Books and Videos:  Instruction Method Books

Jazz Bass on Top - Left-Hand Technique Book by Andy McKee

Manufactured by: Hal Leonard

Andy McKee has performed for over 25 years with many jazz greats, playing all over the world. He began his career in Philadelphia with musicians like Hank Mobley, Johnny Hartman, Slide Hampton, Clarence “Cee”Sharp and Philly Joe Jones - who McKee particularly considers a mentor. After many more gigs and learning experiences (with many more notable musicians) he became the staff bassist for The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine - playing for many years with the group in Europe, the Middle East and at home in New York City. Between 1992 and 2003, Andy toured, recorded and served as associate musical director of the Mingus Big Band and the Mingus Dynasty. Since 1993, Andy has taught the Mingus repertory as well as directed ensembles and instructed individual bass students at the New School University in New York City.

He's culled together his vast gig experience and many years of teaching the upright bass to create this unique, comprehensive left-hand technique study. Using 50 classic jazz songs as the basis gives you the practical application of the fingering techniques in an enjoyable, usable format. The fingerings are explicitly notated, and based on the method that McKee has developed for his students over the last decade and a half - which itself draws upon a synthesis of classical technique like those of Simandl and Bille. The fingerings are specifically "designed to help you develop the fundamental techniques that generate a uniquely jazz quality in the interpretations of these melodies." Basically, applying technique to play more "jazz-like." It's an new and interesting approach that should be useful to any jazz bassist looking to improve their technique and interpretation skills.

The book uses standard notation, and gradually steps you through increasingly more difficult tunes as you progress; you start with simple 12-bar blues themes and work towards more complicated bebop and post-bop tunes with technically challenging chromatic lines. In this book, technical proficiency is the goal; the system is designed to help you understand what fingers to use, when to shift and cross strings, how to move the left hand... developing a confidence in your technical approach that matches your theoretical knowledge and understanding of jazz music.

Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Hal Leonard (March 1, 2011)
Language: English

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