bas i bubnjeve.

„Distopija“ je treći album Nikolov-Ivanović Undekteta. Ovaj projekat pred publiku donosi 10 novih kompozicija, nastalih u pandemijskom i postpandemijskom periodu. Srž autorskog materijala nastala je tokom dana izolacije, kao dva dela: „Distopija“ i „Krik” (Scream), koja izražavaju protest protiv distopijskog načina življenja preko izražavanja muzičkog „krika“. Nakon stvaranja ovog osnovnog materijala, koji je poslužio kao kreativna baza, novi komadi su otvorili i druge teme, kao i prostor za muzička istraživanja. Objavljivanje albuma podržao je SOKOJ, a prvi singl za numeru „Krik“ prati i video.

U stvaranju novog albuma, Undektet je dobio i nove članove: Sebastien Lado (Sébastien Llado) na trombonu, Olivije Lene (Olivier Laisney) na trubi, Leo Gedi (Léo Guedy) na bariton saksofonu i bas klarinetu. Pored njih, iz stare postave tu su Luka Ignjatović na alt saksofonu i flauti, Kristijan Mlačak na tenor i sopran saksofonu, Miloš Budimirov na tubi, Noe Klerk (Noé Clerc) na harmonici i akordini, Mihail Ivanov na kontrabasu, Srđan Ivanović na bubnjevima i Vladimir Nikolov na klaviru.

Nikolov-Ivanović Undektet je nastao 2017. godine i odmah izazvao veliku pažnju publike i međunarodne džez zajednice svojim prvim autorskim albumom „Artistry in Broken Rhythm“. Za debi izdanje početnu inspiraciju našli su u delima Stena Kentona i Majlsa Dejvisa, izgrađujući na tim impulsima moderno orkestriranu muziku visokog intenziteta i duboke emocije, u bojama i ritmovima raznih kontinenata, od Njujorka do Balkana. Seme projekta posejano je sredinom prošle decenije u Holandiji, gde su Nikolov i Ivanović studirali, a naslovna numera Vladimira Nikolova „Artistry in Broken Rhythm“ dobila je nagradu Silesian Jazz Festivala u Katovicama, 2016. godine.

Drugi album „Frame and Curiosity“ objavili su 2019. godine, a premijerno su ga sa uspehom predstavili na otvaranju 35. Beogradskog džez festivala u Domu omladine. Tom prilikom specijalni gost bio im je francuski flautista Mažik Malik. Ugledni džez časopis JazzTimes je, u recenziji njihovog drugog albuma koji briše žanrovske okvire i otvara nove kreativne mogućnosti u muzičkom stvaralaštvu, nazvao Nikolov-Ivanović Undektet revolucionarnim ansamblom. Do sada su ostvarili mnogobrojne nastupe i osvojili nagradu na takmičenju „Made in New York Jazz Competition“.

Koncertna promocija trećeg studijskog albuma „Distopija“ 11. decembra u Domu omladine Beograda, biće prilika da premijerno čujemo osveženi Nikolov-Ivanovič Undektet, u punom stvaralačkom naponu!

[afrotumble]

Gil Scott-Heron Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame - JazzTimes

[grumpygrans]

Play-along Music

NetTracks is a musician’s backing track player, ideal for play-alongs, either in practice or performance. Let’s take a look at what’s available. 

Music tracks meant for mixing come in various forms.

Karaoke – for singers. All the music is there, just the singer’s voice is absent – which is supplied by the karaoke singer. The display of lyrics, synced with the music, is crucial. MIDI and audio formats prevail for Karaoke. They help singers practice and perform songs. When MIDI-based tracks are used, they can be tuned by increasing and decreasing the volume of individual instruments in the mix. All ideal for singers. 

Musicians’ song-based practice backing tracks. These are song-based tracks, like Karaoke, that target musicians rather than singers.  They help musicians learn tunes and improvise over them.  They are usually stereo audio, but sometimes mono. Often a chord chart or lead sheet accompanies the audio, so musicians can easily match the harmony or learn new tunes. Rhythm-only backing tracks have less need for chord charts, but are a great way to learn new tunes when combined with lead sheets. The NetTracks Mac and IOS app is an ideal player for these types tracks, which are surveyed below..

Musicians audio mix-ins.  These are intended to be used in creating of new, original audio tracks by musicians, independently or in groups, often with a producer. They comes as drumming grooves, baselines, and harmony, often separated into stems – individual per-instrument audio tracks for the arranger. Sometimes they are song-based, but usually not. 

Musician’s Play-along Music Collections

Some song-based play-along collections we dig.

Jamey Aebersold 

Jamey Aebersold pretty much made the creation of high-quality Jazz and Blues play-alongs his life’s work, and these albums have been widely appreciated and still, decades later, are much revered. The JazzTimes has a good article on his work. The hour-long video is worth the watch. These play-alongs can be purchased through many channels, including the traditional booklet, complete with CD, from musical instrument stores, and the audio separately, per track, on iTunes. They are stereo tracks with instruments well isolated to the right or left channel, allowing users to select the mix by changing the stereo balance. The collection started in the 1970s and now comprises about 120 separate albums, each with a booklet. These should be considered collaborations between Jamey Aebersold and top musicians, with Jamey managing the entire exercise and creating comprehensive, high-quality booklets of lead sheets and scales. These are the gold standard of educational Jazz and Blues backing tracks.

Hal Leonard’s Real Book

When Hal Leonard legitimised the then-Berkely fake books into their Real Books, they took the opportunity to supply backing tracks that match the lead sheets in their Real Books. Pure Genius. You can buy these backing tracks separately in the format of USB sticks if you already have the books. Professional quality jazz trio playing, leaning more to the ballads than bop and not with the stereo separation of the Aebersold’s. Well worth getting. 

Hal Leonard has diversified its retailing channels to include online sales. 

Hal Leonard also supplies many other play-along books for specific artists or genres, including their multi-track products. 

Ralph Patt 

Ralph Patt, now deceased, generously created practice backing tracks that he released into the public domain in a guitar user group for the aid of all musicians. These, like those of Jamey Aebersold, isolate instruments in the stereo mix to either the left or right channel. They generally have fast tempos. Ralph was a good musician; we will always be thankful for his legacy. These tracks do not benefit from the same team of musicians behind them that Jamey Aebersold’s did, but for a sole contributor, they are a real achievement and well worth trying. They do not come with lead sheets, but the tempos are shown. Ralph also published the ‘Vanilla Book’, a book of chord charts for many Jazz and Blues standards. Many of his backing tracks are covered in his Vanilla Book. If you play a harmony instrument and want to play along to fast tempo drums and bass, check them out. 

Real Book Software 

Real Book Software tracks are also based on Real Books and come from an independent supplier, focusing on their complete software product. You can purchase the Jazz Play-Along backing tracks separately from the software product. These tracks are an inexpensive option and worth considering for the added variety they provide. The musical key is shown, and every song generally comes in multiple renditions, such as with and without piano comping, and other variations, such as tempo, repeats and key. We do not have any experience with Real Book Software, software product, but we have tried the stand-alone backing track collection and enjoyed it, considering it a similar experience to Hal Leonard’s.

Bobby’s Backing Tracks

Bobby’s are quality tracks by dedicated musicians. Direct, online sales from their website are the only option. They deal with stems and supply minus-one mixes (no bass, no drums or no keys). They serve the gigging community as much as the practising one. You will listen carefully to the track to figure out its arrangement. They suit more those who learn their tracks through listening critically rather than expecting everything to be supplied upfront, as you would get from educators such as Jamey Aebersold. What you do get, though, is quality backing, easily acquired through their online store. They are not cheap, but a good option to consider, particularly if you want inspiring tracks for performance. 

JazzBacks

JazzBacks are based in the UK and use a similar business model to Bobby’s – High-quality tracks using modern equipment for practice or performance direct from their website. JazzBacks proudly do not include fade endings or verbal count-ins and provide copious supporting materials. Their downloads are ZIPs which include the audio file, and multiple chord charts (per instrument type, so C, Eb and Bb), so you know which chords to use and the arrangement, such as, 

“Black Orpheus; Key – A minor; Intro- 4 bars; Head; Solo – 1 chorus; Head; Ending – Dm/ Am / Dm/ Am/ Dm/ Em/ Am”. 

For Stella, 

“Stella By Starlight Key Bb (concert); 2 Bars drums; Straight into the head; Solo- 2 Choruses; Head; Repeat last line twice; End”. 

It is great to know this arrangement information up-front, so you can quickly play along knowing what to expect. These professional tracks are very approachable and easier to use than most. They are purchased per track (with bundles available) and can be used in performance. 

Song Rhythm Tracks

Alive Drumming’s Song Rhythm Tracks are play-along backing tracks specialising in drums and/or percussion. They use high-quality audio from talented drummers with many different genres represented. Drumming is arranged around the song’s form, and arrangments may include introduction and outro sections, always clearly stated in the accompanying description of the arrangement. Some tracks include stops (aka holds). Arrangements are always visible. It may seem that less is less, but less can be more. Players of harmony instruments, such as guitar or keys, can enjoy playing along to superb drumming without any bass track but still hearing the drummer playing the same song. Give it a go. Song Rhythm Tracks often cover Real Book tunes and sometimes come with public domain lead sheets. The entire collection are accessible within the NetTracks app via a low-cost annual subscription. 

Musical Genres other than Jazz, Blues

The vendors above tend to specialise in the genres of Jazz and Blues, often adding Funk, Bossa and other associated styles. These styles of music, with their usually constant pulse and simple forms, lend themselves to highly approachable covers and artists’ improvisations. That’s often the attraction of this music. In turn, these songs can often be well supported by lead sheets and associated backing tracks, making the songs even more approachable for beginning students and experienced musicians.

NetTracks

NetTracks adds to the experience of backing track crafted by musicians by making tracks more accessible and providing the industry’s best setlist and backing track player. We hope more and more students and experienced players find acquiring and using artists’ backing tracks a real pleasure.

[alive-drumming]

Play-along Music

Music tracks meant for mixing come in various forms.

Karaoke – for singers. All the music is there, just the singer’s voice is absent – to be supplied by the karaoke singer. The display of lyrics, synced with the music, is crucial. MIDI and audio formats prevail for Karaoke. They help singers practice and perform songs. When MIDI-based tracks are used, they can be tuned by increasing and decreasing the volume of individual instruments in the mix.

Musicians’ song-based practice backing tracks. These are song-based tracks, like Karaoke, that target musicians rather than singers. They help musicians learn tunes and improvise over them. They are usually stereo audio, but sometimes mono. Often a chord chart or lead sheet accompanies the audio, so musicians can easily match the harmony. Rhythm-only backing tracks have less need for these charts. Below, we give our survey of some vendors of these. The NetTracks Mac and IOS app is an ideal player for these tracks.

Musicians audio mix-ins. These are intended to be used in creating new, original audio tracks by musicians, independently or in groups. It comes as drumming grooves, baselines, and harmony, often separated into stems – individual per-instrument audio tracks for the arranger to tune. Sometimes they are song-based, but often not.

Musician’s Play-along Music Collections

Some song-based play-along collections we dig.

Jamey Aebersold

Jamey Aebersold pretty much made the creation of high-quality Jazz and Blues play-alongs his life’s work, and these albums have been widely appreciated and still, decades later, are much revered. The JazzTimes has a good article on his work. The hour-long video is worth the watch. These play-alongs can be purchased through a number of channels, including the traditional booklet, complete with CD, from musical instrument stores, and the audio separately, per track, on iTunes. They are stereo tracks with instruments well isolated to the right or left channel, allowing users to select the mix by changing the stereo balance. The collection started in the 1970s and now comprises about 120 separate albums, each with a booklet. These can be considered collaborations between Jamey Aebersold and top musicians, with Jamey managing the entire exercise and creating comprehensive, high-quality booklets of lead sheets and scales. These are the gold standard.

Hal Leonard’s Real Book

When Hal Leonard legitimised the then-Berkely fake books into their Real Books, they took the opportunity to supply backing tracks that match the lead sheets in their Real Books. Pure Genius. You can buy these backing tracks separately in the format of USB sticks if you already have the books. Well worth getting.

Hal Leonard has diversified its retailing channels to include online sales.

Hal Leonard also supplies many other play-along books for specific artists or genres, including their multi-track products.

Ralph Patt

Ralph Patt, now deceased, generously created practice backing tracks that he released into the public domain in a guitar user group for the aid of all musicians. These, like those of Jamey Aebersold, are stereo with instruments isolated to either the left or right channel. They generally have fast tempos. Ralph was a good musician; we will always be thankful for his legacy. These tracks do not benefit from the same team of musicians behind them that Jamey Aebersold’s did, but for a sole contributor, they are a real achievement and well worth trying. They do not come with lead sheets, but the tempos are shown. Ralph also published the ‘Vanilla Book’, a book of chord charts for many Jazz and Blues standards. Many of his backing tracks are covered in his Vanilla Book.

Real Book Software

Real Book Software tracks are also based on Real Books and come from an independent supplier, focusing on their complete software product. You can purchase the Jazz Play-Along backing tracks separately from the software product. These tracks are an inexpensive option and worth considering for the added variety they provide. The musical key is shown, and every song generally comes in multiple renditions, such as with and without piano comping, and other variations, such as tempo, repeats and key. We do not have any experience with Real Book Software, software product, which has had mixed reviews, but we have tried the stand-alone backing track collection and enjoyed it.

Bobby’s Backing Tracks

Bobby’s are quality tracks by dedicated musicians. Direct, online sales from their website are the only option. They deal with stems and supply minus-one mixes (no bass, no drums or no keys). They serve the gigging community as much as the practising one. You will listen carefully to the track to figure out its arrangement. They suit more those who learn their tracks through listening critically rather than expecting everything to be supplied upfront, as you would get from educators such as Jamey Aebersold. What you do get, though, is quality backing, easily acquired through their online store. It is not cheap, but a good option to consider, particularly if you want to perform with the tracks.

JazzBacks

JazzBacks are based in the UK and use a similar business model to Bobby’s – High-quality tracks using modern equipment for practice or performance direct from their website. JazzBacks proudly do not include fade endings or verbal count-ins and provide copious supporting materials. Their downloads are ZIPs which include the audio file, and multiple chord charts (per instrument type, so C, Eb and Bb), so you know which chords to use and the arrangement, such as,

“Black Orpheus; Key – A minor; Intro- 4 bars; Head; Solo – 1 chorus; Head; Ending – Dm/ Am / Dm/ Am/ Dm/ Em/ Am”.

For Stella,

“Stella By Starlight Key Bb (concert); 2 Bars drums; Straight into the head; Solo- 2 Choruses; Head; Repeat last line twice; End”.

It is great to know this arrangement information up-front, so you can quickly play along knowing what to expect. These professional tracks are very approachable and easier to use than most. They are purchased per track (with bundles available) and can be used in performance.

Song Rhythm Tracks

Best Backing Track Player in the industry.

Alive Drumming’s Song Rhythm Tracks are play-along backing tracks specialising in drums and/or percussion. They use high-quality audio from talented drummers with many different genres represented. Drumming is arranged around the song’s form, and arrangments may include introduction and outro sections. Some tracks include stops (aka holds). Arrangements are always visible. It may seem that less is less, but less can be more. Players of harmony instruments, such as guitar or keys, can enjoy playing along to superb drumming without any bass track. Give it a go. Song Rhythm Tracks are accessible within the NetTracks app.

Musical Genres other than Jazz, Blues

The vendors above tend to specialise in the genres of Jazz and Blues, often adding Funk, Bossa and other associated styles. These styles of music, with their usually constant pulse and simple forms, lend themselves to highly approachable covers and artists’ improvisations. That’s often the attraction of this music. In turn, these songs can often be well supported by lead sheets and associated backing tracks, making the songs even more approachable for beginning students and experienced musicians.

NetTracks

NetTracks adds to the backing track experience by making tracks more accessible and providing the industry’s best setlist and backing track player. We hope more and more students and experienced players find acquiring and using backing tracks a real pleasure.