Sittin' In with the Big Band, Volume II: Guitar Book & CD

Stepping into a working big band. The rhythm section locks in around you, the horns swing overhead, and suddenly you're part of something bigger than a solo performance. Ten charts give you variety in style and feel without overwhelming the learner.

Guitar students at the intermediate level who are ready to hear and play real jazz repertoire. Jazz ensembles, guitar classes, and serious students building jazz fundamentals all benefit from this kind of professional accompaniment context.

• Listen to the recording multiple times before playing along. Pay attention to how the guitar voice sits in the ensemble texture and where it enters.
• Lock your time feel with the bass and drums on the recording. Jazz guitar lives in the pocket, not on top of the beat.
• Study the articulation and dynamics markings carefully. They shape the jazz character as much as the notes themselves.
• Use the performance tips in the book for each chart. They address style and tone concerns specific to each tune.

Use this as your jazz ensemble's rhythm section resource, or assign individual charts to guitarists preparing for jazz solo recitals. It works particularly well as a bridge between jazz method study and playing in an actual ensemble, or as supplementary repertoire for guitarists in a jazz ensemble who need focused study on specific tunes.

• Listening to and matching the time feel of a professional rhythm section
• Jazz comping and rhythm patterns at the intermediate level
• Phrasing, dynamics, and articulation in a jazz context
• Blend and balance when playing with an ensemble texture
• Recognizing and responding to jazz style conventions (swing feel, tone production, attack)