Concepts pour l'improvisation d'un solo de basse / Solokonzepte für Bass: String Bass Book & CDs

This book fills a genuine void in jazz pedagogy by centering the bass soloist rather than treating improvisation as a secondary skill. Johnson and Sher's approach moves beyond scales and arpeggios to address phrasing, note choice within harmonic contexts, and the practical work of building solos on actual tunes. The included CDs ground every concept in listening to real, masterful improvisation.

Working through this material feels like apprenticing alongside a master soloist. The exercises build incrementally from single-mode exploration to full-tune soloing, with each step revealing how thoughtful note choice creates musicality and forward motion rather than mere technical display.

This book serves serious jazz bass students and young professionals ready to move beyond foundational improvisation into sophisticated solo construction. It's equally valuable for self-taught improvisers seeking structured guidance and for students preparing for jazz studies at the college level.

• Transcribe the solos on the CDs before and after working through the corresponding exercises. Hearing Johnson's interpretations will clarify how the principles translate to sound.
• Work through the modal exercises slowly, singing each phrase before playing it. This trains your ear to hear the contours Johnson emphasizes.
• Record yourself improvising on the chord changes provided, then compare your phrasing choices to the transcribed solos. Look for where your instincts align and where they diverge.

Assign chapters sequentially throughout a semester or year, pairing each exercise set with transcription and listening work. The transcribed solos on CD become study material for any jazz ensemble rehearsal, showing students how the principles work in ensemble contexts.

• Selecting target notes within single modes to create cohesive phrases
• Constructing phrasing that breathes and connects across changes
• Distinguishing between chord tones and passing tones for harmonic awareness
• Recognizing and adapting common jazz bass vocabulary across different chord types
• Building solo statements on standard jazz tunes with intentional architecture