This book/2-CD set has been designed to help the guitarist with soloing studies. These 36 play-along rhythm tracks embody the electrifying feel of the West Coast Blues and provide you with the ability to place new licks and soloing concepts into context. They include slow blues, fast blues, jazzy blues, rumbas, songs with breaks, swings, marches, minor blues, boogies, and many more. A practice section is included featuring nine Play-Along Trax that start at a tempo of 40 beats per minute and go to 200 for progressive lick study. This is a great tool to help you master any lick or song that is too difficult to play at its original speed. the remaining backup tracks are arranged by key, single guitar or band, and tempo. Most of the examples will use the standard 12-bar blues format, while a few use common variations such as 16-bar blues. the book provides the chord progressions plus instruction on how to use the CDs to practice listening and breaks.
George Gerfaut, aimless young executive and desultory family man, witnessesa murder and finds himself sucked into a spiral of violence involving an exiledwar criminal and two hired assassins. Adapting to the exigencies of his new lifeon the run with shocking ease, Gerfaut abandons his comfortable middle-classlife for several months, until, joined with a new ally, he finally returns tosettle all accounts... with brutal, bloody interest. Released in 2005, WestCoast Blues (Le Petit bleu de la côte ouest) is Tardi's adaptation ofa popular 1976 novel by the French crime writer Jean-Patrick Manchette. (Thenovel had been previously adapted to film under the more literal title Troishommes à abattre, and was released in English by the San Francisco-basedpublisher City Lights under the English version of the same title, 3 toKill.) Tardi's late-period, looser style infuses Manchette's dark story witha seething, malevolent energy; he doesn't shy away from the frequently grislygoings-on, while maintaining (particularly in the old-married-couple-stylebickering of the two killers who are tracking Gerfaut) the mordant wit thatcharacterizes his best work. This is the kind of graphic novel that QuentinTarantino would love, and a double shot of Scotch for any fan of unrelenting,uncompromising crime fiction
"It is hard to say which makes for the more compelling narrative: the life of jazz great Jelly Roll Morton or the detective work that Phil Pastras undertook in putting together this engaging book. Dead Man Blues tells both these tales admirably, drawing on a treasure-trove of previously unknown material. It is both an important contribution to jazz scholarship and a fascinating piece of storytelling."—Ted Gioia, author of The History of Jazz and West Coast Jazz "Meticulously researched, including primary source material recently uncovered by the author, Dead Man Blues is not only a masterfully written, definitive account of Jelly Roll Morton's west coast years, but also a penetrating psychological and social study of the man and the forces that drove and shaped him."—Steve Isoardi, co-author of Central Avenue Sounds "A must-read for all jazz aficionados."—Gerald Wilson "One of the best books ever written about Jelly Roll Morton."—Gerald Wiggins, jazz pianist
Ted Gioia tells the story of jazz as it has never been told before, in a book that brilliantly portrays the legendary players, the breakthrough styles, and the world in which it evolved. Gioia provides readers with lively portraits of great musicians, intertwined with vibrant commentary on the music they created. 9 photos.
The Early Masters of American Blues series provides the unique opportunity to study the true roots of modern blues. Stefan Grossman, noted roots-blues guitarist and musicologist, has compiled this fascinating collection of 16 songs, transcribed exactly as performed by legendary blues master Blind Blake. In addition to Stefan's expert transcriptions, the book includes online audio containing the original recordings of Blind Blake so you can hear the music as he performed it. Blind Blake was the greatest ragtime blues guitarist to record during the 1920s. His guitar styles and techniques were unique, capturing the pulsating rhythms of the blues, ragtime, and jazz music of the period. His records sold well and were greatly influential on generations of guitarists. This collection presents sixteen tunes that will keep your fingers very busy. Sound, feel, and control over right-hand thumb are the elements of Blind Blake's playing that will demand all your attention and patience. Enjoy the wonderful songs, and good luck developing your sportin' right hand!"
The Blues Encyclopedia is the first full-length authoritative Encyclopedia on the Blues as a musical form. While other books have collected biographies of blues performers, none have taken a scholarly approach. A to Z in format, this Encyclopedia covers not only the performers, but also musical styles, regions, record labels and cultural aspects of the blues, including race and gender issues. Special attention is paid to discographies and bibliographies.
Harlem of the West reveals a forgotten slice of San Francisco history and the African-American experience on the West Coast: the thriving jazz scene of the Fillmore in the 1940s and 1950s. With archival photographs and oral accounts from the residents and musicians who experienced it, this vividly illustrated tour will delight jazz fans and history aficionados.
"Documented with great care and affection, this book is filled with revelations about the intermingling of peoples, styles of music, business interests, night-life pleasures, and the strange ways lived experience shaped black music as America's music in California." —Charles Keil, co-author of Music Grooves
African Americans' historical roots are encapsulated in the lyrics, melodies, and rhythms of their music. In the 18th and 19th centuries, African slaves, longing for emancipation, expressed their hopes and dreams through spirituals. Inspired by African civilization and culture, as well as religion, art, literature, and social issues, this influential, joyous, tragic, uplifting, challenging, and enduring music evolved into many diverse genres, including jazz, blues, rock and roll, soul, swing, and hip hop. Providing a lyrical history of our nation, this groundbreaking encyclopedia, the first of its kind, showcases all facets of African American music including folk, religious, concert and popular styles. Over 500 in-depth entries by more than 100 scholars on a vast range of topics such as genres, styles, individuals, groups, and collectives as well as historical topics such as music of the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and numerous others. Offering balanced representation of key individuals, groups, and ensembles associated with diverse religious beliefs, political affiliations, and other perspectives not usually approached, this indispensable reference illuminates the profound role that African American music has played in American cultural history. Editors Price, Kernodle, and Maxile provide balanced representation of various individuals, groups and ensembles associated with diverse religious beliefs, political affiliations, and perspectives. Also highlighted are the major record labels, institutions of higher learning, and various cultural venues that have had a tremendous impact on the development and preservation of African American music. Among the featured: Motown Records, Black Swan Records, Fisk University, Gospel Music Workshop of America, The Cotton Club, Center for Black Music Research, and more. With a broad scope, substantial entries, current coverage, and special attention to historical, political, and social contexts, this encyclopedia is designed specifically for high school and undergraduate students. Academic and public libraries will treasure this resource as an incomparable guide to our nation's African American heritage.
The Art of Solo Bass is a jumping off point, a place to glimpse the possibilities of the electric bass. This book examines the use of chords and chord/melody in performance, arranging, composing and the development and exploration of new techniques. from using chords to enhance and embellish your groovin' bass lines, to developing a comping style to perform with an ensemble and finally to create solo arrangements and compositions for practice and performance.The Art of Solo Bass will open new horizons for you, the bass player. This is a step-by-step tutorial into the techniques, theory and practical application of solo bass. the Art of Solo Bass includes actual arrangements, recordings, notation and tablature to guide you along the way.
