Jamey Aebersold Jazz Books & Play-Alongs
The Aebersold Play-A-Longs - The perfect practice tool and the world's most popular Jazz Play-A-Longs. The best way to learn music is to PLAY music, and what could be better than to play with some of the greatest rhythm sections in the jazz world? Even if you are just a beginner to jazz, you can practice with a solid rhythm section using the Aebersold Play-A-Longs. Play-A-Longs make practicing fun, even when you're just practicing scales! These book and CD sets are for players of all levels - a young aspiring player, active professional, teacher, or retired professional. The recording provides the professional jazz rhythm section, and you provide the melody! Aebersold Play-A-Longs are used by all segments of the musical spectrum from elementary and college students to jazz masters such as the Brecker Brothers and Phil Woods. Scales, exercises and arpeggios will no longer be simply dull strings of notes with no harmonic meanings. Melodies will come alive and practice will be more fun when the best rhythm sections jazz back you up. Imagine yourself practicing with jazz greats such as Ron Carter, Kenny Baron, John Patitucci, Grady Tate, Rufus Reid, Hal Galper, Cedar Walton and many others. You’ll do all this and more at your own pace and in the privacy of your own home!
For Beginners:If you're new to the Aebersold Play-A-Long Series, these volumes have proven to be the best for someone just starting out in jazz. Vol. 1 - How To Play Jazz & Improvise, Vol. 24 - Major & Minor In Every Key, Vol. 21 - Gettin' It Together, Vol. 2 - Nothin' But Blues, Vol. 3 - The Ii/V7/I Progression, Vol. 54 - Maiden Voyage, Vol. 70 - Killer Joe, Vol. 5 - Time To Play Music, Vol. 84 - Dominant 7Th Workout.
Please note - the Volumes do not necessarily get progressively harder. They are designed to develop different aspects of jazz playing. Each Volume includes a CD of recorded accompaniment and a book with parts for all instruments - Treble and Bass clef, Bb, and Eb. “Volume 1 – How to Play Jazz & Improvise” is the #1 selling item from the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Catalog every year and continues to help thousands of people learn jazz and most importantly, learn to improvise!
For more information: See History of the Aebersold Play-A-Longs, How to Use the Aebersold Play-A-Longs, Learn More About Jamey Aebersold.
How to Use Aebersold Play-A-Longs
- Open the book to the desired exercise
- Put on the recording
- Tune up your instrument
- Begin playing with a fantastic jazz rhythm section!
The Aebersold Play-A-Longs include a stereo CD with a coordinated book featuring transposed parts for all instruments in Treble clef, Bass clef, Bb, and Eb. Choose the track you want to play and the stage is yours! The Play-A-Longs make excellent practice tools for scat vocalists, too! You can break down a song one chord or scale at a time, or simply relax and play the melody. The CD stereo separation technique is ideal for rhythm players. The left channel includes bass and drums. The right channel contains piano or guitar and drums. Bass players and pianists/guitarists can play along , or turn down the recorded parts and play your own! The Aebersold line offer over 100 play along sets of incredible jazz accompaniment. The volumes don’t necessarily get more difficult. Even when you don't have time to practice, put the CD in your computer and listen while you work or drive. You'll be unconsciously singing melodies and practicing - yet another way to "internalize" the music. We know the Aebersold Play-A-Longs work and are great fun to use because WE use them too!
History of the Aebersold Play-A-Longs
While helping at a jazz workshop in 1966, a student asked Jamey to record a tape of piano accompaniments so he would have something to practice with. As Jamey says, "I never did make the tape, but instead made an LP record in 1967." The record became the first Aebersold Play-A-Long, known as Volume 1.
After recording the music, Jamey realized the need for a book to help the student make sense of the recording. The first volume was released in 1967 and has been a best seller ever since. Jamey says "I never thought there would be demand for a 2nd volume, let alone over one hundred!"
For almost forty years, the name "Jamey Aebersold" has been synonymous with the best in jazz education. As a world-class performer and charismatic teacher/lecturer, he has traveled the world giving seminars and workshops. Jamey's mission is to help people learn how to play jazz and improvise.
Volume One has been revised six times, is available in six languages, and is the #1 seller from the Aebersold Jazz Catalog and continues to help thousands of people learn jazz improvisation!
About Jamey Aebersold
Jamey Aebersold was born in 1939 in New Albany, Indiana. He graduated in 1962 from Indiana University with a Masters Degree in Saxophone. He plays saxophone, piano, bass and banjo. In 1992, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Indiana University. The IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) inducted Jamey into their Hall of Fame in 1989. Other jazz luminaries given this honor include Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and others. Jamey is a global authority on jazz education and improvisation through his series of Play-A-Longs and supplemental items for improvisational skills.
Jamey was a leader in encouraging small group classes to concentrate on jazz improvisation, and he directs the Summer Jazz Workshops. Jamey believes that improvisation is something everyone can do. His clinics concentrate on demonstrating how the creative part of each person can be brought to light.
The Summer Jazz Workshops have had a profound effect on musical communities across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, England, Scotland, Denmark and Canada. The CBS program "Sunday Morning" with Charles Kuralt and Billie Taylor featured Jamey and the Jazz Workshops in 1987.
Jamey's hobbies include listening to jazz, playing basketball and is very much interested in Metaphysics and spiritual pursuits. In 2004, Jamey received the "Medal of Honor" in Jazz Education from the Jazz Midwest Clinic. Jamey continues to be a driving force in Jazz education and an inspiration to Jazz students.