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Big Band Comping Examples ?

dallasguy2112
 

Hello YJGG,

What are some good recorded examples of comping in a big band
environment ? I've listened to a lot of Wes and Joe Pass, but haven't
found anything where they (or others of their caliber) are playing in
a big band context.

Thanks for any ideas !
 

Go old school. Freddie Green. Start where it started. Freddie almost never
played lead as he really wanted to concentrate on playing the chunka chunk
rhythm.

Discography here:



-Adriel

From: "dallasguy2112" <dallasguy2112@...>
Reply-To: jazz_guitar@...
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 19:42:45 +0000
To: jazz_guitar@...
Subject: [jazz_guitar] Big Band Comping Examples ?

Hello YJGG,

What are some good recorded examples of comping in a big band
environment ? I've listened to a lot of Wes and Joe Pass, but haven't
found anything where they (or others of their caliber) are playing in
a big band context.

Thanks for any ideas !
 

Hey,

Any recording by the Count Basie band with Freddie Green on rhythm guitar is the holy grail for this style. Check it out...

Cheers,
JV

Juan Vega
Chris Smart
 

Freddie Green is the master, but unfortunately, it's hard to hear him. Really, it's a rhythmic function that is felt as much as heard, not some fancy voice-leading thing. Learn to play shell voicings really steady, four to the bar.
www.freddiegreen.org
 

In a message dated 9/28/2005 3:45:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dallasguy2112@... writes:

What are some good recorded examples of comping in a big band
environment ? I've listened to a lot of Wes and Joe Pass, but haven't
found anything where they (or others of their caliber) are playing in
a big band context.

Well remember with a big band you are not supposed to be out front but in a
supporting role. As someone else said, the Freddie Green chunk chunk is the
gold standard for this style of playing.
Mike Darling
 

Check out the "Jazz For Playboys" album. Freddie plays rhythm behind
Kenny Burrell, Frank Wess and a couple more names. He does his 4 to
the bar comping and it's a fair bit easier to hear him than on his
Basie band tracks.

Additionally, the last issue of Jazz Improv magazine had an interview
with Will Matthews, the current guitar player in the Basie orchestra.
Good reading - covers technique, equipment, and gives some example
chord runs. Matthews does it well (of course...) and I got to sit at a
table about 10ft away from him when they played Birdland a month or so
ago. I got to study his technique for two sets, but I was deaf for a
day and a half.

-mike

--- In jazz_guitar@..., Chris Smart <chris_s@s...> wrote:
Freddie Green is the master, but unfortunately, it's hard to hear
him. Really, it's a rhythmic function that is felt as much as
heard, not some fancy voice-leading thing. Learn to play shell
voicings really steady, four to the bar.
www.freddiegreen.org
MJU
 

I do not know if anyone has mentioned this yet but check out Charlton Johnson's book on big band comping. I have gone through that book and have found it very informative. It is available through Hal Leonard and is around 15 - 20 bucks. Johnson not only took over Freddie's spot in the band after his death but he and Eddie Durham are really the only two guys that recorded electric guitar solos with the Basie Band. I haven't really checked out the bands latest recordings but I have met Wil and have heard him play. Both Johnson and Matthews are great in that style and have a great deal to offer those of us interested in it.
MJU
 

Freddie also has a solo album he recorded with an extended combo. I found it on CD the other day. You can really hear some of his voice leading and attack on some of the cuts.
Gregg Ellis
 

I haven't read all of this thread but Herb Ellis and Freddie did an album in the early
70's called rythm Willie on Concord Jazz...
Gregg

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